Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been looking and researching Leica but primarily focusing on older film M's and LTM's. I'm contemplating whether or not I want to go back to a film workflow. Â If I decide I don't I'm going to look at the M9 and M8. What would your input be as M9 owners? How do you like your cameras? Â Also, before I invest I'll probably try to rent one for a few days. I decide $300-$400 bucks ain't much compared to the coinage to buy. I'd play with one at the dealer but there doesn't appear to be one in KC where I live right now. What lens should I rent with it to get the best sense of what it should do? BTW, is renting a good idea? Â TIA, Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 Hi Cadfael_tex, Take a look here Contemplating Leica. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Avatar Posted June 21, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted June 21, 2012 My guess is most members here like their M cameras. Â What lense you will get obviously different answers...some will feel strongly about 50mm, which is fine but I would vote on 35mm..perhaps I'd rent (or buy afterwards) a 35mm 2.0 or 2.5. Â My M9 is one of my most precious objects I own or have ever owned..(I'm also loving my X2:)) Â I think it's a great idea to rent one and spend some time with it...it does take time to get confident, for some it takes longer than for others) Â Even now when I don't use my M9 often, I sometimes find it a bit of a mental adjustment to get my focusing down...But I've never looked back.. Â Good luck and enjoy the process! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hausen17 Posted June 21, 2012 Share #3 Â Posted June 21, 2012 I think renting is a great idea because RF digital is not for everyone. I love my M9. I have flirted with Xpro1 and OM-D among others but for the user experience the M9 is hard to beat in my eyes. I would rent either 35 or 50mm Summicrons depending on your favcorite focal length. My personal favorite at present is the 28 Summicron and would recommend a go with that. I sold all my Canon gear to get an M9 and don't regret that decision and it is coming up to 2 years now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted June 21, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted June 21, 2012 I think renting is a great idea because RF digital is not for everyone. I love my M9. I have flirted with Xpro1 and OM-D among others but for the user experience the M9 is hard to beat in my eyes. I would rent either 35 or 50mm Summicrons depending on your favcorite focal length. My personal favorite at present is the 28 Summicron and would recommend a go with that. I sold all my Canon gear to get an M9 and don't regret that decision and it is coming up to 2 years now. Â agree completely on all levels, including the 28mm Summicron,,,which is on my M9 ready for tomorrow! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted June 21, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Hi Tony, Â The IQ from the M9 combined with superb lenses is close to medium format digital at a fraction of the size and weight. Very likable. Â There are many rumors of an M10 introduction at Photokina in the next few months, that doesn't diminish the M9 capabilities but may impact prices/value. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted June 21, 2012 Share #6 Â Posted June 21, 2012 gee,,,they move threads like water around here! Â I would think a thread asking about and M9 primarily and started in the M9 section should stay there.. Â The 'customer forum' thing is....well....for 'customers'....LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 21, 2012 Share #7 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) The OP is in several minds about what he wants to do, judging by his other posts on the Forum. Â For the amount of money that you could rent an M9 for a few days, your could probably buy a good M2 and lens. Which you could then keep if you enjoy the rangefinder experience or sell, for little loss, if you don't. Â M9 buyers are customers too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted June 21, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted June 21, 2012 The OP is in several minds about what he wants to do, judging by his other posts on the Forum. Â For the amount of money that you could rent an M9 for a few days, your could probably buy a good M2 and lens. Which you could then keep if you enjoy the rangefinder experience or sell, for little loss, if you don't. Â M9 buyers are customers too. Â I stand corrected and I think my bias was showing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #9 Â Posted June 21, 2012 You are correct. I am of two minds (and little cash). Â I will say this for certain: I have been looking at the photos in that section and I really dig them. I know a camera is just a machine to capture and image and the photograph is only as good as the eye of the photographer but I've been really impressed with those I've found on this site. There is a lot higher percentage of 'wow' shots than on another photography forum I've spent some time at. I'm not certain if it is the rangefinder format, the type of photographer that Leica attracts, or (more than likely) both that makes this so. (Caveat: don't think that having a Leica will make me a better photographer or even get my sorry behind to take a half way decent picture. Â As long as this has been moved, I throw out another way into Leicadom that I'm about to go investigate - an X2. Don't know how many minds that is now (lost count and very likely my mind). Though it's a point and shoot I'm wondering how much of the Leica feel it will give me. Â ETA: Oh ,doing the math on the M2 versus renting. Price for about 4 days of shooting a rental M9 with Leica rental lens looks to be about $450 with shipping. M2 I saw at a Leica repair/used dealer I saw was a bit over a grand (not including a lens). I would get to keep the M2 and sell it on with little to no loss but it would be a bit longer