Ken Rockwell convinced me this is the best digital camera ever!!!

Hi gb,

Many thanks for your greetings and for calling attention to this review, which is valuable. Now doubt this camera must be included among the best availabe.

But to classify it as the best ever, the best of all, without it having AF, it sounds to me unfit. Of course anyone is entitled to say for what should I use AF instead of the traditinal MF, which Leica has enhanced to perfection. But without a creditable AF option, hmmm, it will be a camera for a certain type of photogs, not an all inclusive one, with all due respect for those who love it, as indeed there is no doubt Leica is among the most serious stuff.

But AF has been a major positive breaktrrough of the industry, as it expands our possibilities in a myriad of senses. We can shoot faster, we can shoot without eleving the camera to eye level, we can shoot more frames per second, we can follow birds, we can shoot when our eyes age, etc, etc, etc.

Again AF is not a must for everyone. But I do not think a camera can be declared the best lacking it. Nonetheless, it is not a must to own the best whatever it be.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think the "flaw" he found in the M9 firmware update is actually a blessing. if the camera automatically goes to sleep even while you're viewing images that means it won't die in my camera bag. I've had that happen twice. I put the M8 or M9 in my domke without turning it off only to find that the camera had been on the whole time and when I needed it the battery was dead. Same thing when carrying it on a strap. The rear buttons would hit my belt and display an image until I noticed it was on and slowly killing the battery.
 
ruben said:
Hi gb,

Many thanks for your greetings and for calling attention to this review, which is valuable. Now doubt this camera must be included among the best availabe.

But to classify it as the best ever, the best of all, without it having AF, it sounds to me unfit. Of course anyone is entitled to say for what should I use AF instead of the traditinal MF, which Leica has enhanced to perfection. But without a creditable AF option, hmmm, it will be a camera for a certain type of photogs, not an all inclusive one, with all due respect for those who love it, as indeed there is no doubt Leica is among the most serious stuff.

But AF has been a major positive breaktrrough of the industry, as it expands our possibilities in a myriad of senses. We can shoot faster, we can shoot without eleving the camera to eye level, we can shoot more frames per second, we can follow birds, we can shoot when our eyes age, etc, etc, etc.

Again AF is not a must for everyone. But I do not think a camera can be declared the best lacking it. Nonetheless, it is not a must to own the best whatever it be.

Cheers,
Ruben
Click to expand...

It's great to see you back Ruben. I understand what you are saying about AF. My eyes are slowly diminishing with age, but then if Leica had an AF system then they would have to change all their lenses like Canon did with the EOS systemwouldn't they? Would it then be a true spirited RF? I would think not, but thats my opinion. I feel the reason this is the best digital ever is the sensor is indeed in a class by itself & when used with Leica lenses it is a seperb camera!
 
AusDLK said:
Hey, guys... guys...? Remember me...? I wrote a review of the M9 too. Leica thanked the dealer that loaned me one of the first M9s so they must have liked it...

And I'm the same guy that thought the M8 was a disaster and took a ****-load of heat for it here....
Click to expand...

I will certainly have to check out your review! cheers!:)
 
Pretty much everything Ken Reviews atsrts off as "Best Ever" until he reviews something else. I love the way he writes about photography but seriously it is naive to rely in internet for chosing a camera fo that price. Simply try it and buy if you like the pictures. If you do it does not matter two hoots what any one else thinks.

Richard
 
gb hill said:
It's great to see you back Ruben. I understand what you are saying about AF. My eyes are slowly diminishing with age, but then if Leica had an AF system then they would have to change all their lenses like Canon did with the EOS systemwouldn't they? Would it then be a true spirited RF? I would think not, but thats my opinion. I feel the reason this is the best digital ever is the sensor is indeed in a class by itself & when used with Leica lenses it is a seperb camera!
Click to expand...


Ok, now the issue is clear, instead of saying Ken Rockwell convinced me this is the best digital camera ever!!! ....

you intended to say the best digital RANGEFINDER ever !!!, in whose case everything goes back in place and the slight misunderstanding is of no importance.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
ruben said:
Ok, now the issue is clear, instead of saying Ken Rockwell convinced me this is the best digital camera ever!!! ....

you intended to say the best digital RANGEFINDER ever !!!, in whose case everything goes back in place and the slight misunderstanding is of no importance.

Cheers,
Ruben
Click to expand...
No I really meant to say best digital ever because if you read the articles & examine the photographs Ken does comparisons of Leica, Nikon, & Canon full frame DSLR's & the M9 is clearly the winner hands down thus making it the best digital camera as of yet!. Of course we will have to wait & see if Ken gets his hands on the new MF camera from Leica.:)
 
gb hill said:
It doesn't matter what Ken does for a living the artical speaks for its'self! The M9 is the best digital camera ever made!
Click to expand...

