M-E vs.M-9p

[dchalfon]

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i've just sold my M8, so i can move to a full frame Leica.

 

it seems M-9p in the second hand market are about the same as the M-E. which one would be a better option now?

 

or simply save a little more for the M?

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[FlashGordonPhotography]

i've just sold my M8, so i can move to a full frame Leica.

 

it seems M-9p in the second hand market are about the same as the M-E. which one would be a better option now?

 

or simply save a little more for the M?

 

Don't think you'll go wrong either way. I like the frameline lever and use it on my M9, so all things being equal I would leand towards the M9-P. But the files wont look any different.

 

The M is a better camera with a slightly different approach to the files. Again a personal decision for you.

 

Gordon

[suneohair]

I am in a similar boat. Not sure what to go with.

 

The biggest plus for the M-E is that you can buy new and get a full warranty. I don't have much of a sense on whether that is worth it over the aesthetic and frame preview of the M9-P.

 

I definitely prefer the looks of the M9-P, but is having little/no warranty remaining a serious issue? This is my first Leica so I don't have a sense of the importance of the warranty, especially considering most problems are going to crop up in the first two years anyway.

 

Any feedback from digital M owners?

[theno23]

The M is significant better than the M9 unless you do a lot of long exposure work.

 

There's a few early firmware bugs, but it's still a better camera all in all.

 

 

Main improvements are the shutter noise and feel, and the speed of operation, but the high ISO shots are significantly better, and there's more dynamic range.

 

 

Now I'm used to it, live view is very useful for wide angle lenses, or accurate close focussing.

[jaapv]

And the rangefinder is considerably better.

[ramosa]

There are lots of differences between the ME/M9 and M--and you'll get lots of varied opinions on which differences matter and which don't. (And--no surprise--folks with the ME/M9 will likely prefer it, while those with the M will likely prefer it.)

 

1) Do you need video?

2) Do you need live view and focus peaking?

3) Do you need a splash-proof body?

4) Do you often shoot at high ISO?

5) Do you need a faster processor?

6) Do you need a quieter shutter?

7) Will you often use the LCD for viewing taken images?

8) Do you prefer a significantly lighter camera?

9) Do you prefer a CMOS or CCD sensor?

 

If you answered "yes" to Questions 1-7--and "no" to Question 8--it's a no-brainer. Get the new M. Otherwise--and if you prefer a more basic approach to photography--get the ME/M9.

 

Rendering is a personal thing. Some prefer the CMOS look, while some prefer the CCD look.

 

The reality is that which one you chose likely won't make you a better photographer. It's really a matter of what you want and whether it will inspire you to get out and take more photos.

[Guest malland]

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Between an M-E and an M9-P, in my estimation, the only significant difference is the sapphire glass LCD on the latter, while I'm not frazzled by looks or the preview lever. But a two year warranty vs none can be important for any digital camera; also, I prefer new to used. When I decided to buy the M-E last February, the dealer had a new black M9-P that was still being sold at the Leica promotional price that had expired on December 31; so I bought it for a few hundred dollars more than the price of a new M-E. However, I cover the writing in white on top of the camera with black electrical tape, as it looks garish to me.

 

As for the M vs M-E/M9, for me, the determining is my strong preference for the color rendition of the latter; despite the people who state that M files can be processed to look like those of the M-E/M9, I remain unconvinced. You can find a lot of discussion here of the M vs the M9 and judge for yourself.

 

—Mitch/Paris

Tristes Tropiques [WIP]

[CaptZoom]

Being an M9 owner and being very satisfied with it for the last few years, I haven't upgraded to the new M. If I were in the market for a new camera today, I'd get the M type240 without hesitation. Better rangefinder function alone makes it a more compelling option. The entire reason for the existence of the M series is the rangefinder. Save a wee bit more and spring for the new M.

[rramesh]

Whatever camera you buy, do note that for a digital M, warranty is a must to have, in case something does go wrong.

[RobertJRB]

Can someone please tell me in what way the rangefinder has been improved?

 

I know about the lcd lightning and lost off framelineselector but don't see that really as a improvement.

 

I still use my m9p and rejected two offers on the m240 as I don't see how it could be an improvement for me. But maybe i am wrong.

[M9reno]

Can someone please tell me in what way the rangefinder has been improved?

 

Ditto. This would be nice to know... For example, is it easier to use a 135mm at wide apertures through the optical rangefinder (not the EVF) on the M240? How so?

