M9 - buyer remorse? (currently looking to get one)

[hausen]

I have owned mine as an amateur for about 15 months. Went through a period a couple of weeks ago where I wondered out loud if I should keep mine or go the Fuji Xpro1 route. My wife and a few members here said I would be mad. Really is a superb piece of equipment, files are awesome, feels great in your hands and here in NZ seems to be a conversation starter where ever I go. Totally committed to mine now and have sold 2 of my Zeiss lenses and replaced them wiith 28 and 50 Summicrons.

 

[brokencivilian]

I would highly recommend renting one, along with a Nex 7, then compare the results side by side.

Not interested in the Nex at all. For me, if i am gonna spend on a digital. It will be a leica. No questions asked. I know its a heavy price but it is an investment for my future.

I am financially stable enough to be able to work around the payments. And like everything. I won't just pay the minimum I will put as much as i can on it. Before I even buy I plan to have over half of the cost in cash/debit.

I am like 85% sure of getting one. Just need to figure out where to sell my m6's and hassie. But I don't want to do that untill I know for sure that I will be getting one.

I also don't think that my age/situation has anything to do with it really.

 

[sepiareverb]

Love mine. Just got a 26x40 inch print made. I love mine.

 

[hteasley]

Has anyone purchased an M9 and felt like it was a bad decision? I don't own one, not yet. But I am seriously looking into one and would like to here opinions on them from people that have them.

I know people say that it's really up to what you shoot or whatever, but I don't care too much about that. I want the best. I am always dissapointed with my digital nikon and am always happy to shoot one of my M6's - however, I find film workflow and fee's a little on the long side. I would rather have a digital file. As long as it is amazing.

Sometimes when I read about folks preferring their M8's or M8.2's, I think that maybe I could have been happy with mine, instead of selling it to upgrade to an M9. But then I snap out of it. The M9 is awesome.

 

[mathomas]

A word of financial advice (as I used to be a financial advisor), if you can't afford to buy it with cash, then you can't afford to buy it on credit.

As for getting "nothing" for a Nikon after three years of use, that probably isn't true. You can get a Nikon D800 for less than half the cost of an M9, and the Nikon is a superior camera in every way. A D800 will probably not depreciate at a greater percentage than an M9 over the next three years, though it probably will after 4 or 5.

Don't "lust" after gear. Get what you need when you can afford it. Many pros simply rent what they need for a particular gig (professional photography is not a particularly high-paying career). Relatively few professionals shoot with Leica equipment, partly because of the high price, and partly from it's limitations.

Most Leica shooters are people with higher disposable incomes (money left over after paying all one's expenses). At 22 you are not likely to be one of these, and if you aren't careful with your spending, you may never be.

+1 to all of this.

(full disclosure, I have an M8, bought used, of course)

 

[JHenry]

I won't touch on the issue of to buy or not to buy if you can't pay with cash.

But, did I have remorse? Just a little bit for the first week. After that period, during which I learned a lot about the camera (and how I shouldn't expect it to work like my M7), I came to love it. I haven't had any remorse for over a year.

Well, the remorse I have is that I haven't used it as much in the past month because I've been on a film kick!

Jeff
www.pixelsandgrain.co

 

[Nikon Bob]

A word of financial advice (as I used to be a financial advisor), if you can't afford to buy it with cash, then you can't afford to buy it on credit.

As for getting "nothing" for a Nikon after three years of use, that probably isn't true. You can get a Nikon D800 for less than half the cost of an M9, and the Nikon is a superior camera in every way. A D800 will probably not depreciate at a greater percentage than an M9 over the next three years, though it probably will after 4 or 5.

Don't "lust" after gear. Get what you need when you can afford it. Many pros simply rent what they need for a particular gig (professional photography is not a particularly high-paying career). Relatively few professionals shoot with Leica equipment, partly because of the high price, and partly from it's limitations.

Most Leica shooters are people with higher disposable incomes (money left over after paying all one's expenses). At 22 you are not likely to be one of these, and if you aren't careful with your spending, you may never be.

+1

Op

Contorting yourself to make payments on a plan is not the way to go. If you are going to be using an M9 to earn income what would be your backup camera?

Bob

 

[raid]

Just today I was thinking about it all. Do I really want an M9 or M8 when I can still easily buy film for the M3 and M6 and Hexar and Contax and so on?
I really am quite unsure about itall. It does not appear to be as much fun, but I could be very wrong here.

 

[brokencivilian]

+1 to all of this.

