I don't know how to start this thread?

[Your Old Dog]

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I was returning back to my easy chair from the kitchen with a fist full of cookies when I caught the glimpse of "Fed" outside our window. As I squirmed to get a better view through the window I could see it was actually one of the last few items in my 64 year old bucket of life things to do before I die! It was a FedEx truck delivering my grey M9 from Norman Camera in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I had to wait an entire two weeks for Norman Camera to order it in for me!!

 

I can tell you it's everything I thought it would be. At the moment I only have the Canon 50mm f0.95 for it but all is working okay from my preliminary workout. This camera is everything my SLR's weren't. I feel more apart of the image making process instead of just spraying a lens around in great circles looking for a great image to appear on the ground focus with it's every present wide open out of focus backgrounds that make everything look great !! Now, I'll have to get involved and think a bit more about what I'm going to want registered sharp and what I want to de-emphasize.

 

I also bought a Canon 5D Mk II with the 24 to 105mm kit lens with IS from Chris Norman. A dear friend of mine told he was great to deal with and can't say he wasn't right. This Canon is also a great setup but it answers no dreams for me. I've had at least a dozen SLR's (read Nikons) in my life. But I had a brief stint with a Canon 7s w/50mm f1.2 before shipping out to Vietnam as a kid and remember how you had to think differently and get more involved with the process when using a range finder.

 

Suffice it to say, I'm a happy camper and hope to be putting some pictures up on the screen shortly. Take care and have a great Holiday season!

 

Ray

 

PS, been following your forum for years but didn't participate too much as I felt not having experience with Leica would be like a BBQ Chef giving a Baker suggestions

[hoppyman]

Ray welcome and congratulations to you. I hope that you get a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction from your new camera.

As far as not contrubuting due to lack of experience, don't let that stop you, it has never hindered the rest of us

 

There are dedicated forums to post pictures and you can ask for comment if you like. You will see the requirements and instructions as Sticky threads in those forums.

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[ShotCapture]

Welcome! Enjoy.

[ho_co]

Congratulations, Ray, and thanks for the announcement!

 

I was afraid as I read it that it would unroll into something like, "Finally got the M9, sat down with the cookies, and then I had a heart attack and am writing this from the hospital...."

 

I'm glad that wasn't the case.

 

And none of us are bakers, so feel free to jump right in!

[BerndReini]

You are describing how I felt when I traded my 5D for an M8. I haven't seen it described any better. The Leica just feels so right.

[rob_w]

Hey, glad you brought your barbecue -- look forward to seeing a few sausages

[Your Old Dog]

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Thanks guys! I must confess, after getting into the Instruction Book I can tell it wasn't written by the same guy who wrote the D200 book! It is very easy to understand with only a few items giving me some trouble. I'm not as sharp as I used to be and the D200 gave me a lot of trouble, don't think I'll ever understand that camera completely. The M9 feels fully within my grasp to learn it and operate it as second nature.....just like my old Canon 7s in 1965.

 

Also want to thank you for the sticky for the new M9 owner, very enlightening.

 

I do have one question: The only SDHC card I had was one from my gps device. It was an 8 gigabyte SanDisk. I put it in the camera, powered up the camera, hit menu and went to the format menu. It took something like 20 minutes or longer to format. Is that normal? With my SLR's, I never erased old uploaded images but always reformatted the memory in the camera. It rarely took more then a minute. I have heard reformatting solved a lot of problems with unwanted ghost lines and images on you new pictures. Is it reasonable to reformat every time you are done uploading your images to your computer? As I understand it, reformatting sets up the FAT files on the card and keeps that file from being corrupted by dropped or missing bits?

 

Ray........

[jaapv]

It might have the old firmware. What version does the menu show? It should be:1.138. Otherwise you might have chosen the option "overwrite". That is extremely slow and not needed for normal use. Choose Format -->yes for normal fast formatting. There is no common opinion about "format"or "delete all" for routine card clearing ( the card should be formatted for first use though) I like to format as a good housekeeping practice.

[Jaybob]

I do have one question: The only SDHC card I had was one from my gps device. It was an 8 gigabyte SanDisk. I put it in the camera, powered up the camera, hit menu and went to the format menu. It took something like 20 minutes or longer to format. Is that normal? With my SLR's, I never erased old uploaded images but always reformatted the memory in the camera. It rarely took more then a minute. I have heard reformatting solved a lot of problems with unwanted ghost lines and images on you new pictures. Is it reasonable to reformat every time you are done uploading your images to your computer? As I understand it, reformatting sets up the FAT files on the card and keeps that file from being corrupted by dropped or missing bits?

 

 

Sometimes when you go cross cultural (Asian to German) memory cards can be slow to format, or more than likely what Jaap has said. When you can, I'd pick up a new card and see if the problem is the camera.

