Please help settle my nerves....

[Bixi]

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Dear Bob,

 

First, I'd like to say congratulation!

 

I used to have a Nikon D700 and I sold it with all my lenses to get the M9. I was insecure for a while because of manual focusing and just "the unknown". But let me tell you, I love my new camera.

 

I mostly do street photography. I never tried selling my photographs - but it's my biggest passion. The M9 is small. It's quite. It's most beautiful.

 

I hope that you'll fall in love with the M9 as much as I feel for it.

 

All the best and good luck and keep us posted.

 

Bixi

 

ps. I just had a look at your photos on your website. Great work - I can't see any reason why the M9 wouldn't keep up with your vision.

[stunsworth]

Whippets (my own dogs) have been shot to death (so to speak). Not to bothered about doing that any more.

 

But don't write off using your M9 for whippet events. All of the photographs on this page were taken with an M6...

 

Whippet racing in the North of England

 

I do like whippets, they have a combination of nervousness and speed that I find interesting.

[Overgaard]

Say what you will about Ken Rockwell but his articles may very well start a dream of owning the ultimate camera.

 

You will be amazed of how the odd feeling "I really need no more than this?" will start growing on you after a few days or weeks with the M9. But one can actually produce the greatest photography with just a small camera and a small lens.

 

The three lenses will be a good kit, the 28 and 50 probably the ones you will start using first and enjoy the most. The 50mm is a star in my eyes and the 90mm will require you get familiar with the M9 and manual focusing via rangefinder before you really get that one.

[Mauribix]

Interested why people don't like the 90 cron asph. I'm so impressed by the one I have (after years with a Canadian pre-asph cron. Is it just the weight / size? It's a big lens - but hardly any more than the 75 cron...

 

Chris, as you know I had the 90cron AA in my lens set, but while I may know why you (as me) are considering that lens the top of the 90's, I always had just one concern about it... its long focussing thread.

I love the 90elmarit-M as well (like Jonoslack), but I remember a past thread (maybe opened by Guy Mancuso?) where the advantage of a short focussing thread such as that of the 90summarit, showed really up as a design improvement despite of the major precision of the 90AA.

Sometimes I really just don't have enough time to focus a 90AA... that's why IMHO some may still prefer the 90elmarit or 90summarit.

If only the latter had a built-in hood!

[shootinglulu]

Hello Bob. Looking at your wonderful photo's, i think you will be happy with your new camera.

If you have any doubts, go to 'Steve Huff's M9 blog where he has responded to a question re the M9 pricing, with a very well written and informed piece. It should make you feel very good about your decision.

Congrats

[larryk34]

You're not the only Leica owner whoever had buyer's remorse after shelling out that much money. There's a very quick, perfect solution to the problem. Do a test. Spend a few weeks taking your favorite photographs (over again, if necessary), then lay the prints down on a table mixed in with some of your former Nikon prints. [i don't know if a computer screen would work or not.] The first time I did this my kids immediately picked out the Leica prints as the best on the table. "Very 3-D, dad. Definitely better than the other ones. At the time they had no idea of any of the differences between my Nikon with its best prime lenses and my Leica with a 50mm cron (first of many). You have to subtract the cost of the equivalent Nikon gear from your new Leica gear, take the difference, divide by your first 1000 photographs, and then ask yourself if the cost difference per photograph was worth the cost. After 3000 photos the difference per photo gets even smaller. The question is: Is the extra cost worth the 10%-20% improvement in your images? Then, if you're going to take a lot of memorable photos over the next few years (sometimes with considerable cost to get to them), then do you want the extra quality for all that work or not? The answer was alway easy for me. My wife too, which is important since she has to agree let all that cash to too.

[Guest mc_k]

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sports is not out if you can get close...you have prefocus and other tricks.

[Guest mc_k]

p.s. no sports the first day, please...

[lars_bergquist]

In photography, as in most walks of life, you meet insecure people who bolster their rickety egos by slinging mud at everything but themselves and their property. Remember the saying: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." Or "write reviews". This said, there do exist sane and knowledgeable reviewers, like Sean Reid. But he is a working pro and feels no need to strike attitudes.

