M9?

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ktmrider

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This is another of "would you buy" threads. I am still primarily a film shooter with the only digital I own being an X100. I have an M6 and M2 with five M mount lenses. I am traveling to SE Asia for 30 days in February and then around the world with my daughter in the summer.

I think about traveling with film and I think about traveling with just the X100. I am about equally torn with the tech advantage going toward digital (but hate carrying the charger, extra batteries etc) but for some unknown reason, I don't mind carrying film.

I would enjoy using a couple of my M mount lenses (21/35/90 or 21/50/90) so am thinking of a used M9 or Sony A7. I know the used M9 still costs double the A7. There are no camera stores in El Paso so I must get to one to try the A7 with some of my legacy lenses before making a decision.

I have used Leica M's since 1975 and enjoy the rangefinder but have also used my share of SLR's which I imagine is similar to the A7 and saving a couple thousand would not be a bad thing.

So, in your opinion is an used M9 worth $4000? M9 or A7 or Nikon DF or a film M with a couple lenses?
 
Don't know why you wouldn't run with what you have (film M's)? You say you don't mind lugging film and don't like lugging chargers etc. A film M and the X100 to back each other up sounds right to me.
 
I agree with Mike, if you're happy with film, and the X100, then just take those. If you don't like carrying chargers and batteries, then the M9 will not improve that over an X100.

Whether an M9 is worth $4k is a personal thing, for me, certainly not, for others I'm sure it's worth twice that.
 
I would go with the film M and the X100. I find the X100 a very comfortable camera to shoot with and very good on a trip. You will have to carry batteries and charger for an M9, if you take it instead of the X100. The advantage of the M9 would be that you can use your various focal lengths on it and not be limited to just one, as you would be with the X100. But then there is more fussing with changing lenses.

An alternative is to pick up a pocket size point and shoot--a good one. I take a D-Lux 4 or D-Lux 6; my X100; and either a film M or my M8.2 with 2 or 3 lenses. It all fits in a small bag and is easily carried.
 
I recently picked up the new Sony A7 that charges via micro USB cable which I quite liked. All I need is the one USB cable, which is also universally used with my cell phone and mp3 player, and either a laptop or my USB AC adapter and I am good for recharging all my devices, including camera. Can even use my DC USB car doohickey to charge it if need-be.

But still, for a long trip, away from convenient power sources, my M6 and a bag of film would be the one to go with me.
 
It sounds like you're ambivalent about the rangefinder system on a digital camera. That's really the ONLY reason to buy an M9; because of it's coincident rangefinder viewfinder (well that, and that you don't have fight with menus to make it work.) As an image-maker, it's not significantly different from any other decent quality camera out there.

So it boils down to what kind of framing and viewing system you're willing to use. If an EVF or back-of-the-camera viewscreen is ok for you, then it's silly to buy an M9. If, like me, you detest those, then a digi M-body is really the only choice.
 
ktmrider said:
...I think about traveling with film and I think about traveling with just the X100. I am about equally torn with the tech advantage going toward digital (but hate carrying the charger, extra batteries etc) but for some unknown reason, I don't mind carrying film...
Click to expand...
I don't really understand your "unknown reason," since carrying film means a lot more bulk and hassle if you don't want your film to go through repeated x-ray inspections at airports. Also, you don't say whether you do color or B&W. The M9 CCD sensor was designed by Kodak using Kodachrome as a color model, and has a unique color rendition that produces files that look more like color slide film while files from CMOS cameras look more like color negative film. If you like the M9 color rendition, then it's a no brainer considering the lenses that you have. However, if I were you I would get a new M-E rather than a used M9, as I don't like buying used digital cameras. While some people say that you can process digital files to get any look you want, I have not found that to be the case.

—Mitch/Chiang Mai
Tristes Tropiques [WIP]
 
Whatever your choice will be I wouldn't depart on around the world travel with just one body , one lens. My vote also goes to film cameras.
 
As far as the argument about the color with the software out there now you can make a digital file look like anything you want to. You have a lot more flexibility with digital. As far as is the M9 worth $4000.00. I think that depends on you. $4000.00 is more for some people and less for others.
If I was going on a once and a lifetime trip I would take the best available to give me the best results. What you consider exceptable is something different as well as what I would consider.
The Sony a7/7R are both great cameras. Could you live with the EVF? Some love it some hate it. Me I love it.
 
