Does the digital Ms feel like the film ones?

[Richard G]

My short answer to your very well specified question is yes. It is different but good or just as good in the right way that would matter to you. I am out with my M9 every day and it feels no more different or maybe not as different as the M5 which was my most recent daily camera. Get an M9. Enjoy it.

 

[JMQ]

Why don't you borrow an M9 (or any of its cousins M9P, MM) or better yet, rent one for a week, and see how you like it. For me, it was close enough to the film M, but as many here have stated, the feel is close, but different.

 

[overtoom]

I combine an M7 with an M8. Although my M8 is much bulkier, they work perfectly fine next to each other. Maybe its because my M7 hasn't got a soul nor do I sleep with her...😉

 

[Godfrey]

I have the M4-2 and the M9 out on my desk next to me at the moment. The M9 is a bit larger camera, when you pick up the M4-2 after holding the M9 for a bit, the M4-2 feels more svelte.

But they're of the same essence. If I put the winder on the M4-2, neither require I cock the shutter manually. The viewfinders look slightly different but mostly the same. The extra buttons on the back of the M9, and its screen, are there to support its functions and setup, they're invisible to my eye unless I need/want to use them.

Put the M4-2 down for an hour, use only the M9, and I forget that it's a bit larger. They otherwise feel and operate the same to my perception.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I think what bothered me the most about the digital M bodies is the shutter release. It doesn't feel anywhere as crisp as a film M and that is not a good thing. Hopefully the M240 will be an improvement.

The inaccuracy of the framelines on the original M8 render the camera close to useless, but that was corrected with the M8.2 and apparently you can have the mask upgraded in the M8. The framelines in the M9 are very good. The same as a pre-M6 film body (1 meter coverage)

I could live with the fatter body. It doesn't feel as lean and elegant as a film M, but it does feel like a Leica M, if that makes any sense. If Apple made the M series it would probably be a lot thinner. Jony Ive (head designer for Apple) is doing a special edition for Leica and I'm curious to see what he comes up with.

Highlight 1: Isn't this a slight overstatement? Verging, in fact, on nonsense? Have you used an M8 much?

Highlight 2: How do you think they might have accomplished this?

Cheers,

R.

 

[menthel]

Having just recently got my M9 having used an M6 for over a year I find them quite similar. In fact I keep reaching for the film advance lever after each shot with the M9!

 

[Lss]

The on/off switch on the M8 is annoyling lose, the one on the M9 is much improved.

I haven't made the comparison against an M9, but it's not loose or annoying on my M8. It just works.

 

[ajramirez]

I own a M9P and a M6TTL. They both feel very solid and feel like quality products. The M6 is noticeably thinner. Additionally, the shutter release on the M9P has two partial detents, so it does not feel as smooth as the release in the M6. The shutter is also louder, particularly when combined with the sound of the shutter rechecking.

Obviously, there is no film advance lever on the M9 which affects handling vis-a-vis the M6.

What is remarkable, in my opinion, is how similar they are, otherwise.

Cheers,

Antonio

 

[jsrockit]

It's the digital age folks, get over it. Turn off "auto play" and don't be bothered with peeping your shots. Keep shooting and don't miss life staring at the $&?%@ screen ! Watch it at home!

Because we all know there is only one way to work in photography... 🙄 😛

 

[santino]

I haven't compared the M6 against any digital M but I can tell you that an M3 feels even more solid than the M6 classic!

 

[douglasf13]

I own a M9P and a M6TTL. They both feel very solid and feel like quality products. The M6 is noticeably thinner. Additionally, the shutter release on the M9P has two partial detents, so it does not feel as smooth as the release in the M6...

That is because the M9 has A mode and needs a way to lock exposure. If you set the camera to soft shutter release and avoid A mode, you can ignore the second indent. That's what I do.

 

[crispy12]

The feeling is different for sure, but not in a bad way. The digital is very hefty, almost a bit too heavy IMO. The M6 is much more comfortable to hold, it's thinner and lighter.

