M9 and ?

[ktmrider]

I am traveling around the world starting this fall. I may take my M9 and an M2, perhaps just two M2's or the M9 solo. However, I would not mind taking a small, advanced digital like the Canon S120 (had the S90 and think the S120 is the latest version).

Do not really follow the small digital market. What else would you suggest? I just sold my X100 and do not really want to spend more then $500. I would like a fast lens and zoom range is not so important.

 

[Godfrey]

I am traveling around the world starting this fall. I may take my M9 and an M2, perhaps just two M2's or the M9 solo. However, I would not mind taking a small, advanced digital like the Canon S120 (had the S90 and think the S120 is the latest version).

Do not really follow the small digital market. What else would you suggest? I just sold my X100 and do not really want to spend more then $500. I would like a fast lens and zoom range is not so important.

I gave up on small sensor cameras... The iPhone does well enough for that. A Ricoh GR-D or Leica X2 (choice between 28 or 35 EFoV) would be for me.

G

 

[B-9]

Leica D-lux 4 is super cheap these days. Fast lens, good zoom range, decent B&W in camera.

 

[Pete B]

Olympus mju 2 is my travelling back up camera.
Pete

 

[lonemantis]

You could easily find a Sony RX100 mk. 1 for under $350. It may even have better high-ISO performance than your M9!

 

[raid]

I can share with you what I will be doing in our upcoming trip. The M9 and the 35 Summilux always come along, and I will add a M 4/3 camera which is small and light and it can deliver great looking images. I will use it mainly as my tele camera due to its 2X cop. I may be extreme, and I will use the Zeiss 85/1.4 with it. This means that I will have effectively 35mm and 170mm lenses with me. By switching the Lux to the M 4/3 camera, it is a 70mm lens. I need to take the adapter with me. I may also take with me the 24-42.5 AF zoom as aback-up.

 

[f16sunshine]

It feels like we have done this before 😉 Ricoh GR or X100(s/t) both compliment M9 nicely with great lo-light ability. As a Leica shooter,.... A compact zoom camera is not going to get used from my experience. I've tried several times.... It just does not fit. The x100 or a Leica X model is your best bet. The Ricoh GR if you want to get near shirt pocket size with apsc sensor size.

 

[Richard G]

Buy another X100 or S. I travelled with the X100, Monochrom and two lenses. Very light kit and compact.

 

[sevres_babylone]

I think the Ricoh GR is $599, which is above your budget, but which would be my choice. Especially for higher ISOs where the M9 is lame.

I recently took out my LX7, which I'd forgotten about since getting the Ricoh. I'd forgotten how good it is. I do hate the lens cap though; slows down getting that first shot, and I'm always afraid of losing it-- though I think there was some elastic thing I left in the box. Last I looked it was $399 on the B&H site. Contrary to Godfrey, I still like small-sensor cameras -- especially for the endless depth of field. I don't have an iPhone, so can't compare.

 

[David_Manning]

Ricoh GR.

Better low-light than the M9, has a flash, 28mm equivalent lens sharper than most, APS-C sensor, fits in pocket.

I really like my M9, but the GR, which I LOVE, just pisses me off sometimes...it's so good and capable, and so simple and inexpensive!!!

 

[Peter_S]

I would not bother with a small-sensor camera, neither. I would take something that can act as a full-scale backup, and replace a wide-angle lens for the M9. Leica X1 is really good and solid (has replaced my digital M), or a Ricoh GR. Alternatively, the Sigma DP1M would make a stellar landscape camera.

 

[Addy101]

I don't get the advice for the Ricoh GR and Fuji X100 - what do they offer over the M9 with a 35mm lens?

Raids advice to bring a m4/3 is good imho. It gives you options without being overly big.
If you want your back-up in one package, lonemantis' advice for the Sony RX100 would be mine.
These days nobody mentiones the Nikon 1, but it might be the system to compliment your M9.

 

[Peter_S]

I don't get the advice for the Ricoh GR and Fuji X100 - what do they offer over the M9 with a 35mm lens?

Full back-up (in case he takes one M only). The M9 is nice but not reliable enough to not have a second high-quality body.

 

[yoyo22]

I would recommend the Ricoh GR too. It is an amazing little camera which compliments the Leica well. It is my favorite backup cam and on business trips I often find myself with just the GR.

 

[Addy101]

Full back-up (in case he takes one M only). The M9 is nice but not reliable enough to not have a second high-quality body.

I never travel with a "full back-up" - Travelled recently to Iceland with my Sony A900 as my main camera and my Sony NEX F3 with 35/1.8 for those times the A900 was too big and with an adapter as a back-up. Didn't need the back-up, but used the F3 a couple of times as a smaller option. But people differ and needs differ.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Even though I am not going to travel the world, I recently bought the Canon S120 and, as it predecessors, it is a very good shirt pocket sized camera with a fast lens that delivers very good pictures. $350 on BHPhoto.

 

[willie_901]

I gave up on small sensor cameras... The iPhone does well enough for that. A Ricoh GR-D or Leica X2 (choice between 28 or 35 EFoV) would be for me.

G

Yup... a phone with a decent camera (I have no complains with the iPhone 6 camera) fits that role. There are inexpensive apps that make iOS/Android phones more camera-like (I'm not talking about image filters, but operating the camera).

 

[ktmrider]

Well, I appreciate all the advice. The trip is several months away so who knows what my equipment mix will be then. As much as I hate traveling with a mix of digital and film, I am thinking my M9 and M2 with 21/35/90.

Digital has lots of advantages when traveling. I will be gone 6 months to a year and my family would like to see some of the photos. I do not know if the M9 is more fragile then a film camera but having a backup makes sense (could be purchased on the road) but the M2 is my favorite Leica.

I am planning on taking everything I need for a year in a medium size backpack so the obsession with weight and cube.

 

[Ben Z]

I am planning on taking everything I need for a year in a medium size backpack so the obsession with weight and cube.

For me, enough film for a year of travel would itself fill more than a medium-sized backpack.

 

[ktmrider]

Can buy film enrollee.