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Did anyone go back to M9 after M240


BerndReini

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I have a difficult decision to make. I have the opportunity of buying a used M240 in perfect condition, but I would have to sell my M9. I tested the M240 when it first came out and a little later with the new firmware and decided it wasn't worth the money for the upgrade at that point. I recently read someone here comment that they looked through their old photos and felt like they had more photographs that absolutely spoke to them with the M9. Sometimes I look at my old M8 photos and I see that ultimate crispness that the M9 gave up for the thicker IR filter on the sensor, but I still feel that the full-frame was a worthwhile upgrade.

 

I don't want to start the discussion from both camps about what is better and why. I have sifted through all of those and I have my own opinion on that as well. I would specifically love to hear if someone switched back to the CCD sensor after owning the M240.

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IQ shouldn't be an issue with either camera; if so, spend time and money on PP workflow.

 

I switched from M8.2 to M240 for other reasons (but kept the former only for back-up).

 

If it's a difficult decision for you, chances are you don't need to switch. My decision was easy, after testing.

 

Jeff

Edited by Jeff S
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I had similar thoughts, but in the end decided I loved the IQ from my M9-P too much to swap. If you're not dissatisfied with the pics you get from your M9, why change? It's a matter of working out what you want from a camera. Both are brilliant machines in different ways. Plenty of opinionated discussion here: Blog | Photographs by Peter | Prosophos

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If you had an M9, you would have considered the M240 because of a feature or two than it provided (e.g. better ISO, EVF etc). If so, then there is no need to even consider going back. Unless of course, you bought it on impulse.

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I own both the M9-P and M240. Each camera is set up entirely differently and used for different purposes. I'm constantly going back and forth depending on the job in hand.

 

The last time I depended on 'out of camera' images for a 'look' was when shooting film before digitisation. I'd hate to go back to that level of dependency.

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Keep the 9 and buy it a present. E.g., a lens length you've never had

 

I love the 9 which was reinforced examining many 240 RAW files. Didn't see the point.

 

When live view, speed, iso, video etc. are needed, 5DM3 is fine tool (paperweight)

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Keep the 9 and buy it a present. E.g., a lens length you've never had

 

I love the 9 which was reinforced examining many 240 RAW files. Didn't see the point.

 

When live view, speed, iso, video etc. are needed, 5DM3 is fine tool (paperweight)

 

Yes, that was finally my decision - my M9 got a new Summicron 35/2 instead - which equals approx. the cost to upgrade to an M!

 

I´ve tried the 240 for a week or so, but for me it lacks some of the “genuine-M” feeling of the M9. It may depend on the CCD or the “quirkiness” but I love it! May be “M11” will get a new chance…?

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I did. Had an M240 from July last year through April of 2014. I never liked the look I got from the M240 files in comparison to the M9. I love the speed of the M240 and having a little bit higher usable ISO was nice, but not enough to keep it. I prefer the look the M9 delivers. IQ is subjective and much like I prefer the look of Neopan 400 pushed 2 stops versus almost any digital BW image, I prefer the look of the M9 sensor to any of the current CMOS sensors. Quirks and all.

 

The M240 is an awesome camera! I just prefer the old a little more.

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I am about to re-buy an M9 or M-E, having sold my M240 (and kept my S2). This is after having owned two M9s in the past. Despite the operational improvements offered by the M240, I still prefer the look of the files produced by the M9, and I have learned to live with its limitations. Having said that, I will be keen to evaluate the rumoured S replacement with a CMOS sensor as I think the higher ISO capability will be a much greater bonus with that class of camera, given the much shorter exposure times required when handholding.

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I sold my M240 with no regrets and left my old M9. I even upgraded it with the M9-P outer skin. I did not like the linearity of the CMOS sensor and additional PP needed to make the images pop. I did not use live view or video and the higher ISO was not a big feature for me.

 

I have Med Format Digital cameras for resolution and skin tones and want to use my M system as a simple rangefinder with the great optics.

 

Looking forward to seeing a new CMOS Leica S. The S really needs a bit more ISO sensitivity for handholding with longer optics.

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Thanks to the Leica-On-Loan program offered at LHSA meetings I was able to shoot with an M240 alongside my own M9. I made an informed purchase that I knew I would not regret. That said, had I not been able to procure an unsold demo for a grand less than new price, I would have been quite content to stick with the M9 indefinitely. They are both excellent cameras. So is the M8, although the IR filters were an irritiation to me, even that was liveable.

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Like Jaap I have a very dusty M9 . . actually, it isn't dusty as my son is using it and really enjoying it.

 

Having 'learned' the new sensor I find the M240 better in every possible respect, from image quality to operation . .. Oh - except that it's fatter.

 

 

all the best

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