M (240) versus M9 for tripod work

[flyalf]

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This might be obvious for some, but for me its a big issue since the sun here is now 24/7 under the horizon and most of my outdoor photography is done with tripod.

 

Anyway, I loved the M9 as a snowscape camera for its IQ and handling, but the M is simply so, so much better for two reasons; The LV / EVF together with RF focus allows more accurate compositions. With M9 you will always waste either pixels or time due to the limitations with RF exact composition. Secondly the M allows to solid mount the camera to a tripod. The M9 bottom plate is simply not a good design for tripods.

 

So there we go, a so-and-so photo just to to show what Im talking about

 

Red_in_blue_house by fotoalf, on Flickr

[vikasmg]

This might be obvious for some, but for me its a big issue since the sun here is now 24/7 under the horizon and most of my outdoor photography is done with tripod.

 

...

 

So there we go, a so-and-so photo just to to show what Im talking about

 

 

Amazing. It's been raining a lot so the temperature has only been up to 31deg C today - if you live in Singapore long enough you realize that is does get a degree or two cooler be December :-)

 

It's hard to believe that somewhere it's as cold as that photograph looks. And a beautiful picture it is too!

[Naper]

Nothing so and so about this picture. I think it captures perfectly a part of the world few of us will ever see.

[Jeff S]

Plus the improved weather sealing creates more opportunities for more contemplative pics.

 

Jeff

[IPS]

Ahh ... Norway! What a wonderful place to live and photograph all year round. Tromso and the far north in particular. I had a fantastic photo-trip to Norway this summer but it was 24/7 sunshine and the midnight sun for me! The colours were breathtaking.

 

You are quite right about the tripod mount on the M, it is so much better than the previous arrangements on the M8/M9. I could not agree more with you.

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[keithlaban.co.uk]

My M9 is my handheld walk-around camera of choice. An absence of critical framing capability means it will never be on a tripod.

 

My M, complete with L-bracket, liveview and EVF, is my - Leica - tripod mounted camera of choice. Take it off the tripod and take off the L-bracket and I have yet another walk-around camera of choice.

 

Win, win.

[flyalf]

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Thanks a lot for comments,

 

Eeerhhr, thi is a little embarrassing to say, but my photo shown above in #1 is actually taken with my M9, not the M You see, I work in parallel with M9 and M during heavy snowfalls like the one during this shot in order not to have to change lenses, and this particular photo was taken with M9 + 35/1,4. Sorry, really not my intention to mislead any, and my conclusion still remains the same; the M is better suited by far for tripod work.

 

Btw, heavy snowfalls during dusk/dawn (almost all day now) is perfect for long exposures to mask away background.

[woorob]

Whatever camera was used, it's a great picture with wonderful color contrast, I love it. And the watery scene by IPS is terrific too. I think I need another trip to Scandinavia when finances permit!

[algrove]

+1

[250swb]

A very nice photo indeed.

 

But I can't imagine what it is that people do with their M9 when its on a tripod that makes the base plate unsuitable? It isn't a camera that can be overbalanced by a big lens, it isn't that heavy, all the camera needs to do is sit on the tripod head. Yet there are heavy duty solutions (excuses to spend money) for problems that don't exist.

 

I used my M9 on a tripod most of the time, carrying it over my shoulder still attached to the tripod head, I'd set it up in wind and rain (yes it got wet), and there were never any problems with the baseplate or a 'baseplate goblin' causing havoc. People worry too much.

 

Steve

[flyalf]

A very nice photo indeed.

 

But I can't imagine what it is that people do with their M9 when its on a tripod that makes the base plate unsuitable? It isn't a camera that can be overbalanced by a big lens, it isn't that heavy, all the camera needs to do is sit on the tripod head. Yet there are heavy duty solutions (excuses to spend money) for problems that don't exist.

 

I used my M9 on a tripod most of the time, carrying it over my shoulder still attached to the tripod head, I'd set it up in wind and rain (yes it got wet), and there were never any problems with the baseplate or a 'baseplate goblin' causing havoc. People worry too much.

