Leica M9 18.0 Megapixel Stylish Reviews Roundup
On September 09 2009, Leica announced the long-anticipated full-frame M9, the first digital M-series rangefinder to offer a full-frame sensor. The new M9 comes with a 18 Megapixels Kodak CCD, developed specially for Leica, which offers an equivalent ISO sensitivity of 160-2500 and optimised to exploit the particular qualities of the Leica M lens system. According to Leica, this M9 is the world's smallest full-frame system camera available in the market today. When compared to a DSLR, the exit pupil of a typical M-series lens is very close to the imaging surface, which can lead to unacceptable vignetting, especially with wideangle lenses. The M9 sensor solves the problem by employing further advanced and meticulously-designed micro lenses with a low refractive index. The micro lenses at the sensor edges are laterally displaced towards the image centre to match the characteristics of M lenses precisely. This optimised micro lens design captures and concentrates even the most oblique rays on the sensor, and reliably prevents image brightness fall-off at the edges and corners of the image. As a result, all existing Leica M lenses maintain their full performance when used for digital photography. The M9 comes with a 2.5 inches LCD screen with 230,000 pixels, and TTL (through the lens) metering from a grey and white pattern printed onto the shutter blades. Like the M8 and M8.2, the M9's CCD sensor does not feature a built-in anti-aliasing filter, but according to Leica, the new camera does not need to be used with an accessory screw-in filter. The M9 is currently selling at around $6,995.Leica M9 Sample Photos on Flickr
Leica M9 Camera Reviews Roundup
| Imaging Resource: "Shooting with the Leica M9-P was a great experience. It was not always easy to get a focused shot, nor to set exposure properly the first time. Modern autofocus and metering technology has spoiled us somewhat. But it's a great reminder of how film photography used to be, one you can also simulate by turning off your digital SLR's autofocus system and switching to center-weighted metering. What you'd be missing is th..." - Feb 21 2012 More » | |
| CNET UK: "Everything about the Leica M9 and M9-P screams quality, from the camera build to the leather cases for the lenses and, most importantly, the images they produce. The native file format is Adobe DMG, which come out at a whopping 18MB, full of stunning detail. Colours are consistently brighter and more vivid than just about any camera we have used -- ever. Skies look like they've been boosted through liberal use..." - Oct 18 2011 More » | |
| TechRadar: "Leica describes the M9 as an investment for life, and in its build quality it's easy to understand its confidence. For existing M-mount users it's the next logical progression from either analogue M-series bodies or the M8/M8.2, and in terms of its resolution it's unrivalled for such a small camera. Combined with high-quality optics - generally a given with Leica - it really can produce remarkable images. Photos hav..." - Aug 25 2011 More » | |
| MichaelLetchford: "I think, without a shadow of doubt, that this lens is a genuine winner. Although my work is almost exclusively monochrome these days, this lens has a habit of reminding you that colour has it's own intrinsic photographic value and it can seduce the eye with its own subtle rendering of scenes where colour is a major pictorial element of the overall image. It has a 'personality' - softer rendering when completely wide..." - Dec 29 2010 More » | |
| CanonRumors: "The colours are natural and beautiful. The dynamic range seems to be fantastic, even in tough scenes, there was lots of detail in the shadows and highlights. Most of you know I don't care much about ISO performance, I'll take the grain. This camera does not produce clean ISO 1600 shots, they're good enough for me though. You sacrifice ISO performance for sharpness I'm told. I'll take that. I've used every Canon came..." - Sep 27 2010 More » | |
| CrunchGear: "If you've been pointing and shooting for a few years you need a week to learn or remember the classic manual controls. You not only focus manually but you adjust the f-stop the way you were meant to, by turning a ring. If you look into the lens while doing so you can see the shutter actually opening and closing, just like the old days! You can easily experiment with the shutter speed dial which ranges from 8s to 1/4..." - Aug 14 2010 More » | |
| RegHardware: "The M9 has a sensitivity range between 160 and 2500 ISO, plus a Pull80, which works by manipulating a 160 ISO exposure to obtain the look of an 80 ISO shot. I was pleasantly impressed with the M9 noise performance. Despite not having ultra high-speed options my test showed very good results across its ISO range. Noise only starts appearing at 1600 ISO but it is still beautifully controlled and images have a smo..." - Jun 21 2010 More » | |
| ePhotoZine: "It's fair to say that in both JPEG and Raw, the Leica M9 records some great colour. Whether in a studio or out and about, the processor works well to give a balanced amount of bold colours. Primary red strikes out of the frame whenever it's present while primary blue is rich. On our test chart, the skin tone tile looks overly pink but taking portraits doesn't convey the same problems as they look more natural. I lik..." - Jan 22 2010 More » | |
| Photocrati: "The Leica M9 is clearly a product of German design and engineering, which has always been a standard other camera manufacturers have aspired to in terms of reliability, durability, and solid construction. It's a rigorous standard that few try to achieve and fewer still approach with any conviction. When one learns that the M9 is constructed of a one-piece, all-metal housing, specifically high-strength magnesium..." - Dec 22 2009 More » |
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User Review of the camera - Leica M9
This camera is not for everybody, Mark Twain "wwwumax"
Finally got this camera and corresponding lens. Because it is a M series camera body, no auto-focus lens exist. That knocks off one star from my review.