The lack of shutter release on the M9 makes it feel a bit different, but the shutter sound is much quieter compared to the M8. I think it's almost similar to a film M if you use the discrete release mode. The shooting experience can be fast or slow, the focusing and exposure is exactly 100% like a film M.

The convenience of digital is the main reason I got one, a new M-E. it's great, I love it. Allows me to shoot much more even if I have a busy schedule. I can shoot all sorts of random shots and photos of family snapshots etc that I wouldn't usually use film on. Just playing with my gear at home after a busy day, enjoying the fantastic build quality. I bring the M-E and M6 out, digital for colour and film for BW.

 

[Godfrey]

... the shutter release on the M9P has two partial detents, so it does not feel as smooth as the release in the M6. ...
What is remarkable, in my opinion, is how similar they are, otherwise.

Set your M9 release to 'soft' and much of the difference in feel between them disappears. 🙂

 

[FrozenInTime]

Set your M9 release to 'soft' and much of the difference in feel between them disappears. 🙂

But you loose AE lock - which may not matter if you prefer manual exposure.

 

[rpsawin]

Just about close enough -- and the more you use 'em, the more you get used to 'em. The real point is that nothing else even feels close. Film Ms still feel nicer, though.

Cheers,

R.

+1

Best regards,

Bob

 

[Godfrey]

But you loose AE lock - which may not matter if you prefer manual exposure.

I use the EV Compensation control with the command dial or manual settings ...

 

[furcafe]

I've handled almost every regular Leica M model (only exceptions I can think of are the CL/CLE, M4-2, & M4-P) & I would say that the M8 & M9 (have owned both) are close enough.

IMHO, the M8/M9 feel a bit "hollow" or lens dense compared to the closest film model (M7), but that's because the body is slighly fatter & the M7 is relatively heavy compared to all of the Ms except for the M5. Not a big deal (for me, anyway).

Or does the M9 in fact feel "digital"? Is it too light for it's size, or such?

Maybe a ridiculous question, but I can't help but value those things. I really don't like stuff that feels "hollow" or "too light for it's size" 😉.

Thanks!

 

[kennylovrin]

Hey everyone, cool with so many answers!

Just to get back on this a bit - I was in a local store yesterday and felt the M9 real quick. It wasn't why I went there, I just asked to have a quick look while I was there.

I have to say it did seem quite a bit thicker than my M6, which I had been out shooting just before I went into the store. But, I have to say I liked it, at least the short time I held it in store. I think I may even have liked it more than my M6.

It did feel quite heavy though, much heavier than I expected for some reason, perhaps just because I expect plastic only because its digital. It felt sturdy though I have to say.

So yeah, initially I don't think I would be in pleased with the "feeling".

 

[kennylovrin]

Oh by the way, I guess we all know this already, but I found it a bit funny so just wanted to share.

I've read in so many places how people complain about how loud the m9 is, and sure it's louder than my M6, but I have to say that to me it was still very quiet. I mean, it didn't even come close to my canon 5dmkii.

So that is most likely not going to be a problem for me at least. 🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

Hey everyone, cool with so many answers!

Just to get back on this a bit - I was in a local store yesterday and felt the M9 real quick. It wasn't why I went there, I just asked to have a quick look while I was there.

I have to say it did seem quite a bit thicker than my M6, which I had been out shooting just before I went into the store. But, I have to say I liked it, at least the short time I held it in store. I think I may even have liked it more than my M6.

It did feel quite heavy though, much heavier than I expected for some reason, perhaps just because I expect plastic only because its digital. It felt sturdy though I have to say.

So yeah, initially I don't think I would be in pleased with the "feeling".

I found the 'fatness' very upsetting at first but I very soon got used to it. And that was the ONLY real problem, which, from the sound of it, in your case you have not got. Other problems? The bloody on-off switch going to 'serie' and 'timer', and occasionally the lack of a lever-wind -- though as I have one of Tom's winders on my M2 and a Leicavit on my MP, that wasn't so bad.

For noise, try an original 1/8000 second M8 (aka 'the staple gun') if you can.

Cheers,

R.