Upgrading from the M9

[Raid Amin]

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Why did you choose to use ISO 2500 here? 

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[Ko.Fe.]

Why did you choose to use ISO 2500 here? 

 

Here is how I choose exposure components with any camera and under any light:

First, I determine which aperture and shutter speed I need, then ISO number comes to support it. 

 

For this picture I need deep enough DOF and fast enough shutter speed. It was set to f8 and 1/250, then camera set itself to ISO2500 to support my settings.

 

 

Yes, where is another internet spread personal preference about pushing ISO 640 in PP, but I'm not finding it practical.  

[Ickx]

I’m in a similar situation. I’ve had my M9 for 2 years now and can’t stop thinking about upgrading to M10. Mostly do to better low light performance but the new viewfinder and slimmer body is also very, very attractive. 

 

I would prefer to keep my M9 but we’ll see. For now, I try to convince myself to not brake my piggy bank, at least not for a couple of months. I would prefer to wait for the price to drop somewhat on the used market though. 

 

240 don’t really attract me but I have looked on the 262. If the M10 upgrade was only the sensor I would probably go for the 262 but with the viewfinder, slim body and ISO-dial it really makes the intermediate bodies much less attractive. I fear this will reflect in the resell value for some time unfortunately (for the buyers). 

 

I work every day to be happy with the M9 and it really still is a fantastic camera. With spring looming it becomes little bit easier as the day grows longer and soon there will be some light here up north to get decent shots on the way home from work.

[TRIago]

#3

 

 

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[ianman]

#3

 

 

+1

 

(meaning I agree with #3, not 3+1   )

[m0n0]

On the issue of ISO capability, my experience with the M240's comparative advantage has actually been a somewhat mixed one. It seems to me that it all depends on the way one shoots.

 

If one shoots high iso images in the "usual" way, i.e. setting the ISO to a higher sensitivity and set the aperture and shutter speed for correct exposure, then the M240 is indeed about 1 stop to 1.5 stops better than the M9.

 

However, coming from the habits of using the M9, for low light situations I have always opted to lock the ISO at ISO 640, and expose at a shutter speed that I need, which usually results in underexposed RAW files that I then push in PP. I get very usable equivalent high ISO photos from the M9 in this way, especially if I convert the photos to B&W. The M240 used this way seems always to suffer from more severe banding. The M9's underexposed raw files seem to hold up against banding quite a bit better.

 

So in a weird way, the M9 could sometimes allow me to shoot at a higher and more comfortable shutter speed in low-light situations than the M240.

 

E.g. if the correct exposure for a night scene is 1/125sec, f2, ISO 3200. Using the M240 with these combinations will result in a well exposed and cleaner image than the M9.

But if I need to expose at at least 1/250 sec, then the M240's files when pushed 1 stop may already start to show banding. This doesn't happen all the time, but erratically and frequently enough to put me off shooting the M240 in this way. Hence when I use the M240 I stick to slower shutter speed and aim for correct exposure.

 

The M9's files for the same situation shot at 1/250 sec, f2, and ISO 640 are often still pretty usable when pushed 3 stops or so. They may be "noisier", but still more pleasing to the eyes without banding.

 

So my experience has been that, although the M240 produces cleaner images (esp. for colour shots) than the M9 at the same ISO level, the M9 can sometimes allow a higher shutter speed in low-light situations thanks to its' files' better resistance to banding.

 

Then again, banding can often be corrected easily in PP, so each to their own then, I suppose.

Thanks for this, Rus . Despite having owned the M9 for several years I hadn't tried this technique in low light, nor had the chance to properly compare it to the M240. Always something new to learn on this forum.

 

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[ldhrads]

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I love my M9-P.  I miss it dearly, it's been gone for months.  Leica NJ says probably next month back in my hands.  I've been using my MMV1 that had sensor replaced and it's great, but still for me a specialty camera.  I mostly shoot color.  In July, after visiting with a friend's Sony A-9, I found a lightly used SL-601 with the 28-90, 3 batteries and an M adaptor.  I have a  love/hate with the SL.  Images are stellar, it's weather sealed and faster to focus in quick situations, but it is a bigger, heavier camera.  I can use all of my M lenses (too many) and recently found a used SL 50/1.4 that is truly magical.  However, I still get lost at times with which of the 7 floating buttons will do what and I while I know I can turn off most of the info in the VF, it's a lot for me coming from the M camera world.  I thought I had given most of that up when I left SLR land. When the M9-p returns, I want to keep it.  I've thought through several scenarios as I'm sure others have.  Keep the SL, MM and M9, trade out all three for a M10, keep the MM and get the M10, just keep the SL. Uggh!  I'll be in Germany in the spring and will visit Wetzlar and want to play with the M10 and some other lenses (Thambar).  In the end, I don't see me going the M10 route, but we shall see!!

