Is the Leica M9P sitll good for today?

[TRIago]

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Yes.

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

[Topsy]

I'm a little over a year of ownership of my M9s. I dipped my toe with one and a 35mm Summicron (new sensor) fell in love and now have 3 (all new sensors) and a selection of lenses. I never leave home without at least one of them. Yes the not so good high ISO is a little limiting but not enough to spoil the shooting experience, if I need to go above 800 ISO I usually shoot B&W which is more forgiving of the additional noise. TBH the occasions I shoot above base ISO are so rare it's hardly worth mentioning but if I am shooting indoors or evenings I just accept that I need to work harder for the image.

[oudjunk]

I came back to my post again and i was surprised that you guys came to share your opinion.

Thanks for your answers  

I still wanna try M9. maybe, i will find the cheaper one for compare with my m10 and i need more time to save my money for buying it  

 

[DandA]

>>>>I came back to my post again and i was surprised that you guys came to share your opinion.

Thanks for your answers  

I still wanna try M9. maybe, i will find the cheaper one for compare with my m10 and i need more time to save my money for buying it  <<<<

 

Keep in mind if you never used an M9 and have only worked with an M10, physical use of the M9 body may come as a surprise.  Sort of like driving a modern car all your life and all of a sudden, stepping into and driving a care from decades ago.  At first it might seem slow and antiquated and possibly even limiting...but put that all aside and simply shoot with it in a casual manner on subjects you like.  Then look at the resulting RAW files. In other words, simply base your initial feelings on the resulting images after getting used to using the camera.  Then I believe you will know, if the M9 is the right camera for you.  for some its an acquired taste.

 

Dave (D&A)

Edited February 11, 2019 by DandA

[pico]

20 hours ago, oudjunk said:

I still wanna try M9. maybe, i will find the cheaper one for compare with my m10 and i need more time to save my money for buying it

I recommend that you ignore those who think there is a significant ergonomic difference between the M9 and M10. We easily adapt to such minor differences. The M10 is so different from the M9 (which is an outstanding camera) that you will assimilate the ergonomic differences right away. I did.

Edited February 11, 2019 by pico

[Jean-Michel]

I have  an M9, M-P, (plus an M3, M4, and M6 sitting on a shelf). There is essentially zero difference in using any of the cameras, there are of course minor differences such as the viewer’s magnification, lit-up frame lines in the M-P, etc., but all are very minor. In the digital cameras the main difference is the better ability of newer models to be used in dimmer and dimmer light. At base ISO, the files from any of the cameras are as good from one or the other. The difference in colour rendition is basically a figment of imagination — I know that technical testing proves the opposite — but I dare anyone to tell if a particular image was made with wich of the M variants.  That said, if I owned an M10 I would likely try for a second body to be an M10-P, not an earlier M. 

Edited February 12, 2019 by Jean-Michel

[lucy63]

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2 hours ago, Jean-Michel said:

I have  an M9, M-P, (plus an M3, M4, and M6 sitting on a shelf). There is essentially zero difference in using any of the cameras, there are of course minor differences such as the viewer’s magnification, lit-up frame lines in the M-P, etc., but all are very minor. In the digital cameras the main difference is the better ability of newer models to be used in dimmer and dimmer light. At base ISO, the files from any of the cameras are as good from one or the other. The difference in colour rendition is basically a figment of imagination — I know that technical testing proves the opposite — but I dare anyone to tell if a particular image was made with wich of the M variants.  That said, if I owned an M10 I would likely try for a second body to be an M10-P, not an earlier M. 

The result of this challenge may be that artistic photographers absolutely see the difference and technical non artistic ppl, not so much.

[Jean-Michel]

1 hour ago, lucy63 said:

The result of this challenge may be that artistic photographers absolutely see the difference and technical non artistic ppl, not so much.

I daresay that it is the opposite of what you write. 

[lucy63]

19 hours ago, Jean-Michel said:

I daresay that it is the opposite of what you write. 

I think more accurately replace "see' with 'care' 

[Trivette]

I am interested in both the artistic and technical aspects of photography, and I find even the humble M8 to be very satisfactory for my purposes. I may get am M9 some day, but I am still challenged to exploit the full potential of the M8.

[anachronist]

On 2/9/2019 at 8:15 AM, DandA said:

... 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)

 

 

Kodak CCD forever!

I have all this beautiful old Nikkor glass, so I've tried a Nikon Df (same size & resolution sensor, but CMOS) a few years back and I had exactly the same experience - reached for the M9, got better results. Sold the Df. Then when M9 was in for heart surgery in Germany, I got a Fujifilm X100 as a "replacement". Thought I would keep it, but again, reached for the M9, got better results and sold it. 

@oudjunk - prices for the M9 - with sensor replacement - have really come down, at least here in the US.

[Aliturk]

I have an M9 and an M10. The most obvious differnces you’ll notice are smaller screen, slower write times and lots of chroma noise from iso 640 and above. Having said that, it produces beautiful files with a unique look

[rramesh]

I have never come across a camera in working condition that is not good for today. Unless of course you have a shortage of supplies.

Note that all cameras have some limitations. Question would be whether you can work around them to take your desired shot, or not.

I still use the M9 and I am very happy with what I can take with it.

Edited April 26, 2019 by rramesh

[WvE]

perhaps jurassic, but I still love it to death.

[Photoskeptic]

Leaving for Europe next week with M9-P and two lenses. I could take my Z7 but the M is so more discrete. ‘Nuf said.

[Ko.Fe.]

5 hours ago, Photoskeptic said:

Leaving for Europe next week with M9-P and two lenses. I could take my Z7 but the M is so more discrete. ‘Nuf said.

I was looking at EOS R, RP and Nikon Z in camera store on previous week. I'm puzzled. They are locking small on pictures, but in hands they ain't much smaller than DLSRs... Just missing normal VF .  

I'm not playing discreet games, walking and taking it with M-E this week openly. I hear several times - "nice camera" and one person called it as antique.   I have big CV 28 1.9 ASPH on it with funky hood and its holding screw. 

[kivis]

Love my M9, the images put a smile on my face.

[DandA]

You had asked if the M9 is still good for today? I just checked the M9's expiration date and unfortunately it expired a few days ago, so by that criteria, unfortunately it's no longer good. Of course like some food products, people often ignore expiration dates and continue to use and enjoy the product and live another day to tell about it. I'm one of those people and if the output of a RAW file (at lower ISO's) is the primary concern and objective, the M9 succeeds tremendously, providing unique, wonderful images. I certainly cherish mind when used to it's strengths.

Dave (D&A)

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[dave.gt]

On 5/18/2019 at 11:37 AM, DandA said:

You had asked if the M9 is still good for today? I just checked the M9's expiration date and unfortunately it expired a few days ago, so by that criteria, unfortunately it's no longer good. Of course like some food products, people often ignore expiration dates and continue to use and enjoy the product and live another day to tell about it. I'm one of those people and if the output of a RAW file (at lower ISO's) is the primary concern and objective, the M9 succeeds tremendously, providing unique, wonderful images. I certainly cherish mind when used to it's strengths.

Dave (D&A)

Ah, 

Dave, I always enjoy your humor! According to some, maybe the photos from the M9 will soon expire, too?🙄

I think this generation (or maybe all of the contemporary generations is a better term) is spoiled. In fact, David Yarrow opened his TED talk on Yourube with that exact statement. It is a good video, highly recommended.

While the world was turning in 2008, and literally, new generations of Leica cameras came on the scene by 2016, I was living months at the time in hospitals and never picked up a camera to use it as intended, only as a filler for my pillow (a Bilingham Pro Hadley). So I missed the M9 generation. 

No problem, I could not have afforded one anyway. Now that mint M9 cameras are available with new sensors, the prices may be closer to what I can get from selling my current Nikon gear. In other words, I may actually be in a position to buy one.

I just hope if I do, that my images, on the computer or in print, don't fade and disappear after a certain date as the M10 becomes old junk and tossed aside for the M11.😉

 

 

 

[anachronist]

As long as there'll be replacement parts for ones that can fail, it will be good. Because I'm not so sure about that, I'm keeping an M3 😉