jaques Posted July 19, 2010 Share #1 Posted July 19, 2010 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I was wondering if it would be possible for Leica to offer an upgraded LCDscreen for the m9? I have seen $400 P&S cameras with better screens. From a PR point the screen is a bit of a failure: I have shown the M9 to several DSLR users and they take a pic and look at the screen and say the image is crap/noisy/bad colour, etc. They seem quite happy firmly reassured that their canon or nikon is the better camera. I do explain that you cannot judge the image quality by the preview screen but they are generally not interested to hear such ideas... Of course I know that the image I open up in light room is another matter altogether. But it would be good to have a screen that approached the quality of the latest Canon screens. I used to own a Hasselblad digital back and its screen was even worse than the m9's-really poor. It seems odd that the most expensive cameras should have the worst screen- but there it is... Anyhow: given the great improvements in LCD's in recent years and even months, would an upgraded screen be a possibility or are their technical limitations to the cameras hardware/firmware that make this impossible/highly improbable? I have learned to live with the screen- and probably wouldn't even take up an offer on an improved screen (guessing what Leica might charge for such an operation...). Edited July 19, 2010 by jaques Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 19, 2010 Posted July 19, 2010 Hi jaques, Take a look here Would it be possible to improve the LCD screen on an m9?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted July 19, 2010 Share #2 Posted July 19, 2010 Nobody really knows the reason behind the umm.. less-than optimal LCD screen on the M9, but I agree with you. When I see the quality of the screen on my freebie Smartphone compared to my nearly 6000 Euro M9, it never fails to amaze me; in a negative sense... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted July 19, 2010 Share #3 Posted July 19, 2010 I haven’t seen a 2.5" LCD with more than 230,400 pixels – at least not in a camera. Assuming such a panel was available, the firmware would need to be rewritten to produce higher resolution images, which might be possible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
diogenis Posted July 19, 2010 Share #4 Posted July 19, 2010 yea guys: the screen's dimension is the problem here. Assuming there was a better screen what were you gonna do with just 2.5" ? A cool solution would be if there was a way to relay the picture to an iphone or something Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted July 19, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted July 19, 2010 Does the number of pixels solely determine the quality of the image? Is part of the noise a processing/firmware issue? A tethered/wireless solution would be good if you ask me. Tethering is great for certain applications. And if the new iphone screen is good as they say... Theoretically it should be possible with the M9? Either via the data port (?) slow? Unreliable? on the side- or via an adapted baselpate? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted July 19, 2010 Share #6 Posted July 19, 2010 yea guys: the screen's dimension is the problem here. Assuming there was a better screen what were you gonna do with just 2.5" ?A cool solution would be if there was a way to relay the picture to an iphone or something Perhaps this guy can help? Wireless DSLR External Monitor for Under $200 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted July 19, 2010 Share #7 Posted July 19, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why bother? The sensor and the lenses + the image processing circuitry are the critical elements in the M9, and, for me, they work. I only use the screen to check histogram or for reviewing the status of the camera (via the excellent menu system). 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baptiste Posted July 19, 2010 Share #8 Posted July 19, 2010 Does the number of pixels solely determine the quality of the image? Is part of the noise a processing/firmware issue? A tethered/wireless solution would be good if you ask me. Tethering is great for certain applications. And if the new iphone screen is good as they say... Theoretically it should be possible with the M9? Either via the data port (?) slow? Unreliable? on the side- or via an adapted baselpate? I'm keeping in touch with the idea, but didn't find the solution right now. Wifi SD cards might fit, but the eyefi cards are marked as issuing with M8/M9, due obviously to physical dimension problems...: Known Issues with Leica Cameras | Support Otherwise, the pro version should be able to connect to an Ad Hoc network (typically, one can do it on portable computer, but sadly not on iPhone/iPad), so one should be able to transfer on the fly pics from M8/9 to a computer. I guess that other solutions may work together with the wifi cards, such that: - having iPhone/iPad work in Tethering mode (with the proper $$ option in Europe) - or getting the famous "domino", a device in which one can use a sim card with 3G license for tethering once again. If anyone has successfully tested such a solution, please let us know! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2010 Share #9 Posted July 19, 2010 Perhaps this guy can help? Wireless DSLR External Monitor for Under $200 Ummm- plug into the camera's AV out:confused: Which AV out on the M8/M9? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2010 Share #10 Posted July 19, 2010 Why bother? The sensor and the lenses + the image processing circuitry are the critical elements in the M9, and, for me, they work. I only use the screen to check histogram or for reviewing the status of the camera (via the excellent menu system).I'm not bothered, it is just that it is rather inconsistent with Leica's quest for excellence. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted July 19, 2010 Share #11 Posted July 19, 2010 When someone is considering the purchase of a new camera, the image on the screen is one of the first things they'll look at. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFV Posted July 19, 2010 Share #12 Posted July 19, 2010 Granted, the screen is crap and to be expected of digital camera 5 years back. However, after three years (since the M8...) there are two things I would like to comment. As a user I have come to not care about the screen at all. I only use it to check if my framing is right. I have gone accustomed to don't care to check on this screen for WB, focus or anything else. To be honest, the screen is so bad that is has actually helped me in taking better pictures and not recreating myself by looking too much at past shots. I spend less time looking at what I have done and more time taking pictures. Like many years back I wait until I get back home to take out the roll of film (today SD card) and develop (today LightRoom) to enjoy the results. Compared to what I had with my M6 for the last 20 years, the screen is a luxury. Compromise: As I mention many times, things such as a modern M9 is subject to compromise. Now, I see many people bitching (and with reason...) about the screen. Have you thought about what you really want? Because from what I am reading some expect a 7inch display on the back on the M9. Honestly, you can't have it all; have a huge HD screen on the back, have a longer battery life, be the same size and weight as the last three M models. You do realize that the M8 and M9 are thicker than the M6, MP or M7 because of the screen? And I do remember how many complained already about that... Seriously, in a not distant future the M will have better screens, better battery life and will be the same size as the last film models. At least I hope that Leica is going in that direction. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2010 Share #13 Posted July 19, 2010 z You should have a look at the screen on my Samsung Wave phone. When I visit the photoforums, the images are better than most laptop screens, even fully zoomed in and the size is comparable to the M9. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted July 19, 2010 Share #14 Posted July 19, 2010 If we had a better screen, how would we experience that euphoria when we open the image in Lightroom/CR1 and realize it is far better than we imagined? I am also a Nikon user, and I often am let down when I open the images on screen- how boring, just what I expected from looking at the high quality LCD (be it 3") . Where is the excitement in that. All kidding aside, I for one have learned to live with it, but I have to agree, this expensive of a camera with an LCD, that is far worse than my daughter's P&S with a 2.5" screen. But then again, I would miss the euphoria... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulOD Posted July 19, 2010 Share #15 Posted July 19, 2010 I've just had my M9 for a few weeks and was initially unhappy with the LCD display, being used to the bright sharp 3" display on my Nikon D300.Now, however, I find it adequate - I just use it to check composition, histogram and camera status - but I would probably spring for an upgraded display if offered. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted July 19, 2010 Share #16 Posted July 19, 2010 How about a screen of the same quality as an iPhone 4? Would that be good enough? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted July 19, 2010 Share #17 Posted July 19, 2010 z You should have a look at the screen on my Samsung Wave phone. When I visit the photoforums, the images are better than most laptop screens, even fully zoomed in and the size is comparable to the M9. But that’s a 3.3" display, not 2.5" as the M9’s. You could get a better 3.0" or even 2.7" display, just not 2.5". And a larger display would require a major re-design – which eventually they might do for the M10, but I don’t see how one could fit a better display in the M9. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrism Posted July 19, 2010 Share #18 Posted July 19, 2010 Improve it? Sure - just get rid of it altogether and make the body as thin as a film M! My MPs work just fine without an LCD and I don't see why there should be one on the M9. Chris The moderately old man from the age of <fill in the blank> Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 19, 2010 Share #19 Posted July 19, 2010 How will you set anything? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted July 19, 2010 Share #20 Posted July 19, 2010 How will you set anything? We have been here many times before. The simplest answer is that if the camera is DNG only you would only need to set the ISO and that could be accomplished via a simple dial on the top. If you really must be able to fiddle with stuff, a few buttons - e.g. format - could be located under the baseplate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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