Taking the plunge !

[srtiwari]

After many hours over many days, of reading about the M9, and looking at hundreds of images, followed by much hand-wringing and to-ing and fro-ing, I decided to belly-up to the bar, and BUY the damn thing !

Camera West had a couple of Demos, Mint, and with a 1 year Leica warranty. Never having held one, or even seen one up close, I was understandably ambivalent, but Sean, at the store, put things into a certain perspective- he had sold 3 new ones and 2 demos, just this week. He reflected that he had never had anyone return an M9, and promised "You'll Love it !!"

Well, we'll see...won't we !

I can't wait for it to get here tomorrow ! 😱

 

[user237428934]

"...Never having held one, or even seen one up close,..."

What do you mean with "one". M9, Leica M, Rangefinder? I hope you already know rangefinders and their pros and cons and won't regret it.

 

[srtiwari]

"...Never having held one, or even seen one up close,..."

What do you mean with "one". M9, Leica M, Rangefinder? I hope you already know rangefinders and their pros and cons and won't regret it.

Sorry, I meant a Digital M, when I said "one". I have and love several M film bodies (M2, M3, M6, M7 and an MP), but didn't know how this experience would translate using a digital camera.

 

[user237428934]

Sorry, I meant a Digital M, when I said "one". I have and love several M film bodies (M2, M3, M6, M7 and an MP), but didn't know how this experience would translate using a digital camera.

Ok, I understand. At first I thought you were willing to buy one without even knowing a RF. Sorry.

Have fun with it.

 

[srtiwari]

My hesitation in getting the M9- in addition to the price differential from a film M body- was a concern about how it would change me, and affect my relationship with my film cameras. I have been taking pictures since I was about 9, and greatly enjoy film developing and printing.

With the ease of digital image making (technically, not artistically), will I still be able to apply myself to the more involved (and sometimes cumbersome) use of film cameras- developing, scanning, etc. ?
Or will I lazily shoot hundreds of pictures with minimal effort, and do most of 'artistic' work by hunting for the occasional good one that I might have captured accidentally ?

Or will my work improve, since I can experiment more, with little or no expenditure in shooting and reviewing my work ?

I am looking forward to seeing what happens. And it begins tomorrow...

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yeah, you'll probably change. But not necessarily for the worse, and not necessarily to the detriment of shooting what I persist in regarding as 'real' Leicas. I've used digi-Ms (M8, M8.2, M9) since a couple of months after the M8 came out -- alongside an MP (and, sometimes, M2 and M4-P).

Cheers,

R.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

FWIW, my shooting habits w/M8 and M9 have been identical to those w/M2 and M7. Judicious and deeply pleasurable. Enjoy!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You will love it. After 16 months with the M8, and a few weeks with the M9- they tend to get used like the film cameras. Used it visiting family over Easter, shot an equivalent number of pictures as previous visits using film.

 

[Keith]

Congtatulations Subhash ... I admire your healthy degree of skepticism regarding how the camera may affect your photography and your realtionship with film. No one can tell you 'you'll love it' in certainty because that's not the way life works ... we have to think for ourselves.

Each individual has to make their own timely progression into digital and if you do decide it isn't for you at least you'll know that you sampled the waters with the best option available to you.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I find it interesting that so many m9 buyers need to announce their purchase to the world: as if a burden has been lifted or is it a guilt reduction reaction against shelling out USD 7,000.- for a camera body...?

 

[gshybrid]

Lighten up...He announced it to a small portion of the RFF forum devoted to M8 and M9 cameras. Seems perfectly natural to me.

I find it interesting that so many m9 buyers need to announce their purchase to the world: as if a burden has been lifted or is it a guilt reduction reaction against shelling out USD 7,000.- for a camera body...?

 

[daveywaugh]

It would be different of course if he had said "I just bought an M9 - sucked in to all you smucks who can't afford one!" ;-) Personally I will be really interested in how it all goes for you Subhash. Your thoughts about how it may change your style is something a lot of people have probably asked themselves. I love film, and love my M3, and don't shoot any digital. I imagine if someone handed me an M9 it might change the ballgame though ;-) I can't see how the digital sensor would necessarily deter from my enjoyment of using an M and I haven't heard to many reports of people "going back". Can't wait to hear more about your transition. Congratulations.

 

[maddoc]

Enjoy ! 🙂 I have only used an M9 once, borrowed from a friend for half an hour and it was a joy to use. You don`t need a degree in art to take decent photos with it. 😀

 

[srtiwari]

I find it interesting that so many m9 buyers need to announce their purchase to the world: as if a burden has been lifted or is it a guilt reduction reaction against shelling out USD 7,000.- for a camera body...?

I cannot speculate why as to others do it, but I had (in a separate thread), wondered what I should take on my upcoming trip to the Dominican Republic. The recommendations and debate my question generated, was immensely helpful and instructive. Here I was merely sharing my having arrived at a decision, and had little to do with the price of the camera. As to the guilt ? I must confess to feeling a twinge of it, since once again, I have given into my GAS !!
(Nevertheless, I can hardly wait to see and hold what my $7000 has bought me 😀 )

 

[Carterofmars]

Congrats! Image quality produced with the M9 are outstanding to say the very least. I think I'll wait till the M10 to buy the M9 myself.