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M9 – A Giant Leap in the Right Direction – Still Some Distance To Go

ModernMan

By ModernMan
in Leica M9 / M-E

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ModernMan

ModernMan

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With nearly two weeks experience using the M9, I have to report that I’m delighted. I also use Canon 5DII, and that gives some insight into what the M9 does not have.

 

So, simply put,

(1) the M9 has great IQ,

(2) the M9 is a high quality and reasonably complete delivery of the “digital M” vision that many Leica folks have had in mind years ago; namely, “use all my M glass on a FF digital (even my Visoflex)”,

(3) handling is great, its reasonably compact, you don’t have to wind it.

 

But, is there scope for enhancement, without superfluous complication? Emphatic yes! And much of this is demonstrated in the current Canon and Nikon SLRs, even leaving aside the sensor issues. I think it’s fair to say that the M9 delivers on a vision, but the vision is perhaps a decade old, and needs updating. The M9 is great, but it’s behind the state-of-the-art.

 

Did Leica make a mistake producing the M9 with such a considerable scope for enhancement, and lagging the state-of-the art in some ways? Emphatic No! Getting the full frame M to market as soon as possible was absolutely the right choice for Leica as a company. Clearly very many Leica users share the outlook that they don’t want to wait a minute for a FF digital M.

 

So, Leica has gone from precariously hanging on to their existence (financial fragility) to having a product which is very compelling to a large market, namely people currently owning M-glass (and, this will in turn drive further new sales of M lenses). The M8, in spite of its merits, was apparently never sufficiently compelling to that market. I’ve owned and use most film Leicas from IIIc to M7, but skipped the M8.

 

Current circumstances are somewhat reminiscent of the improvements in market share and financial performance of Leica as a result of the introduction by of the Leica M4-2 and M4-P, produced by Leica Canada. This occurred in the wake of the M5 era, where Leica’s market position was severely damaged by the market failure of the M5 and discontinuation the M4. To their credit, Leica built on the success of the M4-P with the M6 and accessories like the M-Motor.

 

The M9 will provide increased sales revenue and market profile – and the opportunity to build on its success. As the audience of buyers widens the M9 (or M10) will increasingly be compared to offerings from Canon and Nikon, but it’s not the apples/oranges comparison of rangefinder vs. SLR that I refer to. Rather, it’s the comparison of basic camera features.

 

Setting aside price and sensor specs, here are a dozen features found on the Canon 5DII which are not cutting edge technology by any means:

1) Install/remove cards and battery without baseplate removal

2) Recessed buttons on back

3) Viewfinder diopter adjustment

4) Higher FPS (10 would be great, but at least 4)

5) Larger, higher resolution LCD (920k dot VGA)

6) Display on top of camera: exposure, battery, exposure comp, ISO, …

7) More info displayed in viewfinder: ISO, shutter (even when not using auto)

8) Weather sealing

9) Instant on – no perceptible delay until ready to shoot

10) Increased battery capacity via a grip with multiple battery capability

11) CF support for faster cards

12) Highly-wear-resistant black paint finish

 

Here are some more things that would be welcome enhancements from an M-aficionado perspective:

13) Zoom viewfinder (or multiple discrete magnification settings) accommodating lenses from 21mm (or less) to 135mm.

14) Distance-corrected viewfinder – field of view correction in addition to the already present parallax correction.

15) MP sized body

16) Scratch resistant screen (sapphire or hardened glass)

17) User profiles where features may be unspecified so the profile does not affect the feature settings.

 

And here are a few things that other makers have:

18) Video – 1080p

19) Liveview

20) Remote operation controlled by computer

21) Video out

22) Direct printing

23) WIFI support for computer connectivity (802.11n)

 

So, Leica, deliver an M10 with the first 17 features above (and maybe some from 18-23) for about $5000 and your success in the market will escalate dramatically from the position you’ve earned with the M9. Oh, and deliver it as soon as you like. I won’t be sad about you undermining my M9 investment.

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pascal_meheut

pascal_meheut

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You forgot:

 

- Coffee machine

- Frames the picture itself

- Has a voice generator and enough artificial intelligence it can convince your wife it was a good idea so spend so much money on a camera

 

and many more.

But thanks for explaining that the M should be turned into a mainstream DSLR and have a grip with multiple batteries and so on.

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bill

bill

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But thanks for explaining that the M should be turned into a mainstream DSLR and have a grip with multiple batteries and so on.

 

:D

 

...love the idea of 10fps.

 

"Decisive moment? Of course I captured it - I hosed the bugger down... It'll be on the card somewhere."

