Somehow I bought an M9 today

[hausen]

Hello all,

Well this morning I went out for a walk with my new X100 and Om-4. Fairly rainy day and was hoping for some rainy street shots. Walked past our local Leica dealer, who also sold me X100, and saw salesperson I deal with and went in for a chat. He regaled me with a story about how a guy purchased an M9 a week ago and loved the lens that they sold it with so much that he bought the M9 back and bought a S2. Shop was happy with that deal and dropped NZ$1k of the list price and I paid equivalent of US$6k. Leica agent has agreed to re-register the software and warranty for me. So I gave them X100 back and they credited the NZ$1850 I paid and I walked out happy. They lent me a Summarit 50 for a couple of weeks while I look for a lens. Had a great afternoon and wondered why I waited so long to get M9 because it is a gem.

My question is based around the fact my wife wasn't super happy about the purchase and I don't have any M lens left since sold my M8 and M6 last year. So I want to get something cheap for awhile and have found a Rokkor CLE 40/2 and 90/4 set in Ex condition and wonder how this would work on M9? Would I have to mod the 40/2 to bring up the 35 f-lines? I do like the 40fl a lot. My other thought were maybe a Canon RF35 of some sort, 2nd hand Zeiss 35/2 or a VC35/1.7 that I have seen. Any thoughts or advice would be welcomed, is great feel like I belong here again.

[Shane Guthrie]

I would love to hear advice on this too. I'm addicted to my CL, using a Summicron-C 40/2 that came with it. I'm burning through so much film and dealing with poor processing in Jakarta that I figure my only way out is to ignore all other possible camera purchases and put money towards an M9. The only way I could make that happen later is to just get the body and use my current lens.

[250swb]

If keeping costs down is vital I would go with the better CV lenses above the Rokkor set. Knowing which CV lenses are worth buying is a job in itself, but fortunately this has already been done by Sean Reid, so I would recommend the small subscription to Reid Reviews which could save you any mis-spent money in the long run. If however I was in the situation myself I wouldn't hesitate but buy a second hand 50mm 'M' Elmar (latest) for the camera. It is a superb performer and has no faults, sharp, great bokeh, small, slick focusing, a perfect all rounder and wildly under priced at the moment.

Steve

[bgb]

sounds like the old " it followed me home what was i supposed to do?"

Congratulations on the M9 and might I ask where this Leica dealer is located.
I have to look in their window!
Do they have the film M cameras?

[f16sunshine]

First of all congratulations. Second. The m rokkor is a world class lens. Thoughts or suggestions otherwise are foolish IMO. Many including myself find it to be every bit of the lens the v4 35mm summicron is. Maybe better as the CLE version of the lens is MC. Good luck in you search. I hope it does not distract you from making great images. Cheers!

[Nigel Meaby]

Or you could consider a used Zeiss 35 C Biogon which is an exceptional performer and compact.

[doolittle]

Nice one, buying an M9 by mistake, I love your style.
My father in law once bought a classic car off ebay by mistake (genuinely, he was new to the whole thing).
Though I can't talk, I once went to buy a lens cap and ended up with an M3.

[dude163]

An M9 by mistake awesome

[bwcolor]

Wow, you have a good wife. Mine would have executed me on the spot and forbidden me from exiting the house.

I have both Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 and 35mm F/2.8 C. They are both excellent lenses and in no way need to act as placeholders. As soon as I get my act together, I will sell the f/2.0, but not because it is an inferior lens, but rather because I don't need the extra speed and the "C" has both the size and bit extra contrast that I like. Both are first class lenses. Another excellent lens is the Nokton 50mm f/1.4. It is tack sharp and a real performer, but it isn't small. I'm a 35mm fan and don't use the Nokton much, because I somewhat prefer the M-Hexanon 50mm f/1.2. This is another lens that is a keeper, but probably more money and more weight than you want. I would not worry much about the money. It seems that all you need to do is take a walk and that part of it gets taken care of.

BTW... It sure seems to me to be a waste of an M9 to tack on a lens that is less than really great... Think about it. I think leicashot (AKA Kristian) would be the one with the most experience with many lenses and the M9. Perhaps, you might seek some advice there. He seems to always be willing to help out.

[ferider]

The CLE 40 and 90 Rokkors are superb. Have no fear.

[healyzh]

Originally Posted by doolittle

Nice one, buying an M9 by mistake, I love your style.
My father in law once bought a classic car off ebay by mistake (genuinely, he was new to the whole thing).
Though I can't talk, I once went to buy a lens cap and ended up with an M3.

