M9 or ?

[ktmrider]

Roger, I know you shoot with a mix of digital and film. We both travel by motorcycle and I know you are using the M9 a lot.

I am getting ready for a six month to one year around the world trip. The motorcycle trip to TDF will come later. I see all the stuff on the net about M9 reliability. I used mine for 90 days last fall in Europe. It lived in my backpack and did not receive gentle treatment. Did not have any issues with it. Upon return I sent it to Leica for a CLA and they did that and replaced the sensor.

So, would you take it on a trip as your primary camera? I have a couple M2's and consider just using them leaving the digital stuff at home. Presently, I am leaning toward the M9 with an M2 as back up.

Have you had any problems with the M9? Thought about upgrading? Thought about tossing all digital cameras and computers?

Thanks, Rich

 

[seakayaker1]

FWIW ~ I would go with the M9 and a M2. My thoughts would be that there may be times on a trip that long that charging batteries may not be accessible every where and having film to record the trip on these occasions would be beneficial. I would also be planning on having several SD cards and mailing them back home along with the used film to process upon return. Not sure if I would want a laptop/hard drive backup because of the weight and fragile nature of electronics for a long six to 12 month trip on the road.

Hope you have a safe and fun trip!

 

[ktmrider]

Well, the only limitation on cameras is what I can carry. I hope to do the whole trip with only a moderate size pack. It would be wonderful if the M9 inspired as much confidence as a film M. Of course it is a computer and has just a few more internal connections.

I enjoyed using it for 90 days in Europe last fall. The only negative was worrying about having such an expensive camera along on the trip. Even used Leicas are not cheap.

I am also thinking M2 and a video camera. Too many choices for this analogue dinosaur. And know even less about video recorders then digital still cameras.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Didnt you make a thread polling what to take a couple weeks ago? I thought it was decided to shoot film the whole time?

 

[ktmrider]

I own two M2's and love film. However, there are advantages to modern technology so nothing has been decided and my RTW trip is three months away. Nothing has been decided. Roger travels a lot and uses an M9 so I thought I would ask his opinion. I have not seen him write anything about getting rid of or having trouble with his M9.

 

[Merumeni]

Hi ktmrider,

I crossed the Alps hiking with my M9 and it has been with me on African dirt roads, deserts etc and got quite some rough handling and shaking.
It is reliable. (More reliable than my Zeiss glass: they all got the wobble ...).
Whenever I sent it in for CLA I got new sensors. By now I am on my 3rd sensor: Leica added a new dimension to digital rot.
The entire M9 sensor business changed the game for me: from what I have heard or seem to understand the sensors react to humidity and I fear that a trip around the world means crossing a lot of humid areas.
So my M9 has become my city and family camera. On rougher trips, this is everything that includes bushwhacking, wet feet and mosquitoes I use film Leicas and / or Fuji-X.
Enjoy your trip!

Meru

 

[sleepyhead]

If it were me, I would bring the two M2s. With the M9, as much as I love mine, you'll also need to worry about keeping several batteries charged on the road.

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . Presently, I am leaning toward the M9 with an M2 as back up.

Have you had any problems with the M9? Thought about upgrading? Thought about tossing all digital cameras and computers?

Dear Rich,

Excerpt 1: That's what I'd do, though I'd take the MP instead of the M2, 'cos I have one. I might carry two chargers for the M9 though.

Answers to questions in excerpt 2: (1) No (2) I'm not sure that any subsequent M-digi is actually an upgrade: more of a sideways-grade (3) Frequently, but it's mostly the computers that prompt the idea.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ktmrider]

Thanks for the responses. My latest M2 had a thorough service by Sherry (receipt says brought up to "new" standards) and she claimed it to be almost mint. I am pretty sure it will go.

Really I have not had a bit of trouble with the M9 so I can only attribute my lack of faith in it to the internet and just a bit of unreasonable distrust of technology. I still use an analogue watch and fountain pen as do many members of this forum. In aviation, IMHO the ultimate aircraft were the J3 Cub and DC3.

And if I was willing to travel with a reasonable bit of luggage, I would not hesitate to carry two M's. I am trying to travel with one medium size pack and one shoulder bag for computer and cameras. Thus the challenge.

Presently, am feeling M2 and M9 with 21/35/90.

 

[cz23]

Rich, this is OT and not a suggestion for you, but your question made me ponder what I would do in your situation.

As a 50mm guy who usually carried ample gear, I never imagined I would say this, but I think I could comfortably circle the world with just a GR.

Of course, I'm not very interested in capturing sights; it's the people I'd care about -- getting in close, being discrete but part of things. And very light and free and spontaneous. That camera changed me in ways I never expected.

John

 

[froyd]

Would you consider a camera with much more different capabilities compared to the M2? The M9 offers built-in metering, a "motor drive", and digital images. It also shoots in a way that's very similar to the M2, which in many way is a plus.

However, when I travel, I like to pair two very disparate types of camera, like the Rolleiflex and the tiny Sony RX100 for flash and pocketability; or the Contax G and the Stylus Epic for all-35mm film trips. Most often I pair the main camera with a p&s with built-in flash.

 

[oftheherd]

Well, the only limitation on cameras is what I can carry. I hope to do the whole trip with only a moderate size pack. It would be wonderful if the M9 inspired as much confidence as a film M. Of course it is a computer and has just a few more internal connections.