 

As I have said many times before, RF photography is fundamentally different from SLR, especially SLR with zooms (which I disliked even on SLR cameras -- too slow, in both senses). It is a different psychology that you assume when going out with a M. It is interactive photography, close range mano a mano, in contrast to sniping.

 

My own minimalist kit now I have a M9 will be the classical one: 35 + 90. But the 50mm Summilux ASPH and the 28mm Summicron are both lovely lenses, which I own, and use. But going out with just two lenses is liberating, both to my old spine and to my ancient shoulders, and to my antediluvian mind. Also, the fewer lenses you carry, the less often you will be caught standing with one lens in each hand when the Picture appears ...

 

The old man from the Age of the M2

[JQ Huang]

I still have my nikon, but it would have to go when I get an M9, hopefully in the future. Photography becomes so different when you use a Leica (i have an M7 btw). I'm sure many people here have mentioned before...it's no longer a "machine-gun" approach, hoping that ONE SHOT would be a keeper. Everything slows down....waiting for the moment, the composition to be right. You'll start to see how light interplays with shadow...then the soft "click"...to me, that's the epitome of photography....

 

AF, 11FPS becomes a little too easy, and a little boring. But to master a Leica takes time...takes LOTS of practice. But hey, good things in life doesn't come easy eh?

[bentley07]

Wow.. this thread really convinced me about the recent move I made.

 

I sold all my Nikon, Canon gear, and now waiting for my local camera shop to bring in the M9 and the 50lux (plus the 28cron in the future).

 

It'll be my first experience with a RF as well, so I'm in a similar situation with Bob.

 

Thanks guys!

 

-Roland

[UliWer]

.... But going out with just two lenses is liberating, both to my old spine and to my ancient shoulders, and to my antediluvian mind.

 

....

The old man from the Age of the M2

 

I beg to differ from this description .

 

Cheers to Lars Bergquist for his anniversary!

 

From all I can read in this forum his mind is as young as anybody could wish for, and I hope we will further profit from his knowledge and common sense in the Age of the M9.

 

UliWer

[TacTZilla]

Yes. Thanks indeed for all your kind words and advice.

 

I am sure it's the right move. The hard bit is being without a camera until some unknown date in the new year. I may borrow my sisters (was my grandads) Olympus 35SP and run a few rolls of film through it to get me in the mood.

 

I'll be glad to keep you all posted and share some of my first images.

 

Regards

Bob

[jerryharwood]

Please will someone enlighten me as to why there is this apparent hate campaign against ken Rockwell ?

I have read his articles, apart from the blatant advertising, I think they are quite interesting, and at least he takes trouble with his shots ! And he does take trouble to show what he is photographing and why.

[stunsworth]

Please will someone enlighten me as to why there is this apparent hate campaign against ken Rockwell ?

 

He's a charlatan. Most of his 'reviews' are simple copy and paste jobs. He's been know to review equipment he's never had in his hands.

[Leicaiste]

Interested why people don't like the 90 cron asph. I'm so impressed by the one I have (after years with a Canadian pre-asph cron. Is it just the weight / size? It's a big lens - but hardly any more than the 75 cron...

 

I am using both and IMO the 75/2 is easier to use.

 

Smaller, lighter and easier to focus.

 

It is more a bigger 50/1,4 than a smaller 90/2.

 

The 75 mm similar to the 90/2 is the 75/1,4.

 

If only it could have its own frame.

 

Now if I had to keep only one 90 mm it will be the 90/4 Macro.

 

Lucien

[lars_bergquist]

Well -- I had no use for the 75mm length on film M cameras, as I found it a kind of between-and-betwixt length, not different enough from either 50 or 90mm to be interesting. This of course is a personal thing, but it seems that I haven't been alone in this.

 

I got myself a 75mm Summarit for my M8, and it is an excellent lens -- but it's a 75! Now I am retiring it.

