m8.2 or a m9? In 2024?

[Roastchestnuts]

Whats crazy is when I bought my first m9 it was also under 2000$ and I thought that was high then. they seem to be still going up. I wonder if they have hit their peek. leica m240 cameras seem to more stabalized but are still expensive for the age.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I never owned anything but M8 and M9 last series M-E 220. E for LCAG is end of the line.
I didn't moved to M-E 240 at the time it was last affordable M.
The rest after it is parade of greed and acceptance of been hosed.

Is M8.2 better than M8? Not really, it just way too overpriced and not much else.

No significant difference between M8/9 sensors. M8 is more retro on dynamic range. But seems to be sharper.

M9 sensors are just as prone to IR color balance shifts as M8. But M8 sensor quirks are nice, while on M9 sensor it's just ... meh...

M8 28 frame lines are useful most, M9 28 frame lines are peripheral. To me M8 sensor is 24/28, M9 sensor frame lines are 35 lens. The rest is not impressive.

In reality choice is for less trashed, less overpriced one. Or get hosed 🙂

And I would only get M9 with sensor replaced not earlier than 2018 (may be 2017, it took long time and sever iterations to LCAG bozos the get the picture of corrosion) and not later than LCAG has ditched us. Was it 2020? Later Chinese done on the knee replacements and dodgy Kolari's ones are to avoid.

 

[rfaspen]

True that one will want to get a later sensor in an M9. I squeaked under the deadline for a free replacement of the "good" sensor. Happy ever since, but I do own other digital M's. If considering a first digital M today, an M9 is certainly a choice....but would need late sensor and suitable price. I haven't looked to see how common those are nowadays.....if you find one it would be good.

 

[rfaspen]

Taking the M9 out for a spin today! With a Sweenified J3 in front. Expecting simple RF bliss.

 

[Godfrey]

Taking the M9 out for a spin today! With a Sweenified J3 in front. Expecting simple RF bliss.

hmm. If I go out for a walk today (unlikely because the local temperature in this abominable heat wave is already 86°F and going up fast), I was thinking of going retro and putting another roll in the 1946 Leica IIIc ... 🙂

I tore my bank account up in 2022 and bought the last new Leica M10 Monochrom that my dealer could get out of Leica USA. And like it so much that I did similar damage to some stock holdings and took home a second-hand Leica M10-R. Between those two digital cameras, none of my other digital cameras have been touched much at all since ... to the point that I'm considering selling all the other digital stuff off completely.

But every time I think of that and look at the Hasselblad 907x/CFVII 50c "50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing" ... I just can't let go of it. Sigh.

G

Hasselblad 907x with XCD 21mm lens #1 — "All digital Hasselblad SWC"​

 

[boojum]

The M8/M90 batteries, available now. So I stocked up a few years back and have 10 - 12. I was cautioned wisely that even if the camera is mechanically sound it is a brick without batteries. I charge these puppies up every few months so that they remember what they are. And use then in the M8.2, not so much, and the M9, more.

Regardless of how much I quibble, M9 color is really good. The Leica/Kodak CCD sensors were nice. I have other CMOS sensors that do really well but they do no seem to have that CCD charm. Maybe it is just may be that they see a bit differently. I have no camera with bad color, so far.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

True that one will want to get a later sensor in an M9. I squeaked under the deadline for a free replacement of the "good" sensor. Happy ever since, but I do own other digital M's. If considering a first digital M today, an M9 is certainly a choice....but would need late sensor and suitable price. I haven't looked to see how common those are nowadays.....if you find one it would be good.

This would not be my first digital m. infact I have owned a m9 in the past. I really liked it and sold it to fund a vehicle after a storm because mine flooded. then moved on to a mp240, then to an m10p, then sideways to a hasselblad that I didnt really mesh with. sold the mp240 because the m10 thirst was real. I should have just stuck with that actually. but you live and learn. I have found one that has had a sensor replaced and replaced by leica. I think the sensor Id is 16. I have no desire to get the m11 with the prices those are at right now.

The M8/M90 batteries, available now. So I stocked up a few years back and have 10 - 12. I was cautioned wisely that even if the camera is mechanically sound it is a brick without batteries. I charge these puppies up every few months so that they remember what they are. And use then in the M8.2, not so much, and the M9, more.

Regardless of how much I quibble, M9 color is really good. The Leica/Kodak CCD sensors were nice. I have other CMOS sensors that do really well but they do no seem to have that CCD charm. Maybe it is just may be that they see a bit differently. I have no camera with bad color, so far.

yeah actually I was leaning towards the m262 because its just a newer camera but then sombody pointed out getting batterys in the future might be a problem. I dont see any aftermarket alternatives either for the 262/240 series.

 

[JeffS7444]

I tore my bank account up in 2022 and bought the last new Leica M10 Monochrom that my dealer could get out of Leica USA. And like it so much that I did similar damage to some stock holdings and took home a second-hand Leica M10-R.

I've become a bit of a worrier, and imagine that if I ever reach the $2.5-4.4M happy place as defined by Charles Schwab customers, I might still want to save some extra, "just in case" 🙄

 

[Godfrey]

I've become a bit of a worrier, and imagine that if I ever reach the $2.5-4.4M happy place as defined by Charles Schwab customers, I might still want to save some extra, "just in case" 🙄

If I followed the advice of so-called financial planners, I'd have been working until I was 88 years old.

