colonel Posted December 1, 2015 Share #1 Posted December 1, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I had a hankering to revisit the M9 look recently, and after sifting through adverts for sometime decied on buying a mint M-E already with the new sensor and sensor glass. I must say that the M-E is a handsome beast. I did shoot with one a few years ago but forgot about the look. It looks much better in the flesh then it does in pictures, although not to say it doesn't look good in them too ... The grey is actually quite dark and the silver dials, which can look sparkly in some photos, are quite subtle, and if you use silver lenses it doesn't look too bad. A very purposeful look, solid feel and the smidgen/1mm of extra thinness coupled with 90g less weight is noticeable against the M240. Talking about the M240, and without doing a detailed comparison which is not the point here, it has many advantages over the M-E, notably live view for testing new lenses and being able to use longer them 135mm lenses and shorter then 28mm without a finder. Some points to note about the M-E however: The discreet mode shutter on the M-E is very quiet, disconnecting the recock after a delay On is instant Lets not forgot price, at least in the UK new M-E's are quite affordable now, and of course there is always the used M-E or M9 option ISO performance - well this is a long story. In summary, you would have thought that the 240 is all conquering, especially that prima facie 3200 on the 240 looks much better then 2500 on the M-E, around 2-3 stops I would estimate. However a trick many of us here discovered sometime ago is wonderful for low ISO shooting. Effectively the fact that much data from the CCD sensor can not be extracted by the software in the M-E/M9, coupled with the destructive gain post 640, provides a technique for shooting at ISO 640 and pushing in Lightroom. I wrote the story on this with links to the original articles in the Leica forum some time ago:http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3550226 Low light work is simply lovely. I like to keep the scene as it looked to me: The thing that is lovely/unique about the M-E are the colours and special micro-contrast and clarity. I have not found it possible to replicate with CMOS, which has its own very competent look, but not the ethereal filmic look that is achievable with the M-E: The black and white is also lovely and crisp, more XP2 then TriX: The M-E is the only current, and perhaps last of the CCD line. It deserves a place in any Leica shooters kit bag and can be the main body with ease. 12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 1, 2015 Posted December 1, 2015 Hi colonel, Take a look here Return to CCD ..... Return to m-e. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jdlaing Posted December 1, 2015 Share #2 Posted December 1, 2015 The search for the holy grail continues................ 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Pandorf Posted December 1, 2015 Share #3 Posted December 1, 2015 Waiting on mine to come back from the shop with the new sensor. I've had mine for 3 years and I'm missing it. However, I do have a loaner M240 while I await but ..... but .... Let's just say they're different animals that require different care in their in camera and out of camera processing. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DandA Posted December 2, 2015 Share #4 Posted December 2, 2015 The average difference in ISO performanxe between the M-E and M240 is approx between 1.5 stops up to just shy of 2 stops, depending on lighting and other characteristics. Still technique of shooting the M-E at 640 and pushing in post processing is a very useful and effective technique as mentioned by the OP. Dave (D&A) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 2, 2015 Share #5 Posted December 2, 2015 About the same thoughts I have when picking up my M9 I have, of course the luxury of being able to decide whether to take out the Monochrom 1. So nice that I find no need to go to the MM2. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiafish Posted December 2, 2015 Share #6 Posted December 2, 2015 I had a hankering to revisit the M9 look recently, and after sifting through adverts for sometime decied on buying a mint M-E already with the new sensor and sensor glass. I must say that the M-E is a handsome beast. I did shoot with one a few years ago but forgot about the look. It looks much better in the flesh then it does in pictures, although not to say it doesn't look good in them too ... The grey is actually quite dark and the silver dials, which can look sparkly in some photos, are quite subtle, and if you use silver lenses it doesn't look too bad. A very purposeful look, solid feel and the smidgen/1mm of extra thinness coupled with 90g less weight is noticeable against the M240. Talking about the M240, and without doing a detailed comparison which is not the point here, it has many advantages over the M-E, notably live view for testing new lenses and being able to use longer them 135mm lenses and shorter then 28mm without a finder. Some points to note about the M-E however: The discreet mode shutter on the M-E is very quiet, disconnecting the recock after a delay On is instant Lets not forgot price, at least in the UK new M-E's are quite affordable now, and of course there is always the used M-E or M9 option ISO performance - well this is a long story. In summary, you would have thought