Sold my XP1, committed to the M9...uh oh

[doolittle]

Compared to the reliability of film Leicas, the digital ones don't stack up well. Temperamental as they can be, the digital M do undeniably have a certain charm though. My M8 is the only camera I have ever felt like chucking in the sea, however it is also one of the most satisfying to use digital cameras I own. However, when I really need to rely on a camera, I reach for a dSLR, a V1 or any of my film cameras.

 

[noimmunity]

I don't fully understand the reasons why, but there is something about cameras that creates, or at least is involved in, the production of anxiety. (perhaps the quest for the perfection of the image figures in a bit here, eh?)

We are worried about which camera is better...
Having decided which one is better, we are worried about whether it will operate properly...
Having gotten it to operate properly for a time, we are worried about superficial marks and blemishes to the equipment...
All these worries and more, and we still haven't even talked about the anxiety of making interesting images!

There is really no end to worry. The only end to worry comes by deciding not to worry, and then paying attention to all the details to follow through on that decision. And that might certainly mean selling a camera or system with which one does not get along. It might mean not reading the latest feeding-frenzy thread. And so on and so forth.

Keep your focus on the image, which is life all around us, not the camera.

 

[f16sunshine]

Reports of Leica DRF failures always seem to bring out a few cries for some sort of "Fatwa"!

Cameras break, fail, and get a bit effed up once in a while. Nothing more too it !

The point of this thread for me is the unfortunate timing for the OP.
Sorry for your troubles David. The Fuji could have been better, just as bad, or worse on any given day!
Like you I prefer to focus with a rangefinder over the Fuji x-series.
I kept the latter though and doubt my choice at least once a month.
There is no perfect choice.

 

[jsrockit]

Honestly, the true difference is that Leica takes months for repairs as well. All cameras can fail, but to be without your main camera for 2-3 months is ridiculous.

 

[noimmunity]

The point of this thread for me is the unfortunate timing for the OP.
Sorry for your troubles David.

Hear hear! My sympathies, too! I think we all feel for ya!

 

[willie_901]

That's funny... I've had my X-Pro1 since day one with no issues. This is the first I'm hearing of mass issues for this camera. The grass really has been greener for me with my Fujis.

I don't enjoy being forced to sound like a Pollyanna, fan boy.

I must say I have never had a glitch or on-board computer crash from my Fujifilm X cameras. I purchased the X100 as soon as it was released in the US and did the same for the X-Pro 1. I have used D200/300/700 bodies heavily on 2 to 6 gigs per week for over 4 years and never experienced any sort of computer crash or memory card issue. I have used the Nikkons in rain, snow, sleet, bitter cold and the intense heat of summer without a single hiccup. I have even used the X-Pro 1 in wet snow and drizzle. I had a D700 with a 17-35/2.8 lens on a tripod fall onto a hardwood floor with no ill effect. I delete images directly from cards when I need the space (about once every two or three weeks). I always format the cards in-camera after the raw files are backed up. I use different brands of fast, high-quality authentic SDHC cards as well as and non-name, slow, mystery SDHC cards with the Fuji's. Again, no card problems... ever.

Complicated electronic products of all types from all brands can and do fail. But the M9 reports and advice to insure reliable usage in this thread appear to be outside the norm we accept as a fact of modern life.

In 2006 did you ever think you would read about people advising you not to use a M camera in anything but pleasant weather?

 

[Godfrey]

...
Complicated electronic products of all types from all brands can and do fail. But the M9 reports and advice to insure reliable usage in this thread appear to be outside the norm we accept as a fact of modern life. ...

I've patiently and without complaint ignored most of the hysterical advice offered about this kind of stuff for years. None of my equipment has ever broken as a result. 🙂

G

 

[SuperUJ]

Not.to blame the victim but, what did you do? Of all the issues and faults of the M9 I've never once heard of it going psycho and deleting images spontaneously. Also the new firmware helped to solve the issue of reliability with low batteries. Basically the batteries weren't supplying enough power to the camera when the power was low resulting in failed writes, corrupted images and freezing. It's even worse when you think of second hand cameras that may have very worn batteries or even switched out from the M8 after upgrading. The new firmware reset the power gauge a bit higher to prevent such behavior. Most issues with the M9 can be solved by simply throwing in a fresh battery.