to scrape up the cash to try things out. Not discounting that option but it's how I see the comparison. To be honest, the comment on the film thread about the glue failures really scared me of the M2 and M3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted June 21, 2012 Share #10 Â Posted June 21, 2012 To be honest, the comment on the film thread about the glue failures really scared me of the M2 and M3. Â Don't let it scare you. It's simply something you should be aware of when you shop for a used camera. Â There can always be issues with any older camera and it's just something on the list of things to look out for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 21, 2012 Share #11 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Price for about 4 days of shooting a rental M9 with Leica rental lens looks to be about $450 with shipping. Â If you DO decide to rent an M9, do so from an authorised dealer and ask whether the rental can be deducted from any subsequent purchase of the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #12 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Doing a lot of thinking because I'm laid up in bed with a bad back. There seems to be two questions that I need to answer for myself first. Â 1. Do I like rangefinder cameras? Only way to know is to find a way to try one out (which is what I've been trying to find a low impact way of doing). Â 2. Do I want to go with a digital or analog workflow? Both seem to have pros and cons that I am weighing. I've gone back through pages and pages of threads on that subject on here and there are definitely strong adherents on both sides. I just have to figure out what will work for me. It seems to me that it boils down to whether or not I want to learn to develop B and W films for myself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 21, 2012 Share #13 Â Posted June 21, 2012 If you can follow a recipe to make a cup of instant coffee, you can develop your own B&W films. Seriously. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
theno23 Posted June 21, 2012 Share #14 Â Posted June 21, 2012 I love my M9, but I love rangefinders, and kept on using film ones even after I "went digital". Â Some people just don't get on with rangefinder framing and focusing though, so don't assume it will work for you. Â Personally I find it very hard to go back to film now - I do occasionally, but the convenience and quality of (colour) digital is hard to ignore. Â I do also have a DSLR for macro, extreme wideangle, and telephoto work, but I mostly shoot 50 or 21mm, so it's not a big deal. Â If you don't have a collection of M-mount lenses then have a look at some of the "window finder" cameras, e.g. the Fuji X1. I have a friend with one, and he's liking it. Â - Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
theno23 Posted June 21, 2012 Share #15 Â Posted June 21, 2012 If you can follow a recipe to make a cup of instant coffee, you can develop your own B&W films. Seriously. Â Ha, sadly not :-/ Tried, failed. I've heard that Rodinol is really easy, but I've not tried that. Â Also, scanning is a real pain. Â I'm happy that many people like shooting film, and I do occasionally myself, but I don't regard it as such a pleasant experience overall. I'm not really that interested in the developing / editing process, though obviously many people are. Â - Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted June 21, 2012 Share #16 Â Posted June 21, 2012 1. Do I like rangefinder cameras? Â And if the answer is yes, you will not be as satisfied with other viewfinders that previously were satisfactory. This is the more likely scenario. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #17 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Ah and there's the rub. Am I more like Andy or Steve? I'm not sure. When I get through the XP2 I have in my Nikon F2 I'll see how much I'm back in love with B and W film (even if I don't develop it myself). Â After sitting out on the porch this afternoon with my F2's strap around my neck for a while, I certainly would welcome a lighter camera! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ophyls Posted June 21, 2012 Share #18 Â Posted June 21, 2012 M9P and 35mm 1.4Summilux..a killer combination...prob the best things I ever bought! No regrets at all...go for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted June 21, 2012 Share #19 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Lower back problems? If so PM me and I'll send you a description of the exercises I do for a few minute every morning which changed me from having to sit down after being on my feet for 45 minutes to how I can now be on my feet all day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ming Rider Posted June 21, 2012 Share #20 Â Posted June 21, 2012 I had an M8 and a CL and then, for some strange reason, sold them and bought a Canon G9 & 350D. Â Very quickly I realised I'd made a mistake and that ALL my favourite pictures were taken with the Leica's. Six months later, I had an M8 & CL again. Â It's hard to quantify the reasons for taking favourite shots with the Leica's and not with the Canon's. For me it's down to the ease of framing and as a result, the speed. With the lens focused hyperfocally, I can see 'the shot', raise the viewfinder to my eye and the framing is there, just as I saw it. No hunting around to find the subject or the most pleasing composition. All this takes half a second. When I'm in 'the zone' it can become meditative. Â I put this down to the viewfinder being just a piece of glass, like a pair of spectacles and not a telescope, like an SLR/DSLR. Â All of this however is down to personal preference and depends on where you've been before. If you've come from SLR's or compacts and have expectations of a similar experience with a Rangefinder, you'll be dissapointed, as a lot of people are. Enter with a clean sheet and you will flourish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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