Had thought a FF dRF was in my future, but now reconsidering

[noimmunity]

There's almost always a compromise involved somewhere, unless your needs and budget exactly match what the camera offers.

I have a GXR-M and a M9, among others. The GXR-M's image quality is a not M9-like, but still does a great job. The lack of AA filter gives it very sharp images, but not in the same way that a M9 is sharp. The M9 gives me some of the richest and sharpest images out of all of my cameras. Having said that, I would definitely use a GXR-M plus some good lenses as a landscape hiking kit. It's not that the GXR isn't a great camera - it is. Due to its size, convenience and image quality I now use it as much, perhaps more than, the M9. But the M9 produces super images.

I bought the M9 because dragging a 5D Mark II everywhere was getting tiresome. The irony is that over the last couple of years I've becomes less and less tolerant of weight to the point where even a M9, a few lenses and a backup camera or two is heavy. Where I used to carry the M9 all the time, I now only carry it if I know I'm not walking a lot, or it will be in my hands and take the weight off my shoulder. Or if the situation demands the best image quality I can get, I just suck it up and take the M9.

If the M9 had not spoiled me with its image quality I could happily use the GXR as my compact solution. Image quality, plus the ability to use M-mount lenses at their intended focal lengths and with appropriate depth of field, means that the M9 will always win the ultimate battle for me. But for general purpose and non-critical shooting I am very happy with the GXR.

"Best compromise" is really the key here. When I posted this message several months ago, I was in the process of re-evaluating the criteria that for me would constitute "best compromise".

If I didn't already have an M8, but did still have the M lenses I do, I would definitely think the GXR+A12 M mount would be the best digital landscape set up for mobile uses like backpacking. I think it is better than the M8, but not better enough to warrant the cost of changing and/or the 'cost' of losing a mechanical rangefinder.

Still, in almost all cases, I would prefer to take the Bessa T or the Bessa R4A loaded with Velvia 50.

I would love to have an M9, but it does not fit the criteria of best compromise for me at this time, nor for the forseeable future.

 

[Godfrey]

I've had the GXR since last April, the M mount since it was first released. It's a very fine camera ... I enjoy using it tremendously, it makes great photos for me, I've geared up for it with a selection of lenses.

However, along the way in waiting for the M-mount and acquiring lenses I bought an M4-2 out of nostalgia for my old M film gear. It was cheap, it needed to have the RF adjusted and calibrated (which I had done). But, my gosh, how much I like using it!

After using it a few times and realizing that I'd like something more like it in addition to the GXR-M that was also digital capture, and a couple of detours into an Epson R-D1 and Fuji X10 for good measure, I came to the conclusion that the only thing that would be as close to the M4-2 as possible and would satisfy me was an M8 or M9. Otherwise, I would just be happiest sticking with the GXR-M and leaving it at that.

I have the money, or rather had, and ordered an M9 yesterday. Should be here on Friday. I'm excited, I think it's going to be wonderful. On Friday I start to learn how to use it—time to forget all the "what ifs" and "which ones".

Time to do photography and forget all the equipment pondering.

(Oh yes: I'll be keeping the GXR-M too. And my beloved ancient M4-2 and the lovely, almost equally ancient (in modern terms) E-1. All good cameras.)

 

[Doug]

...I bought an M4-2 out of nostalgia for my old M film gear. It was cheap, it needed to have the RF adjusted and calibrated (which I had done). But, my gosh, how much I like using it!
...
I have the money, or rather had, and ordered an M9 yesterday. Should be here on Friday. I'm excited, I think it's going to be wonderful. On Friday I start to learn how to use it—time to forget all the "what ifs" and "which ones".

Godfrey, congrats on the new gear. It sounds like you've considered well this significant decision. I agree with you about the user experience, something often given little weight, seems like.

I like the RF viewing of the M-like cameras yet I also like the SLR strong points of my old Pentaxes. But the typical digital camera electronic interface is way too complex, with too many features getting in the way. I far prefer the simpler M8/M9/S2 type user interface, even at great expense.

I hope and expect you'll come to love your new M9! Both for its easy use and for its brilliant output.

 

[Archiver]

@Godfrey - congratulations! I'm sure you will love shooting with the M9.

@noimmunity - I hear you about the affordability, and whether to give up the M8 for the GXR. I've never had a M8 so I can't compare them, but I will say that the focus peaking is not, for me, as accurate or fast as rangefinder focusing on the M9. I can achieve focus with the M9 with only a faint object in low light, but the GXR has difficulty 'seeing' low contrast objects in those conditions. I also find that if there lens is wide-ish and there is a lot of detail in the subject, focus peaking can be a little iffy as the whole area lights up. Rangefinder focusing is more reliable here as well.

On the GXR I use a few lenses for wide angles like the 28mm module, which is great; the CV 12/5.6, which is a GREAT 18mm; and the Zeiss 21/2.8 which becomes a very sharp 30/2.8. I have a slew of other lenses and often use a CV 25/4P as my 'normal' lens, which becomes a 38/4.

If you were to use the GXR primarily as a landscape camera, the issues of focusing would be far less. Just set to infinity or thereabouts and go to f10+ and Bob's your uncle.

As for image quality: again, I can't compare it with the M8, but I will say that the colour palette and white balance seems quite different. The M9 often creates a look that is similar to the Sigma DP cameras, something I have read about the M8, as well. The GXR is more like a modern DSLR sensor, but has a very rich and dense look to its images which is different, not necessarily worse. Processing the GXR images through LR3.6 yields fantastic results, and colour can be just incredible if you like that massively saturated look.