M8 VS M9

[APPR0ACH]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have had an M8 since it first came out - use it every day. The big day arrives and my M9 appears. The big news is that as for resolution you cannot tell them apart. I have done test after test. I interpolate the m8 images up to 18mp as a rule so comparing the two is easy. Using 28mm on the M8 and 35mm on the M9, photographing the same scene so the field is identical, you cannot tell the difference. I should have waited - or stuck with my much loved M8 and saved a pile of money. I have tried to love this camera, but comparing photo after photo I would not know which was which. I know it has lower noise etc. etc. but making this possible has taken the edge off what should have been a heck of a chip. My advice for anybody out there with an M8 is.......wait.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[bocaburger]

I responded to your identical comments on the M9 forum, so I won't repeat what I wrote here. I read a lot of comments regarding the M9 before I bought one, and although I found a few [rather obviously] hyperbolic claims of a major IQ improvement, by and large the consensus among credible sources was that the improvements were subtle and evolutionary. Therefore I am not disappointed with my purchase. I'm sorry your research left you with inflated expectations. If you haven't registered your M9 yet I bet you could get back most if not all your money by selling it.

[Doc Henry]

The same question I ask myself before buying the M9

Look at this link:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/98684-m9-versus-m8-1-tests.html

Finally, I keep the M8 (and/or R8) as back up and I use the M9 initially.

[garygsandhu]

Want to see a real difference? Put your 28 on the M9!

[efftee]

Did you try it at different ISO, especially higher than 800?

[MikeMyers]

Thanks for posting. I got the M8.2 for lots of reasons, even knowing that the M9 was likely to be out right after buying it. Part of me keeps kicking myself for not waiting, but knowing what I know today, from all the discussions here, to me it's a trade-off.

 

Even if the price were the same, there's a good chance I'd still go for the M8.2, partly because of the "features" that got left off the M9, and partly because I like the capability of shooting IR.

 

I can get lenses of different focal lengths to do whatever I need to do with either camera.

 

If someone showed me your images up above, and asked me which camera took which image, I'd have no idea which was which.

[menos I M6]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

When the M9 was out already for a few months, the mark ups were jacked up so sky high, that I went out of every shop in Shanghai and Hong Kong, that had a M9 available, cursing their respective shop owners, to being left, sitting on their M9 for the rest of their time, directly proceeding to a second hand shop, to pick up the first descent M8, I could find.

 

Asking prices back then were as high is > 7.000,- EUR !

 

It happened to be a lightly used M8.2 with the first bit of brassing on the on/off switch and the base plate, which I used daily since then.

I have bought one or the other lens since then, that unused, as they sit in a shoebox would easily have made up for a total of an overpriced M9.

 

You know what? I don't have the slightest regret, I did, what I did.

I have a camera, that is 95% of a M9 for my purposes and works wonderfully, like I need it.

 

The M9 did not add to the M8.2, what would make a doubling in up front cost of the M8.2 worth while to me. The lenses, I bought for this money instead are much, much more valuable than the M9. In fact, they do appreciate in contrast to the immense financial loss, one experiences with an expensive new digital like the M9 after a few months.

I love my M8.2. A M9 stands on the plan only, when Leica does make an a la carte option for leaving a clean top deck a la MP or improving the noise behavior further or adding more functionality like programable buttons or unlocked metering and selection of up to ISO 6400 via firmware update.

 

Here is my M8.2 after half a year of daily love:

 

"M8.2 by Noct-Nikkor"

[Guest nafpie]

FF rulez.

[yanidel]

Using 28mm on the M8 and 35mm on the M9, photographing the same scene so the field is identical, you cannot tell the difference.

Well the obvious difference is that you used a 28mm lens on the M8 and a 35mm on the M9. That is already a big one isn't it ?

There is no 35mm 1.4 equivalent on the M8 unless you pay 5000 euros for the monster 24mm Summilux. That enough justifies the M9 to me and you still only get a cropped 24mm look.

As for unprocessed files, they are indeed very close. But post processing it, noise is much less at ISO1250 and above. Also, I like the M9 colors better and find it easier to recover highlights. It took me several months to come to these conclusions by the way.

Finally, my M9 went for repair a couple of weeks and believe me and went back meanwhile. Well, I can tell you I was so happy when the M9 came back.

Give it more time.

[chris_livsey]

Want to see a real difference? Put your 28 on the M9!

 

And a 21mm on the M8 we could go on, and on.

