Weasel_Loader Posted June 10, 2012 Share #1 Posted June 10, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Never had a more difficult decision about cameras as I have now with ditching my Nikon D700 and going with a smaller system. The weight of the D700 and lenses was just getting too much. Almost purchased the NEX-7 or Oly OM-D, but have always wanted to try out a digital Leica M. I previously owned an old Leica IIIf and rented a M7. The Leica quality really had me, but film developing is quite the hassle these days. I've figured with my current budget, I can consider a used M8.2 with a used 28mm Summicron or go with a used M9 and Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon. I know the M8 is still a great camera, but understand sooner or later I'll be selling it for an M9 as I'll crave the full frame sensor. Any thoughts from anyone who has been in this situation? BTW, I shoot mostly family and travel pics. Just an enthusiast that loves to hold a solid camera and likes the manual shooting experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 10, 2012 Posted June 10, 2012 Hi Weasel_Loader, Take a look here M8.2 w/28 Sum or M9 w/35 Biogon?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
adan Posted June 10, 2012 Share #2 Posted June 10, 2012 I'm not sure I'd ever use "budget" and "28 Summicron" in the same sentence. If you're just looking for the experience of working with a solid, manual RF digital camera, there is virtually no "handling" difference between the M8.2 and M9 (except the minor irritation of the pink "IR" filters). The only real reasons to chase an M9 (and some applied to me, so I did) are: - You have a use for the larger sensor (not really an issue if you don't shoot wider than effective 28mm anyway) - You have a use for the extra 8 Mpixels. - You'll actually use the manual lens coding list - You'll appreciate the extra ISO steps and dedicated button. - You prefer steel gray paint to silver chrome My thinking when the M8 came out was similar to yours - "I want a "35mm" equivalent and I want f/2." Got a 28 Summicron. Within four months I'd swapped the Summicron for an older 28 Elmarit and put the $2,000 difference towards another two older Leica lenses. I found I didn't need f/2 much, and simply didn't like the rendering of the Summicron (but that's a matter of taste for another post). If you are certain there's an M9 in your future anyway, I'd go for the camera and get whatever lens you can afford. If - on considering my points above - you're not so sure about the M9 after all, then get an M8.2 and a good medium-priced 28 Elmarit or Elmarit ASPH. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 11, 2012 Share #3 Posted June 11, 2012 Here is why I chose the M8.2 (two of them, actually), and the 28 Summicron asph. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecaton Posted June 11, 2012 Share #4 Posted June 11, 2012 Wides, using M lenses the way they were designed for (FF), slightly better high iso performance, a few pixels more, no uv/ir filters, more dof control, all in all a slightly more refined shooter's experience are all reasons to choose the M9. The M8 wil be an in-between step in your Leica journey. Avoid those, they are pricey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted June 11, 2012 Share #5 Posted June 11, 2012 If you can, get the M9. More lenses will hit your bag later on your LEICA-way ... best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enboe Posted June 12, 2012 Share #6 Posted June 12, 2012 Another angle: I would recommend the M8.2 + 28 Summicron (+UV/IR filter) to get you started. Assuming you don't overpay for the M8.2, someone else will have already paid the bulk of the depreciation, where the M9 has not yet been hit. If an M10 is released this fall, I predict M8, M8u, M8.2 may drop 20%, where M9 will drop 50% or more, down to the $3000-3500 range, then down to $2500-3000 as the market fills with more M10's. The lens is a keeper. Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted June 13, 2012 Share #7 Posted June 13, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Full frame. If you do not do it now you will do it later so just go ahead and get it over with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted June 13, 2012 Share #8 Posted June 13, 2012 Eric is right... the M9, TODAY, is still a high-priced used : things can be different in some months (to say, Photokina) ; it would be unpleasant to spend 100 now and 80 or 75 just ; indeed, I am almost in the same mood about M9, except that I have and enjoy my M8... If you want it NOW, maybe M8.2 is a better choice... if M9 will drop, M8.2 will too, but the difference in absolute terms is lower... and given that your photographics goal are also as mine... it's a more than good camera. Lenses are "for life", so if you can afford the Summicron 28, this is no way a mistake even if in due time (years...) you'll switch to Full Frame. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnEe Posted June 13, 2012 Share #9 Posted June 13, 2012 I did just that, i.e. sold my D700 stuff for an M9 for more or less the same reasons you cite, and in general I have not regretted. (Only when it rains!) My needs are about the same as yours. Regarding the price, here are some advice for what its worth: Over your ownership period for your camera, the likelihood is that the price will fall, whether it includes a big leap following the introduction of a new model or in several small steps only. The end result is the same, and more importantly; you are unlikely to forecast this trajectory any better than the implied forecast which is already embedded in the second hand price today -unless you have some exclusive information. The likelihood of the introduction of an M10 or whatever may be priced in too much or too little in the second hand market at this point, but it is still likely to be better forecast than an individual guess. Thus, it doesn't really matter at which point you buy and based on which information, the expected value is the same. In my opinion, it then boils down to how you prepare yourself emotionally when, with hindsight, you may think you made the "wrong" decision. The flip side is of course that you may feel like brilliant Leica M analyst if M10 comes along anytime soon. Neither is likely to be true ;-) I would go ahead buy the camera and enjoy it just as much regardless of what happens to the price afterwards. This is particurlarly true if you plan to keep it for a long while. Good luck with the decision! John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted June 15, 2012 Share #10 Posted June 15, 2012 I had an M8; sold it and got an M9; regretted it and sold the M9 after 10 months; got an M8.2 and now I am happy with my M8.2. Main reason is that I convert maybe 80% of my images to B&W and in my view (YMMV of course) the 8/8.2 produces better B&W. The smaller files and crop does not bother me at all - there are frame lines for the great 24/3.8! I would suggest you consider the 28/2.8 Elmarit ASPH and see more of the image through the viewfinder, while saving a few pennies! That said, there are features of the 9 that I do miss, but not that many! So at the end of the day ......... it depends! But I do see an MM beckoning in the distance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosa Posted June 16, 2012 Share #11 Posted June 16, 2012 M8.2 with a used 28mm Summicron or go with a used M9 and Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon. I think I'd go for the M9 and 35mm f/2 Biogon. The Cron is definitely a better lens (and lenses will last forever!). But the M9 is full-frame and has various other advantages to the M8.2. I'm still using an M8, but do plan to move up to a FF later this year or next year, once I see if the M10 comes out and, if so, what it's like. But, if I didn't have an M now and was looking for one soon, I suspect I'd go with the M9. The FF has some significant advantages for me, including DoF and, of course, simply (and importantly for me) permitting use of lenses at their natural focal lengths. That said, you may want to wait until the fall, when the M10 may be announced. Depending on its form, this may depress used M9 prices further. (Neither the M10 release or the resulting depression in used M9 prices is certain, of course.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macrobernd Posted June 16, 2012 Share #12 Posted June 16, 2012 Well, buying an M is a long term decision. At the end with a few more lenses in your bag you will have more fun with the M9. So it is not a question of the lens, it is a question of body and sensor. A 35 mm lens is a really good start on an M9. To save some money i can highly recommend the Voigtlaender Nokton 1,4/35. Regardless if MC or SC. And later you can spend your money for a cron or a lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reading Posted June 19, 2012 Share #13 Posted June 19, 2012 Well the obvious reason for going for the M9 is focal length. I really like using wide angle lenses, so to get the equivalent of a 24mm of an M8 is going to cost you a fortune. In short you need the extra sensor size not necessarly the extra pixels. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted June 25, 2012 Share #14 Posted June 25, 2012 I guess it depends on your end game, M9 with Summicron 28, or Summicron/Summilux 35 ? Also if you are buying all secondhand, I would not buy a new Biogon if I didn't intend to keep. If both were on my shelf I'd take the M8.2 with 28 summicron, its a fantastic lens. I thought I'd sell when I moved to the 9, No way Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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