M9 versus M8

[Lasex]

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Comparision between M8 and M9 sensors can be done here:

Image Quality Database

Just select Leica M8 and Leica M9 in the compare cameras boxes.

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[larryk34]

Seems to me that the issue is difficult because the quality of M8 images is already so high. I've never thought any of my M8 images needed to be of higher quality, and I've always been able to crop away at will without losing much resolution. This is something that I cannot do on my Panasonic G1 camera even with a Leica lens attached. However, if there really is "greater preservation of highlights in the M9 files" as mentioned above, then that alone would be a great improvement. My only real complaint with the M8 and other two digital cameras is the frequency of blown highlights and all the tricks you have to go through to prevent them when they appear. Even when just photographing white roses it takes a lot of tinkering to keep the details. The initial aperture priority with a -2/3 compensation often isn't enough. So, this would be a great improvement for me, along with the lenses acting like they're supposed to (not cropped). I have a M9 on order, but alas, no experience with it yet.

[Jamie Roberts]

{snipped} Even when just photographing white roses it takes a lot of tinkering to keep the details. The initial aperture priority with a -2/3 compensation often isn't enough. So, this would be a great improvement for me, along with the lenses acting like they're supposed to (not cropped). I have a M9 on order, but alas, no experience with it yet.

 

Larry--don't tinker. Use an incident meter and your white roses will 1) appear white and 2) hold all the highlights.

 

When you use a reflective meter (any cameras meter) the auto thing inside will try to make those roses gray. Then you'll try to compensate and get it wrong, usually, before you get it right.

 

Setting -2/3 stop will just make things worse if you're trying to (meter from) and shoot something white.

 

FWIW, I don't think the M9 does anything I've seen in the highlights that the M8 doesn't do, even if the M9's sensor has more DR overall.

[jbgeach]

After reading through this article I have decided that the m9 is better than the m8, however, for me I don't believe it is $5000 better. When the m10 comes out, I may upgrade to the m9. Then again, I may just decide to use the m6 as my FF camera

[wparsonsgisnet]

I have the M8 and don't intend to buy an M9 this year ,,,

Any shooter working with both units could light my lantern ?

 

I did just that in this thread. At the end of the thread, I got images that are directly comparable and they are not much different.

 

\http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/106551-m9-vs-m8-pix-redux-2.html

[Guest]

After reading through this article I have decided that the m9 is better than the m8, however, for me I don't believe it is $5000 better. When the m10 comes out, I may upgrade to the m9. Then again, I may just decide to use the m6 as my FF camera

+1

Now that's a good idea!

 

I have two M6 TTL 0.85, that I don't plan to sell in the next ten years.

 

But for the 24mmLux I got last autumn a M6TTL 0.58 and it's a great set for the occasional FF use of this lens.

It is perfect on the M8, though it does not have a tab . With the lens shade on not much bigger than the 28Cron with the lens shade on. So I tested it on a M9 during a recent road show and parallel to it also one of their display 2.8/21mm (which isn't on the small side either - with the lens shade on).

At f:2.8 mine made better files and hardly any vignetting (with the M9 lens coding on) at 1.4

[Jamie Roberts]

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After reading through this article I have decided that the m9 is better than the m8, however, for me I don't believe it is $5000 better. When the m10 comes out, I may upgrade to the m9. Then again, I may just decide to use the m6 as my FF camera

 

Perhaps oddly enough, after having shot the M8 for over 3 years, and having shot the M9 for a month now, I have decided the exact opposite When I can get another M9, my M8 (and D3) will go.

 

And you can't really put a "$5000" price difference on a new M9 vs a used M8, though I understand the comparison.

 

I need what the M9 does now, and it really does reveal what the main investment--the lenses--are capable of delivering. More resolution and more shooting space with wide lenses like the 28 (which are wide on the M9) is just fabulous for my work. The extra couple of stops of ISO doesn't hurt either.

 

OTH, if I was shooting 50mm+ most of the time, instead of 21 to 50 most of the time, and always had reasonable light, then the M8 would likely be all I ever need.

[JHAG]

OTH, if I was shooting 50mm+ most of the time, instead of 21 to 50 most of the time, and always had reasonable light, then the M8 would likely be all I ever need.

 

Victory : you just relieved my wallet for a year. I shoot mainly 50 + (50 Lux & 75 Lux being my all time favorites).

 

PS : I resisted 2 years before buying the M8. I'll have to beat this.

[R9user]

My M8 was stolen and |I replaced it with a M9, and I am very pleased, will not want to go back. I prefer the full frame anyday!

[MP3]

HI There ... and nobody mentioned the red edge in this thread.

 

No having read this forum for a couple months, is the red edges problem from M9 & wide angles lens fixed ??

[jaapv]

Not completely, but it is not a real problem to most users any more.

[Jamie Roberts]

Victory : you just relieved my wallet for a year. I shoot mainly 50 + (50 Lux & 75 Lux being my all time favorites).

 

PS : I resisted 2 years before buying the M8. I'll have to beat this.

 

Ah, but Johan--don't take this the wrong way--but at 50 and 75 is where the M9 shines I love 50s with some context; and the 75 is "just right" full-frame, and not so claustrophobic

 

Where do you always get reasonable light from? I had to shoot a whole event the other day between ISO 1250 and ISO 2000--something I couldn't do with the M8. I actually would have preferred to shoot with flash, but I couldn't on that occasion.