What do you DISLIKE about your M9?

[Yoricko]

The M9 is a great overpriced camera. It could do better in many other sectors (noise, DR, size), but I'd say it's good enough to bear through all these pains for the window finder, rangefinder, and M glass with the convenience of a digital body.

[kingqueenknave]

The M9 really needs:

1/16000 second shutter
Noiseless ISO of no less than 25000
6" retina display auxiliary LCD that slides into the hot shoe.

Until then, it's merely a great camera to take pictures with.

[krötenblender]

Don`t know, if it was already mentioned, but I DO HATE SENSOR CLEANING!

I've read here the meter is fooled too easy with wide angle. Well, if you know that, you can work with that, no problem.

Battery live... well I have three original batteries and one no name and I have no problems with that.

ISO 160 or 80 with pull down... No Problem, and very seldom an issue, high ISO: the same.

Bad LCD: I don't use it anyway for anything other as the menu (you need that to go to the *%&§$!! sensor cleaning-mode...!) I don't chimp.

But: I DO HATE SENSOR CLEANING!

[kingqueenknave]

Originally Posted by x-ray

Every time I'm about to pull the trigger on a digital M I need to post this question. Each time I do I wind up talking myself out of it.

Really don't know if I would be satisfied with an M9. I don't think Leica has a "mature" camera yet. These are issues that just shouldn't exist no matter the price.

Thanks all for your honest comments. Looks like there will be a set of Zeiss primes for the D800.

Thanks!

It seems like you're letting other people talk you out of the M9 experience. Why don't you shell out $100 or so to rent one and see how it suits your photography. I mean you could easily shoot the equivalent of $100 in film during a one week rental, so you wouldn't be loosing anything.

[krötenblender]

Originally Posted by kingqueenknave

I mean you could easily shoot the equivalent of $100 in film during a one week rental, so you wouldn't be loosing anything.

To rent one is a good idea, if you can not test one otherwise. But I think, for real testing you need to pay more than $100 for rent. At least here in Germany, you pay more than that to get the M9 for a weekend...

[kingqueenknave]

Contact Dale if you're in the States. I rented an M9 from them for a week and it cost me $100. They also give you 30 days to apply the rental cost toward the purchase of any Leica product.

[mdwsta4]

As a relatively new Leica user coming from Canon DSLRs and the latest batch of Fuji cameras, here are my list of complaints:

1. Viewfinder display information: Why can I not get shutter speed in any setting other than A? How hard is it to display a meter with how far off your exposure is rather than the >*<? Even old film cameras had a meter. This is easily my biggest complaint

2. Battery life: I've gotten used to shorter battery life with the x100 and X-Pro 1, but am used to very long battery life on my Canons. If batteries weren't over $100 (which is just absurd) it wouldn't be as much of an issue. Or if generic batteries worked with the camera. I've used SterlingTek batteries on my 30D and 5D2 for years with no issues.

3. Poor display screen: meh. I threw it in there because it's worth mentioning on such an expensive camera. It is really bad. Plus side is I rarely use it.

4. ISO performance. Funny how only a few years ago low noise ISO 800 was a big deal. I'll admit I've gotten spoiled with the Fuji's ability to shoot at 3200 with low noise so it would be nicer to have less noise above say 800-1000.

5. Shutter recock noise. Why? The shutter itself is nice and quiet. The recock is pointless and noisy.

6. Weather sealing. I've just been used to my professional cameras having these. Not that I shoot in downpours, but it's nice to have.



That said, those really are minor complaints and the camera is a joy to use. Had the X-Pro 1 offered real manual lenses/peak focusing, and/or been able to auto focus quickly in low light it would be a different story. The M9 is a great camera and one I'm glad to shoot with.

[Vince Lupo]

1. Buffering -- after 8 successive exposures, you have to wait.

2. No shutter speed display in the viewfinder (unless it's on 'A').

Other than those two things, I'm pretty happy with it.

[Rotarysmp]

Multiple frame lines. Yuk. I hope hope the M10 uses a different system for this, with single frame lines driven electroniclly off the 6 bit code.

[Joe AC]

I hate having to "think" when changing the shutter speed. I'm used to my M2 and M6

Joe

[porktaco]

yeah, i don't know why they changes the direction of the stupid shutter dial. stupid.

once again, the frickin high iso performance is pretty weak.

[Lss]

I even like the M8. The M9 continues to sound pretty sweet.

[x-ray]

Well I let go and did it yesterday. I placed an order for a new M9 which should be here in a couple of days.

There were too many plusses that I wanted and it seems as though many of the negatives are not that big a deal. All cameras have negative and plus points.

Thanks all for you input.

[Tom Niblick]

Great! You will love the camera.

Mine cost me a M4 with a 50 DR Summicron + a M8 + 3 Nikkor lenses + $2500 cash. It is worth it.

