eleskin
Well-known
I had a chance to test the M9 with my 50mm Summicron, 50mm Noctilux, and 35mm Canadian Summicron version 4. In one word I am very impresed, especially with the Noctilux. The M8 still stands well against the M9, and is still a fine camera. What I liked is having my 50mm back to 50mm, and it really shows well with the Noctilux. Highlights seem to be better controlled than the M8, and better color tone. Sharpness is fine, but here the M8 holds its ground, but the M9 is a little better with the extra pixels. The extra pixels I believe do help in smoothing out problem areas, especially with noise at ISO 640 as well as the new sensor.
I spoke with Kodak about sensor development and they told me they plan to improve the M9 chip as new technology presents itself. This tells me the M9 will be the long term platform and maybe the possibility of sensor upgrades. The big question here for Kodak for me was how close to film will sensors get as they improve. I told them I have one shot taken of the Vietnam Memorial in DC exposed for the shadows on the wall itself, with a bright sun beaming from the clouds above (shot with TMAX 400 Fuji GSW 690) and given the choice of film vs. Digital, film stil would be the choice, despite all the advances from all of the major manufacturers. That being said, the M9 looks like a camera that could do 90% of what I photograph, as the M8 has. I still plan to buy one later next year, only because I always wait well into the production run so they (Leica) can iron out any bugs if any in the camera as well as the possibility of newer technology. I did mention to one of the Leica reps that I would love to see the M9 in original traditional chrome, and would love the option to engrave Leica script to make it more like the M3 in look (no M9 on front, just the "Classic" look). I also suggested that they offer screen replacement kits like Canon and Nikon , useful when the plastic gets too scratched up and marred. It seems a suction cup pulls off the plastic, and then you peel off the sticker backing on the new screen and pop it in. That way, we do not have to worry about it, and can replace it ourselves and not wait weeks for the camera for something that is not critical to its operation.
Well, thats it for now. I may post a few pics from the expo. They are not exciting in that they were taken at the leica counter, but they tell me this camera is very good. All I have to do now is save for my purchase next year some time after Tax season and maybe the chance prices could come down to the M8.2 level as production increases due to demand.
I spoke with Kodak about sensor development and they told me they plan to improve the M9 chip as new technology presents itself. This tells me the M9 will be the long term platform and maybe the possibility of sensor upgrades. The big question here for Kodak for me was how close to film will sensors get as they improve. I told them I have one shot taken of the Vietnam Memorial in DC exposed for the shadows on the wall itself, with a bright sun beaming from the clouds above (shot with TMAX 400 Fuji GSW 690) and given the choice of film vs. Digital, film stil would be the choice, despite all the advances from all of the major manufacturers. That being said, the M9 looks like a camera that could do 90% of what I photograph, as the M8 has. I still plan to buy one later next year, only because I always wait well into the production run so they (Leica) can iron out any bugs if any in the camera as well as the possibility of newer technology. I did mention to one of the Leica reps that I would love to see the M9 in original traditional chrome, and would love the option to engrave Leica script to make it more like the M3 in look (no M9 on front, just the "Classic" look). I also suggested that they offer screen replacement kits like Canon and Nikon , useful when the plastic gets too scratched up and marred. It seems a suction cup pulls off the plastic, and then you peel off the sticker backing on the new screen and pop it in. That way, we do not have to worry about it, and can replace it ourselves and not wait weeks for the camera for something that is not critical to its operation.
Well, thats it for now. I may post a few pics from the expo. They are not exciting in that they were taken at the leica counter, but they tell me this camera is very good. All I have to do now is save for my purchase next year some time after Tax season and maybe the chance prices could come down to the M8.2 level as production increases due to demand.
