Worth getting a M9/M-E ?

[colonel]

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Hankering after that M9 look I used to love, so looking for a used one at the moment

 

Prices are fairly strong at the moment but I have spotted a few good deals

 

What do you guys think ? Am I mad due to sensor issues and possible new M forcing down prices ?

Or does the Leica guarantee of sensor fixing plus low glide path now for M9 prices mean that now is as good time as any ...

 

I did used to have a few M9s. Really kicking myself now for selling.

 

thinking out loud. I probably know all the facts just Being touchy-feely

[bsphotomac]

Well I bought a new M-E and MM two months ago and got them both at a great savings brand new. I have been waiting for prices to drop. Even, if they are the previous versions, they are great. I'll keep these until the next versions come out in four or fives years.

The images are great and I can start building a lens collection for the future.

Saved enough money to buy a couple of good Leica lens.

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[nelly]

Worth getting a M9/M-E ?

A Big Yes. I don't really understand why anyone sold theirs.

The M9 from the moment I purchased it in 2010 has been the perfect camera for me

It's value is unmatched for me as this sensor is truly special and film like.

I have never had any problems and as long as Leica can keep my camera up and running,

I will keep shooting

No need for any upgrades here.

[apple_scruff]

I struggled with the same situation you are in a few weeks back. You could wait a few months and see if the prices drop. I thought about waiting myself but I decided to get a M9 now and enjoy it now. I really do like the look of the pictures out of the M9, can this be attributed to ccd? I don't know but for sure there are other factors. 

 

My only gripe would be high iso noise, I will not complain as I knew that going in, however shooting in B&W the noise is not egregious.

[asiafish]

I bought the CCD Monochrom two-years-ago and last month bought a brand-new M-E at a great price.  I love the M9 look and am more than satisfied for the net four or five years.

[darylgo]

Buy it, use and enjoy.  The M9 has so many great qualities and those Kodak sensors were/are beautiful.   My sensor has had no problems, is it a foregone conclusion that all sensors will corrode?  

[pgk]

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Yes.

[jdlaing]

Yes.

[Prosophos]

Yes.

[darylgo]

Yes.

 

 

Yes.

 

 

Yes.

I believe you are answering the OP question and not mine about corrosion?   This weekend I shot the M9 twice, this is an awesome camera.  

[jdlaing]

Yes.

[colonel]

Ok guys, next qu.

I can get a M9-P in silver and black and a M-E for roughly the same price. The silver M9-P and M-E are perfect and around 6.5k and 1.5k clicks respectively. The black M9-P is slightly cheaper (£100), has 9k clicks and a few very tiny chips.

I like the silver M9-P but aware a newer camera in the form of the M-E might be better

 

What do you think ?

Edited June 11, 2015 by colonel

[Bill Livingston]

I would still be concerned about sensor issues.

 

I very nearly bought a M9-P from Stephens in Manchester last year. It was basically mint and unused although previously owned.

 

I loved the way it looked and, although previously owned, given the condition, was essentially a 'new' camera.

 

However, my wife persuaded me to buy new after a visit to Leica Mayfair and I ended up with the M-P.

 

I prefer the look of the M9-P, the M-P looks a bit weird without the frame illuminator window at first and obviously the M9-P looks much more like a traditional film M.

 

But now, with hindsight, given the sensor issues in all the M9 series that came to light shortly after I bought my M240P and the fact that as I got used to the camera I realised how many genuine advantages in useability there are, I am actually very pleased I was persuaded to opt for the 240 series.

 

As far as a choice between a M-E and an M9-P?

 

M9-P every time.

 

I just don't like the colour and look of the M-E and, as my ideal camera, in terms of appearance anyway, would be a digital, black paint, M4, (like everyone else I suspect! ) then obviously I would go for the black M9-P

 

In terms of photographic performance, there is no difference between any of the M9 series as far as I understand, so the choice is essentially what do YOU prefer in terms of how the camera looks.