that the 240 is all conquering, especially that prima facie 3200 on the 240 looks much better then 2500 on the M-E, around 2-3 stops I would estimate. However a trick many of us here discovered sometime ago is wonderful for low ISO shooting. Effectively the fact that much data from the CCD sensor can not be extracted by the software in the M-E/M9, coupled with the destructive gain post 640, provides a technique for shooting at ISO 640 and pushing in Lightroom. I wrote the story on this with links to the original articles in the Leica forum some time ago:http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3550226 Low light work is simply lovely. I like to keep the scene as it looked to me: The thing that is lovely/unique about the M-E are the colours and special micro-contrast and clarity. I have not found it possible to replicate with CMOS, which has its own very competent look, but not the ethereal filmic look that is achievable with the M-E: Yes, the color is magical on the M-E. Mrs Kimura by Andrew F, on Flickr 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsalamena Posted December 2, 2015 Share #7 Posted December 2, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I had similar thoughts when I was deciding whether to swap my M-E for a new M-240 or ask for a sensor replacement. In my opinion at base ISO the M-E sensor is still unbeaten (its color at ISO 160-640 is the best I ever seen). Since 90% of my photography falls within this ISO range, I see no reason to go for the M-240 which - in my opinion - has a less performing sensor at base ISO (or, at least, less magic color reproduction). I will always prefer base ISO performance over high ISO... when it's dark either I don't shoot or I use another mirrorless camera! Hopefully Leica will understand that and the next M will have a color signature similar to the M-E sensor at base ISO. Q and SL models seem to go in the right direction. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiafish Posted December 4, 2015 Share #8 Posted December 4, 2015 (edited) I had similar thoughts when I was deciding whether to swap my M-E for a new M-240 or ask for a sensor replacement. In my opinion at base ISO the M-E sensor is still unbeaten (its color at ISO 160-640 is the best I ever seen). Since 90% of my photography falls within this ISO range, I see no reason to go for the M-240 which - in my opinion - has a less performing sensor at base ISO (or, at least, less magic color reproduction). I will always prefer base ISO performance over high ISO... when it's dark either I don't shoot or I use another mirrorless camera! Hopefully Leica will understand that and the next M will have a color signature similar to the M-E sensor at base ISO. Q and SL models seem to go in the right direction. I love to shoot in low light, but low light usually means (for me) low key, and nothing does low key like the (CCD) M Monochrom. Actually the M-E doesn't do badly either, expose for the highlight and let the darkness rule everywhere else. The color is still magical, even in the dark. Here is an example, available darkness with the M-E L1000252.jpg by Andrew F, on Flickr L1000221.jpg by Andrew F, on Flickr L1000205.jpg by Andrew F, on Flickr L1000231.jpg by Andrew F, on Flickr L1000389.jpg by Andrew F, on Flickr Edited December 4, 2015 by asiafish 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted December 4, 2015 Share #9 Posted December 4, 2015 (edited) I sold my m9 to fund my M240. I really love the liveview, EVF, better high ISO. However: I find the joy of opening files in LR is much diminished with the M240. Many M9 files looked great to me immediately without any need for adjustment. I find it an effort to replicate that look playing around in LR with M240 files. Sometimes I really miss the M9: 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! Edited December 4, 2015 by jaques 1 Quote 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/253808-return-to-ccd-return-to-m-e/?do=findComment&comment=2942227'>More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 4, 2015 Share #10 Posted December 4, 2015 I preferred the M8.2 to the M9, and now prefer the M240 to the M8.2...for various reasons. When it comes to making prints, however, I find that either camera is capable of beautiful results with a disciplined workflow, technique and choice of materials to support the desired rendering (and obviously a subject that warrants the effort). Different strokes....whatever tools work. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
microview Posted December 6, 2015 Share #11 Posted December 6, 2015 First night-time shot with newly acquired M9 (640 ISO; 50mm Summilux-ASPH) 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! 3 Quote 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/253808-return-to-ccd-return-to-m-e/?do=findComment&comment=2943622'>More sharing options...
colonel Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted December 7, 2015 with Zeiss 35mm f1.4 ZM Night shot, Oxford street, with normal processing, looks exactly as I see it Then raised one stop, just to show what you can do. Could have gone more but then looked like day 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hepcat Posted December 7, 2015 Share #13 Posted December 7, 2015 First night-time shot with newly acquired M9 (640 ISO; 50mm Summilux-ASPH) Very nice! Brings to mind Hopper's "Nighthawks." 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.