(full disclosure, I have an M8, bought used, of course)

I would be looking used however, this payment plan is what really intrigues me.

+1

Op

Contorting yourself to make payments on a plan is not the way to go. If you are going to be using an M9 to earn income what would be your backup camera?

Bob

I'm not contorting myself, it would fit perfectly into what I have to pay vs income. The only contorting is selling my m6's and other cameras. I'm someone who hates to sell things.

I still have a d300 here, as well as other film cameras.

 

[brokencivilian]

Just today I was thinking about it all. Do I really want an M9 or M8 when I can still easily buy film for the M3 and M6 and Hexar and Contax and so on?
I really am quite unsure about itall. It does not appear to be as much fun, but I could be very wrong here.

I feel like i don't know enough about film (processing/scanning/eveything else) to keep just a film M as my main.

I thought about the m8, but i figure if im going to be spending a sh*t tone anyway, id rather not have a crop sensor.

 

[boomguy57]

A word of financial advice (as I used to be a financial advisor), if you can't afford to buy it with cash, then you can't afford to buy it on credit.

As for getting "nothing" for a Nikon after three years of use, that probably isn't true. You can get a Nikon D800 for less than half the cost of an M9, and the Nikon is a superior camera in every way. A D800 will probably not depreciate at a greater percentage than an M9 over the next three years, though it probably will after 4 or 5.

Don't "lust" after gear. Get what you need when you can afford it. Many pros simply rent what they need for a particular gig (professional photography is not a particularly high-paying career). Relatively few professionals shoot with Leica equipment, partly because of the high price, and partly from it's limitations.

Most Leica shooters are people with higher disposable incomes (money left over after paying all one's expenses). At 22 you are not likely to be one of these, and if you aren't careful with your spending, you may never be.

Yeah I would go with that. As much as I'd like an M9, it's simply not in the cards. We can go around and around for days asking if it's overpriced, or if it's worth it...but that is all just subjective. Personally, if I'm getting it purely for pleasure, then I'm not putting it on credit. And if I'm working as a pro photographer, I'm honestly probably using that money to pay for a studio, business cards, etc. It's all a matter of disposable income--if you have that much disposable, then go for it. That's what disposable income is for: your hobbies.

I hate to be a wet blanket, but you're 22 and you admitted yourself it's a stretch. Put away $500 every month, and next year this time, go for it. That is what I have been doing, and in January I will gift myself an M9 in return for finishing my thesis, and finishing grad school.

There are a lot of folks on here are at a point in their lives when they can afford to drop that kind of cash on a toy. Sounds like you aren't one of them yet.

 

[Eric T]

The M9 is a very fine camera. But I like AF and a sensor that doesn't need constant cleaning. I also think full-frame is over-rated. So I am going with the Fuji X-Pro1.

 

[huntjump]

I thought about the m8, but i figure if im going to be spending a sh*t tone anyway, id rather not have a crop sensor.

1.3x crop vs. full frame is a $3.5K+ premium (m9 or even more for p)

You only have one lens, a 50. You are THAT concerned about crop factor to pay $3,500 more? You could get an m8 and a 3+ lenses. Just saying... And this is for paid gigs, you probably will need to budget for another lens for that m9 (though i have no idea what kind of work you plan to get paid to do).

Based on your responses though, your mind is made up, this was a thread i think you secretly hoped would help justify your purchase 😉

 

[deerstalkr]

Despite others advising against the purchase with your personal circumstances in mind, you still seem keen about acquiring an M9 to earn an income. I fear you have already made a decision and are looking for some reassurance.

It appears to be a matter of the heart; are you going to love this M9 even without paid work and money to supplement your lifestyle? Will you still be happy in that situation?

I was going to start a thread to ask the same question. Your thread and its contributions has given me a lot to think about, thank you.

 

[brokencivilian]

Despite others advising against the purchase with your personal circumstances in mind, you still seem keen about acquiring an M9 to earn an income. I fear you have already made a decision and are looking for some reassurance.

It appears to be a matter of the heart; are you going to love this M9 even without paid work and money to supplement your lifestyle? Will you still be happy in that situation?

I was going to start a thread to ask the same question. Your thread and its contributions has given me a lot to think about, thank you.

I believe even if i never make money in photography that I would love this camera. I love the M system and would love to be able to have a digital M system.

A personal choice would be the full frame over the dx crop.

I would love to own all the m's, at least in number from m1-m9.

I feel that I would benefit a lot from this camera.