I have to admit the photo has quite different in color saturation and sharpness compares to much cheaper DSLR such as a Canon L lens. However it totally depends on how people like to use this camera: Not everyone has the patience to do manual focus.
The control is extreme light as a SLR, too light as it is not fun to play with.
Does it worth the money to buy a Leica ... let's say the design and user friend should be MUCH better for this price tag.
It was worth the wait, kkrome25 "kkrome25"
I bought the M8 several years ago, and it met my expectations as far as image quality. I just could not work with the crop factor. The M9 with its full-frame sensor was worth the wait. It's very critical that I know my 50mm lens will cover just what a fifty will, and so on with other focal lengths. Rangefinder photographers rely on memory as to the coverage of a particular lens, and the sensor must be 24x36mm, just like 35mm film. The M9 has a 24x36mm sensor, and it's made by Kodak, in the U.S.A. When I sold my M8, I kept one of the batteries, hoping that one day, the next digital M will use the same power source, and I was right! My M8 battery is the exact same thing as an M9 battery. My sincerest compliments to the Leica and Kodak crew for a job well done.
Smooth, Charles W. Holley "CHUCK"
What a camera should be,alows the photographer to be in charge,being able to use some of the great lenses of years ago
My M9 Experience. (Coming from a DSLR background), James Maier "carbon111"
Okay, I admit it, I was driven to check out the Leica digital rangefinder cameras because of the great time I've been having and the excellent photos I've been taking with the little Leica X2 point-and-shoot! For a short while I had an M8 but quickly sold it to help fund the M9.
I guess the rangefinder paradigm is not for everybody but I fell in love with shooting 35mm film on my dad's old Contax many years ago when I was in my twenties! I acquired a Zeiss Ikon last year to get back some of that "vibe" and shoot film again and have really been loving it. I've been a Canon 5DmkII shooter for some time but thought maybe the M9 might just be the perfect camera for me - at this point I would say my hunch has proved out!
The body is solid and the build quality is superb. I find it a perfect fit in my hand with just the right amount of heft - it's great to know that highly engineered objects of this kind of precision and quality are still being made! I think I'd be hard pressed to find any plastic on this camera!
I shot Canon gear for years and finally, after some considerable time hands-on with the M8, but mostly the M9, I've completely liquidated my 5DmkII and a bunch of Canon "L" lenses. With careful packing, the M9, a spare battery and three lenses all fit in a little Domke F-5XA camera bag and it only weighs a few pounds! Compared to the bag I used to lug my 5DmkII and 24-105mm, 70-200mm and 16-35mm lenses around in, this is effortless, plus it's much more discrete to carry.
It's also so discrete to shoot. The compactness of the M9 has been liberating for me. People just don't react the same way to the M9 that they did to my 5D with the massive 24-105mm hanging off of it - they're more relaxed and comfortable. This thing just doesn't look *that* imposing.
I'm finding the Leica M lenses to be simply phenomenal! They're extremely sharp, even in the extreme corners (where my Canon glass didn't fare so well). These lenses are sharper and more contrasty than what I've gotten used to, even when shot at wide apertures - and that even applies to the wide-angle lenses! Through some trial and error and lens trading through eBay, I've finally settled on the 21mm Elmarit, 50mm Summicron, 35mm Summilux and 90mm Elmarit as my "kit".
The CCD sensor in the M9 bucks the CMOS trend and certainly affords the M9 a unique image signature that I'm finding really lovely. Overall, it feels very film-like to me. From my own experience, I've noticed that the M9's files require much less post-processing than my Canons or any of my other cameras.
Though I agree that a good photographer can take a great picture with just about any camera, a superb one like this certainly makes it a lot easier to get the results and consistency I want. I really love this camera!
Caveat Emptor, J. Sheldon Cooper "Conspicuous Consumer"
Clarification: i purchased an M9-P not an M9.