 

I think reformatting everytime you offload is the way to go. Cuts down on duplication.

 

Congrats on your new camera!

 

Jay

[01af]

I do have one question: The only SDHC card I had was one from my GPS device. It was an 8 gigabyte SanDisk.

That card should work just fine.

 

 

I put it in the camera, powered up the camera, hit menu and went to the format menu. It took something like 20 minutes or longer to format. Is that normal?

When you select 'Format card' in the camera's main menu then you're presented with three options; no, overwrite, yes. The normal thing is to select 'yes' which will do a quick format which takes a few seconds only. 'Overwrite' will do just that—overwrite all the data (takes minutes) so it cannot be retrieved with data recovery software. Selecting 'no' will cancel the format operation.

 

If you selected 'yes' for a quick format and then waited 20 minutes for the operation to complete then there is something wrong with either the card or the camera. If you selected 'overwrite' then 20 minutes sounds about right.

 

 

Is it reasonable to reformat every time you are done uploading your images to your computer?

Yes, it is. Actually reformatting is better than deleting the files—gentler to the card (less wear on the memory cells) and quicker to complete ... provided you're using the 'yes' option, not the 'overwrite' option.

[Your Old Dog]

Thank you Gentlemen. I distinctly remember choosing the "over write" option and now that I think about it, it makes sense it would take longer to accomplish just as in any other computer. It may have made some sense to do this for the first format as the card was already formated by another device.

 

In the future I'll just choose the conventional format which just wipes the directory until the day I see errors coming up on my images and then I'll do another over-write.

 

thanks for your help

 

Ray.......

[jaapv]

I see there is a consensus on "format" over "delete all" after all :) Btw, I doubt that it makes any sense to choose "overwrite" for other than forensic reasons.

[bocaburger]

Congrats on your new acquisition. One of the [all too few] things that doesn't fade as we get older is the excitement of getting something new that we really wanted.

[ho_co]

Thanks guys! I must confess, after getting into the Instruction Book I can tell it wasn't written by the same guy who wrote the D200 book! ......

Ray, you had me laughing at that. If you ever form a citizens' action group to go after the D200 book author, count me in!

[Norwin]

Ray,

 

First of all congradulations.

 

I would attest your new Leica is the best present you could receive this or any year.

 

Ray, I too had a 5D II, and it was for this reason that I choose to sel it and replace it with the M9. Yes, the 5D II is a great camera. However, it's weight along with the various lens and sizes, just got too much for me...and, it wasn't any fun owning.

 

There is a special camaraderi (spelling?) wthin the Leica community which I never felt with a Canon. And, though I still kick myself when I fail to reset the M9's IOS or some other setting - the requirement to do so has made me a more thoughful and satisfied photographer. No longer does my camera think for me.

 

I never had to think before pressing the shutter of the M9. And, I think that is one of the most wonderful assets that your new Leica offers..is that now you're again a photographer wherein you decide how to shoot.

 

As for the formating question ~

 

At the workshop at the Acadamie I attended in Wetzler at the Leica Historical Society a few months back, I asked the Leica representative that very question, as posed above.

 

The answer to clear the photos off our card - was always format.

 

And, Ray. I would recommend that ou find (and, attend) the nearest Leica travelling workshop - as soon as you find th time.

 

Of course, I assume they're still being done.

 

If you attend, not only will you meet the nicest folks you've wever meet, you will learn more about your new M9 than you will learn from your Leica manual, this site or from your camera company from whom you just purchased your camera.

 

It's one of Leica's greatest gifts to all Leica owners.

 

And, should you want - also consider joining the Leica Historical Society of America. It' too is comprised of the most wonderful dedicated Leica people from all over the world...each truly dedicated to all levels of Leica photography, as well as, the new Leica releases and to precious collector Leica's.

 

Ray, all the best to you and your family for a happy, joyful and healthy holiday season

 

I respectfully remain - your new Leica friend,

 

Norwin

[exile]

Welcome Ray!

We all learn from each other here.

 

You made the right choice with the M9. I have had nothing but pleasure from mine. I had an M8 before it and would say the same thing. I never had a film M, but do have a Canon 7 at home. I bought it with a 50/1.2, so I know exactly the setup you are talking about. Strange how a digital M is in some ways so similar, and in others, so much of an advancement. Anyway, I hope your new rangefinder feels at home in your hands and delivers all you ask of it.

 

Stuart

[Shade]

Welcome to the Leica fold Ray. M9 will give you a completely different photographic experience altogether. I came from numerous full frame dSLRs (and still have a few for specific uses).. But the Leica is the camera I use the most - the one I WANT to use the most..

[Your Old Dog]

Thanks all for your warm welcome. I hope to be posting shortly, I'm still waiting to get a shot that might interest you all !!

 

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas Season!

 

Ray.........