greenwell
Member
I recently bought a M9 and I am having doubts that it is the camera for me.I have always been a film user, MP and M7, Leica R and OM cameras. I felt that I must try digital, looking back over the best photos that I have taken I noticed to my surprise that I was most successful with the MP. I decided to sell my M7,R's and OM's and buy a M9. I briefly tried a canon 7d dslr and was quite surprised how quickly I learnt to use it despite being a technophobe, this gave me a lot of confidence for when I got the M9.
I used the M9 for two months, experimenting and getting used to it, I then picked up the MP and used that alongside the M9, oh dear, I prefer the handling of the MP, I think far harder at what I am doing, I enjoy it more.
Briefly using the canon I noticed that with so much 'auto' that it was making me lazy, I thought that the M9 would be different but I have got fed up of constantly deleting photos that I would not have taken in the first place if I had been thinking, the screen is better than the canon but I really don't find it that useful.
I went to a friend's party and took the M9 looking forward to using the higher iso without a flash.The battery was full of life and there was plenty of room on the card, I had taken several shots when the camera stopped recording images, I had the manual in the car and went through all that I could but it would not work. i left the camera in the car and joined in the party, afterwards I tried it again and it was working but I had missed a never to be repeated chance of so many old friends in one place. I am naturally very upset, I have never had a camera fail on me, the M7 used to have glitches but I ignored them and got good results, I always carried spare batteries and once having loaded a film incorrectly in a nikon F3 I never made that mistake again.
I have on my computer all the photos that I have kept from the M9 there is not one which to me is outstanding,the photos from the MP when I photographed the same subject are to me perfectly okay,what's more I have sent off films to be processed and had them back in 4 days whilst the photos with the M9 were still in the camera.
I think that I am so wedded to the film process that trying to change a habit of a lifetime is going to be very hard. Do I persist, or swap the M9 for another MP and have a digital P&S,I don't know.
Regards
Rupert
I used the M9 for two months, experimenting and getting used to it, I then picked up the MP and used that alongside the M9, oh dear, I prefer the handling of the MP, I think far harder at what I am doing, I enjoy it more.
Briefly using the canon I noticed that with so much 'auto' that it was making me lazy, I thought that the M9 would be different but I have got fed up of constantly deleting photos that I would not have taken in the first place if I had been thinking, the screen is better than the canon but I really don't find it that useful.
I went to a friend's party and took the M9 looking forward to using the higher iso without a flash.The battery was full of life and there was plenty of room on the card, I had taken several shots when the camera stopped recording images, I had the manual in the car and went through all that I could but it would not work. i left the camera in the car and joined in the party, afterwards I tried it again and it was working but I had missed a never to be repeated chance of so many old friends in one place. I am naturally very upset, I have never had a camera fail on me, the M7 used to have glitches but I ignored them and got good results, I always carried spare batteries and once having loaded a film incorrectly in a nikon F3 I never made that mistake again.
I have on my computer all the photos that I have kept from the M9 there is not one which to me is outstanding,the photos from the MP when I photographed the same subject are to me perfectly okay,what's more I have sent off films to be processed and had them back in 4 days whilst the photos with the M9 were still in the camera.
I think that I am so wedded to the film process that trying to change a habit of a lifetime is going to be very hard. Do I persist, or swap the M9 for another MP and have a digital P&S,I don't know.
Regards
Rupert
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
I would hang in there. Whatever you think of the future of film, digital is the real future. It's hard to give up the old and familiar. Now, you might decide you prefer the digital SLR experience to the digital RF experience, but that's another story. Hang in there through the learning curve before you decide to run back to your comfort zone.
thegman
Veteran
Yes, and no. Obviously digital will be around after film has gone. However when that happens (let's say 10 or 20 years from now), an M9 may not even work, if it does, it'll be stone age. The MP will likely have become even more of a collectible than it is now.
Conceptually, digital will outlast film, but today's film cameras will outlast today's digital cameras. If you're buying concepts for the future, by all means, get digital, but if you're buying cameras for the future, I'd say still it's film.
For the OP, I'd say give it a little longer, maybe take the M9 out one day, the MP the next, and keep doing that, and see what you think after say 2 weeks.
I'd love to prefer digital, the long term savings would be great, and not having to faff with scanners would be lovely, but I just don't. You may prefer film, and there's nothing you can do about it...
kbg32
neo-romanticist
I find the M9 experience to be very "film-like" in handling. I too came from film Ms. Sure, it is not without its quirks, but what system does not have any? I find I am never without the M9 day to day.