I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P.
Buyers of this camera body should do extensive research before purchasing and be sure to realize that this is not the recently released M9-P but the older M9. And if they are similar, I don't understand the rave reviews of this thicker M body (compared to an M2, 3 or 4) can be better although I don't know the differences except this model appears to carry the Leica red dot logo on the front.
Do your homework, and know that it might be wise to check it out at a brick and mortar store before dropping more than six grand buying it online. I worked for Phil Levine in the seventies and sold a lot of Leicas with him, and doubt that he would have left his name to anyone buying his business, so you might benefit from giving a call to the folks who now own E. P. Levine in MA. They likely know their stuff and can offer good advice on the new digital M's. I have no connection with them, but Phil was one of the top Leica guys in the country in his time.
Caveat Emptor, Disgusted Customer "Conspicuous Consumer"
Clarification: i purchased an M9-P not an M9.
I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P.
Buyers of this camera body should do extensive research before purchasing and be sure to realize that this is not the recently released M9-P but the older M9. And if they are similar, I don't understand the rave reviews of this thicker M body (compared to an M2, 3 or 4) can be better although I don't know the differences except this model appears to carry the Leica red dot logo on the front.
Do your homework, and know that it might be wise to check it out at a brick and mortar store before dropping more than six grand buying it online. I worked for Phil Levine in the seventies and sold a lot of Leicas with him, and doubt that he would have left his name to anyone buying his business, so you might benefit from giving a call to the folks who now own E. P. Levine in MA. They likely know their stuff and can offer good advice on the new digital M's. I have no connection with them, but Phil was one of the top Leica guys in the country in his time.
Caveat Emptor, Doesn't add to discussion... "Conspicuous Con...
Clarification: i purchased an M9-P not an M9.
I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P.
Buyers of this camera body should do extensive research before purchasing and be sure to realize that this is not the recently released M9-P but the older M9. And if they are similar, I don't understand the rave reviews of this thicker M body (compared to an M2, 3 or 4) can be better although I don't know the differences except this model appears to carry the Leica red dot logo on the front.
Do your homework, and know that it might be wise to check it out at a brick and mortar store before dropping more than six grand buying it online. I worked for Phil Levine in the seventies and sold a lot of Leicas with him, and doubt that he would have left his name to anyone buying his business, so you might benefit from giving a call to the folks who now own E. P. Levine in MA. They likely know their stuff and can offer good advice on the new digital M's. I have no connection with them, but Phil was one of the top Leica guys in the country in his time.
Caveat Emptor, Jas. Cooper "Conspicuous Consumer"
Clarification: i purchased an M9-P not an M9.
I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P.
Buyers of this camera body should do extensive research before purchasing and be sure to realize that this is not the recently released M9-P but the older M9. And if they are similar, I don't understand the rave reviews of this thicker M body (compared to an M2, 3 or 4) can be better although I don't know the differences except this model appears to carry the Leica red dot logo on the front.
Do your homework, and know that it might be wise to check it out at a brick and mortar store before dropping more than six grand buying it online. I worked for Phil Levine in the seventies and sold a lot of Leicas with him, and doubt that he would have left his name to anyone buying his business, so you might benefit from giving a call to the folks who now own E. P. Levine in MA. They likely know their stuff and can offer good advice on the new digital M's. I have no connection with them, but Phil was one of the top Leica guys in the country in his time.
Caveat Emptor, Bird Man "Conspicuous Consumer"
Clarification: i purchased an M9-P not an M9.
I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P.
Buyers of this camera body should do extensive research before purchasing and be sure to realize that this is not the recently released M9-P but the older M9. And if they are similar, I don't understand the rave reviews of this thicker M body (compared to an M2, 3 or 4) can be better although I don't know the differences except this model appears to carry the Leica red dot logo on the front.
Do your homework, and know that it might be wise to check it out at a brick and mortar store before dropping more than six grand buying it online. I worked for Phil Levine in the seventies and sold a lot of Leicas with him, and doubt that he would have left his name to anyone buying his business, so you might benefit from giving a call to the folks who now own E. P. Levine in MA. They likely know their stuff and can offer good advice on the new digital M's. I have no connection with them, but Phil was one of the top Leica guys in the country in his time.
Caveat Emptor, James Cooper "Conspicuous Consumer"
Clarification: i purchased an M9-P not an M9.
I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P.
Buyers of this camera body should do extensive research before purchasing and be sure to realize that this is not the recently released M9-P but the older M9. And if they are similar, I don't understand the rave reviews of this thicker M body (compared to an M2, 3 or 4) can be better although I don't know the differences except this model appears to carry the Leica red dot logo on the front.