[Raid Amin]

My suspicion is that once you hold the M10 in your hands (in Wetzlar), you will have effectively buried your other cameras, so to speak. 

[Myvalko]

Hi,

 

I asked the same question myself  several times and I never found the perfect answer.

So, here are my liking. I love my M9 and it is still today a fantastic camera after so many years. For me it does the job. The question is: how a new tool can improve my pictures? Of course it is difficult to resist the sirens of better... As we say, better is the enemy of good?

 

I found myself M10 marginally slimmer then M9. For sure it has better performances but how much depending of your needs. Take also into account devaluation within 4-5 years...

 

Personally, I prefer considering other lenses or systems which will give me another approach and expression: film cameras like M whichever you prefer. Medium format, autofocus, other systems like Hasselblad (I will be crucified for this ;-)) and so on.

 

Finally, I prefer also enjoy some nice trips with a good trusty camera than a brand new  one at home.

Just my 2 cents...

 

Decision stays yours as aswell as the pictures...

[Guest]

My view of the M9 is it will become one of the most sought after digital Leicas, the last of the true Meßsucher series. Live view and the CMOS are a new breed.  Having said that I own a few CMOS based Ms but I really only convinced myself to buy some as it makes all the difference for macro photography, no mechanical Visoflex required!

Edited February 2, 2018 by Guest

[happymac]

My view of the M10 is it will become one of the most sought after digital Leicas, the last of the true Meßsucher series. Live view and the CMOS had shifted the M to a level state of the art. Having said that I own a CCD based M but I really never convinced myself to buy some again as it makes no difference for macro photography, no mechanical Visoflex required! :-)

Edited February 2, 2018 by happymac

[Topsy]

I decided to keep the M9 and search for a back up body. One day the prices of the M10 will drop like the prices of the M240 did as well. I'm not expecting to take much better photographs with a M10 or M240 so for now it's just fine. Let's hope that the new Ektachrome will be good, I hope to use my M7 more often. 

 

Overall I see most people happy with their M9's. Anyone here who had sold the M9 and bought it again after being dissapointed about the upgrade?

 

I, as a newbie to Leica, have just done exactly that. I bought an M9 with 35mm Summicron to dip my toe into the whole rangefinder thing and now have bought a second M9 (new sensor) with 21mm and 90mm lenses and will now stick with this combination for.....ever???? 

[StevieB]

My view of the M10 is it will become one of the most sought after digital Leicas, the last of the true Meßsucher series. Live view and the CMOS had shifted the M to a level state of the art. Having said that I own a CCD based M but I really never convinced myself to buy some again as it makes no difference for macro photography, no mechanical Visoflex required! :-)

 

Nah!

[happymac]

Yesss !

[otto.f]

I decided to keep the M9 and search for a back up body. One day the prices of the M10 will drop like the prices of the M240 did as well. I'm not expecting to take much better photographs with a M10 or M240 so for now it's just fine. Let's hope that the new Ektachrome will be good, I hope to use my M7 more often.

 

Overall I see most people happy with their M9's. Anyone here who had sold the M9 and bought it again after being dissapointed about the upgrade?

No, but a bit like that: I bought the M10 and sold it after a year. Returned happily to my M9 which I hadn’t sold. Reason: I don’t like the colors of M240 and newer. Just my personal opinion. I find them too yellowish and way oversaturated. People say that you can mold it to your own taste but in my experience this is very cumbersome and sometimes truely impossible. I never spent so much time with my M9 to get it ‘right’ as with my M10. This is not meant to spread rumors, because the M10 is indeed in many aspects the best digital M thus far, but it’s just not my taste. Start-up time was also a reason: the M9 is faster in the street. Don’t like the LED frames either, but the silent shutter and the accuracy and speed of focusing is better than ever.

In my view the M10 tastes like the former Kodak Elitechrom slidefilm. The M9 is like Kodachrome25, heavenly neutral.

Edited February 3, 2018 by otto.f

[Raid Amin]

Such words work like a personal therapy session in which we get told "it is OK that you don't have an M10". 

I am still happily using my M8 and M9 (and temporarily am using the M240). 

[happymac]

Such words work like a personal therapy session in which we get told "it is OK that you don't have an M10". 

I am still happily using my M8 and M9 (and temporarily am using the M240).

 

That‘s true. But you would be even more happy using the M10. ;-)

[ianman]

My view of the M9 is it will become one of the most sought after digital Leicas, the last of the true Meßsucher series. Live view and the CMOS are a new breed.  Having said that I own a few CMOS based Ms but I really only convinced myself to buy some as it makes all the difference for macro photography, no mechanical Visoflex required!

I tend to agree. The look of CCD photographs are so much nicer than CMOS, even if it is a super-duper higher tech sensor. Liveview, I could live with because I can choose not to use it.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Adrian Lord]

Upgrading from M9?

 

M3.

[Guest]

Nah!

Nah too.