First Shots with the Leica M9

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 05/08/2016

M9M? Monochrom? I try not to think about that camera ... I recently reviewed the RNI emulators, have you come across them - you might be interested int he post none the less. On the m9 colour, do you ever find the magenta shift in lips (for eg)?

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 07/08/2016

There is a little post - but nothing to colour (short of WB). I don't do anything too funky though, just basic adjustments and a slight tweak to the tone curve. For me the joy is not in the outcome, its in how easy it is to achieve

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 12/08/2016

You are going to have to link me to info some of these hacked lenses Brian!

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 14/08/2016

Hi Neil, I shall eventually share my full thoughts, and indeed have some thoughts about the M8 that might tide you over in my forthcoming review about that. In terms of longevity, I don't find myself worried. Leica are fixing a fault inherent in the sensors free of charge when it develops, so I don't have a worry there. Also, I really do think we all should give electronics more credit than we do. Think of all the electronic cameras from the 80s and 90s that are still going just fine. Leica will continue to fix these things for a long time too - all be it at a cost. I paid £1700 for mine, which is right on the edge of affordable for me (the credit card is a little more warm than I like), but now I have it, especially having dropped it once already, I feel very comfortable with it. It gives me so much of the Leica feel you mention that I'm having to almost force myself to use anything else at the moment. I do have a healthy dose of novelty factor I'm sure, but still, very happy! Compared to the sonys I shoot... Well, there's just no contest really.

Neil Woodman replied:

Comment posted: 14/08/2016

Thanks for the reply. £1700 is a really good price for one - you've done bloomin' well there! I've been looking at getting an M2 mainly because I like the idea of using something completely manual and I just love the appearance of the M2, without the self timer it looks like an MP/M-A really which I think are the most beautiful, elegant Leica's available. When I had my M6 the whole process of shooting was so simple and refined, it really ruined me for life with SLR's and anything else as nothing rightly compares to a Leica. I still however would love an M9, with the absolute ultimate being a Monochrom - waaay too expensive for me to consider, maybe in 10 years time. It's great that you have one anyway and I look forward to reading more about it as well as the M8.

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 14/08/2016

Hi Neil, this motivation toward simplicity of function is just something people either get or don't - I really get it, and it definitely sounds like you have been bitten by the bug! The M2 is a wonderful camera - especially if you shoot 35mm!!

Neil Woodman replied:

Comment posted: 14/08/2016

Hi, that is it exactly, simplicity of function! I was worried when I first got the M6, "there's no aperture priority!" but I quickly realised you don't need that. Your writing on the M2 has been one of the factors encouraging me to get one.

Des McSweeney replied:

Comment posted: 14/08/2016

hiya. Long time no see... tell me about your 35mm preference again please Hamish. Because of you ;-) I have an M2 I enjoy which I use predominantly with a nice early rigid 50mm and quite like what I see. Other than 'Henri'-like preferences what ticks your box particularly for 35 v 50 and more particularly 35 on this particular body. BTW I am really enjoying your meander with the M4 here and look forward to your conclusions later. But... though I know this stands outside your stated budget in the above, please do beg/borrow/not steal a Monochrom if you can. You are better placed than anyone I can think of to make the film/digital b&w comparison - it would be a great read. Someone out there will let you borrow one for for scientific purposes surely... (or that London retailer you have occasionally used who seems to have a load of them at the moment) All the best Des

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 14/08/2016

Yeah, the less function you use, the less function you need ... I think that why I now really only shoot fully manual Leicas ... You won't regret an M2! ;)

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 14/08/2016

Hi Des, I was thinking about you today, funnily enough - the M8 has sold to a mate, and I'm very close to publishing the review, keep an eye out... Anyway... 35mm like the rigid cron? - Maybe an 8 element summicron or a summaron from the same era? I've not shot either, but I'd anticipate a similar look to the images to the 50 cron Else, I've fallen back in love with my 35mm voigtlander 1.4... its a terrible lens if you care about objective qualities, but really it shines for people photography - an example: http://hamishgill.tumblr.com/post/149071620671/writing-practice-shot-with-the-leica-m-a As for the monochrom... one day...

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2016

So is yours an M9? I had an xpro1 for a while - I didn't like the results really - plastic looking to me...

Daniel replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2016

I had the M8 and within the last month of selling the Fuji X on, I have now got an M9. It seemed the logical move after just under a year of using the M8 as my go to. My plan was to sell the M8 with the Nokton 35mm and keep the Fuji for times when I feel AF et all would help, but this hasn't happened now. I'm weirdly attached to the M8 still and it gets used in equal measure. It feels a tad indulgent to keep both, however the M9 was covered mostly by selling the X-T and lenses so I'm not in an immediate rush to sell it on as yet. I wanted to be sure I was happy with the M9 first too before making any decisions. (which I am). To me, I found the M8 to give some really nice B&W files. Especially if you are shooting without an IR cut filter. I use it occasionally for Infrared too. Some say the M8 is slightly sharper but how close they are looking to the images here I don't know. I haven't found things any better or worse in that area. No doubt about it, the M9 is a more mature camera. Full frame, the quieter shutter, the dedicated ISO button and slightly improved ISO tick the boxes for me. Mine had the sensor replaced by Leica too with the new type which was a bonus. I've been equally impressed by both however. I get what you are saying about the plastic looking results. I think the system as a whole is great. I loved the 56mm 1.2 especially, but I wasn't always gelling with the RAW files, whereas the M felt a breeze I found. I know some will say that the photographer is more important than the camera itself and I agree but if it's a camera I really enjoy shooting with, along with less time in Lightroom, then it's a win for me.