M8 to M9 Will I notice the difference?

[Clark.EE]

Well? Will I? Notice the difference? Really?

Love my M8. The files have a completely different look to any other Camera I have shot with.

Had a bad experience with an M9 I was lent by Leica while they fixed my M8. I assume it was a dodgy "loan" Camera.
My M8 has finally returned. With a years warranty. I am thinking, should I trade it in for an M9. Or will I regret it?
I print no bigger than A4. Rarely shoot high ISO.
So, is it worth it?
Why is the M9 better?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Highlight: Yes.

At least, I did.

Cheers,

R.

 

[noimmunity]

Why is the M9 better?

Ditto above: I think the only really compelling reason is the FF sensor.

M9 color is marginally better.

The image-quality of the M8 seems truly excellent to me.

If you don't mind or prefer the crop, I would just stick with the M8.

 

[Clark.EE]

Thank you Mr Hicks.
Probably the only answer I need.

Real focal length? Its all relative......
My 35mm Summarit has the same field of view as a 35mm on my old Nikon D200. A factor, yes, but how big a factor will it be to me.

My M8 is Silver, I would quite like a Silver M9. Seem few & far betweeen.
Any one getting rid of one? Cheap?

 

[umcelinho]

dont forget the annoying UV/IR filters.

 

[user237428934]

dont forget the annoying UV/I filters.

I have three lenses and three filters. Nothing to think about.

 

[sepiareverb]

Absolutely. Do not hesitate if you do not need to hesitate.

 

[Mcary]

The way I look at it The M9 lets you use your lenses on the format they were designed to be used on.

M mount lenses =designed to be used 36x24mm format cameras
Nikon FX lenses = designed to be used on 36x24mm format cameras.
Nikon DX lenses = designed to be used on DX format cameras.

 

[jsrockit]

I print no bigger than A4. Rarely shoot high ISO.
So, is it worth it?
Why is the M9 better?

I don't think the differences will be enough for you then...

 

[nanthor]

I've had both, the M8 first, then M9, then went back to the M8 just for B&W files. The M9 just feels more complete, and I noticed a real difference in the way it worked, shutter seemed more quiet and sure, winder quieter and almost not noticeable, faster. You're always thinking about the crop factor when choosing lenses with the M8, nothing to think about with the M9. All that said I did find the B&W with the M8 and no filters to be noticeably better and B&W is what I use most the time. I think if you take mostly color the M9 is the choice. Bob.

 

[user237428934]

The way I look at it The M9 lets you use your lenses on the format they were designed to be used on.

M mount lenses =designed to be used 36x24mm format cameras
Nikon FX lenses = designed to be used on 36x24mm format cameras.
Nikon DX lenses = designed to be used on DX format cameras.

This not quite correct. According to your definition an M-Mount lens would be usable even on DSLRs. But that's not what I wanted to write about.

Lens design is most of the time a compromise especially when you look at border performance. Some lens tests do a nice thing, they test with full frame and crop bodies. Some lenses have a mediocre performance on a FF body but they shine on a crop body because it crops away something thats a problem zone in some lenses. In short: you don't always get the best performance when you use the lens on a body that it was initially designed for.

Good news are, that there are not many Leica or Zeiss lenses with a border problem.

The advantage for most people I know is, that they have real wideangle lenses again with a full frame camera.

 

[edge100]

With the M9 you're gonna have the real focal length of your lenses. Just for this it worth the upgrade.

Focal lengths are independent of sensor size. If all you've ever shot is APS-C, then 35mm is a normal. If all you've ever shot is medium format, then 35mm is a super wide. If all you've ever shot is a point and shoot, 35mm is quite long. But regardless of format, 35mm is 35mm.

You're thinking of angle of view.

 

[garygraphy]

I loved my M8 to bits and even though I have the M9 today, I have fond memories and miss it when i review my older pictures.

The crispness is another level with the M8 and I miss that.

All that said, shooting with the 'right' focal length was enough for me to trade the M8 for the M9.

 

[Archiver]

I have a M9 and used a M8.2 for a week while the M9 was in service. I found the M8.2 to be an outstanding camera for low ISO work, and loved it with the 28mm Elmarit for black and white work. But I much prefer the M9's colour rendition, higher ISO performance, and full frame use of lenses.

If you want a silver M9, they don't exist. There are only steel grey M9's, and silver chrome M9-P's.

 

[Clark.EE]

So what we are saying is.............
The M9 has slightly better colour.
M8 better for B & W.
M9 No crop factor.

I will probably get one anyway..........And blame Mr Hicks if the Mrs asks!

 

[maitani]

I'd go for a low actuation M8.2 right now, quiet shutter, great camera at a great price, add some filters, and it's about one stop behind the M9 only, even better built, sappire glas. at half cost of an M9, hold out how the prices go on the M9 and buy one later, if you like the experience at all, be aware that you lose 1/8000 second for the quieter shutter though

the M8.2 is much more responsive, and has faster writing times (smaller files) m9 writing times and review is slow.

go for an M9 or M later if you like the experience at all, from 'feeling' they are both the same

the M9 is slightly better in hi-iso, and the 'non-coded lenses' menu is a defiinite plus, don t understand why M8 users didn t get this as fw update.

imo it also depends which lenses you already have to take a decision

 

[kbg32]

Yes, you will notice a difference. I think the files on the M8 are somewhat "crisper". Not that they are bad on the M9 at all. It is also nice to know that if you put a 28mm lens on the camera, it will be a 28mm, not a 35mm or so.

 

[Ronald M]

A4 print, low ISO, no problem. Keep the 8.

If you like to explore wide open images with bokeh, the ff sensor allows longer focal lengths.

If you want larger prints or higher ISO, M9 is better. If you want wide angle of view such as a true 12 to 21, M9 is better.

M8 is a wonderful infrared camera with IR filters. Best you can do.

 

[raid]

I like using both cameras together in my camera bag.
The M8 has usually the 50mm/2 rigid Summicron on it for high resolution short tele photos in B&W, while I use on the M9 the pre-asph Summilux 35/1.4 as a mild wide angle lens for color images. If needed, I can switch the 50mm lens to the M9, and I get a 50mm perspective. The 35mm switched to the M8 also gives a "normal" crop. I really this combination.

What I have not yet tried is the use of the M8 as an IR camera, when using with it IR filters. This should be ultra-cool, based on some of the results that have been posted on IR photography. This certainly will be less challenging than using Kodak color IR slide film with a film camera (in the past).

I have been using vintage SLR wide angle lenses on my film M cameras, and this turned out to be problematic with the M8 and the M9. The non-retro focus design of some lenses causes the rear elements to (maybe) hit the sensor, so I have not used lenses, such as the Canon 19/3.5 or Rokkor 21/4. On the other hand, my wide angle lenses that are retro focus could be used effectively with the FF sensor of the M9 for a wide angle perspective, but the M8 will crop, and the resulting perspective will not cover as much.

I do not own a 21mm lens in M mount or ltm.

For my own photography needs, I am very happy with the M8 and the M9.

 

[froyd]

Clark -

Would you keep your lenses and use them at their stated focal length on the M9, or would you sell those as well and buy a set that matches the focal lengths you were getting on the M8? I might be stating the obvious, but that should definitely factor in your decision.