 

I still think the idea of buying something you know will probably need a sensor change at some point in the near future and be away for a few months is mad at this price level (in more ways than one), so I would buy a 240 series camera, especially given the other advantages. The prices have come down too as a replacement will be around in the next year or so, so even more compelling.

 

Your choice though... For me, an M9-P in either silver or black looks FAR better than an M-E, and given the performance is the same, that's the way I would go (well, it isn't, but you know what I mean... )

Edited June 11, 2015 by Livingston

[asiafish]

Ok guys, next qu.

I can get a M9-P in silver and black and a M-E for roughly the same price. The silver M9-P and M-E are perfect and around 6.5k and 1.5k clicks respectively. The black M9-P is slightly cheaper (£100), has 9k clicks and a few very tiny chips.

I like the silver M9-P but aware a newer camera in the form of the M-E might be better

 

What do you think ?

I had a similar choice between a perfect used M9P and a new M-E, with the new M-E $450 more at $4200 US.  I went with the M-E.

[darylgo]

Ok guys, next qu.

I can get a M9-P in silver and black and a M-E for roughly the same price. The silver M9-P and M-E are perfect and around 6.5k and 1.5k clicks respectively. The black M9-P is slightly cheaper (£100), has 9k clicks and a few very tiny chips.

I like the silver M9-P but aware a newer camera in the form of the M-E might be better

 

What do you think ?

M9-P Silver.  The M-E lost some features iirc, the usb connector and frameline selector, the lcd screen material may not be saphire.  There may be other differences but I think that's the major features removed.  

[asiafish]

M9-P Silver.  The M-E lost some features iirc, the usb connector and frameline selector, the lcd screen material may not be saphire.  There may be other differences but I think that's the major features removed.  

Those are ALL of the differences, and none of them matter whatsoever to most M photographers.

[DandA]

I've used M9's and M9P's and also the M-E and I had a gut feeling that the M-E was constructed with a bit more tolerance. Maybe bwcuase it incorporated or the minor internal chamges incorporated into M9 production during its run and also whatever minor changes made in putting all the parts together durong construction of each body. Again I have no proof of amy of this but it was a distinct feeling I immediate got with two M-E bodies. Obviously though equally wonderful image producing cameras.

 

Dave (D&A)

[Ai_Print]

I have been really thinking of getting another M9 recently. So I am going to rent one as a third camera for a political job I have coming up and make a final decision based on that.

 

I tried the M240 for about half a day over the weekend. While there were some things I really liked about it, the thickness of it made it just not feel right in my hands and the new Q felt great as it is exactly the thickness of a film M.

 

I'll see how I feel about the M9 since it has been a few years since I owned it.

[azuled]

I will weigh in.  18 months ago I bought an M-E and shot it rather frequently.  In late April I noticed that my shots all had marks on them, and looking back through my records it seems that they had been appearing for nearly 6 months. Being cautious, I sent my camera in to Leica USA for a sensor cleaning and an adjustment (I was certain it was not a sensor corrosion issue, but must have been feeling cautious). 

 

Within in a week Leica informed me that the issue was not dust, but serious corrosion over the entire sensor.  I was told that my camera would likely be fixed by early to mid July. After three weeks I emailed and asked to upgrade to an M-P. I do not regret this decision. The M-P is a different camera for sure, and takes adjustment in workflow.

 

i loved the M-E, but had one major issue with it: the screen.  That delicate screen.  I don't mind that it was low res (part of the charm, honestly); but it was unforgivable that it was delicate. Mine had deep scratches in it simply from being in my camera bag.  This just baffles me and was frustrating. 

 

The images that sensor could produce continue to amaze me, but multiple month repair times with no guarantee that the replacement won't have to be replaced just seems unreasonable to me. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[shootinglulu]

I got the M-E. The grey put me off but I made the compromise for the peace of mind of owning a new camera. Now I wish I'd gone for a late M9p, the colour is quite unattractive.