Is the Leica M9P sitll good for today?

[oudjunk]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I was a SL user and moved to use M10 leizt park but right now i wanted to sell my leizt park for get the m10 (normal edtion) for get money back and buy other lens.

someone contacted me, he had the leica m9p and he wanted to trade with my leica.

I have never used another m camera. I'm not sure about the rangfinder of m9p. 

anyone own both or have used both of them.

Thanks.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Ray Vonn]

If you're not sure then don't.  With the M system, you have to want it and be able to embrace its minus points eyes wide open before purchase.

[oudjunk]

3 minutes ago, Ray Vonn said:

If you're not sure then don't.  With the M system, you have to want it and be able to embrace its minus points eyes wide open before purchase.

I have problem about my eyes as well i have to wear glasses when i use the rangfinder but no problem about the evf of SL. but the m10 rangefinder is fine for me. thanks for your suggestion.

[Jeff S]

The M10 VF is better than the one on the M9.... bigger opening, higher magnification and better eye relief...typically benefiting eyeglass users.

Try before you buy if you can.  Viewing preferences and eye conditions and comfort levels can be quite personal.

There are also other differences between the 2 cameras, discussed at length in other threads.  These may or may not matter to you. Both cameras are capable of fine pics, but the M10 is a more ‘modern’ and robust machine... quieter, better weather sealing, CMOS sensor with live view and EVF capability (M9 is CCD), no reports of sensor corrosion as with some M9s, etc.  

Jeff

Edited January 24, 2019 by Jeff S

[oudjunk]

28 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

The M10 VF is better than the one on the M9.... bigger opening, higher magnification and better eye relief...typically benefiting eyeglass users.

Try before you buy if you can.  Viewing preferences and eye conditions and comfort levels can be quite personal.

There are also other differences between the 2 cameras, discussed at length in other threads.  These may or may not matter to you. Both cameras are capable of fine pics, but the M10 is a more ‘modern’ and robust machine... quieter, better weather sealing, CMOS sensor with live view and EVF capability (M9 is CCD), no reports of sensor corrosion as with some M9s, etc.  

Jeff

I heard about the sensor problem of m9 as well that made me worry about it. thanks for your suggestion.

[Jeff S]

5 minutes ago, oudjunk said:

I heard about the sensor problem of m9 as well that made me worry about it. thanks for your suggestion.

There is a fix for those cameras that have the issue. Best to determine if the one you’re considering has the latest replacement.  Personally I would only buy from a reputable dealer with warranty.  Some, like Leica Miami, only sell used M9 variants with the new sensor; that’s how I bought an original Monochrom, which is one such version.

Jeff

[low325]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

It is still a (more than just) good image capturing tool today. 

If you had an M9 and left for the M10 but wanted to come back to it by all means but if you never owned one then try before you buy as with anything.  

[oudjunk]

1 hour ago, low325 said:

It is still a (more than just) good image capturing tool today. 

If you had an M9 and left for the M10 but wanted to come back to it by all means but if you never owned one then try before you buy as with anything.  

i discussed with my friends, all of them recommended that i should say "no" for this case and i think i will keep it until i can sell it.

In future, i think i will buy the m10  (maybe m10 p).

PS. I don't have m9 and m10 leizt park edition is my first m camera. 

[lucy63]

Look at pictures taken with the M9 and compare them to ones taken with the M10. If the subtle and beautiful ccd rendering of the M9 is important to you; it is to some people, that might be a factor.

[oudjunk]

1 hour ago, lucy63 said:

Look at pictures taken with the M9 and compare them to ones taken with the M10. If the subtle and beautiful ccd rendering of the M9 is important to you; it is to some people, that might be a factor.

I like the rendering of CCD from M9. I think it's unique and rich color but this time i prefer the rangefinder of m10  

and the file from M10 is beautiful for me  

Thanks for suggestion. 

PS. ISO and noise management are the factor as well.

[StevieB]

I see your point

[nutmeg]

14 hours ago, oudjunk said:

I like the rendering of CCD from M9. I think it's unique and rich color but this time i prefer the rangefinder of m10  

and the file from M10 is beautiful for me  

Thanks for suggestion. 

PS. ISO and noise management are the factor as well.

I love my M9 but with the limited ISO, sometimes, you just can't take the picture. 

Try your M10 with max iSO 640 or 800 a few weeks or a month. If you can live with this, then you may think about the M9.

[TomB_tx]

Since I've gone back to shooting a lot of film at ISO 50 and 125, the M9 ISO range seems fine. I had been "hooked" on the high ISO capabilities of my M10, but film broke me of that habit. I do appreciate that the M10 ISOs let me use slower lenses indoors, but I no longer care for making dim lighting look like daylight.

