Problems of M9

[Einst_Stein]

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Got M9 for 2 months. I concluded this is the most inconvenient camera I've ever had.

 

1. It's hard to hold. Adding the grip helps a lot. But I guess I still need the thumb grip.

Don't understand why Leica can't fix it. At least, fi the grip, adding the thumb stop.

2. It's hard to replace the battery and hard to take out the memory.

Don't understand why Leica' can't make the opening in the bottom, like a third party made

bottom plate. But I don't like the third party plate either, it feels un-secure. The opening

has to be secure to against, say water splash or so.

3. The price, you know, is awful.

4. It's so hard to get the lens. All Leica M lenses are out of stock. The waiting list is 6

months long, or longer. So I was told, even many popular third party lenses from Zeiss.

5. The worst is it even takes excellent picture. I won't mind the above problem if it doesn't.

But now I'm stucked.

 

I wish Fujifilm or Panasonic to offer the alternatives as competitive as possible, and it should be now. Wish that could reduce the demand on Leica, ... even just a little.

The long waiting list at any Leica dealer is simple unacceptable.

[algrove]

Sorry to hear of your complaints, but I am confused why you bought it in the first place since you must have already known about most if not all of the short comings you consider big problems for you. Does this mean you planning on selling it then? Is it black or chrome?

[FlashGordonPhotography]

I do understand your frustration with the wait for the lenses. But the new factory should help there. If you make it cheaper you'll just increase demand which will, in turn, increase the waiting time for your lenses. With a Leica you've chosen a system where everything is built, checked and double checked by hand. Just like using the camera you'll need to be patient to acquire some lenses.

 

Personally I find the M9 to be the most convenient camera I've ever used.

1. Its the smallest and lightest 35mm sensored digital camera in the world.

2. Due to its shape it packs better than any digital SLR I've ever owned.

3. It's lenses are smaller, lighter and better quality than any DSLR alternatives.

4. I've replaced the stock baseplate with a RRS L plate and it's easier to get to the cards/ battery on the M9 than it was on my 5D2 with an L plate. Plus with 400 shots on a battery and 500 on a card it's not like I have to go there often.

5. It cost about the same as a top Canon or Nikon and delivers better image quality at base ISO, partly due to those lenses you're waiting for.

6. Due to 1-5, I carry my M9 everywhere with me. I'd never do that with a DSLR and the equivalent lenses. To me, having a camera with me is more convenient than having to drive home and get the DSLR when I want to get a shot.

 

I certainly agree that the M9 has its frustrations. All cameras do. I just think on the M9 they're far outweighed by the positives.

 

Gordon

[TomB_tx]

Also sorry to hear of your complaints. I believe Leica primarily made the M9 for those who already owned film Leicas and wanted to move to digital. We already had our lenses, and were used to taking off the bottom of the camera every 36 pictures to change film. So for us, the M9 is great!

If this was Leica's expectation, they needed to price it to make a good profit on the body (if sold to people who already had lenses), instead of planning to make most of the profit off multiple lens sales.

However, when they can sell all they can make even at these prices for cameras and lenses, it's hard to claim it is priced too high. An item is priced too high when the seller can't sell it in the planned volume; not when some potential buyers can't afford it.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Einst,

 

Welome to the Forum.

 

Welcome to the World of Leitz/Leica.

 

For most people after the initial shock it gets better. Different Planet here.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[Mr. Thompson]

5. The worst is it even takes excellent picture. I won't mind the above problem if it doesn't.

But now I'm stucked.

 

LOL, welcome to the club.

 

Get a Thumb's Up or a Thumbie.

 

Buy some used glass while you wait for new lenses. I had like new 28, 35, 50 and 90 Chrons within a week and a half of buying my M9.

 

Then go take some more excellent pictures.

[StephenPatterson]

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I have this Stradivarius violin, and it's the most inconvenient musical instrument I have ever seen. I have to drag the bow across the strings and place my fingers on the neck to get it to do anything at all. Sometimes the strings even break!!! And even when I tune it properly the next day all the strings are out of tune and require me to do it again!!!

 

I wish somebody would come up with a better alternative to this terrible musical instrument!!!

[rramesh]

Einst Stein, I understand from your profile you are based in California.

 

Firstly, my suggestion is to hook up with other Leica users in California. You would find many friends via this forum. By networking and getting to know them, you can get a lot of tips on how to use the M9 correctly and learn from their experiences.

 

Secondly, the Leica M9 is a great camera and is serving many photographers, several of whom are professionals well. Like most technologies, there could be room for improvement, but its fantastic as it is.

 

Thirdly, don't read too much into the negative comments or rumors posted on this forum on the M9 as it will only detract you from the enjoyment you can get from the M9.

[kaiwing]

Of all the accessories, I recommend Thumbs Up. It is better than the Leica handgrip.

[hydeca]

4. It's so hard to get the lens. All Leica M lenses are out of stock. The waiting list is 6 months long, or longer.

 

You are exaggerating. Under three months for a f2/90 in 2012.

[andybarton]

My advice would be to sell the camera and all the lenses you own and put the money towards something else.

[Steve Ash]

There are 43 lenses to choose from in the Leica Forum Classifieds section...

Steve

[Einst_Stein]

My advice would be to sell the camera and all the lenses you own and put the money towards something else.

 

You are right. I hope everyone to take your advice, particularly those who don't have many Leica M lenses yet.

 

Or those who already have Leica lenses, but want to replace with the new version.

 

C'mon, even the used lenses are expensive. Absurd.

[Einst_Stein]

You are exaggerating. Under three months for a f2/90 in 2012.

 

Where? please post the name of the store. Thanks.

[andybarton]

You must have known the cost of Leica cameras and lenses before you decided to buy an M9, so complaining about it now seems a little odd. You already have several excellent lenses, according to your previous posts, so why not enjoy them while waiting for new ones?

 

From your first post in this thread, I just think that an M is not for you, so the best advice is to sell and buy something else while it is still nearly new.

[Einst_Stein]

Does this mean you planning on selling it then? Is it black or chrome?

 

Nay, I'm hoping everyone on the waiting list gets out of my way.

Now!

[Einst_Stein]

 

1. Its the smallest and lightest 35mm sensored digital camera in the world.

2. Due to its shape it packs better than any digital SLR I've ever owned.

3. It's lenses are smaller, lighter and better quality than any DSLR alternatives.

 

Gordon

 

Yes indeed it's much smaller and lighter than my old Kodak SLR/C, not to mention after adding those lenses. But it didn't do me any good. Now I have to carry two camera systems, one for me, and another for my wife. I used to carry only mine.

[andybarton]

Why can't your wife carry her own camera?

 

Are you now saying that Leica Ms are not good because you need to carry your wife's camera too?

 

This is all very confusing to me.

[matlep]

When i decided to order new lenses I waited 5 days for my Sumilux 50 in 2012 and 2 days for my Summilux 35 in the summer of 2011. All you have to do is build a close relationship to a dealer who knows what they are doing. And no, i won't give you the contact

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[luigi bertolotti]

Why can't your wife carry her own camera?

 

Are you now saying that Leica Ms are not good because you need to carry your wife's camera too?

 

This is all very confusing to me.

 

I think (*) he means that is just married... and discovered that is kind to relieve your wife from the weight of her camera... , so he already feels nostalgic of the bygone times of "Me, alone with my camera..."

 

(*) but can be me too are a bit confused