Sell M9 Monochrom for M10 Monochrom?

[benqui]

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I agree with @jaapv, the M9M is my never sell camera. For sure the M10 M is much better in every detail you look: higher resolution, far far better ISO performance, the list is long.

But on the other hand I am very happy with my M9M photos, I do not think that with the M10M they would look really much better. For sure with strong contrasts the M9M is not so easy. But what I like most on the M9M is the analog look of the photos with higher ISO. Very seldom I go below ISO 800.

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[a.noctilux]

@colint544out of curiosity,

nine years is a long trip, does your old friend M9M sensor had been replaced ?

[Ko.Fe.]

On 5/11/2021 at 7:34 AM, Jan1985 said:

I own my M9 Monochrom in Silver Chroma for 5 years now. Recently I had the chance to test out the M10 Monochrom. Yeah its a nice camera of course. More High ISO, Quieter Shutter, Nice Build Quality and so on...

But would you sell your M9 Monochrom? Is the CCD Mono Look so unique to keep it and resist to buy the M10 Monochrom? 

What do you think?

If I would have enough money after selling M9M to get M10M, I would get M10M. M9M has EOL status on sensor, processor and more to come. 

If money is no concern and you could get M10M even after M9M's no parts failure, where might be some reasons to keep M9M. Sentimental and subjective  .

[colint544]

8 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

@colint544out of curiosity,

nine years is a long trip, does your old friend M9M sensor had been replaced ?

Yes. I dropped the poor camera onto the road back in 2015, and it knocked the rangefinder out of alignment. Eventually I sent the camera back to Leica to have this remedied, and while it was there, they detected corrosion on the sensor, and replaced it with the corrosion-free version. That was in March 2016. In fairness to Leica, they also gave the camera a full service, and never charged me a penny, even though it was my fault the rangefinder needed adjusted.

[mmradman]

3 minutes ago, colint544 said:

Yes. I dropped the poor camera onto the road back in 2015, and it knocked the rangefinder out of alignment. Eventually I sent the camera back to Leica to have this remedied, and while it was there, they detected corrosion on the sensor, and replaced it with the corrosion-free version. That was in March 2016. In fairness to Leica, they also gave the camera a full service, and never charged me a penny, even though it was my fault the rangefinder needed adjusted.

In this instance dropping the camera was some stroke of good luck.

[a.noctilux]

Thanks, Colin, fair services indeed from Leica.

Those good news are nice to read and must be spread 😉.

My M9M had it's sensor replaced about same period as yours, no charge even after warrantee period, one of reasons why I keep it.

[colint544]

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6 minutes ago, mmradman said:

In this instance dropping the camera was some stroke of good luck.

You're absolutely right. I had no idea there was anything wrong with the sensor.

[colint544]

4 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

Thanks, Colin, fair services indeed from Leica.

Those good news are nice to read and must be spread 😉.

My M9M had it's sensor replaced about same period as yours, no charge even after warrantee period, one of reasons why I keep it.

You're right. That gesture from Leica with the sensor swap and rangefinder adjust, meant a lot to me. As far as I'm concerned, they're a great and unique company.

[williamgm]

1 hour ago, Rupert Greenwell said:

I realise that I am in a very  small minority not liking the M10M but I have tried for nearly a year to get on with it. I bought a M9M when they were first introduced as I prefer to shoot B&W most of the time . I then added a M246 when they too were first introduced. I have never had a problem processing the images from either camera but the M246 has always been my main camera.

I do prefer a slightly lower contrast look, I use mainly the older Leica lenses. I shoot landscapes, my family and friends and my dogs. I have two dark coloured dogs and I just can't do them justice with the M10M they seem to blend into the background and are hard to distinguish. Landscapes too, I find it hard sometimes to see what is going on in the photo , the details seem lost in this rather dark look. Lowering contrast in Lightroom does not work. 

I really admire the work of James Ravilious, he beautifully photographed the English countryside amongst other places using low contrast lenses. As someone who has worked on the land all my life I can relate to his work , to me he has really got it right. The M10M experience has rather put me off digital and I have made a return to film for most of my work now.

I agree with you about the work of James Ravilious, his book 'An English Eye' is, I think, out of print now but is well worth buying if you can find one (as is 'A Life', a biography written by his wife). Apart from his photographs, there is some information on his way of working and his liking of low-contrast older Leica lenses. I have never been in a position to try any Leica Monochrom, unfortunately, though I prefer BW to colour; my only camera, a Leica X Vario, is set to take B&W jpeg which are nice images. Sadly thanks to the lasting financial effects of this Covid situation even the X Vario must be sold now, along with other non-essential items. Somehow, an old iPhone won't be quite the same.....

[Rupert Greenwell]

I discovered the work of James Ravilious only a few years ago from this forum, I have a couple of his books including "The English Eye" plus the recently released books. The Leica repair specialist Malcom Taylor told me that he used to service Ravilious's cameras and I think de glaze his lenses to reduce the contrast even more. Malcom said that he was a lovely person to deal with .  

I often remind myself that Ravilious did not use high tech equipment, a Leica M3 and lenses from the 1920's and 30's yet produced very good work, the skill of course being with the photographer. I have just had a clear out of digital cameras as I need the cash for a building project and look forward to a return to a simpler way of taking photographs .

[a.noctilux]

Returning to topic of selling M9M ...

In my view, the possible selling price from my M9M (if the sensor replaced) is not "right" enough, so I keep it as long as it still works.

The difference in trade of M9M for M10-M so high that I just didn't care to jump.

 

Anyway I'm happy with M246 😉.

[Rupert Greenwell]

I have sent my M9M to be sold by a Leica dealer, I have just been informed that they think that the sensor is starting to corrode and will sell the camera as it is without a warranty . The value is of course substantially less.

 The camera had a new sensor in 2018, it has been lightly used and well cared for. This is very disappointing.

[jaapv]

2018? That should be the new type - check with Leica and have them inspect it, don't rely on the diagnosis of the dealer only.

[Jeff S]

Just now, jaapv said:

2018? That should be the new type - check with Leica and have them inspect it.

Exactly.  The ‘permanent’ fix was 2015-2016, assuming service performed by Leica.  I would not accept without a serious discussion.

Jeff

[Rupert Greenwell]

Thanks for your input, I have already queried it with the dealer as to why a new sensor should be failing, it is the first that I have known about and I follow this forum almost daily.

[Jeff S]

2 minutes ago, Rupert Greenwell said:

Thanks for your input, I have already queried it with the dealer as to why a new sensor should be failing, it is the first that I have known about and I follow this forum almost daily.

Hopefully you have a reliable and resourceful dealer.  Otherwise contact Leica directly.  They can at least confirm sensor replacement and date, which will provide basis for further inquiry.

Jeff

[jaapv]

6 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Hopefully you have a reliable and resourceful dealer.  Otherwise contact Leica directly.  They can at least confirm sensor replacement and date, which will provide basis for further inquiry.

Jeff

And I'm sure that Leica Mayfair will be happy to advise.

[Rupert Greenwell]

I am waiting for the response from the dealer. I will let you know what happens. I have studied the images from the camera but cannot see any problem , if though it is just starting it may not show up on images yet.

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[jaapv]

It would be the first new type sensor with this problem. It is more likely that they had a knee-jerk reaction to dust.

[Jeff S]

If so, not a dealer I would use.

Jeff