Jump to content

Should I take the M9 jump!


RichardM8

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hey Mike all that proves is that there's a potential that this thread could cover a lot more ground before it comes to a conclusion which might be either:

  • a decision to buy
  • a decision not to buy
  • a decision, not to make a decision and beat the 1,780 replies

Lets keep this thread going and shoot for 2,000. Doesn't matter any more if anyone discusses the OP's original query, lets just keep it going talking about anything.

 

How about buy M9 now or wait for Leica to introduce the Black Chrome and Chrome versions of the M9, when Leica figures it can snag a few of the undecided?

:p

 

Robert, off-topic is my favorite topic. I'm very decisive on that.

 

To Richard: it's all a mindgame.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Replies 641
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Richard - As you know I lost my nerve and got an M8 (with .2 mod) at what I think was a reasonable price, less than an X1 here in Oz, then I started ringing around the Leica dealers for a new 50cron, in a way this was also an exercise to try to work out which would become my preferred supplier.

 

A new 50crom costs about the as an X1 here. I ring one company ask about the lens, they have one and the guy says, you know its a design that hasn't changed much and its the same glass etc as the version 4 that used to be the "kit" lens for M7, we have one of those at over $1000 less, perfect condition etc. Worried I talk about chips etc; that all gets nicely explained to me. So now I have both M8 and cron for a no-loss price if I go out and get an M9, a helpful Leica dealer and a no feeling that my pockets have large holes in them.

 

Most dealers did not have a new 50 and didn't think that they'd be able to get one before Feb 2011.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Now as a direct result of Richard's deliberations I'm the very happy owner of a mint condition M8 + 50 Cron and have started to enjoy the mystique already, it's not until you use one of these things that the much talked about "Leicas invite you to take certain pictures" can make any sense at all.

 

There are spots around my place that have always looked like reasonable shots to take with any camera but always come out looking pretty ordinary, on the first day (Friday afternoon) the M8 sort of said "let me have a go at this view - I reckon I can actually capture what you think you are looking at" - and it did - I'm amazed.

 

I could start several threads over in M8 forum but out of respect for Richard I'll put these "newbie" questions here as I think it adds to the comprehensiveness of this "on becoming a new M owner" thread.

 

The Capture One program supplied with the camera had been activated too many times to let me use it, its been up graded many times since. My computer groans under the weight of PS elements, Bibble Pro 5, Olympus Master and Studio and a Panasonic LX3 program - so what do you think would be the smart way of consolidating this mess with a program that adequately looks after the M8 Raw files as well?

 

As a wearer of glasses I do notice that I should probably consider a diopter, view finder magnifier or combination of both, +2 is what I should get, I know there are many threads about this, none seem definitive. So what do my new friends think of this question? Just bite the bullet and buy L or an after market alternative?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Richard run this thread up to 2000+ and by then buy that Fuji X100 ...........:D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:)then spend the rest of the money on travel to some interesting locations ....... I decided no camera and instead we intend to check out the textiles of the Burma (Myanmar)/ China border areas

Link to post
Share on other sites

Here's the first "sculpture" picture M8 + Cron 50. Focus made me very aware that a diopter is needed, Downloading the files and converting them via PS elements (PS left over from Digilux 3) pretty clunky.

 

Richard: Lightroom 3 will take RAW pictures straight from both M8 and Olympus E-3 with no problems? Googling it looks like it should.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Richard: Lightroom 3 will take RAW pictures straight from both M8 and Olympus E-3 with no problems? Googling it looks like it should.

 

 

Yes it does. Just as simple as if it were JPGs. There are lots of different opinions but I really think LR3 is currently the best out there.

Link to post
Share on other sites

With the same look'n feel as the older versions LR3 is a (near) total new design 'under the hood'. Especially the RAW engine has been designed new from the ground up. With impressive results. The new/improved noise filtering en sharpening are equally impressive.

 

I've been a PSx user for many years and I've always switched between LR and PS, mostly for lens/perspective correction, plug-ins like Noise Ninja etc. Now that LR3 offers these functions too I find myself not using PS anymore. For the first time in about 10 years I didn't even install PS in my new computer. This is not to say the LR does everything PS does, not at all. But I'm not a pro and LR covers about 95% of my PP needs.

 

Highly recommended!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Non non cher Robert; je suis Hollandais.

 

Hmmm, I'm still laughing over the "off topic is my favorite topic" comment. :eek:

(I'll ask about Holland another time)

 

Speaking of which (off topic), I bought a second hand Kodak Playsport Zx3 waterproof (to 3 metres) video cam. Works great, in the air, need to water test it soon.

 

Anything exciting happening with your rangefinders/Leica equipment? Thinking about any Leica purchases (just had to put some relevance and tie it to the thread or risk, getting hammered), choices etc... Get some digital Ms or film Ms, Zeiss or Bessa's (lots to choose from).

 

OK I've done my bit to keep this thread fresh...

