noah_addis Posted November 10, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 10, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) After using the M9 for some serious shooting, I thought I'd share some thoughts. The M8 (yes, M8) changed the way I thought about digital cameras. For the first time I could have the experience of shooting with a rangefinder camera, have real 'traditional' manual controls ( aperture ring, shutter dial, etc.) and a small form factor on a pro digital camera. It's been said before, but In my opinion the M9 is what the M8 should have been. It offers the experience of shooting with a rangefinder while offering very high image quality and comparable resolution to other top-end digital cameras. The full-frame sensor is a big deal for me. Not only because of quality, but also because of lens choice. During my time in Brazil, I shot nearly every frame with the 35 'Cron Asph lens. The 35 is small, sharp and relatively inexpensive when it comes to Leica glass. For some reason the only lens I ever really felt comfortable with on the M8 was the 24mm, and the 24/1.4 was big, heavy and expensive. The ability to use the full capability of my lenses is not a small benefit. Besides the lens-choice issues, the full-frame sensor offers incredible image quality. The files just have a different look from the M8. There is less depth of field, but at the same time focusing seems easier for some reason. This may have to do with the fact that each photo will require less 'enlargement' for a given print size, or some other issue, but the fact remains that this camera 'feels' more like a film camera in the way it focuses. Also, the files shot in bad light (see the cop photo) seem to hold highlight detail better, and when areas do get blown out, they look more film-like or at least more aesthetically pleasing. As a side note, I noticed a similar phenomenon when switching from 1.3x 1-series Canons to the full-frame 5D. The camera worked without a hitch (ok, there were one or two small issues). But I shot the whole job on one camera and left my backup M8.2 in my room most of the time. I had no lockups, no sudden death, no lines, etc. I discovered a bug in the FW having to do with user profiles, but that has been brought to Leica's attention and should be fixed. I found battery life to be quite good. Most days I shot around 16-24Gb worth of photos and I never once used more than two batteries, most days I used one and a half. That's perfectly acceptable in my opinion. I love the new charger, it's much better than the M8 brick. I've already shared my opinions about necessary improvements, but I would say that the card formatting time is way too long. After a long day of shooting the last thing I want to do is spend a half-hour formatting cards. Also I hope that image preview/zooming times are improved. And I've called for a keylock repeatedly, though admittedly I had no problems on this trip with accidental changes to settings. Overall, the camera was a pleasure to work with and I feel confident that it'll be a workhorse and probably the only camera I'll use for quite some time. I hope the mods will allow me to post some photos here, as I feel they do illustrate some of my points here. All were M9 with 35/2 ASPH, fast conversions in ACR and not too much fiddling. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/103314-m9-some-initial-thoughs/?do=findComment&comment=1111547'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Hi noah_addis, Take a look here M9--Some initial thoughs. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
noah_addis Posted November 10, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted November 10, 2009 Just a few more...please don't move these to the photo forums, delete them if you must:D Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/103314-m9-some-initial-thoughs/?do=findComment&comment=1111550'>More sharing options...
Pedro Posted November 10, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 10, 2009 Fantastic photos - among the best I have seen from an M9. #1 and #2 of the second post are my favorite and really good. Thanks for posting these images and your opinion on the M9. P.S. Please share a bit more about this experience on the favelas - very dangerous environment to walk around with a camera. How did you get there, approached the locals, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted November 10, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 10, 2009 Noah, if the M9 inspires you to create work like this then I say it's well worth it! Fabulous stuff; regardless of the camera. On the camera, I completely agree with you on the lens choice; I'm looking forward to using a 35 FOV with a 35 lens on an M body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted November 10, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 10, 2009 Noah - on the button - for me it's all to do with being able to use the right lens for the job and not to be involved in compromises. The M9 delivers this - the 50 lux, the 28 cron, the 35 cron (SUCH a nice solo lens) - it feels like coming home... The M8 made it possible for me to return to RF photography and I'll always be grateful to Leica that they got it there just in time. I also completely agree with you that the M9 is what the M8 should have been had the technology at the time permitted. Also I have to say - great work! Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell Posted November 10, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 10, 2009 Very nice, Noah. Chris, Noah, others - what I think I'm hearing (at least part of it, anyway) is that you really like getting back to the perspective, field of view, depth of field, working distance that you had become used to over years of using lenses on 24x36 film. Is that right? (This is a totally neutral question - no hidden axes to grind.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlatkob Posted November 10, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 10, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's good to see some real and expressive photos. These are inspiring. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 10, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 10, 2009 Great stuff, Noah. I can only endorse all you said -and I wish I had the talent to create photographs of that level . John, you have it exactly right. This camera just feels like -a camera as it should feel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLV Posted November 10, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 10, 2009 Noah, As a new M9 user after a year or so of M8 use, I can tell I share 100% of your toughts on M9. I use the 35 cron asph 90% of the time and a 75 AA for more posed pictures (portraits mostly). I just added this week-end a recent Elmar 50 2.8. This camera is so intuitive that it is a great pleasure to use it day after day. About your work, Noah you got us used to fantastic pictures. These one are keeping your highest standards. I love the one with the cop ready for trouble... Warmest regards, Jean-Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted November 10, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted November 10, 2009 Pedro--This is getting off topic but it's not necessarily unsafe to walk around a favela, in fact I've always felt welcome and never had security problems. The main thing to remember is I often spend a lot of time talking to neighborhood leaders and people in the places I shoot so they know what I'm doing and why I'm there. Often I spend as much or more time making contacts and arranging permissions than I do actually shooting. My work in the favelas is part of a longer ongoing project about unplanned urban growth and squatter communities worldwide. I'll be starting a project website soon and will let people here know, since all of the work is Leica M. John--In short, yes. Some have said that 'full-frame' is arbitrary and that in the digital world there need be no standard 'full-frame' sensor size. While this is true in theory, many of us have lenses that were designed for a 24x36mm frame, and that's the largest sensor/film size we can use without resorting to larger format lenses (which are larger, often slower, etc.). So full-frame is more than a marketing term for me, it represents being able to use my lenses for the format size they were designed for AND the largest format available with current M lenses. And more importantly, my lenses now behave like they did on film in terms of focus, depth of field and angle of view. The S2 represents a new way of thinking that makes a lot of sense. In the digital world we no longer need to be tied to the old film-format sizes. But in reality a whole lot of us have lenses that are still quite good and were designed for 24x36mm. And it may turn out that what was a good compromise in terms of format size/enlargement quality on film may also be a good size on digital. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted November 10, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 10, 2009 Noah: first, just terrific work, camera type notwithstanding! Second, I've had the same experience as you regarding "apparent ease of focus" with the M9 over the M8. No technical reason for it that I can see - same RF base length and finder magnification. If anything, a 50 shot as a "70" or a 28 shot as a "37" on an M8 (@ f/2) should be easier to focus than a real 75 or 35 on an M9 (@f/2) - but in reality it just doesn't seem to work that way. Trabalho bom, amigo. E boa sorte! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted November 10, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 10, 2009 Luscious work, Noah! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexc Posted November 10, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 10, 2009 Beautiful work, thank you for sharing. I also fully agree with your signature quote: Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tashley Posted November 10, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 10, 2009 Damn those are good! t Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted November 10, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 10, 2009 Great pictures in Noah Addis | Documentary Photography | Photojournalism | +1 212 929 7015 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 10, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 10, 2009 Wonderful work, Noah...and a good reminder that one camera, one lens and a very capable photographer can produce magic. I think you could achieve great results with most any equipment, but it sure helps when you obviously feel comfortable and at ease with your tools. I wish these simple facts weren't so; otherwise, I'd ditch my M8.2 for an M9, with expectations of achieving these same quality results. Unfortunately, I'm comfortable with the M8.2, so I guess I'll have to work on my skills instead. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 10, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 10, 2009 Noah: first, just terrific work, camera type notwithstanding!Second, I've had the same experience as you regarding "apparent ease of focus" with the M9 over the M8. No technical reason for it that I can see - same RF base length and finder magnification. If anything, a 50 shot as a "70" or a 28 shot as a "37" on an M8 (@ f/2) should be easier to focus than a real 75 or 35 on an M9 (@f/2) - but in reality it just doesn't seem to work that way. ] Remember I was shot down in flames for saying the M9 would be easier to focus - some time before it was announced? (not by you I might add) It is a nice feeling to be able to say " I told you so" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 10, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 10, 2009 Just a few more...please don't move these to the photo forums, delete them if you must:D Let's do a deal... Post more in the Photo section of the forum... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted November 10, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 10, 2009 Noah, all great pics, but #2, the girl in the doorway and the cop shot are stand outs. The B&W representation is perfect for that series. You have set the bar high. Thanks. Totally agree about the 35cron being the 'natural' part of the M9. Mine just sits on it once attached, followed by the 75 cron. You are spot on (and jaap) about the easier focusing. Likewise, I don't know why, but it is. I have ditched the magnifying eyepiece from the M9 and kept it for the M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted November 10, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 10, 2009 Remember I was shot down in flames for saying the M9 would be easier to focus - some time before it was announced? (not by you I might add) It is a nice feeling to be able to say " I told you so" Interesting... Could you elaborate on the reasons for this? Or post a link to that initial thread assuming you exposed your reasoning there? Thanks, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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