Rich Presswood
Newbie
I've recently gone through all my photos and realise the best I've ever taken were on film rangefinders. The Voigtlander R4A & R3A, which I unfortunately sold in 2009. I've used a Canon 5D, Oly EP2 and Pan GH2. All great cameras in there own right but they have turned me into what I call a machine gun shooter. I end up with endless similar images that just don't exite me at all. Ocassionally I get a good shot but it's rare. On a roll of 36 frames I would get at least half. Digital makes you loose focus in my experience. Film sales have increased this year on the back of the Holga boom and people who have only shot digital wanting to find out what film is like. Digital is the future, but film like vinyl is likely to be around for the long haul.
srtiwari
Daktari
I, too have considered selling the M9, particularly, because it is bulkier. I prefer the M6 ergonomics, and the film shoot/develop/print process is fun, but digital seems much easier when you are eager and pressed for time.
My compromise may be to shoot digital for 35mm, and film for MF.
My compromise may be to shoot digital for 35mm, and film for MF.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
I really don't see it as a digital vs film issue. For me, back a decade ago when I switched to digital, it was more an icebox vs refrigerator issue.
As for the m9, I would give it a year, unless it is the resale value that is your primary concern.
As for the m9, I would give it a year, unless it is the resale value that is your primary concern.
greenwell
Member
Thanks for your replies, I am still upset at the M9 letting me down the first time that I needed it but before this loss of confidence I was already questioning my relationship with the camera and the digital process. I take photographs for fun,to give to family and friends,there is no rush or pressure.
I have a Leica Akadmie invitation to take up and my dealer has offered me support with Lightroom but at the moment my heart is just not in it. I have this week shot 4 rolls of film and the M9 has been unused.
I have a Leica Akadmie invitation to take up and my dealer has offered me support with Lightroom but at the moment my heart is just not in it. I have this week shot 4 rolls of film and the M9 has been unused.
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.
I'm of the opinion that if you do not like the M9, it is no big deal. Use what you enjoy using. To me, the M9 is the best $7,000 I ever spent... and I never thought I'd admit that since I thought I was crazy for buying a camera for that kind of money initially. However, if I was disappointed, it would be sold real quick. The MP is a hell of a camera... use it and enjoy yourself, that is what it is all about unless you make a living off your cameras.
I'm of the opinion that if you do not like the M9, it is no big deal. Use what you enjoy using. To me, the M9 is the best $7,000 I ever spent... and I never thought I'd admit that since I thought I was crazy for buying a camera for that kind of money initially. However, if I was disappointed, it would be sold real quick. The MP is a hell of a camera... use it and enjoy yourself, that is what it is all about unless you make a living off your cameras.
sanmich
Veteran
I don't think there is something magical about film, although that's what I use, and if I had to move to digital an M9 it would be.
That being said, and pass the reliability issues you report and that need to be understood in order for you to trust your camera, It's only a new tool that you need to learn.
I doubt the mere fact that it's a digital camera makes you take lousy pictures.
That being said, and pass the reliability issues you report and that need to be understood in order for you to trust your camera, It's only a new tool that you need to learn.
I doubt the mere fact that it's a digital camera makes you take lousy pictures.
greenwell
Member
From what I remember I took a couple of photos to see that I had set the iso for a early evening party,800 iso gave me enough to start with,I did not delete anything as the test shots were of people and I was using the camera on single shot. As people were entering the marquee I was taking a shot or two and after about a dozen shots I noticed that the screen was not lighting up so I pressed play to see if the camera had recorded them and the last photo that had been recorded was the test shot. I had not done any chimping as I was concentrating on taking photos and chatting to friends.
greenwell
Member
Regarding lousy shots! True it is not the fault of the camera of course,what I was meaning is that I just was not concentrating in the way that I would with a film camera. I find with digital that I was wasting shots in the hope that when I chimped that one would be on target with the dslr with autofocus and firing up to 8fps I was surprised that I got next to nothing that I liked but with some thought and one or two well aimed shots results were better.
It probably all goes back to chidhood when I was given a camera and told not to waste any shots as the film roll had to last the holidays!
My military training had me counting the shots that I fired so that I always knew the status of my magazine, in a lull with a couple of rounds left you were told to change to a fresh magazine. With a roll of film I know exactly where I am all the time, I liken my MP to bolt action rifle!
It probably all goes back to chidhood when I was given a camera and told not to waste any shots as the film roll had to last the holidays!
My military training had me counting the shots that I fired so that I always knew the status of my magazine, in a lull with a couple of rounds left you were told to change to a fresh magazine. With a roll of film I know exactly where I am all the time, I liken my MP to bolt action rifle!