Do your homework, and know that it might be wise to check it out at a brick and mortar store before dropping more than six grand buying it online. I worked for Phil Levine in the seventies and sold a lot of Leicas with him, and doubt that he would have left his name to anyone buying his business, so you might benefit from giving a call to the folks who now own E. P. Levine in MA. They likely know their stuff and can offer good advice on the new digital M's. I have no connection with them, but Phil was one of the top Leica guys in the country in his time.
Caveat Emptor, James Cooper "Conspicuous Consumer"
I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I also bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P.
Buyers of this camera body should do extensive research before purchasing and be sure to realize that this is not the recently released M9-P but the older M9. And if they are similar, I don't understand the rave reviews of this thicker M body (compared to an M2, 3 or 4) can be better although I don't know the differences except this model appears to carry the Leica red dot logo on the front.
Do your homework, and know that it might be wise to check it out at a brick and mortar store before dropping more than six grand buying it online. I worked for Phil Levine in the seventies and sold a lot of Leicas with him, and doubt that he would have left his name to anyone buying his business, so you might benefit from giving a call to the folks who now own E. P. Levine in MA. They likely know their stuff and can offer good advice on the new digital M's. I have no connection with them, but Phil was one of the top Leica guys in the country in his time.
It's a fine camera., Wytze "Wytze"
I got this one for my birthday, what a nice surprise! It replaces my old Leica M6 which fell into disuse, it still ran on film. Digital is so much easier! I love how they kept the same look going. It takes my old lenses and she also gave me a 90 mm lens.
I mostly use the camera around the house, especially pictures of the kids and with the new lens it is really great.
It's a fine camera., W. E. VANDERVEER "Wytze"
I got this one for my birthday, what a nice surprise! It replaces my old Leica M6 which fell into disuse, it still ran on film. Digital is so much easier! I love how they kept the same look going. It takes my old lenses and she also gave me a 90 mm lens.
I mostly use the camera around the house, especially pictures of the kids and with the new lens it is really great.
Leica M9 camera, Jeff
A beautifullly crafted camera. the first few shots taken with the camera was disappointing as I have yet to get use to the focussing with a rangefinder camera. anyway after a few days of practice the results are fantastic. I still got a long way to go till I get the best of the Leica camera.
Leica M9 camera, Jeff
A beautifullly crafted camera. the first few shots taken with the camera was disappointing as I have yet to get use to the focussing with a rangefinder camera. anyway after a few days of practice the results are fantastic. I still got a long way to go till I get the best of the Leica camera.
Smallest, Lightest Full Frame Digital Camera Ever, Scott Bourne "Scott Bourne"
I made the move. I got a Leica. The M9 to be exact. And frankly, this is not something I expected to ever do. I resisted the Leica digital cameras for many reasons. I thought the early incarnations were too expensive and that they underperformed compared to the Japanese digital cameras.
But the M9 changed all that for me. Let me explain.
Starting with the sensor, this is a spectacular camera. It's a proprietary 18.5 megapixel CCD full frame device. It doesn't use an anti-aliasing filter. That translates to higher resolving power. In short, in regards to resolution, images from the M9 will meet or beat the 21-25MP images from the most expensive Canon and Nikon cameras.
It uses a new cover glass to eliminate infrared light contamination, and the sensor provides stellar performance with Leica M lenses. The use of external UV/IR filters is not required.
This technology is not something you can just gloss over. It's a marvel. In fact, I can't believe Leica came up with an 18.5 MP full frame sensor in a camera that is about as small as some point and shoots. Leica engineers themselves thought this impossible just a few years ago. Everything changes.
The camera is solid as a rock, but much lighter than any of my DSLR bodies. It's small enough to be stealthy but big enough to do the job. It handles like a dream and I am loving the fact that I can throw this camera around my neck and work all day without getting tired.
The viewfinder is bright and that's a good thing because the focus is manual - rangefinder type. I admit that this was where I thought I'd have the most trouble. My old eyes don't see as well as they used to. But the combination of being able to use lenses with aperture marks on them for hyper-focal distance focusing and the bright viewfinder have left me getting 97% of my shots in focus.
The shooting experience with this camera is joyful. The ability to use an aperture ring warms my heart. The buttons are all easy to use. Set it and forget it. This is the way cameras used to work. I hate nested menus and in the case of the M9 don't need to deal with many to get my shots.
The shutter is quiet but the shutter button takes some getting used to. No half-press to autofocus. And two frames per second is about as fast as this camera advances. I won't be shooting birds in flight with the M9.
