After 3 Months of M9, 5DMk ll, X1 wins

[57guy]

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I wrote a thread here several Months ago about my Leica X1 & M9 experiences and head problems which to keep. One, both, neither, etc.

To refresh, I ordered an X1 in Nov. Last year. When it hadn't arrived by Feb, I called the dealer and was told that he didn't know when the X1 would be shipping. I then ordered an M9 with the intention of keeping which ever one arrived first. They both arrived at the same time.

 

On making a decision of which one to keep, I wrote several posts on different forums and most people advised, If I didn't need the money, keep them both and they will grow on you.

 

Right away, I didn't feel comfortable with the M9. It was larger and heavier that I expected. Even though my 5DMk ll took great pictures, I wanted to get away from the size and weight. I also didn't like the electronic Menu on the Canon with 500 different selections. I bought a 35mm f/2 used lens for the M9 and have taken about 200 exp.

The more I use the X1, the more I love it. Its the right size and I like the simplified menu and top dial selections. I ordered a Voighlander Brightline 35mm VF today from Amazon

 

I take mostly HDR photos and like the low noise of the X1. The AEB works great. (AEB will not work on the M9 if its not in the Auto mode).

 

I'm finding that I take the X1 with me all the time and the M9 is left on the shelf. $9,000 is too much to leave on the shelf.

 

Glenn

Zenfolio | Glenn Patch Photography

[phancj]

I wrote a thread here several Months ago about my Leica X1 & M9 experiences and head problems which to keep. One, both, neither, etc.

To refresh, I ordered an X1 in Nov. Last year. When it hadn't arrived by Feb, I called the dealer and was told that he didn't know when the X1 would be shipping. I then ordered an M9 with the intention of keeping which ever one arrived first. They both arrived at the same time.

 

On making a decision of which one to keep, I wrote several posts on different forums and most people advised, If I didn't need the money, keep them both and they will grow on you.

 

Right away, I didn't feel comfortable with the M9. It was larger and heavier that I expected. Even though my 5DMk ll took great pictures, I wanted to get away from the size and weight. I also didn't like the electronic Menu on the Canon with 500 different selections. I bought a 35mm f/2 used lens for the M9 and have taken about 200 exp.

The more I use the X1, the more I love it. Its the right size and I like the simplified menu and top dial selections. I ordered a Voighlander Brightline 35mm VF today from Amazon

 

I take mostly HDR photos and like the low noise of the X1. The AEB works great. (AEB will not work on the M9 if its not in the Auto mode).

 

I'm finding that I take the X1 with me all the time and the M9 is left on the shelf. $9,000 is too much to leave on the shelf.

 

Glenn

Zenfolio | Glenn Patch Photography

 

Hey Glenn,

 

I find myself in a sort of opposite dilemma. I bought the X1 as an introduction and trial to Leica products, and found it exceeding my expectations in many ways, image quality being the most, as well as its extreme portability and discreetness.

 

I now am seriously considering the M9, also because my wife wants the X1 haha....but is the Manual focus on the M9 a pain to use? I must admit I have been spoilt by AF ever since I switched from Nikon film to digital, so any input on the learning curve (of course it also depends on individual)and frustration of rangefinder ( I havent had one before) would be invaluable in helping me decide...

 

What would, in your opinion, since you own both,be the difference between these 2 cameras, in terms of primarily image quality, ease of use for AF on X1 vs MF on M9?? etc/etc??

 

Any hints that will help me decide??

 

Cheers,

CJ

[ijam]

Glenn,

 

X1 are the camera that always with me

the IQ are really good for my use; portrait and wedding.

 

small,good IQ and compact. thats all i need.

[tobey bilek]

All thru college I had a Waltz Envoy with fixed 50 2.0 Nikkor. I will never own a non interchangeable lens camera again. If I had to have one, it would not be a 35mm lens either.

 

Further it would not be one with electronic lens retraction. Just another trouble point.

 

Certainly not a $2000 non inchangeable lens camera.

[jsrockit]

All thru college I had a Waltz Envoy with fixed 50 2.0 Nikkor. I will never own a non interchangeable lens camera again. If I had to have one, it would not be a 35mm lens either.

 

Further it would not be one with electronic lens retraction. Just another trouble point.

 

Certainly not a $2000 non inchangeable lens camera.

 

Ok, so why are you here?

[Guest badbob]

All thru college I had a Waltz Envoy with fixed 50 2.0 Nikkor. I will never own a non interchangeable lens camera again. If I had to have one, it would not be a 35mm lens either.

Further it would not be one with electronic lens retraction. Just another trouble point.

Certainly not a $2000 non inchangeable lens camera.

 

Strange arguments for this type of forum. I used a 35 mm Rollei 35 for years, and didn't have a problem with that lens. The retraction was mechanical, but I don't see that the electronic aspect of the X1's retraction is significant in reliability terms compared to the mechanical aspect. If I had a complaint, it would be more to the electronic manual focus not being a true mechanical manual focus, which probably isn't possible on this kind of camera anyway. As to the $2000 - it's a lot by compact camera standards, but it offers certain qualities that aren't matched elsewhere in its size class. I know I felt some serious resistance to forking over $2k for the X1, but afterward, I realized it was well worth it. I'll bet Leica could sell more of these if they could get people to try them out.

[RichardM8]

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I know I felt some serious resistance to forking over $2k for the X1, but afterward, I realized it was well worth it. I'll bet Leica could sell more of these if they could get people to try them out.

 

Same here. But Leica is already selling more than they can make / ship. They're a tiny company.

[Guest badbob]

Same here. But Leica is already selling more than they can make / ship. They're a tiny company.

 

I touched on this idea elsewhere, but if you'll permit, I'd like to suggest why the more expensive Leicas are so hard to get when first produced. There are a large number of famous and/or wealthy people in the world, and those people more often than not are made aware of the better or higher-priced products that are coming on-line at any given time. That is why just about the only places where I get a comment about the solid gold Rolex watch or the X1 camera are the doctors' and dentists' offices. I could add the hustlers and actors in the Beverly Hills area, but I've been away from there for a few years, so scratch that one for now. It isn't like Leica or their dealers are actively prompting their rich and famous customers to buy the latest product - that's already taken care of by the famous or their agents. The interesting part is how they get to the top of the list, and I'm sure nobody at Leica or their dealers wants to talk about that.