 

The Apo-Summicron ASPH is a great lens, but if you do not need (as distinct from want) f:2 in this length, then either a Elmarit-M or a Summarit is easier on your back and on your bank account. Believe me, one hundred grams do make a difference during a working day.

 

The old man from the Age of the 9cm Elmar 1:4

[James R]

Hi there.

 

... I'm a photography (fairly) newbie having been at it for 3 years. I have been using Nikon D3 for the last couple of years and although I've been happy with the results, something didn't feel right.

 

The M9 felt right, so I decided to make the move. I would have liked to keep the Nikon gear, but as I'm 'financially challenged' or 'skint' as we say up north, it had to go. I knew that, if I sold everything off that wasn't nailed down I could just about afford an M9 and possibly 2 lenses.

 

I'm now sat here with 3 lenses and my name on the waiting list - GULP!

 

I keep having these 'what have I done?' moments.

Manual focus? I must be crazy.

2 frames per second vs. 9 FPS on the D3.

I know I won't be able to do the sports action stuff any more, but I was doing less and less of that any way. I found myself doing lots more street photography and mainly using my Nikkor 50mm F/1.4. The D3 just gets in the way for street. Too big and heavy and I get hassled by security guards or the police for being a terrorist. I'd like a camera that gets out of the way rather than in the way.

 

The lenses I got were........

 

28mm F/2 Summicron

50mm F/1.4 Summilux &

90mm F/2.8 Elmarit

 

.....based on advice on Ken Rockwell's site.

 

Having made this move, today someone gives me a copy of Amateur Photographer with the M9 review in it. Not exactly a glowing review so I'm feeling a little nervous now, especially since I'm going to have to sell my body on the streets to make up the shortfall because of getting 3 lenses

 

Please tell me everything is going to be ok

 

Cheers

Bob

 

Shooting a D3 with only a few years of experience can be a challenge! I shoot the D3 and love the camera, just wish I only had a few years of experience--I'm getting old.

 

I have purchased a 35 cron and a 50 lux, in advance of receiving an M9. I'm pretty high on a couple of waiting lists. The delay in getting a body has given me time to think about my lens purchases. Second guessing pretty common. Any other lenses will have to wait until I have a body in hand.

However, I'm not selling my DSLR kit. The D3 does too many things a DRF doesn't.

 

Interestingly, a mention of Ken Rockwell brings the same reaction here as it does on Nikon forums.

[TacTZilla]

Hi James.

 

Yes, I would have preferred to keep the D3 and you are right, it was challenging with me still being somewhat wet behind the ears. I enjoyed the challenge though. Even though it has such a high frame rate, it's still takes a lot of skill to get a really stunning action shot.

 

It did nothing for my elbow though. I had to wear a splint every time I used the D3 and had plenty of pain as a result. I certainly won't miss that.

 

Regards

Bob

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[Jack MacDonough]

Bob,

Your question and member's answers are a good use of this forum. I liked Kurt's advice that if you don't like the kit, you can sell it and move on. You can probably sell the M9 at a profit, but I would suggest you use it for awhile to see how you adjust. Given your elbow issue, I suspect you will be very happy.

 

Good for you that you have already gotten you money from the D3. With the arrival of an M9 next week, I am selling all my remaining Canon lenses for a full frame DSLR, this week. I have only used the DSLR for a shot of an American bald eagle in the last few years.

 

While waiting for your M9, since you have no camera, you might ask to borrow someone's extra M8 or a film M and start shooting with your lenses. I did understand correctly that you already have the lenses in your hands? Interestingly I have a friend who is in the same situation, and when I get my 9 next week I will be loaning my 8 to them while they wait.

 

I agree with others that the M can be used for sports, just not very fast. The shot I posted here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/sports-leisure-time/104343-water-ski-mist.html

might not have been seen with an SLR. I was actually shooting a fisherman close by, when I saw the skier outside the frame.

 

The only thing an M is a super challenge for me is shooting moving children up close. But I perfer video then anyway.

 

If you have any challenges with focusing the 90mm 2.8, wide open, which I did, I would suggest you at least try using a 1.25 or better a 1.4 magnifier.