M9, I am not enjoying it, is it just me?

[flash]

Remarkable, no one seems to care? I do.

I do too. But it's such a cheap easy fix. Buy a different brand and go take pictures. As I said earlier I have one of the affected cards. As long as it stays away from my M9 it doesn't cause any problems. And I personally believe, with nothing to back it up, that it's the card that's at fault, not the camera.

Gordon

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Hi Greenwell
It seems like after having this problem you have lost all confidence in your M9, which is understandable. However has this just occurred the one time so far? Have you been in touch with the dealer to see what they have to say about it? I don't know where you are in the world but you should have at least a one year warranty on it so if you have further problems I would say return it and get it looked at. There have been some problems experienced but there are also many people who have had no problems at all with their M9's. When it's working well it's a fabulous camera but maybe you have a temperamental one.
I'd say persevere with it for now and try and gain confidence back in it but if the problem persists get it looked at. Of course the bottom line is you should end up with a perfectly working camera one way or another. If it continues to have problems Leica should put it right.

 

[jaapv]

You might try running your card through recovery software like Rescue Pro. If that does not work a program like Disk Warrior (Mac) gives you an excellent chance of restoring the file structure and recovering your images.

Such a coincidence that I saw this thread now!

I have an M9 and an MP, like the OP. Was out taking pictures today with the M9 when it went dead on me.. In with a new battery,
but still dead. Removed the SD-card (SanDisk Extreme 8Gb) and the camera worked again. Just not recording anything on a card since it was not in the camera. Back with the card in the cam again and pressed info. The camera reported the card as empty with no capacity.

So I understood that the M9 just fried my card with all the pictures. Well, well I just reached for my MP in the bag and continued shooting. No batteries or cards that can go wrong.

On my way home I bought another card, 4GB this time, and the M9 worked perfectly again..

When I come home tonight I developed the film and it is hanging to dry now. I was just thinking exactly the same as the OP. The best pictures I take with my MP. The M9 screws me up and turns me into a chimping, machine gun shooting, deleting photographer... It just feels wrong...

Very tempted to sell the M9 and settle with the MP and my 2 lenses...

Well, well... a lot to think about..

 

[nakedcellist]

I think in some ways it is a matter of getting used to digital and getting used to the M9. I had to get used to the M8 when I got it, when it was the first digital camera that I seriously used. It just works in some ways a bit different than shooting on film. No that I got the M9, I have to get used to it again, since it also reacts a little different from the m8. I still enjoy shooting with my m6 with film, but now that I slowly get the hang of the m9, I really am enjoying it and am starting to take better pictures with it. I do try to shoot in a similar way like when I shoot on film. My M9 has been very reliable until now, no card issues.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I think in some ways it is a matter of getting used to digital and getting used to the M9. I had to get used to the M8 when I got it, when it was the first digital camera that I seriously used. It just works in some ways a bit different than shooting on film.

I couldn't agree more. When I got my M8.2 this past spring, it felt so different from my M6 (which I love and had been shooting with for over a decade). I really had second thoughts about the M8.2 and considered selling it. Then my M6 developed a shutter issue and had to go back to Leica for service. And unfortunately, it was gone for a month and a half.

In that time I only had the M8.2 to use with my M glass, so it got alot of use. And I was forced to learn PP and a digital workflow. What I found was that now I love it as much as my M6. Since I got my M6 back from repair four months ago, I haven't had the chance to use it yet.

Digital does take some getting used to, and does take some changes in our workflow. But in the end, it was worth it for me. Might be for the OP as well.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Johann Espiritu]

I have been shooting for many years with an M7 as my main camera, with a Minilux as a side companion for "light shooting". Just this year, I acquired an M9 + X1 combo, which I consider to be the digital equivalent of the M7 + Minilux.

I recently started a project called BUSTed (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvvZRyj) which required me to adopt a digital workflow. (This is the first body of work that I am producing digitally!) Because I am taking oddly-cropped portraits of strangers, it requires me to me more transparent to them in the sense that it would give them more peace of mind if I could show them the photo I took right after the shot. It allows me access to them, since I can show them that "I mean no harm", and proof is the photo they see on the LCD. If you take a look at BUSTed, then you would know exactly what I mean.

While I agree that the workflow is entirely different, and there is a subconscious greater effort and patience required when shooting the "film team", the "digital team" presents its own pleasures as well. In the case of BUSTed, I thought it was almost unavoidable. I had my frustrations and annoyances with the digital workflow in the beginning, but as many people here have pointed out - give it some time and see where it works. It does have some applications once you figure out what it's good for. In any case, I (and you) should still keep your film cameras and use them when they work better than digital (which is still most of the time for me!).