My only complaint is that my M9 cost me my M4 and my M8. They were both great cameras.

[Viktor Sebastian]

Photokina is just a few weeks a way... Just wait that little bit longer and it will be cheaper...

[x-ray]

I actually got a great price on a new one.

I thought about waiting to see if there is an M10 but every new generation of digital camera brings a new set of problems. It happens with both Nikon and Canon every time. I expect a new M10 to be loaded with new problems if one really comes out. It's the same as buying a new computer you just have to jump in at the point you think the camera / computer / etc. will fill your needs. This was the time to make it happen.

In the past couple of months I transitioned back to Nikon from Canon. I had used my canon 1DsII system since it came out and my lenses dated back to the 1D and 1Ds. There was absolutely nothing wrong with them but it was time to move up a generation or two. The 1DsII makes great images but is getting heavier the older I get. I wound up going back to Nikon and bought a D800 and four lenses. I bought a set of Zeiss primes and wound up sending them back. The Zeiss were no better if as good as my Nikon glass but mega expensive. I used the refund money to fund the M9.

In the past couple of years my favored camera when it fits the job is my Hasselblad digital system and the D800 matches the Hasselblad in look much closer than the Canon. I expect the Leica to come close too particularly that it has a CCD much like the Hasselblad. I've had several cameras with CCD's and there's a different look for sure. IMO they have much purer colors and much sharper plus dynamic range of the Hasselblad and Nikon are amazing.

I'm really looking forward to getting in in a couple of days and will report back with my impressions and some images.

[fotomeow]

My main beef is the effin retarded CLICK! WHIZZZZ! CLACK!! of the shutter.
Yeesh.

[Roger Hicks]

Price. Thick body. Otherwise, I'm just grateful to be able to get a digital camera that pretty much looks, feels and behaves like a real camera.

Sure, I'd like it quieter, with better high ISO, etc. But that's not the same as 'disliking' anything.

Cheers,

R.

[Griffin]

The fact that I don't have one...

[tstermitz]

Negatives: Slow buffer, expense, expense, expense.

Yeah, I'd higher ISO, but I learned how to work with LR4 to remove a lot of noise, and I'm quite happy up to 1200.

The big plus? Ability to shoot leica lenses, and that makes my images pop. 'Course, they pop on film, quite nicely as well. 18Meg files are completely fine (and I don't have to upgrade my computer), although I'm pretty sure the lenses have the quality to resolve much higher resolution.

[dannynono]

X-ray,

I look forward to reading about your experience with the M-9, especially given your pragmatic approach wrt buy or not to buy. Best of luck when it arrives.

[Hosermage]

Originally Posted by tstermitz

Yeah, I'd higher ISO, but I learned how to work with LR4 to remove a lot of noise, and I'm quite happy up to 1200.

Care to share? I'm still learning my ways... and I haven't dared to go pass 800. If I knew how to fix it in post, then it opens up a lot for me! Is it mostly tweaking the luminance slider?

Thanks in advance.

[Nick]

I don't own one, but I've tried it out and was a hair-breadth away from buying a used M9.

My gripes were:

• Audible shutter noise - completely ruins the 'stealth' shooting rangefinders are known for
• High ISO performance - my X100 and 5D3 blows it out of the water

I could probably live with the high ISO performance, but the shutter noise is ridiculous. Even my 5D3 is quieter. That's my main hope with the M10 is that the audible noise is reduced/fixed.

[Borge H]

It has not the same build quality as M6, M4 or M2.

For instance, the shutter release button has not the same mechnical softness.

But I like my M9, the picture quality is difficult to meet with film and a scanner.

Things which can be better is the LCD screen, it is very prone to scratches. The exposure measurements is too wide with wide angel lenses. If you use 21 mm lenses they almost all times get underexposed as the sky influences the measurements.

The camera is very expensive, but if you have the money, why wait?

The Leica company has a very friendly customer policy. If the sensor or some thing else breaks, they will replace it (if it not caused by dropping etc.). You can also upgrade the M9 to a M9P, with additional warranty.

Many people think that a new Leica (M10) will appear in october. It will probably not be cheaper!

[russelljtdyer]

Originally Posted by fotomeow

My main beef is the effin retarded CLICK! WHIZZZZ! CLACK!! of the shutter.
Yeesh.

I agree that it's distracting and painful to hear: I want to oil it or help it along in some way. I wish there was an optional manual crank.

The sound it makes reminds me of a Polaroid SX-70 camera with the motor turning and pushing the photo out of the camera after taking a picture. Since the Leica M9 has a motor turning inside to push (or pull) the shutter into position for the next shot, it makes sense that they might sound similar. Being a noise from a camera, it makes more sense that it reminds me of a Polaroid.