The M9 brilliantly uses Adobe's DNG as its RAW format. This will save a ton of time, pain and agony for anyone who's used to waiting for the various RAW converters to upgrade to meet their camera. In theory, just about any program can open a DNG. There is no proprietary software required.
While it's no Canon 5D MK II, low-light performance on this camera is excellent at ISO 800 and acceptable at ISO 1250. CCD cameras trade more detail for more noise. In most cases, the super fast glass from Leica helps you overcome the lack of high ISOs. What it lacks in low-light performance, it makes up for in sharpness and detail.
The battery and memory card fit underneath a plate you have to open on the bottom of the camera. There is a good old-fashioned cable release slot on the camera which means just about any old cloth/or metal generic cable release will work in the M9. You don't need anything electronic, proprietary or fancy.
I absolutely love the auto-bracketing feature on the M9. This is an HDR shooter's dream. You can control the brackets in three, five or seven stop intervals. You can select 1/3, 1/2 or 1-stop brackets. You can also change the order of the shots. Once that's all set - press the button once and you get all the exposures in the bracket. It's flawless and foolproof.
Working with the Leica lenses is amazing. Back in the day, lenses had aperture rings. Now most cameras force you to set the aperture electronically. Thank goodness that's not the case here. The Leica lenses have real aperture rings. This makes setting the aperture for hyper-focal distance focusing a snap. This is how street photographers tend to work. They preset a hyper-focal range and then as long as their subject is between point A and B they shoot. Everything is in focus. I love it.
One more thing about the lenses - they are drop dead gorgeous - even wide open. There is no sweet spot on a Leica lens. The entire lens is the sweet spot. They are sharp, contrasty and lovely. Oh and they are expensive and hard to find.
I've rented or borrowed several Leica lenses; some from my pals at Borrowlenses.com (yes they have this camera and some lenses in stock) and some from Leica fans who were gracious enough to let me try them out. I ended up buying a Leica 35mm F/2 Summicron ASPH. It's beautiful and that's all I can say about it. That's all I need to say about it. It's as nice as any lens I've ever owned. Period. Now I am looking for the very hard to find - no make that nearly impossible to find - Leica 90mm F/2. Since Leica isn't currently selling any of these lenses, I have to look for old stock or used. Nobody who has this lens seems to want to sell it. Accordingly, I will probably settle for the F/2.5 version since those are more available. I expect to be able to shoot about everything I need to using just those two lenses. What a relief it is not to have to carry 10 lenses everywhere I go!
The initial images I made with this camera were mind-blowing. You can't see it as well on the web or on a computer but when you print the pictures from an M9/Leica lens combo, your subjects appear to literally jump off the page. It's almost a 3D effect. When I first saw it I wasn't sure what I was looking at. That was what really pulled me into the Leica fold. The image quality is out of this world. Nothing in the 35mm realm touches it. Nothing. It's more like working with medium formats.
Now let's talk about the downsides. The camera is expensive. The body alone is just under $7000. The lenses start at $1700 and go up. This is not a camera for those on a budget. Is it worth the money? To me yes. Not everyone will agree. But these cameras are hand-made and very precise. If any camera body is worth $7000 the M9 is it.
The other downside is that the Leica cameras are popular and since their factory is small, they can't keep up with demand. It's almost impossible to find lenses for the M9 unless they are used. Even then it's not easy to get the highly-desirable fast glass. Most Leica owners love their cameras and lenses and few offer them for resale. It's a real problem and Leica needs to address it.
One last issue to cover is the battery life. It pretty much sucks. I mean really, you HAVE to have at least two batteries. This camera drinks battery juice like I used to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken - by the bucket. If you're used to the modern Canon and Nikon battery life you'll be disappointed at the Leica battery performance. Two or even three batteries may be needed to do an entire day of shooting. And like everything else Leica, the batteries are not cheap - but they aren't outrageous either.
CONCLUSION
The Leica M9 is the world's smallest, lightest, full frame digital camera. It's also for me personally, the perfect digital camera for everything but sports and wildlife. It's light, ergonomically efficient, well-built, powerful, beautiful, elegant and most of all simple. The move to simplicity in photography reminds me of my early days shooting. With a Leica I can just concentrate on seeing. I don't need to worry about the camera. It's just an extension of my eye. But that's me. For you, it might be a different story.
Back to me :) If it sounds like I am in love with the M9 well - I am. It's almost a religious experience. It's not for everyone. Really - it isn't. It takes time to understand. It is something you work with and eventually, it becomes a part of you.
