Would you buy a new M9 in 2012??

[Godfrey]

I bought mine in January. Quite happy with it, no need to upgrade.

If the next model appeals to me, I'll consider it in a year or three. Why rush?

 

[Keith]

At Arles, Stefan Daniel said it would be one of their most important photokinas in a very long time. But that was all: no detail.

Cheers,

R.

Ahhh ... the new rumoured full fram DSLR! 😀

 

[gavinlg]

I want an m9 and would buy one if I could afford it... It's IQ will be good enough for the next 50 years for anything that you're likely to use it for.

 

[newsgrunt]

I'd wait. Gives you more time to save up those Banjo Patersons for a camera I expect to cost a bit more than the M9.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Ahhh ... the new rumoured full fram DSLR! 😀

Maybe. Could be almost anything. R10? M10? S3? EVIL? All of the above?

Cheers,

R.

 

[JMQ]

Had my M9 since Jan 2010, and am very happy with it. Either wait until Photokina or buy a used M9.

 

[sevres_babylone]

I bought mine early last year, and mostly happy with it. If I hadn't, and were thinking of buying one now, I would wait until I saw what was announced in Photokina. There may be improvements I'd like a lot, such as a better buffer and better high ISO. There may be features that would interest me, like live view. There may be none of the above. There may be the above, but at such a premium, that I'd go with the M9. But I would wait to read the announcements.

 

[dave lackey]

Quick question:

Why does anyone think the images from an M9, if properly done, will ever be obsolete? What makes an image obsolete?🙄

I reckon HCB and countless others are rolling in their graves having spent their lives shooting obsolete cameras and producing obsolete photographs.😛

Just a thought...

 

[I Love Film]

50 years in the future is a long time. I would say your pronouncement is a bit naive.

I want an m9 and would buy one if I could afford it... It's IQ will be good enough for the next 50 years for anything that you're likely to use it for.

 

[willie_901]

If you want to use your M/LTM lenses with a 24x36 mm sensor, then just go buy a M9 and enjoy it.

Forget about a post September price drop that may or may not happen. Get the tool you need and work. You won't waste any more time or energy think about what may or may not happen or when you should act.

 

[fotomeow]

I bought it, loved the FF capability, checked it off my bucket list, the shutter noise drove me crazy, I lost my job, then sold it. C'est la vie.
Now I have decided I will never buy another digi M with that gut-wrenching shutter sound.

 

[Jeff S]

The shutter sound itself is fine; it's the obnoxious shutter re-cock motor sound that's annoying. I hope for a quieter motor, or manual re-cock option, on a future digital M, but I won't hold my breath. Weather sealing (with some sealed lenses) rates higher on my wish list.

Jeff

 

[jtm6]

I'd buy an M9 five years from now as long as official Leica-branded batteries are still being manufactured at that time.

 

[hteasley]

50 years in the future is a long time. I would say your pronouncement is a bit naive.

Ordinarily, I agree with assessments like that... but in this case, I'm not so sure.

If photography is about still 2D images in 50 years, then I think it's not too far off. In that case, it's all still about composition and capture and whether or not you can print a reasonably-sized print. The M9 years from now (assuming they don't all fall apart) will be able to do those things as well as it does today. Today, it competes with all previous photographic technology, and produces stunning results.

Given that there are 50+ year old photos that are as incredible today as they were 50 years ago, I see no reason why the M9 would atrophy significantly in ability to produce excellent images.

 

[dave lackey]

Ordinarily, I agree with assessments like that... but in this case, I'm not so sure.

If photography is about still 2D images in 50 years, then I think it's not too far off. In that case, it's all still about composition and capture and whether or not you can print a reasonably-sized print. The M9 years from now (assuming they don't all fall apart) will be able to do those things as well as it does today. Today, it competes with all previous photographic technology, and produces stunning results.

Given that there are 50+ year old photos that are as incredible today as they were 50 years ago, I see no reason why the M9 would atrophy significantly in ability to produce excellent images.

50 years is nothing! There are images from the Civil War that were posted on RFF a few months ago that are stunning. World War II images on slide film? Stunning!

I agree that 2D images will never become obsolete. Holograms or something else? No interest here but it may be in the future yet I doubt that anything can render a great photo of any time period obsolete. Photography has hardly ever killed oil painting or other forms of art.🙂

 

[rbsinto]

Hello,

I really want an M9. Well, more specifically a digital M camera with a full frame sensor. I'm aware of some of the hang-ups that some people have highlighted about this camera (high ISO, battery woes etc.) but have decided I'm willing to live with the short comings.

Im sick of using a DSLR. I like my X100 but would love to use my M lenses, (with their native FOV) and am no longer interested in using film. M9 is the only option at this point.

The crux of my question is this: Is it foolish to buy an M9 or M9-P now, 3 years into its product cycle? Will a new M camera be released that will make it obsolete within 6 months?

M-9 owners; are you happy with your cameras?

Regards,
Harry.

Obsolescence is in the mind of the beholder.
Frankly never understood why Device Mk X which gave excellent performance, (and in fact was at the time of its introduction considered to be the greatest thing since sliced bread), should, upon the introduction of Device Mk 2X suddenly become obsolete/primitive/unusable/beneath contempt/ and require replacement at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

[buckpago]

im always against expensive cameras, but if you can afford it then get one. if I have money on my pocket for the price of M9 I rather spend it on a trip and photograph. ill get an olympus om1 or om2, a 35mm, lots of film and start shooting, is all about experience, photographs, stories... cameras comes and goes, only the photos will the evidence you one mans journey.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Obsolescence is in the mind of the beholder.
Frankly never understood why Device Mk X which gave excellent performance, (and in fact was at the time of its introduction considered to be the greatest thing since sliced bread), should, upon the introduction of Device Mk 2X suddenly become obsolete/primitive/unusable/beneath contempt/ and require replacement at the earliest possible opportunity.

To reinforce your argument, I can't remember the last time I bought sliced bread...

Cheers,

R.

 

[JMQ]

Dear Roger, why would you need pain de mie when you can buy an excellent baguette?

 

[umcelinho]

having an R-D1, an 8 year old digital, I've come to the conclusion that being obsolete technologically not necessarly is that bad. The R-D1 for instance works perfectly as it did when I bought it in 2009. It's been working flawlessly for almost a decade. I assume the M9 should have, at least, ten years of heavy use before it might start giving signs of age. And the files it produces now will most certainly be as good in ten years or more.

I'm waiting to see if the M10 will be launched and how M9 prices drop. If the price tag of an M10 is completely out of reach (who know, Leica could surprise everyone by having the same price as the M9, as most camera manufacturers do) I'll probably get a 2nd hand M9 which will be good for the next 10 years.