The AniMal is happy!

[aniMal]

So, today I finally got hold of a real bargain M9!

This just feels soooooo right, even more so since I am currently working as a photographer full time AND plan on using it for real work!

A friend of mine who has been into Leica for almost exactly the same time, 21 years, has been talking about there "not being that much of a difference between the files from M8 and M9"... Thats complete hogwash, I can see that from a short walk in the sunset today 🙂

But of course, there are issues - when really pushing the envelope lots of colour noise erupts, but as far as I can see still less than with the 8...

Any hints & tips on how to remove this? Linking to a test-picture where this is rather prominent in the shadows. Mind you, I have pulled out all stops when converting this, the contrast was rather high!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8X3u40Vnn2_TUQzak8xWWgtY0k/view?usp=sharing"]Test-picture

 

[rfaspen]

Envious.😉 Still looking for my "bargain" M9. The M8 soothes the anquish though. Images from my friend's M9 are consistently nicer than mine (via the M8), even after you adjust for the differences in photographer skill.

Your test shot still looks pretty good to me. My wife is the PP guru in my family, I can't offer any tips.

 

[Huss]

But of course, there are issues - when really pushing the envelope lots of colour noise erupts, but as far as I can see still less than with the 8...

Any hints & tips on how to remove this? Linking to a test-picture where this is rather prominent in the shadows. Mind you, I have pulled out all stops when converting this, the contrast was rather high!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8X3u40Vnn2_TUQzak8xWWgtY0k/view?usp=sharing"]Test-picture

Expose more for the shadows than the highlights, and recover the highlights in PP. My experience has shown that the CCD sensor in the M9/M-E offers far more hightlight info than the CMOS in the M240.

 

[aniMal]

Sounds about right, Huss - this is just a very quick & spontaneous test!

The shutter has 33000 actuations though, might be a reason for the low price of 16.000 NOK, about 2000 dollars. But should be plenty left, my M8 was way lower on shutter count than I though the last time i checked - and thats after 5-6 years...

 

[Huss]

Envious.😉 Still looking for my "bargain" M9.

Loaded question, what would you consider a bargain?

 

[rfaspen]

Huss,
That *is* a loaded question. The answer isn't firm. My bargain would be an M9 with a price matching my budget at the time. Up until a week ago, that certainly would have been the $2000 deal aniMal found. But to be fair, I'm all over the map. I want lenses and other toys in my life as well, so I have to take each day and deal as they come.

Right or wrong, I'm a hobbyist who has and likes M/LTM lenses but I can see the larger photo gear market. Perhaps as important, my wife sees that market as well. Hard to justify the $5-6000 M240 that I'd really like to pick up when she sees many cameras out there that will make perfectly nice images for much less $$. I don't think this is something any of us haven't heard about before 😉

A matter of time. Considering I like my M8 (alongside my film gear) I'm pretty sure I'll grab an M9 or similar before too long. I'm in this for fun, not stress.

 

[aniMal]

A tiny update - the M9 is working just fine, even after it hit the floor recently.

Was initially perfectly aligned to my Summicron 90, but needs a bit of adjusting after the mishap...

By now it has paid back about half its price, and those jobs really look well - it is a perfect match!

Actually planning on using this for as much paid work as possible, and then get another... 🙂

It renders beautifully - and although this shoot was a bit cumbersome when I had to compensate for the not yet re-aligned rangefinder I ended up with MORE pin-sharp exposures than what is often the case with a 85 1.4 on an AF SLR