I've been known to go in for 35mm film for my Leica and leave with lenses...

[jimmy8269]

If you don't need fast lens, summicron 50/2.8 would be a good start.
But if you can get a decent offer from your dealer regarding Sumarit 50, that's a nice Lens too.

Cron or Lux 35 will be a great buy, but quite difficult to find.

[Pherdinand]

LOL,this is just so funny.
You buy an M9 and then, you want to get a lens: "something cheap for awhile".

[pagpow]

Originally Posted by ferider

The CLE 40 and 90 Rokkors are superb. Have no fear.

+1 Buy now.

Run, do not walk. Rokkor great.

I'll let others deal w. the issue of frames on the M9 -- because unfortunately, I have not yet made the "mistake" of buying an M9 while out for a walk.

Now that I see how well that has worked out, I'm considering it.

[Brian Sweeney]

The first lens I used on my M9 was the Summarit-M 50/1.5. Trying to find an IR cut filter in 41mm- hard. Putting the Summarit on the M9, easy. Low contrast lenses were MADE for digital.

[Phil_F_NM]

The new 35 Summarit is supposedly fantastic and causing quite a stir here and elsewhere.
I love my M9 with a 2nd generation 35 Summilux for a walkaround lens. If you're looking for an inexpensive stop-gap then you won't go wrong with a clean Summaron. The /2.8 is an amazing lens. I have the /3.5 and love it, though it's almost welded to my IIIf so the M9 usually has a 35 'Lux on.
I recently got *another* 50mm rigid Summicron for less than $300 USD and though it has a few coating marks and the barrel isn't pretty, it's also an amazing lens. The first 2 generations of 50 'Crons are the finest optics that Leica ever produced, in my opinion. The rigid 'Crons also are usually very cheap these days.
The 40 Summicron C or the Minolta version is fantastic for a single lens to keep stuck to an M9. You can't go wrong there! I loved the 40/2 years ago while I had it.
Really, there are a bunch of fantastic low cost options in the "normal" focal length range, even from Leica without having to resort to the CV offerings. While they are good, they aren't comparable to a rigid 'Cron or a Summaron 2.8 in optics or build quality.

Phil Forrest

[FrankS]

"Somehow?"

Ricky: Luuucy, you got some esplanin' to do!

[ferider]

Originally Posted by photomoof

I don't care what anyone says, but you will NEVER regret buying a Leica lens for your new camera.

Easy to say if you don't have to sleep in the dog house, Fred

[jaapv]

These Minolta lenses are excellent on the M9. I had the 40 mm Summicron (very similar) modified and coded as Summicron 35. The framelines are accurate, actually more so than with a 35 mm lens . It outperforms many a new lens. The same goes for the 90.

[braver]

Lol, yeah, got to admire the style

The 40mm summicron-c is still one of the best lenses I've used, and certainly the best bargain.

[theno23]

The CV 35/1.7 is good, though apparently there's quite a bit of variablility.

Old 50mm Summicrons can be got very cheaply, and work very well on the M9 too. I've got one from 1970 or so, it looks a mess, but works very well.

I'm sympathetic with owning a M9, but only having cheap lenses — I have a mixture of older, and 3rd party stuff, and modern ASPHs. If you like rangerfinders, and diigtal bodies it's really the best option, and some of the cheap lenses are really very good.

[Pablito]

Originally Posted by Pherdinand

LOL,this is just so funny.
You buy an M9 and then, you want to get a lens: "something cheap for awhile".

uh, yeah, funny? bizarre.

[dogberryjr]

Originally Posted by doolittle

Nice one, buying an M9 by mistake, I love your style.
My father in law once bought a classic car off ebay by mistake (genuinely, he was new to the whole thing).
Though I can't talk, I once went to buy a lens cap and ended up with an M3.

Well, you had to have SOMETHING to hang the lens cap on, otherwise it would have been a waste of money.

[tlitody]

That camera dealer must be smiling and thinking these punters just don't know what they want. Two in week buy a top camera and come back and change it before they've had a chance to even try iy out properly.

As to the lens, can't you trade the wife in for a summilux 1.4/50?

[Shane Guthrie]

Originally Posted by jaapv

These Minolta lenses are excellent on the M9. I had the 40 mm Summicron (very similar) modified and coded as Summicron 35. The framelines are accurate, actually more so than with a 35 mm lens . It outperforms many a new lens. The same goes for the 90.

That's very good to know. I love the one I've got – very small and doesn't get knocked against things taking it everywhere. Have problems with sharpness at f2, but that's my skill problem and probably short baseline of CL.