 

Steve

 

Thanks,

 

How long have you used your M9 on tripod? I do not worry, but the fact is that both the original plate and the RRS has become quite wobbly on my M9 after 2+ years with moderate tripod usage. When attached to tripod the camera will move vertically quite significant by any small pressure. My guess is that the shutter will cause the camera to vibrate, and the effect being worst for short "tripod" exposure times (1/60 - 1s ?).

 

I do not say that any should worry, nor that this will happen to all M9s, but since some have experienced it seems a slight problem.

 

I have used a small piece of tape inside bottom plate, and this helps somewhat, but its not an ideal solution (thanks to L.Camera forum help ).. But its certainly not a very expensive heavy duty solution .

[250swb]

Thanks,

 

How long have you used your M9 on tripod?

 

Since November 2009, but I've just sold it, so I probably did it just in time before it all falls apart

 

I just think that, as with things like sensor faults and all the other things that go wrong for some people, we hear about those rather than the thousands who happily keep on photographing without any problems. So the perception develops that a heavy duty solution is needed, rather than a heavy duty solution may be desirable if......

 

My M9 never jiggled around on the tripod when the shutter fired, I never poked at it during an exposure, and I never did a dance around the tripod during an exposure. I managed to get through 4 happy years without needing to buy a RRS plate, or even feeling I was disadvantaged by not having one. So if I can do it others can as well, because my M9 was not babied.

 

Steve

[qvsm]

I recently seen an M9 on the RRS plate. I thought it was pretty sturdy and rugged... Is the M better in this respect?

[brill64]

I almost forgot it's December already..

 

Have you had any issues with being out in the cold with your M for extended periods?

[Tonki-M]

I recently seen an M9 on the RRS plate. I thought it was pretty sturdy and rugged... Is the M better in this respect?

 

the plate issue is really more for the peace of mind. i've heard of maybe one or two cases that the plate actually break from the body during tripod work. Any other time, M9 plate has no play whatsoever, funnily enough, it's the M's plate that has a very very slight play, but it matters not anyhow, because the tripod thread is on the body. The real benefit is as OP said, ability to precisely compose through LV/EVF and the horizon level is just awesome, i just wish it could be displayed on the LV feed instead of its individual window.

[Ted99]

I have had my housing destroyed twice during the almost 7 years of use with my M8, both times the reason was that I slightly dipped the camera to the tripod and the 90 mm touched the tripod, the other time the 135 mm lens was touching the tripod. Things that will happened soon ore later during the lifespan of the camera, at least in my case. The M240 have fixed this problem the tripod screw is firmly fastened in the camera housing.

Another thing is that there is a difference in sharpness in the picture , I can see it if the bottom plate is fastened to the housing . I fix that with super glue on two pieces of plastic at the size of 5 x 5 mm that covers the bottom plate and the housing.

I had a camera shop to make openings for the battery and the memory card.

 

The camera shutter gave up 3 days before the Leica challenge in Wetzlar in October. So I took it to the factory and they fixed the shutter and the housing for free. The camera is now in absolute mint condition.

The camera is now so nice so I think I will use it without the glue and therefore not on the tripod, have to invest in M240 in a year or so.

 

Ted

[flyalf]

@leicasnapper: The RRS plate itself is very solid and well made, but it has the same lock towards the M9 bottom. So on my M9 it has become more wobly. Still better than the original plate. For M I havent used RRS. I either use a 3rd party QR, or the M directly into SA mount. The size of the M bottom (as do the M9) fits nicely into my two Swiss Arcam mounts (without QR plates). I wouldnt recommend this, but as a quick and dirty solution it will do. Dont blame me if the camera falls off the tripod .

 

@brill64: No, haven't really been cold here, just between 0 - minus 9 degrees C. But actually I believe the snowy conditions around zero to be the worst for camera when it comes to moisture problems. No problems with M so far, and I have faced some serious snow. But to be fair I haven't had any M9 problems either. As long as temperature is below zero and I keep cameras outdoor or in trunk of car so that they also are below zero there is no problem with snow, nor on lens front element.

 

Edit: This is what I mean by snow. Thanks a lot to Inger for photo and allowing to post it here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/104415309@N08/11178198166/in/photostream/lightbox/

[keithlaban.co.uk]

BM240 Set: Includes Base+L-Plate+Grip - BM240-Set - Kit Configuration Page

 

 

The RRS M240 replacement base/l-bracket/grip works beautifully.