I'm pretty decided on getting one - not much will put me off of it so i guess it's just reassurance.

Now m9 or m9p? Is the lcd really worth it?

 

[brokencivilian]

if you were buying the m9 for your hobby use I'd say go for it, and have a blast.

In your case I would not strangle your business start-up fund with just one m9 for only one 50mm lens. this isn't even considering a another m9 for a backup. I would feel inadequately set up lens wise. your financial situation seems too tight to get yourself set up with a couple bodies and a few lenses.

op, consider that some of the wise fiscal advice earlier in the thread might be worth following.

Would be mostly hobby, but would like to start making money in photography at some point.

 

[brokencivilian]

Also, for the financial people. I plan to have half if not more paid up front before taking the lease.

 

[deerstalkr]

I believe even if i never make money in photography that I would love this camera. I love the M system and would love to be able to have a digital M system.

A personal choice would be the full frame over the dx crop.

I would love to own all the m's, at least in number from m1-m9.

I feel that I would benefit a lot from this camera.


I'm pretty decided on getting one - not much will put me off of it so i guess it's just reassurance.

Now m9 or m9p? Is the lcd really worth it?

If you can afford the difference then do as you please.

I would opt for the additional minimalistic elegance and luxury of the M9P if I were to buy a digital M. Although I have never used electrician's tape nor have I purchased something to protect the LCD screen on a digital M as I do not own one, I believe I wouldn't be satisfied with those options as a luxurious alternative exists.

I'm the type of person who cavorts the sapphire crystal on a mechanical Swiss watch.

Considering your circumstances--if you could be satisfied with the electrician's tape and LCD protector 'M9P upgrade'--I would suggest you invest in additional glass if you plan to make a living from this.
You'll probably be afflicted by GAS sooner or later, so think about how much money you'll need to keep in your wallet after you purchase an M9. 😉

 

[nobbylon]

What is it that disappoints you about the results from the Nikon? Plenty of others seem to make them work ok! I had an M9 briefly and although I liked the form factor it simply wasn't worth the asking price. If money wasn't an issue then fine but M9 money buy's pro Nikon lenses and FF Nikon is more versatile than FF Leica and much more reliable.
There are a few here who use M9's for their paid work but for the majority it's a recreational camera bought by enthusiasts.
R Cutting says it perfectly with this statement,
As for the internet hype about the M9, when i hear "nothing comes close" or "the M9 colors are awesome" or "theres something about the M9 files"
or "i was blown away when i seen the pictures", all of it is complete BS.
I compared thousands of pictures for a year and can say it is no different than my D3.
Don't get sucked into the hype, it will cost you dear in the end and you will end up disappointed with your Leica.
I like using my MP, M2 and Leicaflex's for fun and the look of the results from Leica lenses, but for anything paid I use Nikons. Ease of use, reliability, hardly any PP, etc etc.
Remember this, 99.9% recurring, clients won't know or indeed care what type of camera shot their pictures as long as they get what they want.
Would I buy another? Yes if it was priced at £2k and not 5. Even then I'd want a 5 year warranty!

 

[Archiver]

There are two angles from which to answer your question: from my own experience, and from the viewpoint of your situation.

I bought the M9 for cash. Literally, cash. I managed to get one from the second shipment that arrived in Australia in 2010, and I paid through the nose for it. I did need to watch my expenses very carefully after that, and I had some teething problems with it re. rangefinder metering vs DSLR metering, as well as manual focus. For the first few weeks I was frustrated as all hell and struggling to get correct exposure. I was also missing images all over the place from missed focus. Once I had sorted out those two issues and forced myself to eat noodles for the rest of the year, it was great.

I also own a number of cameras including a 5D Mark II. The M9 has given me some of the most satisfying images and photographic experiences of any camera. Having said that, I must also say that at work I exclusively use the 5D Mark II, as I rely on the flexibility of zoom lenses and produce full HD video as well.

From the viewpoint of your situation: I cannot in good conscience recommend that someone go on a long payment plan for a camera with limited application, unless you are very certain that the camera will meet your needs. If you were buying a full D800 kit with a couple of lenses I could understand, as the flexibility of a high end DSLR lends itself to a wide range of work.

Rangefinderforum isn't a financial advice forum, but a lot of us are saying to have a good look at your finances and make sure that you can afford to pay for the camera as well as have enough money to live, and/or discipline yourself to spend only will keep you within repayment ability. I've seen people get into big trouble with lots of smallish purchases that added up to large monthly repayments.