[AceVentura1986]

I own an ME and am very happy w it. I would add one issue that hasn't been discussed: cracked sensors. As I understand this, there apparently was a bad batch of sensors that would spontaneously crack for no apparent reason. This has affected both the M9 and M9P model lines. To my knowledge, no ME has suffered a cracked sensor. Perhaps someone may correct me, but I'm pretty sure that's the case. If the problem was resolved by Leica, it stands to reason that the ME, being the most recent model in the lineup, would benefit from this correction.

[jaapv]

Can someone please tell me in what way the rangefinder has been improved?

 

I know about the lcd lightning and lost off framelineselector but don't see that really as a improvement.

 

I still use my m9p and rejected two offers on the m240 as I don't see how it could be an improvement for me. But maybe i am wrong.

1. Because of the elimination of the illumination window internal flare has been reduced.

2. Because of the elimination of the illumination window Leica was able to use larger prisms, both resulting in a higher clarity which can lead to more precise focusing.

3. The whole mechanism is being produced to more narrow tolerances, leading to higher precision and higher resistance to impact disturbing the adjustment.

4. (But this is personal) The red framelines are less intrusive, especially at low light.

 

In daily use I find it really noticeable that I can focus "closer" to infinity and I find that a higher percentage of my shots is not just focussed well, but exactly in the middle of the DOF.

[CaptZoom]

Man...you're making me want to put my money down for one!

 

 

1. Because of the elimination of the illumination window internal flare has been reduced.

2. Because of the elimination of the illumination window Leica was able to use larger prisms, both resulting in a higher clarity which can lead to more precise focusing.

3. The whole mechanism is being produced to more narrow tolerances, leading to higher precision and higher resistance to impact disturbing the adjustment.

4. (But this is personal) The red framelines are less intrusive, especially at low light.

 

In daily use I find it really noticeable that I can focus "closer" to infinity and I find that a higher percentage of my shots is not just focussed well, but exactly in the middle of the DOF.

[CaptZoom]

To the OP,

I forgot to mention the just about useless LCD of the M9/M-E. It's good enough for menu diving; and if you're willing to wait a few seconds, you can check composition. You can not make any decisions about contrast, exposure, and focus based on what you see on the LCD. On the plus side, you'll learn not to chimp. I believe the LCD on the new M is greatly improved.

[RobertJRB]

1. Because of the elimination of the illumination window internal flare has been reduced.

2. Because of the elimination of the illumination window Leica was able to use larger prisms, both resulting in a higher clarity which can lead to more precise focusing.

3. The whole mechanism is being produced to more narrow tolerances, leading to higher precision and higher resistance to impact disturbing the adjustment.

4. (But this is personal) The red framelines are less intrusive, especially at low light.

 

In daily use I find it really noticeable that I can focus "closer" to infinity and I find that a higher percentage of my shots is not just focussed well, but exactly in the middle of the DOF.

 

Dank je!

 

Reading these points, it won't be a reason me to upgrade. Did a shoot last week where I took 350 pictures of which about 10 were miss focused. And those were user errors.

 

Can imagine the red lines to be more pretty during the night trough.

[pfhrased]

Whatever camera you buy, do note that for a digital M, warranty is a must to have, in case something does go wrong.

 

In the event you got for an M9-P, you can buy additional warranty from Leica if you want to.

[sblutter]

Brand new M-E - no doubts about how it was handled

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[alan c. davis]

Brand new M-E - no doubts about how it was handled

 

Agreed, hate buying things I don't know who they have been sleeping with. Get an M-E and its two year warranty (I did so I put my money where my mouth is.)

[Michael-IIIf]

Maybe I'm shallow but I preferred the look of the M9-P over the ME so I bought one.

 

I did hesitate because for not very much more I could have bought a new ME with passport and warranty but I didn't hesitate long because I've never been afraid of buying used. All my cars and motorbikes and most of my cameras and all of my lenses have been bought used and I'm happy for someone else to take the depreciation and me take the small out of warranty risk.

 

If I add up all the savings I've made over the years I'm well ahead if the worst happens and it needs a trip to Solms.

 

I used both an ME and the M9-P borrowed for a weekend before I decided. For me the clinchers were the lack of the red dot which makes it look more like an M2 or M3, which I love, and the vulcanite which is much nicer to grip than the ME's vinyl. The gorilla glass doesn't matter much to me I've never carried my five year old M8 in a case and never scratched it. The preview lever is less important to me because I only have a few lenses and tend to use the 35 'Cron 99% of the time anyway.

 

 

The irony is I'm accused of paying more for my D-Lux 6 over its Panasonic equivalent to have a red dot and I'm guilty of paying more for a used M9-P over an M9 to NOT have a red dot.