dreamsandart
Well-known
Happy Birthday M9!
Yesterday, or is it today in world time? (I’m in Japan), is the 7 year birthday 09/09/2009 of the M9. Got mine a short time later. Didn’t plan on that buy at all, but a chance visit to the camera shop to just check if they had one to only look at and handle, and a cancelled pre-order, and I couldn’t resist.
Its still the camera I bought it for. Looking back… Its been very dependable, FF for my Leica Lenses, and just does the same job it has from that beginning. My usual shooting style doesn’t need quickness after the shutter release, a burst of 2-3 exposures is the exception, the file quality is fine for my needs, handles basically like the M-film camera in digital form with quality materials and finish. Yes, I could up-grade for better file IQ, refinements and file processing quickness, I’ve thought about it, but I still can not justify that move (at this time) for my use and price.
Some folks complained loudly about the original price of the M9, or still do with any of the newer Leica offerings. Yesterday I was calculating my original cost and 7 years as I walked up the mountain to a 1000 year old Shrine with the M9 and 35 Summilux on the front. The camera still has ‘value’ and even if sold on today’s used market its been a reasonable ‘rental’ over that time, and still going...
The only regret I have is that I have not used it as much as I had planned and with projects that I’d originally intended with this ‘crazy’ purchase. Yes, used it, but not close to the 100,000+ shutter life, and the black paint finish still looks very good with just a bit of brass. Its still working fine, and for a 7 year old digital camera its amazing its relevant at all, but there are still a lot of folks that like this camera - having bought it new, or used - and make great photography with it. Going to need a new sensor at some time, and when that happens I’ll get another ‘new’ camera back without any cost. Amazingly I’ve had RF, lens adjustments and sensor cleanings, a replaced sensor over these years done quickly, and all quality service done at no cost! Not bad for an old digital camera, and I try not to think too much on that original price because of this.
Yes, the newer M and monochrome cameras have advantages, but when I use the M9 I don’t feel I’m missing all that much. Newer options will always be there and coming out, chasing the tail is something I can not afford or want to leap to (at these prices its a ‘leap’) with each and every ‘better.' Its sometimes hard to be satisfied without 'change', but I’m getting there. A few year ago I sold a 50 Summilux-ASPH because I realised I had a ’69’ 50 Summicron I’d been using for 4 decades and I still am sometimes drop jawed amazed at its optical quality, it may not have that total ’modern look’, but is very familiar and ‘classic’, and does what I want beautifully. The M9 has kind of gotten that same feel, it may not be technically perfect [especially] by the most modern standards, but if the photographer is good I can still make very satisfying results with that whole Leica-zen feel.
Yesterday, or is it today in world time? (I’m in Japan), is the 7 year birthday 09/09/2009 of the M9. Got mine a short time later. Didn’t plan on that buy at all, but a chance visit to the camera shop to just check if they had one to only look at and handle, and a cancelled pre-order, and I couldn’t resist.
Its still the camera I bought it for. Looking back… Its been very dependable, FF for my Leica Lenses, and just does the same job it has from that beginning. My usual shooting style doesn’t need quickness after the shutter release, a burst of 2-3 exposures is the exception, the file quality is fine for my needs, handles basically like the M-film camera in digital form with quality materials and finish. Yes, I could up-grade for better file IQ, refinements and file processing quickness, I’ve thought about it, but I still can not justify that move (at this time) for my use and price.
Some folks complained loudly about the original price of the M9, or still do with any of the newer Leica offerings. Yesterday I was calculating my original cost and 7 years as I walked up the mountain to a 1000 year old Shrine with the M9 and 35 Summilux on the front. The camera still has ‘value’ and even if sold on today’s used market its been a reasonable ‘rental’ over that time, and still going...
The only regret I have is that I have not used it as much as I had planned and with projects that I’d originally intended with this ‘crazy’ purchase. Yes, used it, but not close to the 100,000+ shutter life, and the black paint finish still looks very good with just a bit of brass. Its still working fine, and for a 7 year old digital camera its amazing its relevant at all, but there are still a lot of folks that like this camera - having bought it new, or used - and make great photography with it. Going to need a new sensor at some time, and when that happens I’ll get another ‘new’ camera back without any cost. Amazingly I’ve had RF, lens adjustments and sensor cleanings, a replaced sensor over these years done quickly, and all quality service done at no cost! Not bad for an old digital camera, and I try not to think too much on that original price because of this.
Yes, the newer M and monochrome cameras have advantages, but when I use the M9 I don’t feel I’m missing all that much. Newer options will always be there and coming out, chasing the tail is something I can not afford or want to leap to (at these prices its a ‘leap’) with each and every ‘better.' Its sometimes hard to be satisfied without 'change', but I’m getting there. A few year ago I sold a 50 Summilux-ASPH because I realised I had a ’69’ 50 Summicron I’d been using for 4 decades and I still am sometimes drop jawed amazed at its optical quality, it may not have that total ’modern look’, but is very familiar and ‘classic’, and does what I want beautifully. The M9 has kind of gotten that same feel, it may not be technically perfect [especially] by the most modern standards, but if the photographer is good I can still make very satisfying results with that whole Leica-zen feel.
