M8.2 to M9

[Roger Hicks]

Correct, the crop factor is not a factor! 😀

It is for me. I was considering buying a 24/1.4 when the M9 came out and my 35/1.4 once again gave me the same field of view as it had on film instead of pretending to be a 48mm standard lens. I was also please to have my wides and ultrawides back, with (for example) 21mm as 21mm instead of 28mm.

Cheers,

R.

 

[xyz3450]

Roger,
Thanks for these very useful links. Do you still use both your M8 and M9? In about the same measure? -- martin

Well, I have an M8 and an M9, and had an M8.2 on long loan from Leica, and my view of the differences (at some length) is here. On the same site there are also reviews of the M8.2 and M8.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Smitty]

The M8.2 has been a fine camera for me with my only real complaint being the crop factor in using some of my favorite lenses. When using the M9 for the first time it was refreshing to have the correct perspective and coverage of my lenses, 35 fills the frame nicely and 50 does fine as well.
S

 

[raid]

I have been heavily using the M8 and the M9 together in the same camera bag. They complement each other very well. The 1.3 crop can be used as an advantage to reduce the number of lenses to carry around. A 50mm lens on the M8 becomes a great portrait lens, say. They use the same battery type and charger, of course.

 

[Bille]

The 1.3 crop can be used as an advantage to reduce the number of lenses to carry around. A 50mm lens on the M8 becomes a great portrait lens, say.

You could as well crop your M9 images in post.

 

[raid]

Yes, I could.

I have the two cameras, so I use them the way it suits me best. Here, the crop helps me when we travel as it is in addition to having with me the M9 for full format. I do not crop my M9 images. It works for me this way.

 

[Smitty]

Question: I have a number of cut filters for the M8.2. Will I need to remove these and install regular UV filters when using the lenses on M9?
S

 

[raid]

Some say to use them on the M9 too.

 

[Smitty]

I agree regarding the M8 with the 50 as a portrait lens, works well in that capacity.
On another note: I wonder how many shooters are still working with film Leica's?

 

[xyz3450]

Raid, do you generally travel with both cameras? Or choose one? Do you assign a specific lens to each (if both)?

Yes, I could.

I have the two cameras, so I use them the way it suits me best. Here, the crop helps me when we travel as it is in addition to having with me the M9 for full format. I do not crop my M9 images. It works for me this way.

 

[Doug]

Question: I have a number of cut filters for the M8.2. Will I need to remove these and install regular UV filters when using the lenses on M9?
S

The M8 and M8.2 have a IR-blocking cover glass 0.5mm thick, which lets significant amounts of IR on through. The M9's cover glass is 0.8mm thick, and while it blocks more IR than the M8, it still lets a good bit of IR on through. Not *quite* as necessary to use the filter, but... I would like to block more IR in both cameras, so I leave the UV/IR Cut filters on the lenses whichever camera they're on... to also include the M240 whose cover glass is 0.7mm according to some info sources.

The stray IR has an effect on some colors, depending on the IR content of the light. Heat lamps, incandescent lighting, direct sun... Not just black artificial fabrics turning purple, but foliage taking on a yellowy-brown tint, pinkish skin tones, and generally slightly skewed colors of various sorts.

I thought at first I could get away with not using the filters... wrong! I set off with my new M8 to Malta and Sicily on vacation in 2008 and quickly found that what the experts said about IR was right after all. Similar with the M9 but not to the same degree.

 

[raid]

Raid, do you generally travel with both cameras? Or choose one? Do you assign a specific lens to each (if both)?

Yes, I often travel with both cameras. They make a perfect set for me. The M9 gets the 25mm or the 35mm lenses, while the M8 gets the 50mm lens. I prefer to stay away from extreme wide angle lenses and I look for what looks "natural".

 

[jaapv]

The M8 and M8.2 have a IR-blocking cover glass 0.5mm thick, which lets significant amounts of IR on through. The M9's cover glass is 0.8mm thick, and while it blocks more IR than the M8, it still lets a good bit of IR on through. Not *quite* as necessary to use the filter, but... I would like to block more IR in both cameras, so I leave the UV/IR Cut filters on the lenses whichever camera they're on... to also include the M240 whose cover glass is 0.7mm according to some info sources.

The stray IR has an effect on some colors, depending on the IR content of the light. Heat lamps, incandescent lighting, direct sun... Not just black artificial fabrics turning purple, but foliage taking on a yellowy-brown tint, pinkish skin tones, and generally slightly skewed colors of various sorts.

I thought at first I could get away with not using the filters... wrong! I set off with my new M8 to Malta and Sicily on vacation in 2008 and quickly found that what the experts said about IR was right after all. Similar with the M9 but not to the same degree.

The M(Typ240) is even more IR sensitive. I have never stopped using my filters.

 

[Smitty]

That's good to know and I do have a number of cut filters as well as straight IR filters. I am primarily a black and white shooter, some of my film cameras have never tasted color film. M8.2 and M9 images I most often convert to B&W in Silver Effects Pro.

 

[uhoh7]

M8 and M9.....closest to film in use and output of any digital cameras, now and probably forever.

Leica had to make the 262 to remember, LOL, but those files take some attention if you liked Kodachrome 😉

 

[Ko.Fe.]

For the money.....Fuji. Just one man's opinion....sure to see blowback.

I'd rather get M8 or R-D1, not for money, but for RF. But I'm not live view user, I don't want to waste my time with it.

On another note: I wonder how many shooters are still working with film Leica's?

With Barnacs probably three times more than with digital M.
I have three film M and one digital M.

 

[Doug]

That's good to know and I do have a number of cut filters as well as straight IR filters. I am primarily a black and white shooter, some of my film cameras have never tasted color film. M8.2 and M9 images I most often convert to B&W in Silver Effects Pro.

Hi -- We should make sure to distinguish between the UV/IR Cut filters which block IR + UV, and those previously called simply IR filters which let IR through and block most everything else! 🙂

For black & white, some like to leave off the UV/IR Cut filter to let some IR through, preferring the mild change in tonality. This was how I intended to use my first M8, but instead I got a very useful lesson that I am really a color shooter at heart!

But one potential drawback with the IR content in B&W is that it's focused to a slightly different point than visible light, resulting in slight fuzzing of sharp detail. And for some this also could be an attractive feature. I suppose an apochromatic (APO) lens, which is expected to focus a wider range of light frequencies to the same point, would avoid that issue.

 

[raid]

I have never used an IR filter with my M8 or M9.

 

[Rob-F]

The higher pixel count of the M9 lets me crop out empty foreground when using the vertical (portrait) orientation to eliminate converging verticals in architectural shots. I can crop out 1/3 or 1/2 out of the bottom, and still have 9 to 12 megapixels left--which is plenty.

I do miss the more accurate framelines of the M8.2. But overall, I like the M9 better. And one more thing: I like being able to enter the lens data without needing to have lenses coded (mine aren't).

 

[raid]

I have no coded lenses for the M8.