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

[brokencivilian]

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.

I'm not really here looking for finacial advice, I already know how im going to deal with that.

And As for the 3 year plan and payments, I am going to be paying over half for the camera upfront getting my payments about 100 a month, which I will obvious pay more when I can.

I based everything off of what I will be selling/trading plus what I make from work and spend (bills, etc)

To me there is no problem financially here. Yes it will be tough.

But I think I've thought it through enough to make a good decision. Whether it be get it now or in a couple months.

 

[BobYIL]

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

Sometimes we learn more out of our mistakes than what we could do with accomplishments. The matter is to learn what we need to learn, however as soon as possible and with the least cost/loss as possible.

Keep your M6 and D300 and lease the M9. This way will tell you right in the first weeks if you succeeded something worth the price difference between the D300 and the M9 or not; only you know it...

In case you're considering to go professional one day, then do not confine yourself within the limitations of older technology with high financial plans. You are young, keep yourself open to the merits of up-to-date technology, lightning fast AF, high ISO capability to shoot under any conditions and start educating yourself on what brings money in the branch you intend to function.

 

[Araakii]

On the topic about making money, I have seen some people (on craigslist, lol) emphasizing on their M9 and other M lenses when they advertise their business. It might sound a lot to people like us who know about this camera, but I don't think the prospective clients would care a bit. And I don't really see how the M9 can produce better selling photographs than a DSLR. However, if you are planning to make money by selling prints, then the M9 would be a plus. But that seems so far down the road.

 

[OurManInTangier]

It seems your mind is firmly made up, you will buy the M9 or even a M9-P via credit. I'm not going to try to change your mind, I don't know your financial position and even if it later transpires to be a mistake, well we all make them and we all have to learn from them.

My concern, as a professional freelance photographer, is that you seem to have a slightly fantastical idea of your ability to make money from a one body one lens set-up. Forget who makes the camera or the lens, the very idea that you will make anywhere near enough money to live on with one camera and one lens is, frankly, absurd. There may well be other working photographers here who use their M9 for work, either alongside another camera system or as their sole system - the difference is I'll wager every one of them has a pre-existing client list built up over the years and has a solid business existing already. From my understanding you haven't built up a business yet and will be looking to start with a one body, one lens operation selling prints and so on. You've decided to ignore some sound financial advice and you may well ignore my advice too, so I hope that your talk of making money from this set-up is hyperbole or you're simply exaggerating how much you think you can make to get people off your back?

If you get the camera, enjoy it. It is a quality piece of kit and I have no buyer's remorse whatsoever....but then I paid for mine through my business, use it alongside other equipment and was honest enough with myself to admit that it was always a luxury purchase, my business would function perfectly well without it .

 

[250swb]

An M9 is my main camera and I have hardly used anything else for the last 28 months. And I would love to say 'go for it' but can't see much logic in your choice irrespective of whether you can afford it or if you are old enough to own a Leica (yes I laughed at that one as well).

The first principle of business is not to mix it with pleasure. Or you could modify it to say 'don't allow pleasure to get in the way of business'. Buy a bag full of hatefully boring Nikon equipment and use that to earn the money. You may have a faint chance of earning something in the age where everybody has a camera and everybody is therefore a photographer. Wear it out, that is the aim of a professional photographer, use a camera until it is on its last legs and only then reluctantly change it. Buy an M9 when you have a photographic plan, not just a fiscal plan or a GAS attack, because I think you have a snowball in hell's chance of earning money with an M9 and a 50mm lens. Unless an M9's form factor is going to get you places others can't go any other more flexible camera system will work better for earning more money more easily. People want good pictures, not specifically pictures made with a Leica, it won't impress anybody.

Steve

 

[Pikapig]

I will say...play with what u can afford...u wont wish to land yourself in a position struggling for money to fund it...n enjoying less of the camera...

if u can finance it well..then of cos, try it!

 

[luuca]

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.

from analogue M to digital M you only could complain about:
- the lack of the cocking lever (I wish leica could offer it as an "upgrade")
- the thickness of the body (that's just millimeters, but my MP just fits better in my hand than my M9)

 

[doolittle]

I don't have an M9 and have nothing to add to your original question. Forgive me so for putting my oar in! By the sounds of it, this deal will leave you cash strapped and without some nice film cameras. The lack of some film cameras is not the end of the world, but being cash strapped is not a nice situation to be in. Sure, you can make the repayments now. However what happens when something unexpected occurs and your relative lack of cash becomes an issue? Or you have to pass on a really good deal due to lack of funds etc.