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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jlancasterd

jlancasterd

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Well... I for one wouldn't want to buy a Leica M with many of the 'improvements' you list above! :(

 

If I wanted a camera that had any of the features in the list from No.18 to No.23 (which I most certainly don't!) I'd buy a Canon 5DMk2. In fact I decided against a 5D a couple of months ago partly because of its excessive collection of bells and whistles and bought a D700 instead (and I have switched off many of the 'features' on that camera) ... :rolleyes:

 

In fact the only things on your list which really attract me are Nos 2, 3, 8, 9, ( and possibly 13 and 14) - but only if they can be achieved within the same classic M shape (and weight) as the current M9.

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yanidel

yanidel

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Weather sealing and instant on are two valuable additions that would be in line with the M tradition. I see little value in the rest of your listing.

Why 10 FPS? The continuous shots mode on my M8 doest not work and ai can't remember a single time I missed it.

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jonoslack

jonoslack

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So, Leica, deliver an M10 with the first 17 features above (and maybe some from 18-23) for about $5000 and your success in the market will escalate dramatically from the position you’ve earned with the M9. Oh, and deliver it as soon as you like. I won’t be sad about you undermining my M9 investment.

 

Why not 17-23, and then it really will be your Canon.

 

With all due respect I think you might have missed the point here.

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ulrikft

ulrikft

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1) Instant on is very important, lost a few shots with the M9 on this.

 

2) Weather sealing is very important if you want people to use it for more than fondling and good weather street shooting.

 

3) Larger and higher resolution LCD is nice to check focus and if they could make it faster than 5-8 seconds for full zoom.. that would be great too.

 

4) ISO, shutter-speed and a real meter in viewfinder would be great.

 

Things like scratch proof screen, smaller body etc, would of course be welcome. Less noise at higher ISO too.

 

I don't see how any of these features are "anti leica" or something against the "spirit" of leica, on the contrary, I think they are in the heart of leicaism :)

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ModernMan

ModernMan

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You forgot:

 

- Coffee machine

- Frames the picture itself

- Has a voice generator and enough artificial intelligence it can convince your wife it was a good idea so spend so much money on a camera

 

and many more.

But thanks for explaining that the M should be turned into a mainstream DSLR and have a grip with multiple batteries and so on.

 

I'm suggesting the M-digital should be a mainstream rangefinder utilizing currently available tehcnology. Not suggesting it should be turned into a DSLR.

 

As far as batteries in the grip goes, the compactness of the Leica-M is valued highly, so if we're going to carry around the extra bulk of an optional grip (like the M-Grip), then put the space to work.

 

On the subject of your first few rhetorical suggestions, I'm not advocating features which would fundamentally change the charter of a Leica M (like in body autofocus) and I'm lukewarm on extensions like video. The premise is simple: leverage current technology to make it convenient and effective to get the most out of my M lenses, and learn from the demonstraded achievements of other camera makers.

 

The Leica M viewfinder is a good case in point. It was great in the 1950's and hasn't changed much since. We could all benefit from an update. Don't need it to make coffee or frame the subject automatically. Do need it to a accurately frame the subject at all distances, work with my 21 and 24mm lenses, provide diopter correction, and give me approipraite magnification without screwing in little magnifiers.

 

A voice synthesizer won't likely affect my wife's view of the camera's value so no need for that.

 

It is my hope that Leica doesn't fall irrecoverably into the mode of operation of Rolex, for example. Once great innovators (first truly waterproof wristwatch, first wristwatch with chronometer certification, invention of the helium release valve, ...) their charter now is apparently just exploitation of the brand, providing only cosmetic advancements without technical innovation, and even the cosmetic changes come at a glacial pace.

 

The M9 is a very encouraging statement. Let the advancement continue.

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ModernMan

ModernMan

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Well... I for one wouldn't want to buy a Leica M with many of the 'improvements' you list above! :(

 

If I wanted a camera that had any of the features in the list from No.18 to No.23 (which I most certainly don't!) I'd buy a Canon 5DMk2. In fact I decided against a 5D a couple of months ago partly because of its excessive collection of bells and whistles and bought a D700 instead (and I have switched off many of the 'features' on that camera) ... :rolleyes:

 

In fact the only things on your list which really attract me are Nos 2, 3, 8, 9, ( and possibly 13 and 14) - but only if they can be achieved within the same classic M shape (and weight) as the current M9.

 

Agree completely: deliver it all within the M form factor.

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andybarton

andybarton

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What technical innovations would you like Rolex to do?

 

Quartz?

 

Digital read out?

 

Altimeter?

 

Biorhythm generator?

 

Rolex make watches. Quite good watches. Leica make cameras. Quite good cameras.

 

I'm confused.

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ModernMan

ModernMan

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Why not 17-23, and then it really will be your Canon.

 

With all due respect I think you might have missed the point here.

 

Please articulale the point which I may have missed.

 

I think the point is delivering a Leica M-digital that enables me to conveniently and effectively exploit my Leica M lenses, within the Leica M form factor (size and weight), and continuing to improve that capability.

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