Who hasn't bought an M9 and why?

[JHAG]

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Price is affordable for talentuous young people in love with photography. Having such high level of price excludes too many young people of photography world, it "kills" the quality aspects and opens the iPhoto "dirty" market..

 

Leica never have and never will be affordable.

First time I handled a Leica was an M6, in 1983.

To buy it, I would have to spend a half year worth

of my salary (inflation adjusted, around 6000 euros/2009).

I did not (could not) buy it.

When my father bought his M3 in 1963, it cost him

about the same.

These are handmade cameras.

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[Julian Thompson]

The picture looked amazing without the crop, IMHO :-)

[wilfredo]

Well, in that case I'd say you wouldn't have bought an M8 either ...

 

The one and only reason for an M9 for me would be Bo-keh and depth of field. I would seriously regret to lose the sapphire glass of my M8.2 though, which results in practice to really noticeable more carefree handling of the camera.

The photo below is with an M9, AAS 90 at 2.0, with a crop to show the bo-keh which I doubt can be attained with an M8. The detail in the shirt is nice btw, for such a fast snapshot

 

This is the one clear advantage of the M9, you can really crop certain areas of your image, and still have plenty of pixels left for something decent, but for me, it is still not enough, not a $7000.00, no sir. I don't make Bob Iger bucks (here's a guy who could buy two dozen M9's and wouldn't feel a pinch). BTW This is an M8 shot.

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[biglouis]

Me. I think my next camera may start with N and also have a full frame. I really feel Leica have abandoned a segment of their user base with this ridiculous level of pricing. Yes, I am too poor to own a M9 but I wasn't too poor to own a M8 and now there does not appear to be an incremental upgrade path, only a financial chasm to cross to get there.

 

On the other hand, my M8 has not suddenly stopped creating wonderful captures, so apart from GAS there really is no need to feel pressured to upgrade.

 

Not wanting to generalise from my experience but if that is the feeling amongst a lot of M8 owners that should worry Leica. A lot of Nikon D300 and Canon 5D users did feel pressured and probably could justify the premium involved in upgrading because they weren't looking at a figure of nearly the same amount as the value of their original spend to upgrade to the new model.

 

LouisB

[Guest Lotw]

I'd love to know what you mean with this statement. I read the explanation you gave below about the different lenses twice, but I still don't quite understand. You mean the exact same framing of the image as you have it now with the M8 wouldn't give you that bokeh because you'd have to stand further away to get the same shot, and then the bokeh would be different?

 

I'm not sure whether I was mistaken in how I put it there, but it's also true what you suggest that towards infinity DOF becomes larger and vice versa.

I remember an article in Leica World 1/2006 on selective focus from H-J Kruppa which shows the change of DOF lenses when you change your format from 24*36mm to 17*26mm for instance. An F2.8 at 24*36 becomes F3.8 at 17*26, so that's why smaller sensors have a certain advantage in macro-photography.

So when you're specially interested in selective focus you need faster and more expensive lenses on your M8 than on your M9 the get the same selective effect. So my AAS 90 will be about an F2.7 on my M8 and a true F2.0 on an M9 and this will show in the pictures in a more shallow DOF and a faster decrease of focus into the depth

[Guest Lotw]

I'll wait, as I never buy first generation of anything.

Be it Apple (whom I trust since years) or Leica, I always

wait. I've bought my M8 new in Feb. 2008, late series, paid it

25 % under launch price tag, and it performed flawlessly.

Since I've matched it with a 50 Lux, I'm still devling in the

riches of that match.

 

I'll buy an M9.2 next year, most certainly (even if I regret

dearly the top display, which I found essential)… if my large

format camera doesn't entice me to spend more in large format.

Meanwhile, I'll promote the M9 like hell to any one of my moneyed

friends who want to try a true rangefinder. I hope I'll find some.

 

Good advice! I'll follow that

[JHAG]

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Yes, I am too poor to own a M9 but I wasn't too poor to own a M8 and now there does not appear to be an incremental upgrade path, only a financial chasm to cross to get there.

