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M9 ! What do you think?


patrick parker

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The difference between an M8 and an M8.2 for me is something like a sideways shuffle - the difference between either two and an M9 seems more like a jump that frees the digital M from (almost) all imperfections and related criticisms. A future MX may sport a completely different CCD and a more M-worthy LCD – but that’s probably it. All this only works for me if indeed the resulting photographs show equal to better quality than those taken with an M8 (which in my opininion continues to be my favorite camera). I await the test results with eagerness.....

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Guest hil9000

OK, so the predicted full frame M-series was at last delivered but don't you think Leica somewhat abuse their loyal following of users?

 

I invested heavily in the R-system and always saw the DMR (superb as it was) as a stop-gap until Leica brought the full frame digital R to market. Instead, they collapsed the R system and withdrew it from production. Great! Substantial financial loss for me! When the R-series lenses were withdrawn from manufacture I suspected the R-series was dead and promptly sold out. I am now a very satisfied Nikon D3x user (the Nikkor VR2 Nano-coat lenses are truly amazing - I would suggest they are better than anything Leica have produced - get one on hire and have a look for yourself).

 

After today's launch of the M9, I suspect digital M-users are not feeling quite as bad as the former R-users. However, they do indeed have consierable cause to feel used by Leica. Let's look at just three things Leica have done with the M9 ...

 

1. Provided no advance information on what they are developing - giving interviews without actually giving any infomation - instead Leica management have enjoyed a game of "playground secrets" with their users just so that they could launch on 9-9-9!

 

2. they have brought out a full-frame M-series with only 18Mb sensor!

 

3. they have corrected their earlier design flaw with an IR filter over the sensor (I have just spent GBP100 on a UV-IR filter for my Noctilux so if I swapped my M8 for an M9 I have to replace the UV-IR filter with a conventional one!

 

I was once, and for many professional years, a loyal and extensive user of Leica R and M cameras. My pictures have appeared in National Geographic, Vogue, Vanity Fair, etc, and I have ALWAYS relied 100% on my Leica gear to see its way through the toughest of assignments. But I feel that Leica are repeatedly raping their customer base ... getting things wrong (costing us money), producing half-way-house stop-gaps (costing us money), delivering less-than-industry-leading technology (providing poor value for money), promising the earth and then delivering something less than expected and much later than promissed (how long did we have to wait for the DMR; we saw the S2 launched but is it available yet ... not a chance)!

 

Leica may well have kicked off 35mm photography and led the way for decades but I am afraid their amateurish and exploitative actions of the past few years leave me cold. I think Leica are already well down the slippery slope of commercial extinction. Somebody will buy the brand name at some point (maybe Panasonic, maybe Kodak, maybe Nikon!!!) and leica will become just a brand division of a larger, more professional and more appreciative photo manufacturer.

 

Before you place your order for the M9, just think about what Leica have cost us over the recent years. Think about what that investment could have bought from other manufacturers. Does Leica offer best value? ... i think not! Do you really think the Leica M9 (or the stop-gap M8/8.2) will really work with you to make better photos? ... I think not. Do you think Leica are truly looking to be industry leaders in the photo equipment market? ... I think not!

 

If you have more money than you know what to do with, then go opn ... buy an M9. For me, I will sell my M8's and the lenses and use the money to take me and my Nikons on adventures!

 

Bye bye Leica.

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Although they have the displaced micro lenses in the sensor, they still seem to use the 6-bit coding. It seems the micro lenses couldn't solve it all. The coding also has something to do with the flash.

 

The drop-menu instead of coding is a good idea, but I suspect it includes only Leica lenses... So non-Leica lenses are harder to use. But that has been the case already.

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Guest Deek Hertz

M8 had 3 problems that annoyed Leica users.

 

High ISO capability. NOT FIXED

 

Loud shutter. FIXED

 

Full Frame . FIXED

 

Having to send your lenses to get coded knowing they can fix this with a simple firmware update. FIXED

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Guest Deek Hertz
M8 had 3 problems that annoyed Leica users.

 

High ISO capability. NOT FIXED

 

Loud shutter. FIXED

 

Full Frame . FIXED

 

Having to send your lenses to get coded knowing they can fix this with a simple firmware update. FIXED

 

maybe i can't count , so what?

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The fast shutter is good. Maybe the time of the cloth shutter is over. I'm just hoping there will be spare curtains available for my film Leicas (I'm not planning to buy digital).

 

Another thing that surprised me was the working temperature range: 0-40 celcius. So the M9 will freeze along with water?? I don't know what do the other manufacturers claim, how seriously that has to be taken...

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I agree with hil9000 - he has said EXACTLY what we are thinking here.

 

and, yes, whether three or four (whose counting??), we agree with Deek Hertz as well.

 

I think there gonna be a lot of M8's and M-lenses on the second hand market now. I bet Nikon and Canon are rubbing their hands with glee.

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ok, so the predicted full frame m-series was at last delivered but don't you think leica somewhat abuse their loyal following of users?

 

I invested heavily in the r-system and always saw the dmr (superb as it was) as a stop-gap until leica brought the full frame digital r to market. Instead, they collapsed the r system and withdrew it from production. Great! Substantial financial loss for me! When the r-series lenses were withdrawn from manufacture i suspected the r-series was dead and promptly sold out. I am now a very satisfied nikon d3x user (the nikkor vr2 nano-coat lenses are truly amazing - i would suggest they are better than anything leica have produced - get one on hire and have a look for yourself).

 

After today's launch of the m9, i suspect digital m-users are not feeling quite as bad as the former r-users. However, they do indeed have consierable cause to feel used by leica. Let's look at just three things leica have done with the m9 ...

 

1. Provided no advance information on what they are developing - giving interviews without actually giving any infomation - instead leica management have enjoyed a game of "playground secrets" with their users just so that they could launch on 9-9-9!

 

2. They have brought out a full-frame m-series with only 18mb sensor!

 

3. They have corrected their earlier design flaw with an ir filter over the sensor (i have just spent gbp100 on a uv-ir filter for my noctilux so if i swapped my m8 for an m9 i have to replace the uv-ir filter with a conventional one!

 

I was once, and for many professional years, a loyal and extensive user of leica r and m cameras. My pictures have appeared in national geographic, vogue, vanity fair, etc, and i have always relied 100% on my leica gear to see its way through the toughest of assignments. But i feel that leica are repeatedly raping their customer base ... Getting things wrong (costing us money), producing half-way-house stop-gaps (costing us money), delivering less-than-industry-leading technology (providing poor value for money), promising the earth and then delivering something less than expected and much later than promissed (how long did we have to wait for the dmr; we saw the s2 launched but is it available yet ... Not a chance)!

 

Leica may well have kicked off 35mm photography and led the way for decades but i am afraid their amateurish and exploitative actions of the past few years leave me cold. I think leica are already well down the slippery slope of commercial extinction. Somebody will buy the brand name at some point (maybe panasonic, maybe kodak, maybe nikon!!!) and leica will become just a brand division of a larger, more professional and more appreciative photo manufacturer.

 

Before you place your order for the m9, just think about what leica have cost us over the recent years. Think about what that investment could have bought from other manufacturers. Does leica offer best value? ... I think not! Do you really think the leica m9 (or the stop-gap m8/8.2) will really work with you to make better photos? ... I think not. Do you think leica are truly looking to be industry leaders in the photo equipment market? ... I think not!

 

If you have more money than you know what to do with, then go opn ... Buy an m9. For me, i will sell my m8's and the lenses and use the money to take me and my nikons on adventures!

 

Bye bye leica.

 

bravo!

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OK, so the predicted full frame M-series was at last delivered but don't you think Leica somewhat abuse their loyal following of users?

 

I invested heavily in the R-system and always saw the DMR (superb as it was) as a stop-gap until Leica brought the full frame digital R to market. Instead, they collapsed the R system and withdrew it from production. Great! Substantial financial loss for me! When the R-series lenses were withdrawn from manufacture I suspected the R-series was dead and promptly sold out. I am now a very satisfied Nikon D3x user (the Nikkor VR2 Nano-coat lenses are truly amazing - I would suggest they are better than anything Leica have produced - get one on hire and have a look for yourself).

 

After today's launch of the M9, I suspect digital M-users are not feeling quite as bad as the former R-users. However, they do indeed have consierable cause to feel used by Leica. Let's look at just three things Leica have done with the M9 ...

 

1. Provided no advance information on what they are developing - giving interviews without actually giving any infomation - instead Leica management have enjoyed a game of "playground secrets" with their users just so that they could launch on 9-9-9!

 

2. they have brought out a full-frame M-series with only 18Mb sensor!

 

3. they have corrected their earlier design flaw with an IR filter over the sensor (I have just spent GBP100 on a UV-IR filter for my Noctilux so if I swapped my M8 for an M9 I have to replace the UV-IR filter with a conventional one!

 

I was once, and for many professional years, a loyal and extensive user of Leica R and M cameras. My pictures have appeared in National Geographic, Vogue, Vanity Fair, etc, and I have ALWAYS relied 100% on my Leica gear to see its way through the toughest of assignments. But I feel that Leica are repeatedly raping their customer base ... getting things wrong (costing us money), producing half-way-house stop-gaps (costing us money), delivering less-than-industry-leading technology (providing poor value for money), promising the earth and then delivering something less than expected and much later than promissed (how long did we have to wait for the DMR; we saw the S2 launched but is it available yet ... not a chance)!

 

Leica may well have kicked off 35mm photography and led the way for decades but I am afraid their amateurish and exploitative actions of the past few years leave me cold. I think Leica are already well down the slippery slope of commercial extinction. Somebody will buy the brand name at some point (maybe Panasonic, maybe Kodak, maybe Nikon!!!) and leica will become just a brand division of a larger, more professional and more appreciative photo manufacturer.

 

Before you place your order for the M9, just think about what Leica have cost us over the recent years. Think about what that investment could have bought from other manufacturers. Does Leica offer best value? ... i think not! Do you really think the Leica M9 (or the stop-gap M8/8.2) will really work with you to make better photos? ... I think not. Do you think Leica are truly looking to be industry leaders in the photo equipment market? ... I think not!

 

If you have more money than you know what to do with, then go opn ... buy an M9. For me, I will sell my M8's and the lenses and use the money to take me and my Nikons on adventures!

 

Bye bye Leica.

 

so many people forget simple things

 

 

leica - > lab

 

nikon -> fabric in Taiwan

 

the end.

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OK, so the predicted full frame M-series was at last delivered but don't you think Leica somewhat abuse their loyal following of users?

 

I invested heavily in the R-system and always saw the DMR (superb as it was) as a stop-gap until Leica brought the full frame digital R to market. Instead, they collapsed the R system and withdrew it from production. Great! Substantial financial loss for me! When the R-series lenses were withdrawn from manufacture I suspected the R-series was dead and promptly sold out. I am now a very satisfied Nikon D3x user (the Nikkor VR2 Nano-coat lenses are truly amazing - I would suggest they are better than anything Leica have produced - get one on hire and have a look for yourself).

 

After today's launch of the M9, I suspect digital M-users are not feeling quite as bad as the former R-users. However, they do indeed have consierable cause to feel used by Leica. Let's look at just three things Leica have done with the M9 ...

 

1. Provided no advance information on what they are developing - giving interviews without actually giving any infomation - instead Leica management have enjoyed a game of "playground secrets" with their users just so that they could launch on 9-9-9!

 

2. they have brought out a full-frame M-series with only 18Mb sensor!

 

3. they have corrected their earlier design flaw with an IR filter over the sensor (I have just spent GBP100 on a UV-IR filter for my Noctilux so if I swapped my M8 for an M9 I have to replace the UV-IR filter with a conventional one!

 

I was once, and for many professional years, a loyal and extensive user of Leica R and M cameras. My pictures have appeared in National Geographic, Vogue, Vanity Fair, etc, and I have ALWAYS relied 100% on my Leica gear to see its way through the toughest of assignments. But I feel that Leica are repeatedly raping their customer base ... getting things wrong (costing us money), producing half-way-house stop-gaps (costing us money), delivering less-than-industry-leading technology (providing poor value for money), promising the earth and then delivering something less than expected and much later than promissed (how long did we have to wait for the DMR; we saw the S2 launched but is it available yet ... not a chance)!

 

Leica may well have kicked off 35mm photography and led the way for decades but I am afraid their amateurish and exploitative actions of the past few years leave me cold. I think Leica are already well down the slippery slope of commercial extinction. Somebody will buy the brand name at some point (maybe Panasonic, maybe Kodak, maybe Nikon!!!) and leica will become just a brand division of a larger, more professional and more appreciative photo manufacturer.

 

Before you place your order for the M9, just think about what Leica have cost us over the recent years. Think about what that investment could have bought from other manufacturers. Does Leica offer best value? ... i think not! Do you really think the Leica M9 (or the stop-gap M8/8.2) will really work with you to make better photos? ... I think not. Do you think Leica are truly looking to be industry leaders in the photo equipment market? ... I think not!

 

If you have more money than you know what to do with, then go opn ... buy an M9. For me, I will sell my M8's and the lenses and use the money to take me and my Nikons on adventures!

 

Bye bye Leica.

 

For me, the picture's the thing. For years, I used a Canon with a bunch of L lenses and there is a material difference in the quality of the pictures I get with my Leica M8. Do I think Leica somehow ripped everyone off by not delivering the M9 years ago? No more than I think IBM ripped everyone off by failing to deliver the powerbook in the 1960's. Technology advances and the fact that something is improved in one year doesn't mean that the older technology is some sort of rip off. Canon and Nikon and each delivered multitudes of cameras that have improved over earlier versions - have they somehow ripped users off?

 

Leica developed a camera 3 years ago that had some issues because the technology was not perfect then. They have delivered a better camera today that fixes most of those technological problems. Is it annoying to not be able to use one's I/R filters now? I don't think so, but it is a much more rational decision than CONTINUING the problems of the M8 just so one can continue to use existing I/R filters.

 

Like it or not, Leica is a business. Would it be nice if they had said 12 months ago that they were going to produce a full frame sensor. Sure, but that isn't how any business operates. A friend bought a Macbook 4 days before the new version was announced. I bought a Kindle a week before the DX was announced. That's the way business is - they are not going to kill business by making people delay purchases. With the pace of change in today's world, anytime you buy a piece of technology, you should know for a moral certainty something better will be produced shortly. It doesn't make the company evil for doing it.

 

Personally, I think Leica should be commended for the M9, not vilified for improving a very good M8.

 

My two cents.

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