I'm 70 now. I retired eight years ago, and my stock portfolio has tripled in value since despite having drawn on it for a few entertaining things. The cameras are a relatively trivial expense in that context. ...I'm sure my means will suffice until I take the last Pine Box Derby.

But back to "which nice old Leica" to buy, eh? Batteries and power supplies are ultimately the end marker for nearly all these cameras. I'm waiting for the BP-SCL5 batteries for the M10 to come back into stock ... I'm sure they will eventually ... as I have three for the two cameras and feel I should have one more spare. I expect they'll last until I want to upgrade to an M19 or some such, should I live that long. 😉

G

 

[qqphotos]

as long as 3rd party batteries continue to be blocked, i worry about the longevity of any of them, really. even if 3rd party ones are less reliable, it's probably still better than a camera becoming scrap because leica doesn't sell batteries for it anymore. It's great how they've kept lots of other cameras alive well past expectations, for instance I was able to buy a bunch of $6 batteries for my 2011 Pentax Q which all work as well as the original.

 

[boojum]

as long as 3rd party batteries continue to be blocked, i worry about the longevity of any of them, really. even if 3rd party ones are less reliable, it's probably still better than a camera becoming scrap because leica doesn't sell batteries for it anymore. It's great how they've kept lots of other cameras alive well past expectations, for instance I was able to buy a bunch of $6 batteries for my 2011 Pentax Q which all work as well as the original.

Another Q driver. The pocket wonder. I have a Q S1. Amazingly good for something I can carry in a pocket and still have interchangeable lenses and good images.

 

[wlewisiii]

When facing this question (ack, 4 years already?) I went with the M 240. I can live with crop ( see my K5) but wanted the newer camera, didn't want the potential issues with the sensor glass on the 9, and couldn't afford anything newer. It's proven a good choice.

A Q might have tempted me had the price been right but I love too many LTM lenses 😀

 

[qqphotos]

Another Q driver. The pocket wonder. I have a Q S1. Amazingly good for something I can carry in a pocket and still have interchangeable lenses and good images.

They're adorable too. Plus it's sometimes fun to put super-8 lenses on it with an adapter.

 

[boojum]

They're adorable too. Plus it's sometimes fun to put super-8 lenses on it with an adapter.

I know that you can do this. An amazing prospect. I have just the "normal" or 50mm approximate equivalent, long zoom and short zoom. It is an amazing little camera. I do not use it much. When I do it does not fail. What else can I ask?

 

[Roastchestnuts]

So I went into left field and ended up with the camera I ruled out. I had put in an offer for a m9 with the sensor replaced but that deal fell through. The seller was off putting to me as well and a little unresponsive so I decided to move on from the camera. then our old friend ebay sent me an offer on a m8.2 that I could not refuse. I bought a black m8.2. I have not owned one before and wanted something different than what I had owned. so this makes since. I wanted this as a kinda everyday plinking around camera to keep me from using as much film. I think the m8.2 fits the bill pretty well. not looking to making huge prints out of this. Only thing I will need to find is some IR cut filters.

side note in terms of looks i do think the m8.2 is the best looking digital M camera aside from the m10r in black paint. The frame line fresnel is somthing I always loved from the m8 and m9 too.

Ill post on how I like it when it comes in. should be hear at the end of the week or early next.

 

[wlewisiii]

Enjoy!

 

[boojum]

So I went into left field and ended up with the camera I ruled out. I had put in an offer for a m9 with the sensor replaced but that deal fell through. The seller was off putting to me as well and a little unresponsive so I decided to move on from the camera. then our old friend ebay sent me an offer on a m8.2 that I could not refuse. I bought a black m8.2. I have not owned one before and wanted something different than what I had owned. so this makes since. I wanted this as a kinda everyday plinking around camera to keep me from using as much film. I think the m8.2 fits the bill pretty well. not looking to making huge prints out of this. Only thing I will need to find is some IR cut filters.

side note in terms of looks i do think the m8.2 is the best looking digital M camera aside from the m10r in black paint. The frame line fresnel is somthing I always loved from the m8 and m9 too.

Ill post on how I like it when it comes in. should be hear at the end of the week or early next.

View attachment 4846126

Good luck with your purchase. I have one and like it. It does color well and killer mono, really good mono. I post this link not as a collection of great photos but as an example of what the M8.2 shoots like: Leica M8.2

I get B+W IR/UV cut filters. Get a quality filter.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Thanks for all your input. Ill post more how I feel about it when I get it. its made me look at leica lenses again. The only one I kept was my 50mm elmar M f2.8 (modern one) I want to get a 28mm elmarit vIII or V4 at some point. I should have never sold my summicron 28mm v1. my only leica regret is selling that 28mm v1. although I had it repaired 2 times because it would start to come loose. I think that was a common problem.

I am excited to try my nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 with amedeo adapter on this camera. I bet it gives a good rendering. I never had a chance on my m10p to try it. but I know my nikkor 5cm f1.4 s mount was cool with the amadeo adapter.

My m3 with the 3.5 f2.5 its a surprisingly well balanced kit. (I use an external finder most of the time)

 

[jonal928]

A beautiful camera, I wish you enjoy every moment with it.

 

[JeffS7444]

Enjoy! When M8 was still a current thing, someone published a portfolio of color works in Leica Fotographie International, but the twist was that they used an unusual sort of partial IR filtration, and made the infrared sensitivity part of their look - might be worth a try.