too old to care Posted December 23, 2009 Share #1 Posted December 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, I am new to posting here, but familiar with Leica (I own an M6 w/50mm f2 Summicron). I have also been hanging around this site a lot lately. Like many people shopping for a camera, when I consider how much the M9 costs it boggles my mind. If I were a professional than no problem, however I am not a professional, but an aging film user that has not been satisfied with the digital cameras I have had so far. Mostly in the 7 to 10 meg range with the typical kit zoom lens. I know that my Summicron lens would do wonders on any camera when compared to the plastic kit lens supplied by most companies, but will $7K give me the satisfaction that I get when I use the M6? I hardly shoot film anymore because I have gotten lazy and like instant results, but I also miss the game of making all my own adjustments and having no one to blame but myself when I mess up. I have read the reviews and have come away thinking that if this camera were available and not on backorder, I would order one immediately. Knowing that they are on backorder gives me a little time to sweat the decision out a little longer. Any issues I should know about before I do, or better stated, is there anyone not satisfied with their decision to purchase an M9? Please, I am not trying to open a can of worms, just made my decision a little easier. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 23, 2009 Posted December 23, 2009 Hi too old to care, Take a look here M9 or not. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted December 23, 2009 Share #2 Posted December 23, 2009 Welcome to thye forum We cannot make your decisions for you, although some may try The M9 itself operates just like any film M, so you should not have any problems there. The question is, are you prepared to accept the real difference with film, and that is doing your darkroom work in a computer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nafpie Posted December 23, 2009 Share #3 Posted December 23, 2009 Please, I am not trying to open a can of worms, just made my decision a little easier. I totally understand your point. My suggestion is, to give the M9 a try. Go to a store, bring your Summicron and make some test shots. I am sure you will be fascinated that working with the M9 is almost the same than with your M6. But: First try, than buy. Best wishes, Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted December 23, 2009 Share #4 Posted December 23, 2009 Welcome to the forum! What you'll find, should you enter the water, is that your new M9 and that Summicron of yours are remarkable together. World's different than the smaller megapixel camera and kit zooms you've been used to. It will match up very favorably with your M6. You'll get that same level of image quality, but with the convenience of digital. Please let us know after you get your new camera. I'd frankly be shocked... if you're not shocked. At how good it is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMacD Posted December 24, 2009 Share #5 Posted December 24, 2009 If you are not sure, and at $7,000, it is easy to not be sure, then do as a friend of mine did three months ago and order one from Amazon. They gave her a 30 day free return if she didn't like it. During that 30 day trial, you don't want to drop the camera. She, BTW, had not used a rangefinder camera before, so she had more questions that you as an M6 user would have. She kept the camera and has bought three more lenses. I would say the M9 with it's full frame sensor is an easier switch with the M6 than the M8 was. Rationalizations: If you no longer shoot the M6, you can sell it and reduce your investment in Leica. Reality: You may sell the M6 but to merely finance another lens. No one ever reduces their investment in Leica. Rationalization: What else for $7,000 might give you as much pleasure? The savings versus film is such that if a film image cost you an average of $.20, then you can shoot 35,000 images with the M9 to breakeven. Reality: You will shoot 35,000 images with pleasure. Final advice: Get an extra battery. Don't shoot on A with the lens cap on, you might need to reboot. On the other hand, if you shoot a scene with the lens cap on, you will realize it sooner with an M9 than you did with an M6. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdb Posted December 24, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 24, 2009 I have zero regrets. I too came from an M6. First with an M8...still have it as a back up...but the M9 was a seamless transition. The toughest part-digital darkroom:rolleyes: You gotta dedicate some time to learning LR/Photoshop or Aperture. I used Aperture exclusively for the past year but have recently been learningLR/CS4---way more powerful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
msk2193 Posted December 24, 2009 Share #7 Posted December 24, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello in STL, If you compare the M9 to its "equals" as far as image quality goes, you will find the price quite a bit more competitive. I have not used a rangefinder in some 20 years, and have been shooting digital for the past ten years, except for the occasional large format shot. However, when the full-frame M9 was announced it was not an issue of "if", but "when". If it is not a financial burden, than the decision to go back to a superbly built rangefinder should be easy. The only buyer's remorse you might have is not getting one! Watering at the mouth just thinking of capturing a quick image of that juicy prime rib at Kreis’s before it disappears off my plate! I would ask your local STL dealer what their status is on M9 orders. I was surprised to find out that our local dealer did not have a long list, and as of yesterday I am next in line to receive