I enjoyed using it for 90 days in Europe last fall. The only negative was worrying about having such an expensive camera along on the trip. Even used Leicas are not cheap.

I am also thinking M2 and a video camera. Too many choices for this analogue dinosaur. And know even less about video recorders then digital still cameras.

Thanks for the smile. I know you didn't intend it, but talking about an M9 and a negative made me smile.

I hope you enjoy your trip, all your cameras work perfectly, and you are safe the whole time. Looking forward to some stunning photos in the next year.

 

[Godfrey]

When I travel, I usually just carry one camera. If it's got interchangeable lenses, I carry two or three. This past weekend, I carried the M-P plus 50 and 24 lenses on a weekend away. Most of my shots were made with the 50mm, and I'm happy with what I made.

However, I noticed that there were some shots where I would have liked to be able to get in close, and neither lens is really able to do that. That's where having the X or one of my Micro-FourThirds cameras alongside would have been a plus. As it was, I used my iPhone 6 and am happy with what I got.

For a long trip of several weeks, I'd consider carefully what I wanted to photograph and then pick a minimal kit that covered most of it. Three lenses and the pair of Leica M bodies sounds fine to me, if shooting some film is a priority. If either breaks, use the other.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. The "perfect" kit is probably just as elusive as the "perfect" bag. Bring what ya got and make do. ;-)

G

 

[ktmrider]

Yes, I know there is no perfect kit. And as I have said before debating equipment is one of the reasons most of us are on this forum. There are much more threads about equipment and/or technique then there are photos.

Honestly, I would not feel a loss if I could only travel with a Nikon F or Leica M2 and one lens and one film. And I would love to carry every thing I own but the dilemma is finding the "perfect" (or what we percieve to be perfect) mix of equipment.

Again, I am reminded of the legend of Barnack and why he invented the Leica in the first place. He got tired of carrying a large folding camera and tripod up the hills around Solmns. Thus the Leica was born. If we carry that out to modern times, a small point and shoot would certainly be lighter and more convent then any film Leica and an SD card can hold thousands of imagines. Of course, we still have people using those large folding cameras.

 

[Beemermark]

What to take

What to take

I used to take a Nikon 700 and 3 or 3 big zooms, plus my M8.2 and 3 small lenses. Traveling by plane overseas all this just became too much haul around, let alone carry. I quickly dropped the Nikon equipment and just used the M8.2. However last month I went back to Scotland for the 3rd time and decided just to carry my little Fuji X10 and my M7 for B&W. A lot of the decision was based on the M8.2 is getting long in the tooth and my trust factor is that camera is getting thin. Anyway the M7 (I've owned it for about 10 years) decided to start eating batteries in Scotland, so most shooting was limited to 1/60 & 1/125. The X10 was a champ. I'm still pretty much old school thinking you need a FF but after this trip I'm looking at high end P&S and a film camera for travel. I would definitely suggest you take your M2. However the M2 with a couple of lenses and one extra body like the M9 is pretty light, I would go with that combination.

 

[ktmrider]

Hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland last August with the M9 and 21/35/90 had me wishing for my X100. My guess is the M9 and M2 with the same three lenses but may substitute the 15mm for the 21.

Or maybe sell everything and get a super 8mm for the vintage tourist look? I believe film is still being made for it.

 

[Godfrey]

Hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland last August with the M9 and 21/35/90 had me wishing for my X100. My guess is the M9 and M2 with the same three lenses but may substitute the 15mm for the 21.

Or maybe sell everything and get a super 8mm for the vintage tourist look? I believe film is still being made for it.

LOL! Just carry on iPhone and get the "8mm" app for it ... A solar operated battery charger will keep the battery topped up indefinitely. 🙂

When I went to Hawaii last year carrying Sony A7 with Leica R 35/50/90 lenses, what I really wanted was the Leica X ... but it hadn't quite come out yet.

G

 

[Pioneer]

My M9 has been very reliable since I purchased it used in 2013. I would have no problem packing it on any trip I take.

But with space and overall weight at a real premium, my choice on my last two trips has been my Pentax Q7 with the wide angle and telephoto zooms.

 

[_goodtimez]

I am currently in the region of Mardin in SE Turkey and I am very happy with this kit carried in a small messenger bag-actually a 1950 Army messenger style bag 🙂

M8.2 with a bunch of cards-2 batteries and the small charger. I don't chimp ever, I just bracket.
M4 BP with BW and Color slide film
28 V1
35 Lux Asph
Polaris lightmeter
Samsung Note 3 (videos and technical documentation pictures, phone applications as well...)

You really don't want to use the M8.2 into a sand wind, trust me !

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . However, when I travel, I like to pair two very disparate types of camera, like the Rolleiflex and the tiny Sony RX100 for flash and pocketability; or the Contax G and the Stylus Epic for all-35mm film trips. Most often I pair the main camera with a p&s with built-in flash.

Exact opposite in my case. I don't want to have to think about the camera I'm using: I just want to take pictures, and that means keeping the two cameras as similar as possible. Being forced to use two very different cameras would be a nightmare for me. I used to carry two film Ms (one colour, one B+W); now it's one film (B+W), one digi (colour). I MAY carry an SLR for long lenses -- or I may not.

Cheers,

R.