I actually learnt something from the OP's experience. The next time I buy a second hand car, I will 1) get the carfax and review it before I pay ... before I take the car for a road trip or even start using it on a regular basis ... 2) check and perform any recalls of the year and model of the car; 3) do a oil change before I start driving it; 4) put in the grade of gas as specified by the owner manual; 5) While on the road, check the oil level every time I put gas in the car; and 6) check tie pressure from time to time.

John

 

[David_Manning]

Man, all I expected after I plunked down my $$$ was a simple, straightforward camera that worked, reliably...like my M6.

I still like the M9...I'm just a bit gun-shy now. I'll press on...I like the M RF experience. I don't like the "losing files" experience.

 

[David_Manning]

SuperUJ, I get the sarcasm, and it makes me laugh a bit too.

I think it would be more like, after doing all that due-diligance, buying a used Range Rover, and finding out while on an epic road trip, that you can only use Exxon gas in it...NOT Shell, BP, Chevron, etc. Oh, and not only will the pricey Range Rover not run on anything but Exxon, the other gas MIGHT make your engine explode.

Better analogy, maybe...I dunno.

 

[f16sunshine]

SuperUJ, I get the sarcasm, and it makes me laugh a bit too.

I think it would be more like, after doing all that due-diligance, buying a used Range Rover, and finding out while on an epic road trip, that you can only use Exxon gas in it...NOT Shell, BP, Chevron, etc. Oh, and not only will the pricey Range Rover not run on anything but Exxon, the other gas MIGHT make your engine explode.

Better analogy, maybe...I dunno.

Actually this is a very good analogy for the M8/9/P/ME. 😀
And don't charge it's battery with Brazilian electricity either. 😛

 

[David_Manning]

No kidding... 😉

Enough venting...back to photography!

 

[tightsqueez]

I've had more issues with film Leica's than anything (3x junk MP's, 2x M3's, M4's, etc.). The digitals have been twice as reliable. And I just returned a so-called reliable Fuji today... crapped out after a week.

Been around the world enough, Iraq twice, Afghanistan once... Give me a digital Leica any day.

 

[David_Manning]

Tightsqueez...that is good to hear. I've seen your photos, so I'm hopeful a little "normal" camera handling is within the M9's operating range.

I've always had good luck with cameras, and don't necessarily baby them...I shoot them in the real world (no Sunday shooters or hangar queens). Reliability would be nice 🙂

 

[jsrockit]

Yeah, we've been pretty rough on the Leica Digital Ms here in this thread...However, I have to admit it is the only camera that I've sold that I miss. That C-Biogon and M9 combo was really nice to use.

 

[tightsqueez]

Tightsqueez...that is good to hear. I've seen your photos, so I'm hopeful a little "normal" camera handling is within the M9's operating range.

I've always had good luck with cameras, and don't necessarily baby them...I shoot them in the real world (no Sunday shooters or hangar queens). Reliability would be nice 🙂

Yeah, don't get me wrong, as I have had issues with digital M's.. no camera is 100% reliable. A lesson learned long ago was to always, always bring a back up whether that be a film camera or something else. Having two is always better than one. Murphy will single out those who don't. 😉

I think the biggest issue is cost though. Having a few backup digital M's can break the bank.

Enjoy your trip and regardless of what you use... keep shooting. Images are nothing more than byproducts of the experience.

Cheers!

 

[burancap]

Sure, nothing is perfect. Everything can fail.

Backups aside, it was not just that a camera quit working here. It was not a matter of simply stopping and reaching in a bag for a second camera. The problem was that a camera started to devour images. That is unacceptable at any price point and from any brand.

 

[Bille]

I enjoy the RF experience, but not at the expense of total unreliability.

Get the A7.

 

[horosu]

So what happens?? I'm on Ipanema Beach, and the M9 locks up, blinking red light, and starts erasing/corrupting files on the memory card! WTF?!

I lost 30 frames before I could yank the battery out (switching OFF didn't solve the problem). So, I came crashing down to earth in a fit of Leica ownership reality. I've been asking myself if I made the right decision for the last 48 hours.

... I enjoy the RF experience, but not at the expense of total unreliability.

The Leica M is WAY more reliable than the M9. There are already some SH ones around, for 10% off the retail price.

Kind regards, Horea

 

[SuperUJ]

Get the A7.

Two problems on A7 ... 1) it is not a RF; and 2) the sound of the shutter. I share the sentiment of OP re RF, and M9 serves the purpose, with reasonable caring, like any others tools. Just need to get to know them.

John