one. The area rep even left his demo unit at the store for me to play with while I wait just a bit longer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pophoto Posted December 24, 2009 Share #8 Posted December 24, 2009 Welcome to the forum! What you'll find, should you enter the water, is that your new M9 and that Summicron of yours are remarkable together. World's different than the smaller megapixel camera and kit zooms you've been used to. . My M9 arrived yesterday and had been testing my 35lux with no issues. Today I reached for my 50 cron, and wow, yes I was alittle shocked how much I really liked it on my M9. Disappointed with my 90 Elm, but that's another story When compared to my Nikon D700 with 50mm f1.2 lens, I wouldn't say there is twice the price difference when looking at the pictures themselves. However, it's the feeling you get and how often you will have an urge to reach for your jacket (with M9 and 50cron) and head out of the door! If feeling justifies the price difference, I think this is the best way I can explain it. Especially if you are already familiar with Leica Ms. Hope this helps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 24, 2009 Share #9 Posted December 24, 2009 Hope I don't offend any M9 users here, since I don't own one. But, I can relate to your situation since I shot film Ms for over 20 years (M6s and M7s) after using slrs for many years before, and bought an M8.2 this past year. I have zero regrets. The camera handling is totally natural, and the resulting prints are excellent given the advance in printers, inks and papers. You could buy a nice used M8 or M8.2 while the M9s are backlogged, and probably sell it at little or any loss if and when you decide on an M9. I love my 50 lux on the M8.2...even though I thought the crop factor might disappoint. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sa124m Posted December 24, 2009 Share #10 Posted December 24, 2009 Hi I am kindo new to the forum here but have been watching for a while and know some other local members. I am a photography student in philadelphia only 25 years old. I have pretty much fallen in love with rangefinder cameras and have owned a MP, M8, and I just got a M9 through leicas student educators discount program. I now shoot with the M9 and a M4-p as my film cam. I must say that the M9 has no suprises exept at the quality that is acheivable if you can properly wield the camera. The M8 went quick for me but I know many who have acheived great results with that camera I just preferred shooting film to the M8 files but now that I am working with the M9 and Lightroom I find I can get just the results I was getting with film which is a blessing. Even though many other people I know were incessantly insisting that I buy a nikon D3 or something like a 5D I would have rather bought another Mp or a M7 in black paint. The M9 has fufilled my wishes in a digital camera but I am still learning digital post as I am new to the digi world but so far Lightroom has been really easy. Just my 2 cents. hope that helps Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
too old to care Posted December 24, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted December 24, 2009 Thanks everyone for your input, it looks like my mind is made up. Not one negative comment in the bunch. Next week I am off to Schiller’s to talk to them about the M9. I almost bought the M8 awhile back, but I wanted a full frame sensor. With luck it will be here before spring. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted December 24, 2009 Share #12 Posted December 24, 2009 Perhaps you should ask this question in the film forum, it is often one sided over here. I am a professional who is passing on the M9 until maybe 2011. I shoot more and more film in my work because it gets right to the point and I enjoy the journey more. If the M9 were 4-5K, I might have went with it, but I spent nearly an entire day with it and it really is just another digital tool, the craftsman makes the images happen, digital or otherwise. David Alan Harvey is only just now getting around to checking it out and he is a legendary Leica user if that tells you anything. So really think about it more, go try one out if you can. For digital has really not changed the game all that much, you still have to see, respond and emote your images and 7 grand is a lot of money for what is now a computer in a camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
theendlesshouse Posted December 24, 2009 Share #13 Posted December 24, 2009 The results from the M9 speak for themselves. I am staunchly anti-digital for my own twisted reasons but you have to look at the M9 images and say wow! (same with the price) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R Posted December 24, 2009 Share #14 Posted December 24, 2009 \ Knowing that they are on backorder gives me a little time to sweat the decision out a little longer. Any issues I should know about before I do, or better stated, is there anyone not satisfied with their decision to purchase an M9? Please, I am not trying to open a can of worms, just made my decision a little easier. Thanks Welcome to the forum. I too am pretty new here and found the site a great source of information. As to making a decision, I think joining this site is a big mistake. Buying the M9 generally follows such a poor decision. My 9 arrived this week and I'm enjoying the camera. The process of understanding the strengths and limitations of the camera is fun to me, but, that is me. The IQ is great and the lenses are second to none. Is it worth 7K? Questions of value are subjective and you must work through those. I don't regret it, but I'm getting older and my world will not come to an end if I make a 7K mistake. Best wishes in working through your decision. jr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.