Highly recommended.
Review Copyright Scott Bourne - Photofocus.com
Inspired again, S. Eckhardt "painter"
I've had an M6 for about 16 or 17 years and many M lenses and pretty much had stopped taking photos with the M6 when film essentially started to be taken over by digital and I don't live near any decent photolab and no longer have a darkroom, so dealing with film, etc., just became more trouble than it was worth. I was able for several years to get by with an Epson RD-1 digital camera and still use my M lenses which was just alright. But, that stopped working over a year ago, and not worth having repaired. And, the reviews of the M8 really didn't entice me. Well, I am so thrilled now to have traded in some old film gear and buy the new full frame digital M9!!! I just love it and its reminding me all over again why I loved the M6!!! To carry this quality of a camera around with me in a small bag, discreetly, and take these kind of photos again whenever I feel like it, and as many as my SD card and battery charge can handle, is just grand. I am considering getting a couple of batteries and many SD cards just so I never run short!
The funny part was when I first started taking photos with this camera, I found my right thumb lost searching for the shutter winder. But, the thumb soon figured it out!
To those that are comparing this camera to a Canon or a Nikon DSLR, etc., I won't argue one way or the other on image quality. That's 'eye of the beholder' stuff. I also own a Canon DSLR and I love that also. It's amazing, really. However, it's a differet animal. Like comparing apples to oranges. People who can't see the beauty in the M will never get it. It is how you shoot that makes the difference here. Your not carrying around a big honkin' heavy SLR that goes 'ker chunk'! This camera is small and quite. Something about composing an image thru the viewfinder of a rangefinder camera just makes for a better photographer for composition sake. With an SLR, you are tunnel visioned thru the lens, which has its advantages I like too, but composition becomes more difficult. Until one gets that and can appreciates it, they aren't going to understand the M camera.
For those that are new to the M camera system, be warned however that finding lenses for this camera is very difficult. I luckily still own my old lenses, which are not six bit coded so I have to let the camera know which one I have on every time, but they all work fine on this camera. To buy the newer lenses with this coding, not only are they hard to find if you want a particular one like the Summilux 50mm ASPH, the price is incredibly high!! So, if you have the older lenses, hang onto them! If you have none, good luck!
So my bottom line is this camera has inspired me all over again. There is a reason these cameras are great and the Leica M lenses just keep going and going. It's not just hype.
Worth every penny!, Nancy T.
This camera is the ultimate cure for camera-envy. You know, the disease that always makes you wonder "what if?" and "is that better than mine?" It's not about prestige or name-recognition (the first modification I made to my M9 was to stick silver duct tape over the famous red dot and the "M9" engraving). For me, camera envy equates to wanting the best tool available to capture moments that will never be repeated. And it's not just about image quality or I'd be lugging around an 8x10 view camera every day (which I have done). It's also about convenience, portability, simplicity, and the picture-taking experience.
Enter the Leica M9.
The pictures are good. So good. Just go ahead and check out people's images on flickr. And then remind yourself that what you are seeing has been processed, possibly re-sized, and only you know how good your computer monitor is at color management. Let me just tell you that the images are amazing. I have owned many dSLRs over the years and you never get sharpness like this. Maybe it's the lack of an AA filter on the sensor, maybe it's the lenses. But it's definitely something. Something good.
If you're coming from a Leica film camera, you'll never believe how liberating it is to be able to shoot continuously for hundreds of frames before having to change out your roll (aka memory card). It's a whole new world. I take more risks now because I don't have to worry that I'll run out of film. It feels just like getting my first digital camera. "Wait, you mean if I totally mess up a shot I can just delete and then shoot again?" Yes. Yes, you can. Or don't even bother deleting because you can still take 400 more. You want to see what a shot will look like at every possible aperature setting? Just try it. It won't cost you a penny. Anything goes. And unlike film, the MORE you shoot, the cheaper you can tell yourself photography is. Take 1000 frames and your new camera cost you $7 a shot. Take 70,000 frames and now it only cost $0.10 a shot. That's $3.60 for 36 "exposures" - let's see ... how much does film cost again?
If you're coming from a dSLR you'll love how low-profile the M9 is. When I had a Canon 5D Mark II, I had the thing not around my neck most of the time but in a bag (because it's heavy). But then you know what it's like, you pull out your elephant gun and while you might see a giant, red ring and think, "Oh, it's an L lens," other people nervously scoop up their children and duck for cover. The mirror sounds remind me of playing the arcade game Buckhunter. And also I feel ridiculous the whole day, especially as I walk by other people with their dSLRs. There's just NO slick way to pull it off. None. With your Leica M9, you can get a beatup neck strap, stick it in an old case (or get a new case and beat it up yourself), and you look like you're shooting with your dad's old camera. No one runs. More often than not, people look right into my shot because they're trying to figure out what's wrong with me. Can't I afford a new camera?