Digital?

Digital?

One downside to digital is unreliable electricity in some of the countries I plan to visit. Not to offend but the M9 does not have the reputation for reliaility as some other brands. My M2 was made in 1958 and works as well today as it did when new. And even though I have had the X100 for two years, every once in awhile it will do something I did not think I asked it to..

Film is a mature technology, digital not so much. And I also admit to wanting an M9 because it is a digital leica. I can afford one but can't justify one with the amount of photography I do.

I know my way around a darkroom but only shoot jpeg's with the X100. Own Lightroom but have never used it. I would hope owning an M9 would force me to learn digital techniques but if I am honest with myself, it probably would not.

TriX and Ektar 100. Wish they still made Kodachrome 25 or 64.

Leica ME may not be available in the US for another year according to Ken Hansen.
 
going digital

going digital

I have always viewed a trip as an excuse for a new toy. Being gone for a month to me means lugging a lot of film. If you're okay with that, fine, go for it. While power may be a concern where you're traveling, I'd buy a couple of extra batteries and save your money for developing the film. Besides, it would hurt if you spent all that dough for an M9 and have something happened to it. It's only money, but I think I'd be cautious, just me. I've done Italy for a few weeks with an M6, a pile of film, an X1 and a Canon G10 that saw a lot of action. Funny but my first trip overseas had a lot of Kodachrome 25 and 64. Ah, the good old days. Now we need super speed. Good luck with whatever route you take. Enjoy and have fun.
 
I like the suggestion of x100 for high-ISO and flash situations, plus the film Leica, as you are comfortable with film. The x100 flash-syncs up to 1/1000, which you can't get with DSLRs or Leica.

I've tried to like film, but I'm so used to Lightroom and digital images, that my personal choice would be the M9 plus x100s.

WRT spending $4,000 for the M9

That's a lot more affordable than the $7,000 for an M240, and the M9 is a very fine camera up to 800 ISO or maybe a bit more. I couldn't have justified a new M9, but I lucked into a used one for less-than-free with some lenses. Considered selling, it, but I really like how those nice lenses draw pictures, and as I said, I'm not so much into film.

I think a good strategy is to skip generations. Secondly, you have a lot less digital rot if you buy the previous generation. So, get the M9 used, and enjoy it until the successor to the M240 hits the used market.
 
Lately, I've been traveling with either an M7 + x100s or M240 + x100s combo. For more "serious" shooting days, the Leica goes out to play, but for dinners out and the inevitable shopping day with the wife, the x100s is a perfect companion (one handed operation helps!).

So, along with the others above (and since you don't mind lugging film with you), the film M + x100 combo sounds great.
 
I would not now have just my M2, no matter how reliable. Any body film or digital could fail. I would consider just taking the X100. By the time I am taking one film Leica I would take 2. In asia with electricity and humidity etc I think I would choose the film option. The weight of the M9 and batteries and charger is a consideration. The bulk of film, which you would have to have in plentiful supply from home, is the other consideration. My last big trip to Italy I had no fear of finding film there, anywhere I went.
 
I would agree with Richard just take the X100 its small enough to carry everywhere buy a few extra batteries, i found the generic ones worked well so get 5 or 6 and you wont need to worry about charging too much. The x100 is a great camera for this kind of trip.
 
Well then there you go. I think you answered your own question. I would go with what you know and trust. Have fun and enjoy.


ktmrider said:
One downside to digital is unreliable electricity in some of the countries I plan to visit. Not to offend but the M9 does not have the reputation for reliaility as some other brands. My M2 was made in 1958 and works as well today as it did when new. And even though I have had the X100 for two years, every once in awhile it will do something I did not think I asked it to..

Film is a mature technology, digital not so much. And I also admit to wanting an M9 because it is a digital leica. I can afford one but can't justify one with the amount of photography I do.

I know my way around a darkroom but only shoot jpeg's with the X100. Own Lightroom but have never used it. I would hope owning an M9 would force me to learn digital techniques but if I am honest with myself, it probably would not.

TriX and Ektar 100. Wish they still made Kodachrome 25 or 64.

Leica ME may not be available in the US for another year according to Ken Hansen.
Click to expand...
 
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