M8 vs M9 Shutter.."one-off" observation?

[D&A]

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Hi All,

 

Background: This question doesn't relate to any particular issue, although it might give some credence to what I previously experienced with a very good acquaintance's M9, that I was helping to set up. I already explained previously about his unfortunate accident resulting in his requiring assistance. Briefly on a number of occasions, his M9 shutter in single shot mode "hiccupped" which resulted in a shutter firing hesitation as well as a black frame occasionally. That's not exactly why I am writing this thread though.

 

I've noticed more so than in the past, that the sound of his M9 shutter (specifically the shutter recocking sound...particularly it's pitch, is completely different than my M8.2 or any other M8.2 I compared it with. Although there have been those who already noted a slight difference in shutter lag between the M8.2 and M9 and also possibly a degree of loudness between the two, that is not the nature of my observations. Whereas the M8.2's I used, had a definitive "click" and what I can only describe as an "strong, solid well-assured shutter recocking...his M9 sounded distinctively different. It was of a much higher pitch with what maybe could be described as a tinny sound....and sort of sounding weak in shutter recocking (which may just be an illusion as to the sound giving that impression). These comparisons were of course performed with the same lens on each camera as well as same shutter speed for each. Which battery was used in any given camera, wasn't the issue.

 

I ask those that have both an M8.2 (not M8) and M9 directly on hand, whether they notice what I described. I also realize there are variations from body to body, but if this is not what others observed, it may give credence as to why his shutter occasionally "hiccups" (as described). The M9 body I am currently using (not his)...is at a location that I couldn't get to this week, due to snowstorms. Thanks for any feedback.

 

Dave (D&A)

[jaapv]

The sounds of my M8u and M9 are quite similar, with the M9 sounding marginally more substantial, possibly due to the larger sensor size = further travel.

[D&A]

I appreciate the reply Jaap...but so far in the very limited sample of bodies (four M8.2's and two M9 I've tested it hasn't appeared this way. One would assume with the M8.2 and M9 having the same basic shutter, the sounds would be extremely similar...yet it is as I described above with the M9 sounding quite "tinny" and at a much higher pitch. Maybe it was a particular run of M9 shutters..who knows. Just out of couriousity, I'll see if anyone else has compared side-by-side. Thanks again.

 

Dave (D&A)

[jaapv]

I just clicked them side by side five minutes ago The M9 is slghtly louder and considerably lower pitched. There was quite a bit of sample variation in the M8 vs M8.2/M8u, so that might well be the case here again.

[Nicoleica]

The sounds of my M8u and M9 are quite similar, with the M9 sounding marginally more substantial, possibly due to the larger sensor size = further travel.

 

Pardon me if I may question this Jaap, but isn't the shutter opening & travel the same in both models? Only the sensor size varies as far as I am aware.

[jaapv]

Possibly, Nicole. But what explanation of the pitch would you have? Maybe the additional paint? We need a dissection by Mark

[Nicoleica]

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Hi Jaap,

Until such time as somebody performs an autopsy on an M9, my guess would be due to the small changes in the interior body shell affecting acoustic properties, and to some extent a sample variation. Some M8s are noisy, and some are quiet. (Mine is a quiet one.)

[patrick parker]

Hello Jaap,

 

I had my M8 shutter fixed some months ago, it broke for no apparent reason.

 

Solms fixed it with for no charge. When the camera came back I noticed it was actually less

 

loud. I immediately checked if the 8000 was canceled and it was there functioning at 8000.

 

On a paris trip I compared the sound to M9 and the difference was quite minimal like you

 

said. Srange, isn't it?

[Jeff S]

I brought my M8.2 to a local dealer a couple of months ago. A Leica rep there had an M9 and I, too, was curious about the shutter sound, having seen some posts here. The dealer also had a demo M8.2 handy, so we compared the three.

 

A number of folks gathered around and we each gave our opinions. Unanimously, the M9 was heard to be louder. Not dramatically, but enough so everyone concurred. But, I have no recollection of any pitch difference. To clarify, this was the shutter release sound we monitored, not the motor whirring sound after (which I hate, btw).

