M9 : LCD Contrast

[rosuna]

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There is no 921,000 pixels panel with the required dimensions, just 230,000 pixels. Going beyond 2.5" would have required a redesign of the body.

 

A custom-made screen may be more expensive, but it is necessary. There are no technical reasons for a 230,000 and 2.5' combo.

 

In my opinion a larger screen is not necessary, and the M body imposes a limit anyway. I would not ask for a particular number of pixels. It depends on the size of the screen, how the pixels are arranged, human acuity, etc. but more resolution and image quality are a must.

 

Many times, working with the M8, I can't see the pictures on the screen but, even worse, I cannot see the basic parameters (set) menu. Checking focus is difficult too.

[johnkuo]

I did notice the same thing with my M9. I wasn't sure if it's normal since I have never seen another M9 for comparison. I asked about this when I sent my camera to Leica NJ for adjustment with my lenses. It'll be interesting to see what their response is.

[zlatkob]

In my opinion a larger screen is not necessary, and the M body imposes a limit anyway.

The M body only imposes a limit if it it cannot redesigned. It seems that a rigid adherence to design decisions from the 1950's is limiting the size of the screen today.

 

Looking at the back of the M9, it appears that the baseplate and the top plate create a limited space for the screen inbetween. But the removeable baseplate has become unnecessary. With a fixed baseplate (with doors for the battery & memory card) there might be room for a 3" screen — and/or the top plate could be redesigned (just a little) to accommodate a bigger screen.

 

A 2.5" screen with 230k pixels isn't bad, but a 3" screen with 900k pixels would be better and easier on the eyes. Smaller cameras like the Canon G10 and Leica V-lux 20 can have nice 3" screens because they're not squeezed by design constraints inherited from the M3.

[mjh]

Many times, working with the M8, I can't see the pictures on the screen but, even worse, I cannot see the basic parameters (set) menu. Checking focus is difficult too.

I couldn’t say I had any of those issues with the M9. Changing menu settings presents no difficulty and the image display in plackback mode, while maybe not that great, does the job. Checking focus requires zooming in anyway, which is quite fast – I turn the wheel once the image appears on the screen and I am at maximum zoom in less than a second.

[allan dew]

i agree with all that has been said ,i too have seen the difference between my old

m8 and my m9. but the only time it really bothers me is when my wife shows me some

of her shots on the screen of her dlux 4.and for the life of me i cannot understand

why leica cannot give us the same quality lcd screen. unless there is some serious

technical issues it seems to me penny wise and pound foolish.

cheers

allan

[rosuna]

 

Many times, working with the M8, I can't see the pictures on the screen but, even worse, I cannot see the basic parameters (set) menu. Checking focus is difficult too.

 

... under bright sunlight...

[Ed_K]

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Since quite a number of users here agree on the M9 screen being "inadequate" in some way, anyone happen to also attended the North American Roadshow had a chance to pop the question to discuss with Leica there? may be we can hear their side of story on a broader base.

[jaques]

The screen may be rubbish compared to some P & s cameras- but compared to my old top-end Hasselblad CFV back it is a God Send. Now that is a bad screen... don't know why it is- but the more expensive the camera the worse the screen- at least in my experience.

[Shade]

For a 7k USD camera, the LCD does lie on the sucky side... I wish they'd provide better colour display and/or higher pixel density..

[arthury]

The screen may be rubbish compared to some P & s cameras- but compared to my old top-end Hasselblad CFV back it is a God Send. Now that is a bad screen... don't know why it is- but the more expensive the camera the worse the screen- at least in my experience.

 

 

Try the cheaper Nikon D3X, you might like it.

[arthury]

I just sent the $50M question to Leica. Let's see how they reply ....

[rosuna]

Sony has just presented the new NEX cameras... and they are horrible... I expect a much better design from Leica in future cameras!

[mhoersch]

Seriously - does anyone ever evaluate an image on the rear screen. It's there to confirm that you framed OK and that exposure's not screwed. Period. If the histogram's OK and you didn't cut off their feet, wait until you got home to see if the colour's good.

 

Chris, people are complaining about a bad display on a 5.500 € camera body. By suggesting for the umpteenth time that nobody needs a display anyway, the M9's display doesn't really get much better. Agreed?

[jaapv]

I don't care about colour or contrast rendering on any LCD screen.And for exposure the histogram suffices. But I would like to be able to judge focus accurately when zoomed in. When one has no direct access to a computer it can be very helpful. The M9 falls short in that respect, even compared to the M8.

[cldp]

I agree with jaapv. When I first started shooting with my M9 last Nov I thought that the LCD was flawed. I was accustomed to the display on the M8 and had always been satisfied with that one, even when zoomed in max. I finally took my M9 to a dealer and compared it with another body. The displays were identical. What's most disconcerting is that when zoomed into one pixel on the M9 the image is soft. It looks like the shot was out of focus. When shooting wide open I found that using the display to check the focus on the M8 was the only time I consistently chimped. At least then I could be satisfied that I nailed the focus. Not so with the M9. I'd happily give up bright light LCD viewing to be able to check focus in critical situations. I can always use the histogram to check exposure but I have no way to check focus now.

[jose]

... under bright sunlight...

 

Would it help this Hoodman LCD Viewscreen Hood? :

 

Hoodman Accessories Review: 1. Main: Digital Photography Review

 

 

saludos,

jose.

[arthury]

I experimented further ...

 

It turns out that when I increase the brightness of the LCD, the colors gravitate towards normalcy but the more I lower the brightness, the more garish it becomes.