w44neg Posted February 22, 2014 Share #1 Posted February 22, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Today I finally picked up a Leica M9 from a fantastic local Leica dealer. They were incredibly helpful and I'll keep visiting the store. I managed to snap a few shots in the failing light and have had a play with them in Lightroom. I noticed there was vignetting and that made me further realise that I've bought an uncoded lens. I actually thought it would be coded being a 35mm Summicron ASPH so I'll speak to the dealership when they re-open. I've now changed the settings in the camera to manual mode for the lens so hopefully that will get the images back to their best. The frame lines are now also correct of course. Initial impressions are that this is going to be a large learning curve. I used film cameras before digital but I was a kid and had no idea what I was doing. The cameras I used weren't SLRs and I'd use them in auto mode. So my film experience may as well be nil. People aren't joking when they say the Leica brand sticks to its roots are they? It's so different to the DSLRs I've been using over the past few years! I was explaining to my friend earlier that it doesn't do anything an AF camera does, and he just couldn't understand why I'd paid so much money. I told him that it's not really about the money; I bought it for the experience and I like the idea of the challenge. I compared it to a garage I was at last week with a friend who was buying a car. There was a big old Bentley in amongst many modern super cars. The Bentley gets you to the same place, but in a completely different manner to a Porsche etc.It's just a different way of doing things. So after my first few hours, I have a whole new level of respect for the amazing photographers that use an M9. To produce the candid shots in the street, especially in low light as I keep seeing, just appears to be an incredibly difficult thing. I'm looking forward to it but at the same time, I'm also quite anxious that I've spent so much for such a "tool". Fingers crossed I can get away from my AutoFocus roots!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 22, 2014 Posted February 22, 2014 Hi w44neg, Take a look here Picked up an M9... this is going to be a learning curve!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jdlaing Posted February 22, 2014 Share #2 Posted February 22, 2014 The framelines are mechanically set by the lens mount and have nothing to do with the coding on the lens. I am sure you are going to love the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted February 22, 2014 The framelines are mechanically set by the lens mount and have nothing to do with the coding on the lens. I am sure you are going to love the camera. Ah, I see. Did I mention a learning curve? :roll eyes: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted February 22, 2014 Share #4 Posted February 22, 2014 Also not all current lenses have 6bit coding (the way the camera knows what lens is on there) since lot of the current line up of lenses have been around since before the M8... so some are not coded yet, since they are the 'older' lenses of the current generation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted February 22, 2014 Also not all current lenses have 6bit coding (the way the camera knows what lens is on there) since lot of the current line up of lenses have been around since before the M8... so some are not coded yet, since they are the 'older' lenses of the current generation. That makes more sense now so thanks for that. I should have enquired really but I thought I'd read enough already... I guess not haha. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenper Posted February 23, 2014 Share #6 Posted February 23, 2014 Today I finally picked up a Leica M9 from a fantastic local Leica dealer….I compared it to a garage I was at last week with a friend who was buying a car. There was a big old Bentley in amongst many modern super cars…. You did buy the Bentley too, I hope? They go extremely well with a nice Leica….. Seriously, best of luck with your new camera! You have a great time ahead! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frase Posted February 23, 2014 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) That makes more sense now so thanks for that. I should have enquired really but I thought I'd read enough already... I guess not haha. I would think by now all new lenses are coded if not they are old stock and you should be getting a good discount. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adespen Posted February 23, 2014 Share #8 Posted February 23, 2014 Congratulations. It is a learning curve but oh so much joy. It took me a while to remember to remove the lens cap. Now I leave it at home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted February 23, 2014 You did buy the Bentley too, I hope? They go extremely well with a nice Leica….. Seriously, best of luck with your new camera! You have a great time ahead! I wish. It was an Arnage and the door alone weighed as much as my house I would think by now all new lenses are coded if not they are old stock and you should be getting a good discount. This was a used lens anyhow but I have 12 months Leica warranty with it Congratulations. It is a learning curve but oh so much joy.It took me a while to remember to remove the lens cap. Now I leave it at home. I'd heard about the lens cap scenario but I'll probably leave it at home too... £30 for a replacement and knowing my luck, it'll fall of somewhere Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldman Posted February 23, 2014 Share #10 Posted February 23, 2014 You get around Wayne, The M9 is a classic rangefinder camera that requires skill and dedication to achieve excellent results but good results can be achieved along the way. Apart from the MM I can't think of a better camera to enjoy the complete Leica experience. Looking forward to seeing the results of your efforts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted February 23, 2014 You get around Wayne, The M9 is a classic rangefinder camera that requires skill and dedication to achieve excellent results but good results can be achieved along the way. Apart from the MM I can't think of a better camera to enjoy the complete Leica experience. Looking forward to seeing the results of your efforts. I told you I was getting one Steve :-) Today I've been using the camera. I was told the image quality of my fuji could compare. Well, no. The fuji is outstanding, but initial impressions show different leagues. The clarity and resolution on the Leica are unbelievable. Perhaps using the Leica lens with the Fuji will allow different results but the sensor has it's qualities as well. I'm loving it :-) I'm going to learn the camera with basic focus techniques to get used to it first. Then I'll start looking into zone focusing more once I become more confident. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted February 23, 2014 Share #12 Posted February 23, 2014 Leica lenses are in a class by themselves with maybe Zeiss.. The full frame large sensor makes it image like a film camera. The dealer should not have sold you an uncoded lens for this camera without a warning. however It is not an issue has you can specify in menu, but if you change lenses it becomes a pain. You will need to zone focus or learn how much to turn the focus ring for standard distances as the camera is coming to your eye. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted February 24, 2014 Share #13 Posted February 24, 2014 If you only swap lenses once in a while or only own 1 lens, than the 6bit code is not really needed when you press menu, on top you can select the lens mounted manually. Hope this helps, I do this since my lenses are not 6 bit coded. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 24, 2014 Share #14 Posted February 24, 2014 M9 and the sharpest 35mm - perfect combo It's how many pictures you will take with it in 2014, not how many additional lenses you'll buy this year. I'd suggest maybe you refrain from buying any more lenses and get to know this one and the camera really well. For prefocussing the tab is your friend. Congratulations for having found an honest dealer. Forget about the coding, for the time being. The lens is prone to flare, even more so with a UV protection filter. So maybe you keep the lens-hoon on at all times and take the lens cap (err: the hood cap on and off when shooting). It becomes second nature and should be easy because you don't waste time changing lenses. Flickr: SimonSawSunlight's Photostream (his name is Simon Becker) and Flickr: Emmanuel Smague's Photostream are both doing quite allright with the 35mm only. Have fun! Cheers, Simon V Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted February 24, 2014 M9 and the sharpest 35mm - perfect combo It's how many pictures you will take with it in 2014, not how many additional lenses you'll buy this year. I'd suggest maybe you refrain from buying any more lenses and get to know this one and the camera really well. For prefocussing the tab is your friend. Congratulations for having found an honest dealer. Forget about the coding, for the time being. The lens is prone to flare, even more so with a UV protection filter. So maybe you keep the lens-hoon on at all times and take the lens cap (err: the hood cap on and off when shooting). It becomes second nature and should be easy because you don't waste time changing lenses. Flickr: SimonSawSunlight's Photostream (his name is Simon Becker) and Flickr: Emmanuel Smague's Photostream are both doing quite allright with the 35mm only. Have fun! Cheers, Simon V Thanks! The only thing bugging me is the f2 scenario as I'm starting to think I personally should have gone for f1.4. I'll speak to the dealer today and see what his thoughts are about changing to a 1.4 etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 24, 2014 Share #16 Posted February 24, 2014 You could resell/trade-in yours after a year without much loss. By then you'll be the manual focus speed demon at f:2.0. Until Easter maybe no bigger than f:4.0, unless you're exceptionally tallented and practice a lot or shoot static subjects/objects. It's bigger, much more expensive, the older version has focus shift (why get into this from the very beginning?) and even without focus shift, at f:1.4 focussing is much trickier. The saying goes: "The first 10k pictures are the worst" Imo enjoy with a bit less stress Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share #17 Posted February 24, 2014 You could resell/trade-in yours after a year without much loss. By then you'll be the manual focus speed demon at f:2.0. Until Easter maybe no bigger than f:4.0, unless you're exceptionally tallented and practice a lot or shoot static subjects/objects. It's bigger, much more expensive, the older version has focus shift (why get into this from the very beginning?) and even without focus shift, at f:1.4 focussing is much trickier. The saying goes: "The first 10k pictures are the worst" Imo enjoy with a bit less stress Lol I'll remember that quote about 10k pictures when I'm still having to drastically edit my 20,000th picture Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 25, 2014 Share #18 Posted February 25, 2014 Thanks! The only thing bugging me is the f2 scenario as I'm starting to think I personally should have gone for f1.4. I'll speak to the dealer today and see what his thoughts are about changing to a 1.4 etc. I wouldn’t. The 1.4 for me is too big and heavy and I like the rendering of the Summicron 35 asph a lot more, especially in low light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jvansmit Posted February 26, 2014 Share #19 Posted February 26, 2014 Thanks! The only thing bugging me is the f2 scenario as I'm starting to think I personally should have gone for f1.4. I'll speak to the dealer today and see what his thoughts are about changing to a 1.4 etc. I'd definitely keep the Summicron. I nearly always guess focus (practicing on lamp-posts!) , and f2 is my standard aperture on my Summiluxes @ ISO1250 for street shooting at night. I almost never use f1.4, and wish I had saved the money, & bought a 35mm Summicron instead. With range focusing, f2 also gives me the tiniest amount of depth of field leeway compared to f1.4. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share #20 Posted February 26, 2014 Very interesting... perhaps I should just stick with what I have and be content then :-D Today was my first mini-outing with the M9 and I think myself and this camera are going to get along rather well... Here's a photo set of the results: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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