I hope you figure what works for you!

 

[fotomeow]

I am overwhelmed by the number of responses to my thread, this is not a film versus digital thread, I have simply been a long term film user who was determined to make a go of digital, I could see the advantages of changing iso on the move, colour or B&W with PP and a memory card which can hold a whole day's shooting, plus deleting shots that were not up to standard. I have been unfortunate to suffer a glitch the first time that it really mattered. What is concerning me is do I return the camera and throw in the towel or soldier on knowing that my heart is not in it.
I am greatly encouraged by the help and support from members to stick with it but each time that I read a thread of some who have found the same experience as myself I wonder. I still have a lot to learn shooting film, I have not yet tried to develop my own films as I find it handy to send them off, I thought too that using a computer was the way to go with post processing, I am still in two minds!

Many of us have been there. It always feels like I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT NOW. However, what the situation usually teaches me in the end is that there is no right answer at this point and time. That the conflict I encounter is just another step along my fotog journey. Perhaps you should let the M9 go. You can always get another one later on down the road. Again, Have you considered the Epson RD1? this might be your ticket. best of luck

 

[semilog]

It sounds like you may have filled the buffer and then chimped while the camera was "thinking." With certain SD cards, the camera will lock up. Just a guess.

You're kidding. Please tell me you're kidding. What is this, 1983???

:bang:

 

[ZlatkoBatistich]

I have turned the auto review off but will be keeping my eye on the flashing red light.

I love the auto review — it is one of the best things about digital photography. One doesn't need to look at all of the time. But I would greatly miss it if it were turned off.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I just sold my M8 today. The net loss to me was the equivalent of renting it for about $25USD per month for 21 months.

I still have the M9 but I've returned back to film in a big way over the last few weeks.

Right after that, I turned around and bought a 70th Anniversary M4-P from a friend of mine (and fellow RFF'er) and I'm back to two film M bodies. I think the only way I could be happier is if the new one were a black paint M4 but that's just aesthetics. Mmmmm, black paint M4...

If the M9 isn't for you, then it isn't for you but along with the rest of the folks, I'd say give it a longer chance. Despite reliability issues, it's still the nicest miniature format digital camera made. The metering pattern takes some getting used to as do some of the other issues. I still carry a handheld meter with my M9 because I like and trust the results I get from the Gossen Luna Pro. That's just me though.

Keep shooting it and good luck. Have fun with it too!
You can do some crazy wide open shots in day time with the digital Leicas that you cant on the film M bodies without shooting very slow film or using a lot of ND filtration.

Phil Forrest

 

[Keith]

Chimping is a part of digital that has real advantages IMO. The fact that you can't do it with 'film' seems to make people assume that it's an evil part of digital shooting and should be taboo because it will make you less of a photographer. What a load of ****! To be able to check a shot to see if you got the framing and exposure in the ballpark is extremely useful.

To the OP: I suspect that if you're not comfortable with your M9 maybe your just not comfortable with digital ... and that's perfectly OK. Get rid of it and keep shooting with your MP and be happy! 🙂

 

[Jarle Aasland]

Jarle- I thought you were getting an M9!

What, not offering a DCS-100 as part of the trade?

What's insane- what Nikon E3's and Fujix 505'a are going for. Keep something long enough...

Hi Brian,

Having bought the X100, I'm not that interested in the M9 any more. The lousy high ISO performance (compared to the X100's excellent high ISO performance) is a deal breaker for me. I'm instead looking forward to the M10, which I believe will be announced next year.

Yes, Fujix/E-series prices these days are just plain silly. Which is fine by me, since I have a few of them sitting around!

Regarding all the M9 SD card issues being reported lately, I had some similar problems of my own, when I tested the camera shortly after its release: http://www.nikonweb.com/m9/ (near the bottom of the page, under "Memory glitches").

Jarle

 

[Sonnar Brian]

ISO 2500 works for me, on my M9.

Both with the 50/1.1 Nokton, ISO 2500 on the M9.






Much better than my Nikon E3....Or 800 Speed color film that I have used.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Chimping is a part of digital that has real advantages IMO. The fact that you can't do it with 'film' seems to make people assume that it's an evil part of digital shooting and should be taboo because it will make you less of a photographer. What a load of ****! To be able to check a shot to see if you got the framing and exposure in the ballpark is extremely useful.

