Thoughts on the Leica M9 ... So where to now for the old girl?

[Jim Evidon]

M8 noise above ISO 800?
My solution: Topaz D Noise. It's relatively inexpensive and really does an excellent job.
It's interactive features make it simple and I get very clean results. It has really expanded the useable ISO range on my M8u. As good as the noise reduction is in Lightroom, I am getting better results with this plug-in. I had been using Noise Ninja for years, but now I prefer the Topaz program. Note: I have no financial interest in this product.

 

[d_c]

There was a time when Leica was much more aggressive in the pro market. They were routinely found in the hands of photojournalists.
That's just not the case today. Are there PJs out there using them? Sure there are. But only in very limited numbers. The exceptions that prove the rule.

Possibly because there are so many fewer professional photojournalists full stop. The news media has shifted from images shot by dedicated professionals on assigment to the crowdsourced image, which could be shot by anyone from amateur to professional, using anything from a phone to a top end DLSR. One only has to look at the recent announcements from CNN about getting rid of their Staff Photographers. Less of a market in this respect means less of a focus from Leica in marketing to the remaining few, although the cache is still useful in respect of drawing in keen amateurs to the system.

 

[Hariseldon]

I find the M9 produces excellent images, the simplicity of controls and operations makes me think more about what I shoot then the how.

It is pleasure able to use. There will be improvements no doubt but they do not change what the camera does now and will continue to do in the future.

The sensor seems to be a magnet for dust....the electronics could be snappier...one could list many shortcomings but they are fairly minor compared to the positive aspects.

I pick the camera up and take it with me far more often than other cameras and produce more interesting and considered pictures. This makes the M9 my favourite camera.

There are other interesting cameras out there, different individuals have different needs, which keeps innovation occurring but I do not feel the need to convert anyone to my way of thinking.

The new Fuji is most interesting in that it may develop into a very versatile system camera, an alternative to the DSLR which can do most things photographicly but has grown physically to be cumbersome.

 

[tbarker13]

not because the M9 is Better, but because it is Different. the M9 retains the core fundamentals of what makes a rangefinder so unique. the X pro doesn't. so what?

Of course, this does depend on what it is each user finds so unique about the rangefinder. As I mentioned in another thread, for me it has nothing to do with the focusing mechanism. It's about the size and ability to use different lenses.
So for someone like me, the Fuji may very well be a Leica competitor. I doubt I'm alone.

 

[jsrockit]

Of course, this does depend on what it is each user finds so unique about the rangefinder. As I mentioned in another thread, for me it has nothing to do with the focusing mechanism. It's about the size and ability to use different lenses.
So for someone like me, the Fuji may very well be a Leica competitor. I doubt I'm alone.

Right, if you are just looking for any old body to stick your lenses on, then I would avoid the Leica M. However, I would gather that most who prefer a Leica M prefer it for its uniqueness.

 

[Tom Niblick]

I predict we're going to look back ten years from now and realize that the M9 was the apex of the digital M designs - simple, clean design, analog controls, high quality sensor and completely in keeping with M philosophy - a camera worthy of the M badge.

The M10 gave us slightly better ISO and more pixils as well as focus conformation - which didn't work all that well and was distracting. And the M11 gave us a new viewfinder and auto focus tempting us into buying all of those new lenses.

Meanwhile, back in 2012, the new Japanese cameras (which are now pretty much the same as the future M11) take away 20% of Leica's market share and make Leica's new investors nervous. Plans to copy and incorporate this technology into the M series go forward.

The end is near.

But wait. Someone at Leica reads this and keeps the M9P in production to run alongside the MP as there is a demand. All is well in Leica land!

Tom

 

[Roger Hicks]

I predict we're going to look back ten years from now and realize that the M9 was the apex of the digital M designs - simple, clean design, analog controls, high quality sensor and completely in keeping with M philosophy - a camera worthy of the M badge.

The M10 gave us slightly better ISO and more pixils as well as focus conformation - which didn't work all that well and was distracting. And the M11 gave us a new viewfinder and auto focus tempting us into buying all of those new lenses.

Meanwhile, back in 2012, the new Japanese cameras (which are now pretty much the same as the future M11) take away 20% of Leica's market share and make Leica's new investors nervous. Plans to copy and incorporate this technology into the M series go forward.

The end is near.

But wait. Someone at Leica reads this and keeps the M9P in production to run alongside the MP as there is a demand. All is well in Leica land!

Tom

Dear Tom,

Elegant!

Cheers,

R.

 

[raid]

I like Tom's story. It is a good one. Let's all buy M9's quickly!

 

[umcelinho]

Although the M9 is way ahead of my photographic needs/skills/whatever, I confess I'm kind of waiting for the M10 to be released, so the that the price of used M9 drops, along with M8s and M8.2s and R-D1s, and I feel less guilty/worried about walking around with a camera that expensive (I've never been mugged, but still I think I'd be worried with it in hands). Or maybe the M10 does bring up the image quality on high iso, or won't have so much color fringing with ultrawides like the 12 or the 15mm. Or be able to mount a DR Cron. Or a decent LCD screen in the back.

Well, in the end of the day I know these are just silly excuses, I think I'd just be a tad upset if I got one and shortly after an M10 is released (I have Apple stuff, so I know the feeling quite well).

 

[Godfrey]

Although the M9 is way ahead of my photographic needs/skills/whatever, I confess I'm kind of waiting for the M10 to be released, so the that the price of used M9 drops, along with M8s and M8.2s and R-D1s, and I feel less guilty/worried about walking around with a camera that expensive (I've never been mugged, but still I think I'd be worried with it in hands). Or maybe the M10 does bring up the image quality on high iso, or won't have so much color fringing with ultrawides like the 12 or the 15mm. Or be able to mount a DR Cron. Or a decent LCD screen in the back.

Well, in the end of the day I know these are just silly excuses, I think I'd just be a tad upset if I got one and shortly after an M10 is released (I have Apple stuff, so I know the feeling quite well).

I await the Man in Brown carrying my M9 to me today. Should be here soon.

Once in my hands, my interest in other cameras is going to turn entirely academic. I'd rather have the M9 now than an M10 in a year ... I can do a lot of picture taking in a year. Or six months.

There will always be something newer, soon, in today's marketplace. Buy what suits you now or when it pleases you, and then stop looking for new things. Even my ancient E-1 continues to make superb photographs ... !