[mikenic]

Well I don't have an M9, just an M8 but FWIW and IMHO, I tried to think of it this way. Stick your favourite lens on the M9 and take a shot. Then crop an M8 sized rectangle out of the middle of the shot and fill with black. What is left is what you paid the extra for (give or take, I realise ... no IR filters, ISO select, etc).

 

Take a really good look at that outside bit. For some lenses it will be well worth it. For others, you may have OOF and vignetting or other aberrations that you may be able to do without depending on your shooting style and remembering that the M8 will crop these out. But just dispassionately analyse that outside box and figure if it is enough "bangs for the buck" for "my" lenses and what I shoot.

 

At least with this test you take away the variable of changing lenses to match M9/M8 perspectives.

 

Not like it was a decision for me because even the M8 was almost a "bridge too far".

[ezc203]

I must say I am happy (content) with my M8 and 24 Lux, but everytime I get the prints back from the lab of my 24 Lux on full frame, I curse the M8 a little.

[ramosa]

interesting perceptions. i have an M8 and have NOT been tempted by the M9 (because of price). additionally, the M8 is certainly good enough for me (in regards to my skill level). it's interesting to hear that many folks find the IQ rather similar between the two cameras. sure, FF is FF, but my M8 is my first RF, so it's not like i have need to alter the way i use a certain focal length. if my M8 falters (knock on wood), i'll look into the M9, especially when the prices fall with the inevitable release of an M10.

[newtoleica]

M9 = full frame.

No contest in it for me. I have a back up M8, but I'm selling it on after 3 weeks as I know I'll never be happy using it.

[voe]

M8 + 2 years patience + more Leica lenses > M9

M9 + 2 years - less Leica lenses = loss

[jsrockit]

I have the M8.2 and would still love to have the M9. I doubt I'd be disappointed.

[steamboat]

I would probably be happier with the FF M9. I still feel a bit of a loss with the lenses due to the cropping. That said, at the end of the day it's about taking pictures isn't it? I find with the M8.2 that really I get what I want picture wise. It's about framing and what you include and exclude. My favorite 35mm lens is just fine on the M8.2. Yeah, on the FF M9 it might include a bit more or I'd be in a bit closer and perspective would make the picture look a little different but the tightening up with the 1.33x 35mm has been good for me. If I do want to shoot a bit looser I can use the 21mm (my 28mm is the 2nd generation 2.8 and is just a bit elderly and can't be coded so I don't use it much). All my lenses are coded and have their own uv-ir filters so it's all good. I have enough lenses that I make it work. Believe me "I" am the limitation, NOT the camera.

[luigi bertolotti]

I would probably be happier with the FF M9. I still feel a bit of a loss with the lenses due to the cropping. That said, at the end of the day it's about taking pictures isn't it? I find with the M8.2 that really I get what I want picture wise. It's about framing and what you include and exclude. My favorite 35mm lens is just fine on the M8.2. Yeah, on the FF M9 it might include a bit more or I'd be in a bit closer and perspective would make the picture look a little different but the tightening up with the 1.33x 35mm has been good for me. If I do want to shoot a bit looser I can use the 21mm (my 28mm is the 2nd generation 2.8 and is just a bit elderly and can't be coded so I don't use it much). All my lenses are coded and have their own uv-ir filters so it's all good. I have enough lenses that I make it work. Believe me "I" am the limitation, NOT the camera.

 

99% my exact feeling and personal situation (my one is a M8 "not .2") : I add that happens that, between my many lenses, I have NOT a 50mm of last generation... should I have a M9, I'd wish to have such a 50 (with M8 I don't feel this need)... and what is the RIGHT 50 to have ? Lux Asph... so budget grows... oh well, I can wait... at the moment what I'd really appreciate from a M9 should be my 21 as "real 21"... Heliar 15 isn't the same... : but can live with.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Julian Thompson]

I understand the OP's viewpoint on the IQ of the two cameras - the M8 is absolutely wonderful.

 

But for me, my 21 Elmarit and 50 Lux performing at their 'real' focal lengths is enough to justify the difference in cost between selling my M8.2 and upgrading to M9.

 

I also love the fact that I can use M9 and M7 'together' now without 'switching gears' so to speak!!

[Fotomiguel]

Limits in photography are very important. The M8 is very very good. But the M9 is better. I can use both but I feel better with the M9 because in a limit situation I will work better.

How much better? 1/3 better: resolution, iso, dof, etc. But 1/3 is very very much.

The M9 can stop the world!