Input on new backup for M9

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Sorry if this isn't the right place to put this, mods can move. But I wanted it to be read by fellow M9 shooters.

 

First: What I mean by "backup" is: I only to be used in case something in the way of a malfunction renders the M9 unusable .

 

Currently I have a Panny G1 with a Leica adapter as my M9 backup. It is 12mp, 2x crop factor. I have a 12mm CV so still have 24mm effective, so the wide angle thing isn't an issue. Focusing is with 1-button press for magnification, not super quick but it has been accurate.

 

I am considering picking up a secondhand Nex-6 (I understand the 7 is problematic with wide angle lenses). Reasons are the lower crop factor, better IQ, and better (I think?) EVF quality.

 

Again, this is not a "Is the Nex 6 a good M9 alternative" thread. Just asking if anyone with experience thinks it's worth a few hundred to upgrade from the G1 as a strictly backup. TIA.

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[Guest malland]

I suppose all this depends on why need a backup when your "M9 becomes unusable." I assume that you're not a professional photographer because you would already have a backup for important shoots and it probably wouldn't be a NEX-6. So, assuming you're an amateur, do you mean a back up for a once-in-a-lifeme trip or on an everyday basis?

 

Assuming it's for a backup for everyday use, my reaction would be that I wouldn't need it because either my M9 could be fixed within two-three weeks or it would need to be replaced, which could be immediate. A used NEX-6 is cheap, so not much agonizing is necessary about the cost; but I find it inconvenient or annoying to switch between two different types of digital cameras (very much different than switching between two film cameras) because the controls and way of using them is so different. So, in this type of situation. I wouldn't have a backup.

 

—Mitch/Paris

Bangkok Hysteria [download link for book project]

[Dougg]

...First: What I mean by "backup" is: I only to be used in case something in the way of a malfunction renders the M9 unusable.

...

Well, I have about 50 cameras, most of which come in "pairs".... two of this, two of that, and so forth. But under this definition of "backup" none of my cameras are backups for any other. They are all to be used as whim and circumstances indicate, none to be left unused.

 

I don't ordinarily use all these cameras equally or even nearly so, but among the active ones I think it's a good idea to exercise them regularly, in part for assurance that they're working well. So in a sense, they're all "working backups".

 

If your Panasonic G1 is an unused "backup", then why put money into replacing it with another unused camera? How about some camera that you would enjoy actively using and with some different strengths... Hmm, maybe a Nex-6 could be that camera. Or look into getting a second M9.

 

FWIW, a blue G2 is my wife's main camera and she likes it, in part for its built-in viewfinder and the articulated rear LCD. The image quality is pretty good...

 

Doug

[enboe]

In seeking your backup, try to add a new capability. Examples: an M8 for IR work, also works fine as a color or b&w camera, an M6 for battery-free operation plus access to film. You get the idea.

[bocaburger]

Thanks so far!

 

Mitch, on a 1-2 week vacation replacing/repairing an M9 would be impractical, so I do feel the need for an emergency backup other than a P&S or my iPhone.

 

Doug, that's what I'm thinking also, that the G1 is probably good enough for the task. I paid $250 for it, 2 spare batteries, and an M adapter. A used Nex-6 would run me about 3x that for the same setup. As for getting a 2nd M9, that would be ideal but I think not. They're still too expensive for me for an emergency backup. I'd rather put the money toward an M240, perhaps a demo/used in the future when they are available.

 

Enboe, I had an M8 and liked it, but they too are still too expensive for me as an emergency backup, especially with the LCD unobtanium issue looming. Not to mention having to carry IR filters (and spares of them) for all my lenses as I used to. I also have a couple of film Ms, but then I would need to carry a supply of film also (can't count on finding the emulsions I prefer outside of major cities these days) and then deal with getting it processed and, worst of all, scanning it. I like shooting film, esp b&w, here and there and doing my own processing. But I'm talking 1-2 rolls at a time, not 30-40 from a trip.

 

I think my main reason for considering switching from the G1 to a Nex-6 is the latter is flatter & easy to pack away, and also thinking the EVF might have better resolution and a faster refresh rate. The G1's is 1st-gen and somewhat dated in that respect.

[TomB_tx]

I do use my M6 as companion / backup to my M9, but my habits are from film days, so a few rolls keeps me happy on vacations.

On the other hand, thinking of picking up a used M9 for companion / backup; and as a second reference for any developing RF issues. If film days I generally carried two bodies and shared lenses between, so a second M9 sounds good.