If your mind is made up and you are prepared to live with the consequences, you don't need to ask for advice, just go for it.

If however you really don't need the camera straight away, save for a bit longer. Save up the money you planned to use on the repayments and add what you can from time to time and buy the camera for cash when you can afford it.

 

[Teuthida]

Go with what YOU want. Life is short, and you only live once.

That being said, I'd buy a used d700 and a 50 1.8 AF Nikkor and use the $5000 I'd just saved to go traveling (if you want to be happy, spend your money not on THINGS but on EXPERIENCES).

 

[mynikonf2]

...be still & listen.

...be still & listen.

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.

Very, very wise words. He who has ears to hear, listen very closely.

 

[braver]

The OP isn't making any sense. If it's for kit to do some business, just an M9 and a 50 doesn't make sense. You can't do a portrait session with just that (lights!), you can't do a wedding with just that, you can hardly do journalism with that (and I doubt there is any money to be made there), you can't reliably be in business this way. If you're serious about this part and not just fantasizing or justifying the expense, build up a kit around a D300 or a D800 if you want the FX, and you can actually do some work. The pictures will be better for it.

Financially it doesn't make sense either, as many have already pointed out. Don't buy stuff you can only afford halfway. What happens if you drop it or something else happens? The only way to deal with that is a bunch of insurance, but altogether in three years time you'll have paid enough insurance and interest to have bought an extra lens or even a second M9. You have to build up enough disposable income and/or savings to deal with gear this expensive. I say don't get the M9 if you have 50% of its value covered, get it when you have 200% covered.

Good pictures come from hard work and patience. Work on your patience and see where you stand a year from now.

 

[astro8]

The OP hasn't said whether he has tried out an M8, R-D1.

He may be surprised and discover it's all he needs to satisfy digital M lust?

I think the OP has a bad case of GAS!

I'd like an M9 too, but am quite content with the R-D1 until I have all the cash.

Circumstances are in my favour. The M9 is coming down in price as my cash stash is going up.

Seriously though, at 22 priorities and urges can change on a weekly basis.

Don't tie yourself up with a camera that you wish was a plane ticket to escape to some far off paradise in 6 months time....you may kick yourself.

 

[Joosep]

Just saying...
Im 22. Finishing my bachelor in math.
Since I was a small kid I have had one of the worst cases of GAS.
Got into photography at the age of 12.
I now have a pretty nice cabinet full of cameras and lenses.

During the last 7 months I have bought a film RF and 15mm,35mm,50mm and 90mm lenses to go with it.

Im very strict with my money and never buy anything easily, even socks, I always do research.

Im also a hopeless romantic.
Im loving life and loving film.

I can see the bonuses in a digital M, but using it with one lens is a very big NO.

 

[jsrockit]

Has anyone purchased an M9 and felt like it was a bad decision?

No, it is the best camera I've ever used...and I've used a ton of them. That said, I am a Leica M fan and anything else feels second best in my hands. I also hate DSLRs...

I would think the question you need to answer is why you want a M9 and what other cameras were you thinking about as an alternative...

 

[brokencivilian]

Sometimes we learn more out of our mistakes than what we could do with accomplishments. The matter is to learn what we need to learn, however as soon as possible and with the least cost/loss as possible.

Keep your M6 and D300 and lease the M9. This way will tell you right in the first weeks if you succeeded something worth the price difference between the D300 and the M9 or not; only you know it...

In case you're considering to go professional one day, then do not confine yourself within the limitations of older technology with high financial plans. You are young, keep yourself open to the merits of up-to-date technology, lightning fast AF, high ISO capability to shoot under any conditions and start educating yourself on what brings money in the branch you intend to function.

Have sold my d300 already cause I couldn't stand using it anymore. The one I speak of in here is my live in girlfriends.

I don't have an M9 and have nothing to add to your original question. Forgive me so for putting my oar in! By the sounds of it, this deal will leave you cash strapped and without some nice film cameras. The lack of some film cameras is not the end of the world, but being cash strapped is not a nice situation to be in. Sure, you can make the repayments now. However what happens when something unexpected occurs and your relative lack of cash becomes an issue? Or you have to pass on a really good deal due to lack of funds etc.

If your mind is made up and you are prepared to live with the consequences, you don't need to ask for advice, just go for it.

