Six-month follow-up on M9

scottwallick

scottwallick

ambition ≥ skill
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In a few days, it will be six month since the M9 was announced and released. And although supply (i.e., backorders) continues to be a issue for those trying to get an M9, I would say that with enough M9s out there being used, I am relieved (for myself and for Leica) that there has been no subforum opened here titled M9 Reported Problems (knocking on wood).

I have had my M9 since the end of November and have enjoyed using it—to say the very least. Yep, it's expensive, we all know that. Yep, I sold every bit of gear, cameras, lenses, and more I had in order to foot the bill (which I did less $1k). That's what I did, not advocating that for everyone or even suggesting it as a solution, but I am glad that's what I did.

Since I have a terrible photo to good photo ratio of 50:1, going digital was a good move. True, the one thing I didn't sell was my Ikon because I love using it and am still not comfortable with the idea of not being able to run through a roll of Tri-X if I want. But it has been neglected outright since I got my M9.

The point of this is just to follow up to see (a) if those folks were waiting to pass judgement on the M9 now can, (b) if the M9 has lived up the hype from your perspective, and (c) would you consider getting/using one now when you didn't then?

No need to predict the future, read palms, tea leaves, etc., and hyperbole is discouraged. I'm really more interested in knowing from the time of release of the latest M series camera up to now, just about six months, where other others are: unaffected, interested but out-priced, interested and saving, still waiting to see, et cetera?

In other words, is the M9 a viable tool for you to make photos?

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scottwallick said:
I'm really more interested in knowing from the time of release of the latest M series camera up to now, just about six months, where other others are: unaffected, interested but out-priced, interested and saving, still waiting to see, et cetera?
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I could care less.
 
I am glad that it seems not to have been a repeat of the M8 launch and aftermath for Leica. That said, still not interested for the money involved.

Bob
 
interesting post Scott. glad you liked the move. I'm too chicken to make it because of the price, but am on fence for used M8, if just the filter and crop issues werent there.
 
I'm kinda glad they are still scarce. If I could get one easily, I might consider selling some good stuff to fund it.
 
The M9 is far from flawless.
Have a look at the Leica forum for the listings of problems.
I was an early adopter of the m8 but will only upgrade when my M8 stops working or there is a flawless alternative available. So i waite for the M9.2 and enjoy my M8 classic for now.
 
jarski said:
interesting post Scott. glad you liked the move. I'm too chicken to make it because of the price, but am on fence for used M8, if just the filter and crop issues werent there.
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Jarski, I did buy the M8 and it is great. Well, perhaps not as great as it could have been, but at the moment there are demo's to be bought really good prices, that have a full 2 year warranty and have been factory refurbished. I couldn't find anything wrong with mine. Not a scratch on the display, not a bit of black chrome wearing off.
Second hands are at this moment around €1800 in the shops, but for 10% more I got an almost brand new one.
I would love a FF M9, as I've heard it's (much?) quieter, but at 7000 dollars, that's tooooo much for me. And besides the IR sensitivity (which I like for BW shooting) I haven't come across a single problem yet. Oké, I've only shot 1700 pictures in the first week, but I've been much happier with it than with the Canon 350d I used before, or the Canon G7 that was mine (now my wife has confiscated it).
 
The M9 is everything I thought it would be Scott, and fortunately I never went for the M8 because of the crop factor and the need for filters, which of course are the key flaws ironed out in the M9.

But I think you should review your consideration that a 50:1 hit rate is 'terrible'. Most pro's or artists would bite your hand off to achieve anything close to that, film or digital. Its only Uncle Fred's 36 holiday exposures that are all keepers, the rest of use should be a bit more critical of our own work.

Steve
 
250swb said:
But I think you should review your consideration that a 50:1 hit rate is 'terrible'.
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Thanks for your thoughts, Steve. I wasn't suggesting that a 50:1 ratio as being terrible, instead that it was, if only casually, my 'terrible photo' to 'good photo' ratio.

Of course, how I qualify my terrible photo from my good photo is subjective, and I am in no way suggesting that for 50 throw-aways I produce a Man Jumping Over Puddle. ;) Never. But simply for 50, there's one I'm pleased with—to whatever degree.
 
Been shooting the M9 since the launch. It still needs some firmware tweaks, but for an ancient Leicaiste like me it is the best camera Leica made yet. The M8 has been great for me too, I am not selling, but the M9 is a huge step up.
 
alecgold said:
Jarski, I did buy the M8 and it is great. Well, perhaps not as great as it could have been, but at the moment there are demo's to be bought really good prices, that have a full 2 year warranty and have been factory refurbished. I couldn't find anything wrong with mine. Not a scratch on the display, not a bit of black chrome wearing off.
Second hands are at this moment around €1800 in the shops, but for 10% more I got an almost brand new one.
Click to expand...

yes, used M8 prices are becoming close where I might not be able to resist the temptation either :rolleyes:
 
Based on my usage of the M8 I will purchase a M9 as soon as I have the means to do so. Thank you for sharing your experience!
 
I wasn't really interested in the M8 because of its limitations. With the M9 everything that I would want in an M-digital seems to be there. FF of course so my lenses match my film Leica use and don't need to invest in more glass like I would have with an M8/M8.2 (my 24mm stays 24mm, my f1.4/35 stays my fast 'normal-wide'), IR problem solved, manual lens coding input, ISO button... as has been said the sum total in improvements make it work.

I wasn't planning on getting one so soon, and the limited availability of the M9 was almost a relief in that way. But when my local shop called with one waiting for me :D, my thought was better sooner than later as it was inevitable that I'd have an M9 at some time. Yes, the expense was a hesitation factor, but my wife wanted me to get it and that tipped the scale. And yes, I have and will sell some gear to make my mind a bit more at ease, but I've done that before when I've wanted something so nothing new there.

There are things I wouldn't mind improving and an issue: slow processing, and I have a slight front focus problem (will be sending my camera and lenses in for adjustment), but over-all the camera is everything I could hope for in going M-digital, and will be using for many years I feel.

I've been into Leica almost since beginning (16 years old and going on 4 decades) and have been very happy with my M-series, they are my natural way to see and photograph. But lately I've been finding it just too difficult to go through the footwork of processing. With the M9 my hope its that I can now do some photography, and get the results in a more straight forward way, and still have the quality and feel that I've been used to. So far so good!
 
I'm very interested in the M9, but bought a very lightly used M8 still under warranty. I find the crop factor is not an issue, and picked up a series of IR cut filters for most of my lenses. Prices ranged from two that came free with the camera, $5 for a used Heliopan, $10 and $20 for Canon and Tiffen, to $40~45 for B&W.

I'm going to wait for the M9 to "shake-out", and see if I really like Digital for home. I'm still shooting film as well. The cost of the M9 is 3x the price of my M8, but I had the cash for it. Went into a CD.
 
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I know I will get one eventually, but in the meantime my M8 is just doing its job in a near-perfect way. After a couple of years, and especially after getting the CV12mm, the crop factor is not bothering me at all. Used to have an M7 as a backup, but it was almost never used - so I sold it off at a profit :)

I intend to keep my M8 for a long time, it already shows some appropriate wear, and then getting an M9 when the second hand prices get decent. That could well be 2-3-4 years I suppose...
 
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