[tmldds]

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Sorry if this isn't the right place to put this, mods can move. But I wanted it to be read by fellow M9 shooters.

 

First: What I mean by "backup" is: I only to be used in case something in the way of a malfunction renders the M9 unusable .

 

Currently I have a Panny G1 with a Leica adapter as my M9 backup. It is 12mp, 2x crop factor. I have a 12mm CV so still have 24mm effective, so the wide angle thing isn't an issue. Focusing is with 1-button press for magnification, not super quick but it has been accurate.

 

I am considering picking up a secondhand Nex-6 (I understand the 7 is problematic with wide angle lenses). Reasons are the lower crop factor, better IQ, and better (I think?) EVF quality.

 

Again, this is not a "Is the Nex 6 a good M9 alternative" thread. Just asking if anyone with experience thinks it's worth a few hundred to upgrade from the G1 as a strictly backup. TIA.

 

How about a Fuji XF-1 for $299.99 from Crutchfield? Very nice for the size and extremely compact + flash when you need it! I have tried many back-up cameras over the years, M4P, D-Lux4, OMD-EM5, Fuji XE-1, X10, NEX-7, etc. My favorite is my MM, actually, the M9 is its back-up. My second favorite is the X-10, and now, this XF-1 shows a lot of promise! If you travel with your family, take more color photos since women seem to prefer them and Fuji renders skin tones very nicely.

[garysamson]

If I was looking for a quality less expensive backup for the M9, I would get the Fuji X-E1 with the Fuji to M adaptor. The Fuji would add higher ISO usability and live view focus at a nominal cost to the overall system.

[jonogilmour]

Mine is a Fuji X-E1 with the Fuji M adapter. Has its quirks, but still a great camera.

[Printmaker]

The price of used M9s make them very attractive now. Or you can save about $1500 by going with a M8.2 or M8U (upgrade). Even more on a M8. Having a backup that works exactly like your primary camera makes life so much less stressful when you are in the middle of a shoot.

 

I don't want to sound like a camera snob but once you start seriously using Leicas the other cameras mentioned seem like electronic toys. At least they do to me. But, hey, I'm an old fart. What do I know?

[Ecaton]

The best backup is the Ricoh GXR-M as its sensor is tailored for use with m-lenses.

[menos I M6]

A backup in such a scenario, you describe would not be a camera, that fit's into the M system, taking all lenses, but a supplementary camera, that might even have something over the M9, which can add usefulness.

 

My first though would be compact camera - think shirt pocketable, powerful zoom, RAW capability and fairly recent with something between 12 − 18MP and good lowlight capabilities by compact camera terms.

 

Would I look into a "backup" that takes M lenses, I certainly would look into a body, I would feel comfortable to use together with the M9 (read: a wide lens on one and a 50 or longer lens on the other body). We are talking another M here (film M, digital M, …).

 

I would not waste any funds for updating a soso, not much to be used, just in case something breaks camera.

[StephenPatterson]

At this point in time I think the Ricoh GXR with A12 Leica M mount module is the best backup option for an M9. It's available for much less than a used M8, and the module has offset micro lenses so it will work with wider M lenses.

 

I just had a friend visit China for three weeks with his Hasselblad H4D, and he didn't want to bring a backup camera. I encouraged him to rethink, and so he brought his Canon 5D3 with 24-70 lens. The Hassy failed on the second day, and then Hasselblad delivered a loaner which didn't even work long enough to take with us. Of course the Canon never missed a beat, and my buddy got to lug a huge camera system and three H lenses around while capturing zero images with his new "wunderkind" medium format system.

 

Hasselblad did come through in the end, and delivered a new H4D-40 (his was a -31) before he flew out from Hong Kong yesterday.

[Guest malland]

The GXR/M-Mount is a great camera, but it doesn't have the color rendition of the M9. The best color I got was using Raw Photo Processor with the Kodachrome preset, together with further adjustment in RPP and then Aperture, which is what I was using before switching to LR — in this way color rendition was good, but not quite what I can so easily get form the M9. I have one in Bangkok that I tried to sell, but the price for a used one there was so low that it wasn't worth selling.

 

Although the focus peaking worked well, I just didn't like using that method of focusing. Also, the EVF is serviceable but not very good in terms of resolution: you have to like looking through "a TV camera." Another thought on the color renidtion of the GXR/M-Mount: I suppose people who like the color rendition of the M240 might like it — although maybe they should try processing with RPP.