To the OP: I suspect that if you're not comfortable with your M9 maybe your just not comfortable with digital ... and that's perfectly OK. Get rid of it and keep shooting with your MP and be happy! 🙂

Hi Keith,

I enjoy "chimping" through my viewfinder before hitting the shutter... 😉 Yet I feel that's the great feeling!

Well, images playback in situ can be useful IMO for payed digital photography, "an advantage" as you say, but not for pleasure: just to make sure you got the thing done, and well done, and then happily leave it... But for my real photography, I find it's deeply boring looking at an image just after creating it... I don't know the reasons for that feeling, but that fact of creating without any kind of instant proof of results is something that keeps my emotions alive... I don't usually shoot my digital camera for fun, but sometimes when I haven't planned on shooting, or because of a family/friends situation where quick internet memories are required to share the event, I enjoy a lot more using my digital camera (or anyone's) without chimping at all: I know the moment I look at the screen, part of the fun just vanishes for me... So I avoid that. Apart from that, in general I get better photographs from a digital camera when instead of chimping I keep connected to the subjects and situations all the time... It's kind of a feeling that grows better if I don't interrupt it... Even for paid digital portraiture I prefer to shoot without chimping... If I want to check results I prefer to do it only after the end of it: I mean, shooting just as with film, and only after finishing looking at what I got, but I keep far from constant chimping... Obviously when DSLRs came out, I used to check images more often, but I think -from experience- it's not a great thing to my photography: it doesn't really help... Of course other people can feel differently...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Keith]

Hi Keith,

I enjoy "chimping" through my viewfinder before hitting the shutter... 😉 Yet I feel that's the great feeling!

Well, images playback in situ can be useful IMO for payed digital photography, "an advantage" as you say, but not for pleasure: just to make sure you got the thing done, and well done, and then happily leave it... But for my real photography, I find it's deeply boring looking at an image just after creating it... I don't know the reasons for that feeling, but that fact of creating without any kind of instant proof of results is something that keeps my emotions alive... I don't usually shoot my digital camera for fun, but sometimes when I haven't planned on shooting, or because of a family/friends situation where quick internet memories are required to share the event, I enjoy a lot more using my digital camera (or anyone's) without chimping at all: I know the moment I look at the screen, part of the fun just vanishes for me... So I avoid that. Apart from that, in general I get better photographs from a digital camera when instead of chimping I keep connected to the subjects and situations all the time... It's kind of a feeling that grows better if I don't interrupt it... Even for paid digital portraiture I prefer to shoot without chimping... If I want to check results I prefer to do it only after the end of it: I mean, shooting just as with film, and only after finishing looking at what I got, but I keep far from constant chimping... Obviously when DSLRs came out, I used to check images more often, but I think -from experience- it's not a great thing to my photography: it doesn't really help... Of course other people can feel differently...

Cheers,

Juan

You make good points as usual Juan and I think the 'for pay' one is important and valid.

I still think that if someone genuinely feels that their photography is being compromised by the ability to chimp and see that as a viable reason to not shoot digital then their photography skills are on rocky ground! 😀

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

You make good points as usual Juan and I think the 'for pay' one is important and valid.

I still think that if someone genuinely feels that their photography is being compromised by the ability to chimp and see that as a viable reason to not shoot digital then their photography skills are on rocky ground! 😀

It certainly interrupts a part of it, Keith... And to say it the way you just did, I think if someone needs to chimp, their photography skills are on rocky ground! 😀

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Keith]

It certainly interrupts a part of it, Keith... And to say it the way you just did, I think if someone needs to chimp, their photography skills are on rocky ground! 😀

Cheers,

Juan

LOL ... I should have known better than to hit you with a theory like that! 😀

 

[raid]

With practice and time all new units will somehow take the place of older units. Maybe.

 

[Mcary]

I am overwhelmed by the number of responses to my thread, this is not a film versus digital thread, I have simply been a long term film user who was determined to make a go of digital, I could see the advantages of changing iso on the move, colour or B&W with PP and a memory card which can hold a whole day's shooting, plus deleting shots that were not up to standard. I have been unfortunate to suffer a glitch the first time that it really mattered. What is concerning me is do I return the camera and throw in the towel or soldier on knowing that my heart is not in it.

For me photography is something I do because I enjoy it so the idea of forcing myself to use a certain piece or type of gear or do things a certain way because its what everyone else is doing is rather silly.
So I say go with your heart. Besides that there nothing that says you can't give digital another try down the road after all it not like you're losing anything by waiting as digital is only going to get better and better.

 

[bwcolor]

With practice and time all new units will somehow take the place of older units. Maybe.

My wife keeps threatening the same.