One caveat. You have to know how to shoot. You can't hide behind autofocus, programmed settings, nor even a zoom lens (I'm not counting the Tri-Elmar as a zoom ok?). You'll have to actually stand where you need to stand to take the picture you want, you'll have to decide what f/stop to use, and you'll have to focus. Why can't Leica develop autofocus? Why would you want it? Then you'd have to tell the camera which AF mode to use, scroll thru menu after menu, then check to make sure the camera did what you asked by zooming in using the LCD screen. I'd much rather just focus and go on to my next shot. I know it's sharp because I focused it myself. And if you suck at it, you'll be surprised at how fast you get better, especially since you can see the results right away if you want. By now I can pretty much guess the focus and have the camera ready to go by the time I bring it up to my eye. Some will say that it's more work to shoot with a rangefinder. But you could also say that it's easier to be in control and get the exact shot you want the first time around.
It's been said before but I'll say it here too. This camera becomes an extension of you, of your eye. It's so simple that you can really get to know exactly what it'll do, you can trust it. The quality you get for the size and weight you'll be carrying around is unmatched.
In conclusion, at first glance I may look like I have the crappiest, oldest camera on the block - but rest assured, camera envy is GONE. For what I want - the M9 is the best, hands down, in every category. How often does that happen?
Worth every penny!, Nancy T.
This camera is the ultimate cure for camera-envy. You know, the disease that always makes you wonder "what if?" and "is that better than mine?" It's not about prestige or name-recognition (the first modification I made to my M9 was to stick silver duct tape over the famous red dot and the "M9" engraving). For me, camera envy equates to wanting the best tool available to capture moments that will never be repeated. And it's not just about image quality or I'd be lugging around an 8x10 view camera every day (which I have done). It's also about convenience, portability, simplicity, and the picture-taking experience.
Enter the Leica M9.
The pictures are good. So good. Just go ahead and check out people's images on flickr. And then remind yourself that what you are seeing has been processed, possibly re-sized, and only you know how good your computer monitor is at color management. Let me just tell you that the images are amazing. I have owned many dSLRs over the years and you never get sharpness like this. Maybe it's the lack of an AA filter on the sensor, maybe it's the lenses. But it's definitely something. Something good.
If you're coming from a Leica film camera, you'll never believe how liberating it is to be able to shoot continuously for hundreds of frames before having to change out your roll (aka memory card). It's a whole new world. I take more risks now because I don't have to worry that I'll run out of film. It feels just like getting my first digital camera. "Wait, you mean if I totally mess up a shot I can just delete and then shoot again?" Yes. Yes, you can. Or don't even bother deleting because you can still take 400 more. You want to see what a shot will look like at every possible aperature setting? Just try it. It won't cost you a penny. Anything goes. And unlike film, the MORE you shoot, the cheaper you can tell yourself photography is. Take 1000 frames and your new camera cost you $7 a shot. Take 70,000 frames and now it only cost $0.10 a shot. That's $3.60 for 36 "exposures" - let's see ... how much does film cost again?
If you're coming from a dSLR you'll love how low-profile the M9 is. When I had a Canon 5D Mark II, I had the thing not around my neck most of the time but in a bag (because it's heavy). But then you know what it's like, you pull out your elephant gun and while you might see a giant, red ring and think, "Oh, it's an L lens," other people nervously scoop up their children and duck for cover. The mirror sounds remind me of playing the arcade game Buckhunter. And also I feel ridiculous the whole day, especially as I walk by other people with their dSLRs. There's just NO slick way to pull it off. None. With your Leica M9, you can get a beatup neck strap, stick it in an old case (or get a new case and beat it up yourself), and you look like you're shooting with your dad's old camera. No one runs. More often than not, people look right into my shot because they're trying to figure out what's wrong with me. Can't I afford a new camera?
One caveat. You have to know how to shoot. You can't hide behind autofocus, programmed settings, nor even a zoom lens (I'm not counting the Tri-Elmar as a zoom ok?). You'll have to actually stand where you need to stand to take the picture you want, you'll have to decide what f/stop to use, and you'll have to focus. Why can't Leica develop autofocus? Why would you want it? Then you'd have to tell the camera which AF mode to use, scroll thru menu after menu, then check to make sure the camera did what you asked by zooming in using the LCD screen. I'd much rather just focus and go on to my next shot. I know it's sharp because I focused it myself. And if you suck at it, you'll be surprised at how fast you get better, especially since you can see the results right away if you want. By now I can pretty much guess the focus and have the camera ready to go by the time I bring it up to my eye. Some will say that it's more work to shoot with a rangefinder. But you could also say that it's easier to be in control and get the exact shot you want the first time around.