Digital is not for everyone. The M9 is as close to a film camera as you will find in the digital world, except perhaps a film camera with a digital back.
If you are new to digital, best to practice a lot with it. Some procedures are not intuitive: such as the need to format SD cards in the camera before use, and some SD cards having "issues".
http://rangefinderforum.com/modules.php?name=News&file=showarticle&threadid=109092
But- as to whether the M9 can deliver results, no question that it can once you get used to it.
If you are new to digital, best to practice a lot with it. Some procedures are not intuitive: such as the need to format SD cards in the camera before use, and some SD cards having "issues".
http://rangefinderforum.com/modules.php?name=News&file=showarticle&threadid=109092
But- as to whether the M9 can deliver results, no question that it can once you get used to it.
aad
Not so new now.
I think a digital p&s might be a good friend-I didn't start to enjoy my camera until I turned off the auto-chimp feature. I don't look at the pictures until I'm home.
Mcary
Well-known
OP,
Well look like you have one of two choices you can either do what you feel/think is best for you or you can do what other people feel/think is best for you, based mostly if not entirely on the assumption that's whats best for them is best for everyone else.
Well look like you have one of two choices you can either do what you feel/think is best for you or you can do what other people feel/think is best for you, based mostly if not entirely on the assumption that's whats best for them is best for everyone else.
flash
Member
Sounds to me like you're using one of the Sandisk cards that are playing up in the M9. That happened to me. A change to Lexar and Fuji cards until the issue is resolved fixed the problem easily for me.
If it were me I'd just set the ISO to 400 and put some tape over the LCD on go shoot for a few days using 1GB cards. Apart from the need to constantly change battries and cards it should be more "film like". The limited size of the cards should get you out of the machine gun mentality. Then reintroduce the screen when the picture taking side feels normal.
I wish you well. No matter what you choose it wil be the right thing for you, and that's all that counts.
Gordon
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johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
That bit on buy an M9 for the future medium and buy any mechanical Leica M for a future camera (thegman said that above) is what made me decide to get back into film only and sell my M8.
There is a huge heap of film stored cool in my basement, there are Nikkormats, M2, M3 and IIIc in the cupboard and I continue to buy B&W film and chemicals.
At my current rate I have enough film stored for 7 years to come. I'm replenishing the batch with fresh film all the time.
There are two scanners on my desk, one for 135 and one for larger film. Have one in the attic as a back-up.
Yet, I have bought a Nikon D3100 (to use my lovely Pre-AI lenses on) for the fast-track stuff.
I'd say sell the M9, stack up on film and chemicals, learn how to home-develop (Rodinal 1:100 is a piece of cake, lotsa how-to's here) and buy a nice consumer-grade DLSR that takes cheap vintage manual lenses, either Nikon or Pentax.
You'll still be waaay ahead of the price of the M9, can deliver images fast or take your time whenever you like.
There is a huge heap of film stored cool in my basement, there are Nikkormats, M2, M3 and IIIc in the cupboard and I continue to buy B&W film and chemicals.
At my current rate I have enough film stored for 7 years to come. I'm replenishing the batch with fresh film all the time.
There are two scanners on my desk, one for 135 and one for larger film. Have one in the attic as a back-up.
Yet, I have bought a Nikon D3100 (to use my lovely Pre-AI lenses on) for the fast-track stuff.
I'd say sell the M9, stack up on film and chemicals, learn how to home-develop (Rodinal 1:100 is a piece of cake, lotsa how-to's here) and buy a nice consumer-grade DLSR that takes cheap vintage manual lenses, either Nikon or Pentax.
You'll still be waaay ahead of the price of the M9, can deliver images fast or take your time whenever you like.
Ron (Netherlands)
Well-known
Agree fully with Johan!, if you are not acquinted after two months its not for you and better be happy with an MP (or even better a nice Millennium
)cheers from a film and M8.2 shooter
greenwell
Member
I avoided the sandisk cards and have a lexar professional 133x 8gb , I did everything by the book and formatted the card, I have been using the M9 just now to see if the fault returns so that I can take it back to the dealer if that helps them trace it. If the problem cannot be detected I am not at all happy keeping a camera that is liable to go wrong again.
Muddy
Newbie
I was from Contax RST1 in the '70 to Nikon F3 (manual) from the '80 and had been away from manual photography for almost 30 years, M9 has made me rediscoved the joy of photography again, a year passed, the results turned out bad to worse more than good, I hope still to master it sooner or later.
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