2. hand M9 purchase

Olsen

Olsen

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I have been 'swimming around like a shark' looking for a almost new M9 for sale. It finally seem to that I have found one. A 3 months old M9 for sale here in Norway. Price NOK 35.000 (about US$ 5,700).

Should I go for it?
 
Warranty is regulated by Norwegian law, like in most European countries, and is two years. I can even make a reject after three years under certain circumstances. I don't even need the warranty document that comes with the camera. Just the receipt to confirm the date the camera was purchased new. I had to return my M8 to Solms via the Norwegian dealer, although I had bought it new in Singapore. They fixed The Red Line, free of charge. I regard Leica (Europe) to be very generous regarding warranty issues. I see that many Americans have quite different experiences in the US with 'Leica NJ'. This is due to the much better consumer protection here in Europe.
 
I think demo units are starting to appear. I got a demo M9, almost mint, 18 month warranty, same price as you mention.

Vick
 
Dealers were offered M9 demos a few months ago, but were restricted from selling them until December, so there will be a few. Only one per dealer was allotted.
 
I have decided to go for it.

I wonder if anyone what I have to do to use the Lightroom that comes with it. I have never used Lightroom. Or, if the Capture One 4 that I use with my M8 can handle the M9 DNGs. Which one is best?
 
Olsen said:
I have decided to go for it.

I wonder if anyone what I have to do to use the Lightroom that comes with it. I have never used Lightroom. Or, if the Capture One 4 that I use with my M8 can handle the M9 DNGs. Which one is best?
Click to expand...

One advice:

Download a 30 days trial version of Lightroom 3, install it and use it.
Lightroom needs time, to understand and use to one's advantage.

Do not use the license yet, that comes with the M9.
If it happens, you do not like Lightroom, you can sell the license and fetch a battery or two from the money ;-)

I am a sucker for Lightroom, I do everything in it and could not live without it.
I know though, there are people, who do not feel comfortable using it (it introduces some different operations form the usual OS operations in the Explorer or Finder and you have to learn the fixed key shortcuts, to use it fluidly and efficiently, which takes some time).
 
Olsen said:
I have decided to go for it.

I wonder if anyone what I have to do to use the Lightroom that comes with it. I have never used Lightroom. Or, if the Capture One 4 that I use with my M8 can handle the M9 DNGs. Which one is best?
Click to expand...
For the M9 (and M8) LR3 or CS5 is a no-brainer. It is so much improved that it has left C1 in the dust, especially in high-ISO capture. And its own previous versions too...
 
New M9 owner!

New M9 owner!

Then I have made the purchase.

Fumbling with the M9 now. First impression: Takes a long time to format the SD card, Far longer than on the M8. Even when only shooting DNG the M9 is slower than the M8. Same computer capacity as on the M8? M9 chooses a darker exposure setting on 'Auto' than the M8. Which is OK as long as it is consistant from scene to scene. The shutter is more quiet, but not 'that' much more quiet. What was all that fuzz about?

My WATE, particularly on 16 mm, is turned into an enormous tool that I will try to investigate further. - With a field of view almost like a panorama camera. And my old and trusted Cron 35 mm 2,0 is turned into a 'ordinary' 35 mm with my favourite field of view. At last. I haven't tried my Noctilux 50 mm 1,0 yet(the one with the built in sun shade, - sort of). But even my Noctilux has now got back it's original field of view. Pleasant.

Many find the M8 more elegant with the frame counter window on the top. More 'retro', in a way. I agree. This funny 'edge' on the M9 looks strange. - But it isn't important. It is the performance of the camera that counts. The M9 looks more elegant with the black paint than the black elox on the M8. But I fear that it is gets more easily scratched than the M8 elox. The three months of use is visible on my M9 while the soon to be three years on my M8 is hardly visible at all...

More to come.
 
Last edited:
You made a good deal!

I have been trying to sell mine here in Finland for 4750€ and the add has gotten a lot of attention but not a single contact. I won't put it here because PayPal and shipping would increase the price too much.

Is that two year warranty only in Norway? My receipt says one year.
 
I don't know the warranty laws in Finland, but I am familiar with the warranty laws here in Norway and Sweden at least. The main point is that warranty is regulated 'by law'. Not only as a 'specified gift' from the producer (re. the warranty documents that follow almost all products you can buy).

-It would surprise me if Finland does not have a 'warranty law' which exceeds any typical 'warranty document'. Such warranty laws are very typical in all EU countries. You should check this more thoroughly.
 
Olsen said:
I don't know the warranty laws in Finland, but I am familiar with the warranty laws here in Norway and Sweden at least. The main point is that warranty is regulated 'by law'. Not only as a 'specified gift' from the producer (re. the warranty documents that follow almost all products you can buy).

-It would surprise me if Finland does not have a 'warranty law' which exceeds any typical 'warranty document'. Such warranty laws are very typical in all EU countries. You should check this more thoroughly.
Click to expand...

It appears that the case in Finland is not so good:
http://www.kuluttajavirasto.fi/en-GB/consumer-advice/consumer-rights/warranty/

Warranties are voluntary benefits provided by a retailer, importer or manufacturer
Click to expand...
 
Regarding price: A M9 costs 'about' 50.000 NOK VAT included here in Norway. But few pay that price. Because many buyers are 'companies' that can deduct the 20% VAT. - Like most pro or semi pro photographers often have. Citizens of countries with high VAT often buy their expensive cameras when going overseas on business trips or holiday. Like going to B & H NY. Here one can buy a M9 for $ 6,995 = NOK 41.600. - Even cheaper at typical 'tax free' outlets like Abu Dabi, Hong Kong, Singapore etc. The VAT could be as high as 20% of the sales price.

I could have bought a M9 at 'about' 40 - 41.000 NOK in Singapore last October, but they had none in stock! Well, they (Cathay Photo) had one demo example, but would not sell that to me! (- The following conversation over the Cathay Photo counter must have been a study in 'communication made difficult by cultural differences....')

Since I could buy a brand new M9 for 'about' (depending on currency rates) 41.600 - 40.000 - I think that NOK 35.000 is a fair price for a 2.hand M9. Further: Three examples M9 have been sold here in Norway the last three months, that I know of. Two of these went for 35.000. The third even cheaper since it was sold for NOK 65.000 with the 21 mm 1,4 included - a hell of a deal that I missed....
 
If it is taking a long time to format the card it might not have the latest firmware. this was a problem that was sorted with the latest update.
 
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