 

Not wanting to generalise from my experience but if that is the feeling amongst a lot of M8 owners that should worry Leica.

 

LouisB

 

One has to do some tactics here : I bought my M8 new for the price of a used one just a year after it's launch. I bought my 50 Lux ASPH new for almost half of its catalog price.

There is an official price, and there is the market price. When I bought my M8 for 3000 €, my Leica dealer had a dozen of those a the same price, brand new from Solms.

Granted, Leica is not cheap, but there are many bargains around. Even more so in these tough times, I guess. Just wait a few months.

[Guest Lotw]

The picture looked amazing without the crop, IMHO :-)

 

that was because of the sunshield top left

[fotografr]

Getting back to the original question of this thread, I have not purchased the M9 for two reasons:

 

1. My M8 gives me excellent results, works flawlessly and I have no problem with the 1.33x crop. I've always been more of a tight shooter than a wide angle person anyway. I rarely use my 24 Elmarit because it is too wide for my taste even with the crop.

 

2. I have learned through experience that it is prudent not to buy new digital cameras as soon as they are released. I'll wait a few months to find out if there are issues that aren't apparent right now.

[JHAG]

Getting back to the original question of this thread, I have not purchased the M9 for two reasons:

 

1. My M8 gives me excellent results, works flawlessly and I have no problem with the 1.33x crop. I've always been more of a tight shooter than a wide angle person anyway. I rarely use my 24 Elmarit because it is too wide for my taste even with the crop.

 

2. I have learned through experience that it is prudent not to buy new digital cameras as soon as they are released. I'll wait a few months to find out if there are issues that aren't apparent right now.

 

Agree on both counts, personally and tactically.

[RaymondLondon]

Had just bought an 8.2. a couple of months ago. Went through all the problems with filters etc(took Leica 4 months to deliver). Dealer told me if (and only if, since no announcements were made by Leica) new M9 comes out there will be a good trade in offer to upgrade to the M9. Probably M8 would be continued together with M9 (similar to Nikon where you can buy full frame and smaller frame cameras) Instead after 9/11 my London dealer reacted with pure arrogance when I asked to trade in my 8.2. for a new M9. "Sell it yourself on the internet. Don't bother me, everyone wants to sell it! New one, nobody has it in London". Is that the service from a company and a dealer you expect for a camera that costs several thousand pounds? Hasselblad treats its clients much better!! I am not sure whether I should continue with Leica after decades using their cameras. At this price level Leica needs to look after existing clients and the value of the products over time. That's what for example each premium car manufacturer does. Disappointing..

[thrid]

So, far I have failed to successfully rob a bank for the necessary funds to buy an M9.

 

I hope that by the time I am paroled in 2013 the M10 will have been released and I will be able to pick up a nice used M9 at a reasonable price. I should have enough money saved up by then from my new job; making license plates in the prison metal shop.

[andybarton]

Andy,

 

One option is to work with my M8.2, which I quite like, but in two years it may be worthless. Do I hold onto regardless or go to the numerous less expensive alternatives? Do I invest another £3k to upgrade to have that wiped out before I can take 3K images? You have been a stalwart for film and I admire that, and the M9 may be your turning point - I sincerley hope you are right. I read the original question as a personal one. Tell me the red dot as investment was never part of the game and I tell you are wrong. That has changed - read my comment again - in this regard Leica is not different than others - corollary why treat them differently? £5k buys an awful lot of kit, especially film kit!

 

Chris

 

In two years an M8.2 won't be worthless. But then again, a 3 year old M7 is worth less than was paid for it. What's the difference?

 

Far from being a stalwart for film, I just haven't jumped onto the M-digital bandwagon. I did have a DMR for a number of years, but sold that when I felt the time was right and have since bought an alternative to use with my R-glass, with which I am very happy indeed. BUt I similarly love using the M7 and M2 and R4.

 

I don't think that Leica owe me anything. The red dot as an investment is never part of the game - no consumer good is ever an investment. And that's all Leica cameras are - goods to be consumed. Consumer goods devalue in monetary terms, whether you like it or not. It's jusy that some devalue more quickly than others.

 

Try going to an alternative (if there is one that satisfies you) and see how much money you lose when making an "investment" with them.

[JHAG]

So, far I have failed to successfully rob a bank for the necessary funds to buy an M9.

 

I hope that by the time I am paroled in 2013 the M10 will have been released and I will be able to pick up a nice used M9 at a reasonable price. I should have enough money saved up by then from my new job; making license plates in the prison metal shop.

 

Or you may ask the Department of Justice for one of those nice houses where they got photography workshops for the inmates, and suggest they're fully equipped with Solms last babies.

[gwelland]

Had just bought an 8.2. a couple of months ago. Went through all the problems with filters etc(took Leica 4 months to deliver). Dealer told me if (and only if, since no announcements were made by Leica) new M9 comes out there will be a good trade in offer to upgrade to the M9. Probably M8 would be continued together with M9 (similar to Nikon where you can buy full frame and smaller frame cameras) Instead after 9/11 my London dealer reacted with pure arrogance when I asked to trade in my 8.2. for a new M9. "Sell it yourself on the internet. Don't bother me, everyone wants to sell it! New one, nobody has it in London". Is that the service from a company and a dealer you expect for a camera that costs several thousand pounds? Hasselblad treats its clients much better!! I am not sure whether I should continue with Leica after decades using their cameras. At this price level Leica needs to look after existing clients and the value of the products over time. That's what for example each premium car manufacturer does. Disappointing..

 

With all due respect you need to tell your "dealer" where to stuff it and vote with your wallet. Nobody should keep a dealer with that attitude in business and it isn't the attitude of all Leica dealers. I'd make a point of a personal visit to let him know that you're going elsewhere to buy your M9 and any further purchases and why.

 

Btw, I think you should name names and shame the dealer here. They may not read it but other London Leica customers might decide that these aren't the people to do business with.

[fotografr]

Had just bought an 8.2. a couple of months ago. Went through all the problems with filters etc(took Leica 4 months to deliver). Dealer told me if (and only if, since no announcements were made by Leica) new M9 comes out there will be a good trade in offer to upgrade to the M9. Probably M8 would be continued together with M9 (similar to Nikon where you can buy full frame and smaller frame cameras) Instead after 9/11 my London dealer reacted with pure arrogance when I asked to trade in my 8.2. for a new M9. "Sell it yourself on the internet. Don't bother me, everyone wants to sell it! New one, nobody has it in London". Is that the service from a company and a dealer you expect for a camera that costs several thousand pounds? Hasselblad treats its clients much better!! I am not sure whether I should continue with Leica after decades using their cameras. At this price level Leica needs to look after existing clients and the value of the products over time. That's what for example each premium car manufacturer does. Disappointing..

 

My advice is to be happy with the M8.2. It's a beautiful and very capable camera and you can make some great images with it. It shouldn't matter that a newer, fancier camera is available as long as the M8.2 does for you what you expected of it when you made the purchase.

[larry]

My M8 works just fine.

The M9 is too expensive.

I'll let others beta test this time.

I'd rather upgrade one of my (relatively) cheaper Canon bodies.

Used M9s will be a bargain in two years.

My photography isn't worthy of such a grand instrument. ;-)

 

Larry

[Steve Fines]

Me, because I haven't found one in stock yet.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Ed_K]

Still waiting for more reviews and feedback from others, hopefully will own the M9 one day as i don't have M8 or M8.2, only a M6 all these years .... oh well, in the meantime keep saving the piggy bank.

[crbirchenhall]

I don't think that Leica owe me anything. The red dot as an investment is never part of the game - no consumer good is ever an investment. And that's all Leica cameras are - goods to be consumed. Consumer goods devalue in monetary terms, whether you like it or not. It's jusy that some devalue more quickly than others.

 

Try going to an alternative (if there is one that satisfies you) and see how much money you lose when making an "investment" with them.

 

Andy

 

Lets agree we live on different planets.

 

Chris