Would you trade your M9 to go back to an M8?

I did. I had a M9 but sold it and kept my M8. The M9 advantages of more pixels weren't needed. Per pixel quality was same, with the advantage of sharpness going to the m8. On the M9, battery life was a bit worse and operational speed wasnt better.
There was still magenta cast on the M9; none with IR filters on the M8.
I like the top LCD on the M8.
My M8 works properly, so that was reassuring.
My lenses work better on the M8 crop sensor. I avoid the edges, and my summicron 50 becomes a perfect, light 75 FOV with f2 in terms of light and exposure but gives a nice 2.8 DOF. I have a g-rokkor 28 that looks great on the m8 but needed software/firmware adjustment on the m9. The 35 cron asph , too, works great. I would have been happier if the lenses could've been used "straight" on the M9 rather than requiring manipulation, in some cases, namely, the wide angles.
The ISO adjustment in the M8 is really easy, despite all the whining on the web.
I would like the next M to have a short shutter lag, better battery life, weather sealing, higher resolution screen, return of the top LCD, quieter, recessed strap lugs like the titanium M9, and lighter. Do we really need it to be made of brass? really? And a nice rubbery grip like the Nikon F6 and a slight bulge like the hear Rf for holding.
 
Vickko said:
No, but my M9 is at the end of its warranty.
I think I can find a demo M8 with warranty though, for $2.5K
And I'd have $3K in my pocket.
Yes, this pondering is about money. Vick
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if its for that, sell it now why you can get decent money for it, a couple on fleabay in Oz went the whole term without a bid, so if you can get 5K do it.
i picked up a mint 8.2 for $1900AUS and didnt like it, my son has it now, and truthfully it is not worth the money...(my personal opinion:))...we wont go into how much the M9 is really "worth"...(as a camera:))....cheers


PS: right now on ebay there is a M9 for 4490 and no bids....ends today
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Leica-M9...538?pt=AU_Digital_Cameras&hash=item3a72c7d342
 
I did it, I fit your profile perfectly.
Bought back into the L brand, with a nice M8. Used it, liked it, wanted bigger/better, sold the M8, bought the M9. Loved it, but man oh man, that nagging feeling I had a whole wad of dough tied up in a body. That nagging feeling turned into a "wonder if going back to an M8, and a film body would make better sense" concept, and I did it. Swapped the M9 for a local M8, both of us are happy, and bought the M6, plus another lens or two. Still had some cash left over.
If there is one thing the M8 does and does well, it is handheld I/R, and right now I am having a blast with that.
The one and only gripe (nah, not a gripe, wish) is that I could slip an I/R filter "inside" so the lenses don't need to have the filter fitted. This option has been round for ages on the EOS system, used for astro imaging with the Canon EOS cameras.
Then I'd be super happy.
Gary
 
I'm happy with my M8.2, but if I had an M9, I doubt I would go back. That's because I'm a wide-angle guy. So far, though, I've gotten along well with the 21mm ASPH on the M8. I doubt I will go for an M9 any time soon.
 
Dektol Dan said:
confused with nightmares.

What's this thread all about? In my world where glass and skill is far more important than the camera, and where a TON of film can be had for the price of either and M8 and more so an M9, who cares?

I'm a 99%er, and I'll match ANY of you 1%ers with a judged shoot off, ANY time. I'll lay you down like David did Goliath with your damned M9. Pick your street. Bring it on!
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too much easter mead, dan?
 
I own an M8, mostly because I can't afford or justify the price of an M9.

I don't think the M8 is as bad as people think it is. It might've been disappointing on it's release, especially with it's price... but I don't think it's a bad camera. I haven't had any issue with the problems that people kept bringing up about the camera. I don't code my lenses, I don't use I/R filters, I just put my lenses on and shoot. I didn't like the crop factor, but I've shot enough with the M8 that I can get along with it fine.

Would I like an M9? Yes, but only if I didn't have to pay for it. It doesn't seem like it's worth the extra cash. I might be biased, but I get along fine shooting with my M8. The only thing the M9 offers me that the M8 doesnt is a full frame sensor, which I've gotten used to not having.

Plus, I mostly shoot the 35mm focal length... if I needed a higher quality, "full frame" 35mm view, I have my X100. These two cameras give me what I need, at about $1-2k under what an M9 would cost me.

Though, maybe I'm wrong about all this, and if I ever had the chance to play with an M9 for a long period of time, I'd change my mind completely. Who knows?
 
In the OP's case I don't see that it can be a financial necessity ... Vic has posted about some very nice top shelf gear that he owns in my time here so unless he's suddenly had a change of situation and is now hanging around soup kitchens .......... ? :D

I had an M8 and the IR problem and crop factor were annoying which may sound odd for someone who's just bought an RD-1. Living with a crop factor for $6000 AUD (new M8 price in OZ) and living with one for under a grand are very different situations. I wouldn't go back to an M8 for any reason because although it may be a $2000 dollar camera now it wasn't five years ago when someone paid a motza for it!

IMO the M8 promised a lot and delivered little for it's price ... the M9 is bloody expensive agreed but all the things that were handicapping the M8 were addressed with the M9!
 
Looks like only a few have done it and only a few more have made the transition from M8 to M9 to be eilgible to answer the question. Suggests that M8 owners and M9 first time digital M owners are both happy. That's good.
 
I'm still happy with my M8 after four and a half years. I actually wish Leica would offer a less expensive 1.33 crop M, in addition to their full frame offering, as I wouldn't mind an updated sensor with more and better pixels, but I really have no need for full frame over a crop. Sadly, I don't expect it to happen.
 
If the M8 didn't have the poor high ISO performance it's lumbered with along with the IR issue it would actually be a serious alternative to an M9!
 
To me, yes, the M9 is that much better than the M8 (and I have both). That's just for the full frame, never mind the filtration and the extra megapixels.

Cheers,

R.
 
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