It's been said before but I'll say it here too. This camera becomes an extension of you, of your eye. It's so simple that you can really get to know exactly what it'll do, you can trust it. The quality you get for the size and weight you'll be carrying around is unmatched.
In conclusion, at first glance I may look like I have the crappiest, oldest camera on the block - but rest assured, camera envy is GONE. For what I want - the M9 is the best, hands down, in every category. How often does that happen?
Worth every penny!, Nancy T.
This camera is the ultimate cure for camera-envy. You know, the disease that always makes you wonder "what if?" and "is that better than mine?" It's not about prestige or name-recognition (the first modification I made to my M9 was to stick silver duct tape over the famous red dot and the "M9" engraving). For me, camera envy equates to wanting the best tool available to capture moments that will never be repeated. And it's not just about image quality or I'd be lugging around an 8x10 view camera every day (which I have done). It's also about convenience, portability, simplicity, and the picture-taking experience.
Enter the Leica M9.
The pictures are good. So good. Just go ahead and check out people's images on flickr. And then remind yourself that what you are seeing has been processed, possibly re-sized, and only you know how good your computer monitor is at color management. Let me just tell you that the images are amazing. I have owned many dSLRs over the years and you never get sharpness like this. Maybe it's the lack of an AA filter on the sensor, maybe it's the lenses. But it's definitely something. Something good.
If you're coming from a Leica film camera, you'll never believe how liberating it is to be able to shoot continuously for hundreds of frames before having to change out your roll (aka memory card). It's a whole new world. I take more risks now because I don't have to worry that I'll run out of film. It feels just like getting my first digital camera. "Wait, you mean if I totally mess up a shot I can just delete and then shoot again?" Yes. Yes, you can. Or don't even bother deleting because you can still take 400 more. You want to see what a shot will look like at every possible aperature setting? Just try it. It won't cost you a penny. Anything goes. And unlike film, the MORE you shoot, the cheaper you can tell yourself photography is. Take 1000 frames and your new camera cost you $7 a shot. Take 70,000 frames and now it only cost $0.10 a shot. That's $3.60 for 36 "exposures" - let's see ... how much does film cost again?
If you're coming from a dSLR you'll love how low-profile the M9 is. When I had a Canon 5D Mark II, I had the thing not around my neck most of the time but in a bag (because it's heavy). But then you know what it's like, you pull out your elephant gun and while you might see a giant, red ring and think, "Oh, it's an L lens," other people nervously scoop up their children and duck for cover. The mirror sounds remind me of playing the arcade game Buckhunter. And also I feel ridiculous the whole day, especially as I walk by other people with their dSLRs. There's just NO slick way to pull it off. None. With your Leica M9, you can get a beatup neck strap, stick it in an old case (or get a new case and beat it up yourself), and you look like you're shooting with your dad's old camera. No one runs. More often than not, people look right into my shot because they're trying to figure out what's wrong with me. Can't I afford a new camera?
One caveat. You have to know how to shoot. You can't hide behind autofocus, programmed settings, nor even a zoom lens (I'm not counting the Tri-Elmar as a zoom ok?). You'll have to actually stand where you need to stand to take the picture you want, you'll have to decide what f/stop to use, and you'll have to focus. Why can't Leica develop autofocus? Why would you want it? Then you'd have to tell the camera which AF mode to use, scroll thru menu after menu, then check to make sure the camera did what you asked by zooming in using the LCD screen. I'd much rather just focus and go on to my next shot. I know it's sharp because I focused it myself. And if you suck at it, you'll be surprised at how fast you get better, especially since you can see the results right away if you want. By now I can pretty much guess the focus and have the camera ready to go by the time I bring it up to my eye. Some will say that it's more work to shoot with a rangefinder. But you could also say that it's easier to be in control and get the exact shot you want the first time around.
It's been said before but I'll say it here too. This camera becomes an extension of you, of your eye. It's so simple that you can really get to know exactly what it'll do, you can trust it. The quality you get for the size and weight you'll be carrying around is unmatched.
In conclusion, at first glance I may look like I have the crappiest, oldest camera on the block - but rest assured, camera envy is GONE. For what I want - the M9 is the best, hands down, in every category. How often does that happen?