 

Mike your turn....:p

Link to post
Share on other sites

Clive (and Richard) I think LFI-magazine came out with a test that concluded that Capture One had the best Raw-engine, sharpest and best colourtones, tones in shadows etc. and Michael Rheichmann from "The Luminous Landscape" said that (and therefore) he opnened his RAW files and converted in Capture One but continued in Lightroom. He made a tutorial video on how to get a decent workflow. But dont know if its his rule any more...

thorkil

Link to post
Share on other sites

You seem to think that "an M9 with a 50 Cron (my first choice I think)" would put an end to your barely controlable lust. Only for a short time, trust us all. Pretty soon you'll be lusting after that new 50mm 1.4 Lux Asph lens or perhaps the 35mm Lux or even the 28mm Cron. Leica lust has no end in site. To me the whole thing boils down to "Can you afford the M9 and lens or not?" If you can and no significant other will clobber you for it, then by all means go ahead and do it. You only have one lifetime to do it, so if you can afford it, go ahead. You will not be disappointed. If you didn't need the $ 7000 plus money for anything else, then eventually you will not notice that the money was transformed into a new camera. You will love the images you take with it. If money is an issue, don't buy it . . . you will be 90% as satisfied with the camera you already have and like. Just don't expect the lust to let up soon.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Clive (and Richard) I think LFI-magazine came out with a test that concluded that Capture One had the best Raw-engine, sharpest and best colourtones, tones in shadows etc. and Michael Rheichmann from "The Luminous Landscape" said that (and therefore) he opnened his RAW files and converted in Capture One but continued in Lightroom.

 

I've seen various reviews favoring both. I've tried a Capture One a few times during the last years but for some reason I don't seem to get along with it. I never seem to get the clumsy GUI. As for the image management part, there no contest so as a total solution LR is still a galaxy ahead imo.

 

There is no definitive one size fits all answer.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've seen various reviews favoring both. I've tried a Capture One a few times during the last years but for some reason I don't seem to get along with it. I never seem to get the clumsy GUI. As for the image management part, there no contest so as a total solution LR is still a galaxy ahead imo.

 

There is no definitive one size fits all answer.

I guess you are right, and perhaps I will give the new lightroom a try in some time....

thorkil

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've got lost in the various comparisons too, that's why threads like this are so useful, they kind of distill the info into real world usage.

 

I'm sure there are many of use who have clagged up their computers with so many programs acquired for various reasons over the years, my CS is old but works fine for all the graphic stuff I do, I find the old PS elements that came with the Digilux a real pain, Olympus Master for E-3 is simple and OK but you have take everything over to Olympus Studio to do anything significant, it's a real pain to use but I suspect it does the best job on Oly files (something that is often said about all the manufacturer's own programs) Bibble 5 is easy to use and pretty good but doesn't take M8 files.

 

So Lightroom here we come - thanks.

 

Rob: Hybrid viewfinder and "live view" tilt screen for FFchip M or what ever it gets called? sacrilege or inevitable? and blasphemy? would be auto-focus M mount lenses for it - of course it would be compatible with all manual M lenses

Link to post
Share on other sites

Clive (and Richard) I think LFI-magazine came out with a test that concluded that Capture One had the best Raw-engine, sharpest and best colourtones, tones in shadows etc. and Michael Rheichmann from "The Luminous Landscape" said that (and therefore) he opnened his RAW files and converted in Capture One but continued in Lightroom. He made a tutorial video on how to get a decent workflow. But dont know if its his rule any more...

thorkil

 

For me I like the intuitiveness and the general feel of Adobe's LR or PS, both are so competent...

 

However, when I first bought the X1 and tried PP in LR2 & Capture One it was clear that LR has some issues handling some shades of reds. It seemed that some in between shades on a flower I took has less details and tones in red, something which was accurately depicted in the OOC jpegs. Using capture one seemed good, all the red shades were represented. I am no pro so it wasnt a big issue for me, and I still havent bought capture one just used a trial version. I still prefer LR and I am sure LR3 is even more stellar and will probably upgrade soon, but I want to be sure it is 100% compatible with my Nik's suite, which I like for the different film effects.

 

In my opinion capture one is very good for serious professional work but the interface is clunky for me. I do not need 100% accuracy so LR is better for me, easy and fun.

 

Doing my part adding to the target of 2,000.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've got lost in the various comparisons too, that's why threads like this are so useful, they kind of distill the info into real world usage.

 

I'm sure there are many of use who have clagged up their computers with so many programs acquired for various reasons over the years, my CS is old but works fine for all the graphic stuff I do, I find the old PS elements that came with the Digilux a real pain, Olympus Master for E-3 is simple and OK but you have take everything over to Olympus Studio to do anything significant, it's a real pain to use but I suspect it does the best job on Oly files (something that is often said about all the manufacturer's own programs) Bibble 5 is easy to use and pretty good but doesn't take M8 files.

 

So Lightroom here we come - thanks.

 

Rob: Hybrid viewfinder and "live view" tilt screen for FFchip M or what ever it gets called? sacrilege or inevitable? and blasphemy? would be auto-focus M mount lenses for it - of course it would be compatible with all manual M lenses

 

 

Hi Clive,

 

Ok I'll need to give the Hybrid viewfinder and live view tilt screen some thought.

 

However, back to the pp issue, while LR3 does a nice job converting the M9 DNG file, I'm still (ha ha maybe my limited grey matter and the fact I'm too lazy/old to read the instructions or go thru all the demos) having some trouble seeing what all the fuss is about using the many color sliders "red, orange, yellow etc etc". By the time I've used them, everything is ah...worse... I'm sure you do better than I do.

 

I find it easier to convert the file and then do pp (ok don't laugh) in PS Elements 8. At least there, I seem to be able to find my way around and there's a lot less sliders!

 

That said, I'd like to stay in LR3 and do everything there (if possible and then export to jpeg) rather than go to PSE8, if its easy to pick up the knowledge on when to use the sliders.... Currently, my LR3 results are a bit underwhelming:eek:

 

Can you tell me that the sliders are really User Friendly and I should crack open the tutorial and never look back to PSE8? :rolleyes:

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...