[earleygallery]

I wouldn't buy an M9 now unless I was absolutely certain that it had been fitted with the new type of sensor (some had sensors replaced but with the original type that's still prone to failure).

[ianman]

If there is no proof that the latest sensor has been fitted, the price would need to reflect this fact.

To answer the OPs question, of course the M9P (and siblings) is still good today. Yes it's noisier than the subsequent models. Quite a bit noisier. That is partly because it uses the CCD and not a CMOS. However, and this is entirely personal, from what I have seen, I prefer the rendering of the CCD over that of the CMOS. 

I have never really been worried about higher ISO. I've taken plenty of photos at concerts with no problems.

The viewfinder of the M10 is supposed to be better. Ok, maybe it is, but that doesn't make the VF of the M9 bad !

What else, ... the buffer? Do people really use their M's to do machine gun style photography?

[DandA]

I've used the M9 and its variants (M9-P, ME) etc. for the longest time , since 2009 when the original M9 was introduced.  I've also used the M240 and M10 to a lesser extent.  Putting aside features and capabilities and focusing solely on  the look of the resulting image (I only shoot RAW).  I was and am still an adherent of the M9, especially if the shots are taken at ISO 500 or lower.  I have and continue to obtain more keepers and images I adore with the M9, than with those with taken with the M9 successors.  That's simply me and my personal feelings.  It doesn't denigrate any other M model nor speak to some wonderful advancements and capabilities the M9 successors have.  The M10 in some ways image wise, seems to somewhat closely emulate to the look of M9 files.

I know there are those that say when shooting RAW, one can adjust any image from one of these M cameras to emulate the look of another.  Maybe in some cases you can, or in some cases get close, but then there are some lighting and shooting situations, where you simply can't.  At the end of the day does this really matter?  Depends. A great photo, first and foremost leans heavily on the eye and capabilities of the photographer.  Aside from that, its what camera gives you an image that you're pleased with, evokes a feeling when using the camera and most of all, the camera doesn't hinder the style of photography you like.  I often shoot concert photography professionally (including nationally with PBS T.V. and others)  There is no way I could fire a single M9 shot during taping, simply due to its shutter re-cocking noise.  That's also aside from its limited high ISO range.  Yet when the M9 is in its elements and I want to travel or go places with a light M body and the lighting is good or sufficient, I always reach for an M9. No question about it, plain and simple.  Other later M cameras that overcome the limitations of the M9 are employed when the M9 "can't, so they are able to capture the shot, but again, the resulting images often at face value doesn't have that "something extra".  Again all personal opinions.

When I see a exceptional or unusual M9 body (or one of its variants) for sale, I invariably purchase it and immediately let go/sell of one of my other near flawless ones, which I am actually in the process of doing currently.  That's how much I believe in them for their image look. Of course as others have mentioned, make sure the body has had the newest non corrosive sensor installed. 

I'll leave you with one postscript.  I met two individuals who not all that long ago obtained a M10.  The M10 is lovely and the pinnacle of M digital bodies. I asked both separately why are they selling their M10's, thinking I might purchase one of theirs.  Expecting to hear of advanced issues of their eyesight or abandoning their M systems for something else, each independently said that they find themselves not reaching for their M10 but their M9's and that their M9's had personally given them more keepers for them, then other cameras.  That sums it up for me.

 

Dave (D&A)

 

 

Edited February 9, 2019 by DandA

[low325]

@DandA

Well said.

Edited February 9, 2019 by low325

[Ko.Fe.]

19 hours ago, TomB_tx said:

Since I've gone back to shooting a lot of film at ISO 50 and 125, the M9 ISO range seems fine. I had been "hooked" on the high ISO capabilities of my M10, but film broke me of that habit. I do appreciate that the M10 ISOs let me use slower lenses indoors, but I no longer care for making dim lighting look like daylight.

I din't quit from film shooting with film M after getting M-E. I'm mostly using ISO400 film and do push it to ISO1600. 

M-E follows nearly the same pattern. Fine grain before 640, more grain with ISO 2500, but nothing bad as long as it gets enough light.

What turns me off is the not ergonomic placement of the wheel and bump after M9 series bodies. It just doesn't belongs to be where my  thumb is. 

 

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[pico]

25 minutes ago, Ko.Fe. said:

What turns me off is the not ergonomic placement of the wheel and bump after M9 series bodies. It just doesn't belongs to be where my  thumb is.

Well, don't leave your thumb at home, or at least put one of those lens cap strings on it.

[pico]

To return to the subject, Is the M9 still good.

Well of course it is. No competent critic or editor will reject your work because you used an M9, or any earlier camera. What matters is what you do!

 

Edited February 9, 2019 by pico