If however you really don't need the camera straight away, save for a bit longer. Save up the money you planned to use on the repayments and add what you can from time to time and buy the camera for cash when you can afford it.

I don't believe I will be strapped for cash. I also will be saving for a couple months prior to purchase.

Go with what YOU want. Life is short, and you only live once.

That being said, I'd buy a used d700 and a 50 1.8 AF Nikkor and use the $5000 I'd just saved to go traveling (if you want to be happy, spend your money not on THINGS but on EXPERIENCES).

Life is short and money is expendable. I don't want a d700, I did at one point. But I am not happy with Digital SLR's right now. Even my film ones I would rather one of my m6's

The OP isn't making any sense. If it's for kit to do some business, just an M9 and a 50 doesn't make sense. You can't do a portrait session with just that (lights!), you can't do a wedding with just that, you can hardly do journalism with that (and I doubt there is any money to be made there), you can't reliably be in business this way. If you're serious about this part and not just fantasizing or justifying the expense, build up a kit around a D300 or a D800 if you want the FX, and you can actually do some work. The pictures will be better for it.

Financially it doesn't make sense either, as many have already pointed out. Don't buy stuff you can only afford halfway. What happens if you drop it or something else happens? The only way to deal with that is a bunch of insurance, but altogether in three years time you'll have paid enough insurance and interest to have bought an extra lens or even a second M9. You have to build up enough disposable income and/or savings to deal with gear this expensive. I say don't get the M9 if you have 50% of its value covered, get it when you have 200% covered.

Good pictures come from hard work and patience. Work on your patience and see where you stand a year from now.

Forget about bussiness, think hobby. I never said that I would only ever have one lens - I said that I have ONE lens to use that I wouldnt need to buy one right away.

The OP hasn't said whether he has tried out an M8, R-D1.

He may be surprised and discover it's all he needs to satisfy digital M lust?

I think the OP has a bad case of GAS!

I'd like an M9 too, but am quite content with the R-D1 until I have all the cash.

Circumstances are in my favour. The M9 is coming down in price as my cash stash is going up.

Seriously though, at 22 priorities and urges can change on a weekly basis.

Don't tie yourself up with a camera that you wish was a plane ticket to escape to some far off paradise in 6 months time....you may kick yourself.

Never tired an M8 or Rd1 but I'm not a fan of crop sensor. So i have no interest in one of those.

No, it is the best camera I've ever used...and I've used a ton of them. That said, I am a Leica M fan and anything else feels second best in my hands. I also hate DSLRs...

I would think the question you need to answer is why you want a M9 and what other cameras were you thinking about as an alternative...

I'm not thinking about other cameras as an alternative. I know what I want and what I am comfortable spending money one. Even if its a lot of money.

 

[nobbylon]

If you already decided on an M9 why post this thread? Countering every members reply when you've asked for some opinion seems a little odd to me.
Go buy your M9 and be happy you have what you believe to be the best but in the end if you can't get a satisfactory result from a D300 and you haven't told us why it disappoints you yet, then I doubt you will get a satisfactory result from an M9!
I don't wish to offend but this is going in circles.

 

[braver]

I don't wish to offend but this is going in circles.

Indeed. If you're going to reply to every piece of advice with "but I want an M9 and I'm sure of it", I'm not sure why you're even discussing the point.

I think you hoped to receive a bunch of encouragement here, but obviously you're not getting as much of that as you hoped.

You're obviously going through a serious bout of GAS. Either you sit it out and make a more reasonable decision later on, or you spend a whole lot of money right now... Neither choice has anything to do with taking pictures though, for that you might consider putting money towards schooling/courses/workshops, printing a portfolio (or just for hanging stuff around the house), getting into a portfolio review, etc. All of which is also quite expensive, but actually takes some intelligent participation from your end as well whereas purchasing stuff doesn't.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm not thinking about other cameras as an alternative. I know what I want and what I am comfortable spending money one. Even if its a lot of money.

Ok, so it's either M9 or nothing? Why did you ask the question again then? 😀

Or is it M9 or just keep using what you are using now?

 

[Nikon Bob]

OK, so you can counter every single piece of negative advice, go get one already. No need to even ask.

Bob

 

[custom875]

I can't imagine carrying around a camera that hasn't been fully paid for yet.

I know these cameras can take a beating but what happens if the camera gets damaged? Accidents do happen and if you can't afford the camera how would you pay for unexpected repair costs. Finance that too??