 

Jeff

[D&A]

Thanks for all the replies to my initial post. Permit me to clarify the conditions as to which the striking differences are heard between the M8.2 and M9 bodies I mentioned.

 

Firstly, all the M8.2's were M8.2's not original M8's...so an original M8 and both its shutter and shutter re cocking sounds were not part of the equation. I too had a number of original M8's and some were louder than others as reported.

 

Secondly, although I did separate the sounds of the firing of the shutter vs. shutter re cocking....all the differences I previously described (and am also re-describing) regards the shutter re cocking! The differences can also be heard when shutter firing and shutter re-cocking are not separated (in normal shooting)

 

In the situation I am describing, the M9 body is actually quieter than the M8.2 bodies I've been testing...and the M9 sounds "tinny" and fires/advances with a higher pitch sound. Like a few who also reported a shutter hiccup-delay when firing a large number of shots (which sometimes even results in a black frame), in single shot mode, the sound of the M9 sounding weaker or and higher in pitch, gave pause for thought that this particular M9 might have an aberrant shutter. Hard to really say. It's also possible that conversely, the M8.2's I've compared the M9 to, may have a more assertive shutter re cocking and it is them that are not quite the norm. That's my reason for asking others to compare. Thanks again!

 

Dave (D&A)

[250swb]

 

In the situation I am describing, the M9 body is actually quieter than the M8.2 bodies I've been testing...and the M9 sounds "tinny" and fires/advances with a higher pitch sound.

 

Dave (D&A)

 

People start to lose the ability to hear higher pitch sounds past the age of 20 (although some can still manage it), so wouldn't a higher pitch sound actually sound softer/quieter to the majority of the population? This is of course what Leica intended, having had complaints about the low rumble noise caused by the M8.2 shutter the M9 shutter has been modified to become completely quiet when used by old age pensioners. It also has the opposite effect on youngsters with hoods who may want to steal your camera, take a photo of them and the high pitched sound is so piercing it makes them run home. How clever is that!

 

Steve

[brill64]

two m8.2's and an m9 here at my ear and all in standard shutter mode. i'm sorry to say that in my case and at the same ear, all three sound exactly alike, as expected. the m9 maybe a tiny bit quieter but i'd attribute that to it being in a leather half-case. of course this a fairly subjective method of testing but after recent prolonged use of both cameras i doubt the shutters are different

[cbretteville]

Pardon me if I may question this Jaap, but isn't the shutter opening & travel the same in both models? Only the sensor size varies as far as I am aware.

 

 

That would be correct. Stefan Daniel said in a video interview posted on Luminous Landcape that it is the same shutter in the M8.u/M8.2 and the M9.

 

Carl

[hoppyman]

And the R8/R9 I believe he said.

[D&A]

Just to add to my initial observation..I was able to get to another M9 and compare to the M8.2's I've been comparing to. Like others, I found this M9 shutter and shutter advance to sound exactly like the M8.2's...so it maybe only my aqauntences M9 only sand thats why I initially thought it was a "one-off", so to speak. Whether it has to do with his occasional shutter hiccup (that some other have reported with their M9's), where the firing of the shutter in single shot mode (when firing many single shots in succesion)...causes the shutter once in a while to stumble (hesitiate) and then eventually fire off the shot. In a few of these cases, the frame taken on these rare occasions may sometimes be a black (blank) frame, but not always. Thanks!

 

Dave (D&A)

[D&A]

*** I just wanted to add a postscrip and some additonal observations to all the ones I posted. When the M9's I tested vs. a number of M8.2 bodies, in terms of shutter sound (firing along with recocking)...when the cameras are placed on a table and ech fired one at a time (carefully controled with same shutter speed, body cap etc.)..both models sound almost the same. As each body was picked up into shooting position (eye looking through eyepiece), it was then the marked differences could be heard between M9's and

M8.2's...the difference as described in my very first posting at the top of this thread. (Please refer to that as reference). Thanks!

 

Dave (D&A)