 

—Mitch/Paris

Tristes Tropiques [WIP]

[250swb]

The most useful 'backup' camera is the one that does things your main camera can't do, not one that mimic's it, tries to look like it, or even takes the same lenses. Then you can think of it as another camera, not something that you cart around just on the off chance the sky falls in, but something that has a use of its own. It can be your telephoto camera, your waterproof camera, your fast action camera, your 'can't be bothered switch everything to auto' camera. Stop calling it a backup.

 

Steve

[viramati]

I have recently become a convert to the fuji X system. I used to have 2 M9's so first I sold one to get the M and then the other while prices are still good. As I can't afford a 2nd M at the moment I looked I first bought the fuji XE-1 with fuji 35mm f1.4 lens plus the fuji leica adaptor . I have to say that I have been truly amazed by the quality of the files form this camera and especially the 35mm lens is truly special and really almost on a 50 summilux par (shoot me down in flames). The XE-1 works extremely well with leica lenses especially with there adaptor as you can set it up to deal with vignetting,barrel distortion and even peripheral edge colouring and it does it so well that I can even get the CV 12mm f5.6 to work without any edge colouring. I used to have the GXR with M mount and while being good one of the main problems for me was the black-out time after taking as shot, The Fuji XE-1 (and X-pro1) don't suffer from this at all giving you instant feed back to the live image after taking a shot (another thing that leica need to sort when using the EVF on the M). Another main advantage with the fuji X system is the control layout being so similar to the M cameras (shutter and aperture control). I have bought a 2nd hand X-pro1 as I like to have an optical viewfinder when using the fuji lenses but if you are going to only use leica glass the Xe-1 is the better option as it has a higher resolution EVF. It's focus peaking system works very well and is very quick to focus on longer lenses. I tend to work with 2 cameras with a 28 on one and a 50 on the other so I am now carrying the M with the 28 summicron on the M and the fuji 35 (50 equivalent) on the X-pro1 also in the bag are the 50 summilux asph which makes a fantastic portrait lens on the fuji and I can always put it on the M and fuji Xe-1 with the truly amazing fuji XF 14mm f2.8 (21 equivalent) lens.

The main downside with the fuji is how the EVF starts to judder badly in lower light situations when you move the camera around. this can be mitigated if you have the X-pro1 and fuji lenses as you can use the OVF but with leica glass you are limited to the EVF

Lastly the fuji behaves so much better than the M9 in low light get very usable files up till 3200iso and maybe higher

[marcg]

x-e1 is likely to be going down in price as Fuji are announcing a replacement on 18th October

[NikonJeff]

Another option if you're not necessarily looking to be able to mount your M lenses to might be a Leica X1 or X2. Both cameras have very nice optics, decent ISO capabilities and have that Leica "look".

 

Until I purchased my MM, my backup for the M9 was (and still is) my black X1. Great little camera that can be had for around $900 in excellent condition.

 

Jeff

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Bill W]

Another option if you're not necessarily looking to be able to mount your M lenses to might be a Leica X1 or X2. Both cameras have very nice optics, decent ISO capabilities and have that Leica "look".

 

Until I purchased my MM, my backup for the M9 was (and still is) my black X1. Great little camera that can be had for around $900 in excellent condition.

 

Jeff

Great suggestion, unless one absolutely wants the use M lenses.

[StephenPatterson]

The most useful 'backup' camera is the one that does things your main camera can't do, not one that mimic's it, tries to look like it, or even takes the same lenses. Then you can think of it as another camera, not something that you cart around just on the off chance the sky falls in, but something that has a use of its own. It can be your telephoto camera, your waterproof camera, your fast action camera, your 'can't be bothered switch everything to auto' camera. Stop calling it a backup.

 

Steve

 

I think there is a place for a pure backup, as opposed to a supplemental camera. I would love to have a full frame EVIL camera that would accept my M lenses and function as a backup for the M240 (and possibly offer some additional benefits), while not adding considerable size and weight to my gear (which often is carried great distances and shuffled between various sources of transport in the Middle Kingdom). I don't expect to add a camera like this to my kit anytime soon, and so cameras such as the X100S and GR-V are compromise choices. My Canon 5DMk3 and L lenses, which are more than capable of taking over in a pinch, as just too much to carry on every trip.