Soooo, allow me to ask a simple question here :D:rolleyes:

If you could choose either an M9 with the sensor from, say, the Nikon D700, or an M9 with the current Kodak sensor, which M9 would you choose? :eek::angel:

Since this is kind of a retorical question, I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that most shooters would choose the M9 with the sensor from the Nikon D700. Why? Because the performance of that sensor blows the Kodak sensor into the weeds :p:D

So, what does that tell ya???

Simple. It's not the camera, its the glass you stick on the front :cool::cool:

Most Leica lenses probably outperform their Canon/Nikon SLR equivalents. Luckily, there are some gems in the Canon/Nikon SLR lens lineups that offer similar levels of performance. One of them being the new Nikkor AF-S 24mm f1.4. With that lens on a D700, I fail to see how a Leica 24mm f1.4 on an M9 could be any better. :)
 
Time Freeze said:
It's not the camera, it's the photographer. If you can't take a good picture with a cheap disposable then you won't be able to take a good picture with a M9. The camera only adds better technical specs, it does nothing to make you a better photographer.
Click to expand...

A half-truth at best.

Yes, a good photographer can take good pictures working within the limits of any camera. And the fewer limits the camera has, the bigger the range of good pictures he can take. Adjustable shutter speeds, andjustable apertures, different focal lengths and faster lenses all make a difference. As does using a camera you like to use.

Here's my M9 review:http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/m9 review.html

Cheers,

R.
 
Dave Wilkinson said:
What a guy!....he convinced me that a Nikon D40 was all I really needed - 'cos thats the one he reaches for - on a regular daily basis! ( he was right too!) :D.....yes!...helluva guy! LOL! ;)
Click to expand...

You know what though, he's not that crazy for that statement. The D40 is small, and makes some great files.

People don't need to feel that they need a D3X to make good photo's, thats his point.

It is ironic that other than the D40, the only other camera's that support a high flash sync speed is the Leica S2 and Hassleblad with leaf shutter lenses.

I know we scoff at it, but pro's shooting for certain types of magazines do need flash sync!

Daniel.
 
jonmanjiro said:
Soooo, allow me to ask a simple question here :D:rolleyes:

If you could choose either an M9 with the sensor from, say, the Nikon D700, or an M9 with the current Kodak sensor, which M9 would you choose? :eek::angel:

Since this is kind of a retorical question, I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that most shooters would choose the M9 with the sensor from the Nikon D700. Why? Because the performance of that sensor blows the Kodak sensor into the weeds :p:D

So, what does that tell ya???

Simple. It's not the camera, its the glass you stick on the front :cool::cool:

Most Leica lenses probably outperform their Canon/Nikon SLR equivalents. Luckily, there are some gems in the Canon/Nikon SLR lens lineups that offer similar levels of performance. One of them being the new Nikkor AF-S 24mm f1.4. With that lens on a D700, I fail to see how a Leica 24mm f1.4 on an M9 could be any better. :)
Click to expand...
Thats a no brainer & you answered the question yourself without even realizing it. If it 's all about the glass I will take the M9 because Leica glass is superior to Nikon. Besides I don't care to lug a D 700 around all day when I can carry a compact M9. I'm no expert on sensors but in test the sensor does make a bit of a difference & it's already been shown that the image quality from the M9 is superior to that of the Nikon D3 & Canon 5D. Apparently you didn't take time to check out these examples.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m9/examples.htm
 
blimey said:
you can have the best weapon out there, but you still need to know how to use it.
Click to expand...

So true! but at least if your getting so so photos from a camera such as the M9 you can easily rule out the camera & work on improving yourself. It will save you alot of dollars in the long haul in buying & selling cameras thinking "I just need to get a better camera" I wonder how many of us have been guilty of that!;):D
 
gb hill said:
So true! but at least if your getting so so photos from a camera such as the M9 you can easily rule out the camera & work on improving yourself. It will save you alot of dollars in the long haul in buying & selling cameras thinking "I just need to get a better camera" I wonder how many of us have been guilty of that!;):D
Click to expand...

Dear Greg,

YES!!!

Cheers,

R.
 
haha, whenever both my daughter and I take images of the same things, and "independent" viewers determine her images are better than ones from M8, RFs, I am convinced, Ken R. must be right.

My daughter uses a Canon A550, and Nikon D40.
 
A few months ago, someone I knew said Ken stated that the Canon 5D Mark II was indeed A MUST HAVE and that everyone in the world should get this camera.

Loving all the pimped links he's placed on every other word.
 
gb hill said:
Thats a no brainer & you answered the question yourself without even realizing it. If it 's all about the glass I will take the M9 because Leica glass is superior to Nikon. Besides I don't care to lug a D 700 around all day when I can carry a compact M9. I'm no expert on sensors but in test the sensor does make a bit of a difference & it's already been shown that the image quality from the M9 is superior to that of the Nikon D3 & Canon 5D. Apparently you didn't take time to check out these examples.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m9/examples.htm
Click to expand...

I wrote exactly what I meant to write. The lenses are better, the camera is not. Pretty simple if you ask me :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom