A controversial thread? M9 blows the M8 out of the water.

[MikeMyers]

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I'm curious as to why discussions like this (newer, faster, wider...) only bring up the "advantages" of the newer product, and ignore the "disadvantages".

 

I'm not sure if I will ever be able to afford the M9, having spent quite a bit in the M8.2, but there are several features that the M8.2 has that were left off the M9.

 

At the top of my own list, the M8 series cameras can be used for "normal" photography (with the anti-IR filter) or IR photography. The M9 has the anti-IR filter built in, so it leaves me with a camera that is improved for "normal" use, but useless for IR photography, which is something I've always enjoyed.

 

 

 

There are other things as well, but that's not the point. To accurately compare an older camera with a newer model, you need to consider both the improvements and the features that were left off (possibly to save money).

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[BerndReini]

Funny you should mention that. Until now, I had little interest in IR photography, but the arrival of the M9 actually made me think about exploring it, so I ordered a BW 092 filter for my Tri-Elmar yesterday. I'm looking forward to playing with it.

[MikeMyers]

Funny you should mention that. Until now, I had little interest in IR photography, but the arrival of the M9 actually made me think about exploring it, so I ordered a BW 092 filter for my Tri-Elmar yesterday. I'm looking forward to playing with it.

 

 

That's just one of the things I was thinking about, buit it's a real important one to me. When the M9.2 or M10 or whatever it's called comes out, while I think Leica will add on the other features I miss, I don't ever expect them to remove an anti-IR filter. However, that's one of the reasons (along with many others) that I bought the M8.2.

 

When you receive the filter, please do post how things work, and what your exposures are. Obviously I've never been able to test this, but from what I've read, the M9 is no longer as sensitive to IR light. Since some IR light will get through Leica's filter, it will probably be more like the DSLR's, where yes, you can take IR photos, but exposure times get so long it's not practical. It's still better than a DSLR where you put the "black" filter on the lens, and then can't even see what you're trying to photograph, but it's not like the M8 series where you put the IR filter on, and shoot almost normally. The camera still does a great job of getting close to the correct exposure, and you just have to remember to change the focus from the setting the rangefinder suggests.

 

 

(Most of the other things left off the M8 series I can live without, bujt if I'm going to spend that kind of money on a camera, I'd rather have the hardened viewing screen. I think Leica will re-introduce it on a newer model. It's one less thing to worry about, and I have it on my D3 and M8.2. I wish the sensor was more like what the D3 can do, but I'm guessing that's way off in the future.)

[BerndReini]

You're right, I don't think Leica will ever produce another camera without internal IR filter. It was a big mistake that was welcome for this special application, but a hindrance for regular photography. One of the main advantages in using the M9 was that I didn't have to worry about flare and ghost images when shooting toward light sources. I deleted the picture, but as a test I shot straight up toward and overhang in front of a movie theater that is covered with bare light bulbs. There were no ghost images in the shot. With the M8 and an IR filter in front of the lens, this shot would have been full of little green reflections. I remember shooting in Chinatown years ago with a lot of Lanterns in the streets, and I got these little ghost reflections everywhere. So I for one am very happy that these filters in front of the lens are a thing of the past.