Leica M-9 for general purpose photography?

W44NNE

W44NNE

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I currently have a Nikon D800 and whilst I like it an awful lot, I keep hearing "m9", "m9", "m9"!!

So I'm wondering how they fare in an all-round aspect? Are they purely a street shooter or are they more versatile than this?

My current usage is...

- Landscapes
- Lower light shots of dusk and lit up buildings at night
- Macro photography of objects around the house, generally requiring bounce flash
- The occasional Motorsport event where I like to capture the odd bit of track action as well as candid shots around the pits

Would the M-9 fit the bill or would it be more of a partner to a D800?
 
Hey there,
Please don't take this the wrong way but it sounds like you're trying to justify a case of G.A.S (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). For the needs you describe, an M9 wouldn't even be a 'partner' to your D800.
When I hear something like this I want to ask 'why?'
You have a professional full frame top grade camera with incredible focusing, low light performance, etc. etc. You really couldn't ask for more. So for just general use it's beyond fitting the bill. Why aren't you happy with this?
Buying a more 'exclusive' or expensive camera won't make you take better photographs I'm afraid. Sure it'll give you a buzz having new kit for a while but the thing isn't to invest in more expensive kit; it's to invest in your photographic education (and thats mainly time).

With regards to the M9. It's a beautiful camera sure, but ISO performance on the D800 completely eclipses it, and as for auto-focus for sports....well...the M9 is completely manual.

:exit:
 
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I don't think an M9 will come anywhere close to meeting your expectations for the type of photography you've described, although it would probably hold its own for landscapes. The D800 will do everything you want very well indeed, why make things difficult for yourself?

OTOH, if you want an M9, and you can afford it, just buy one. Practicality isn't everything. I've always wanted an M3, but I don't have any compelling reason to get one. I just think they're lovely, and I have a fondness for beautifully engineered cameras/lenses - and other things - particularly if they're a bit idiosyncratic and have some history behind them; but I don't have the money for a rather self indulgent purchase right now. Maybe one day.
 
Sorry I should have explained. I'm not at all unhappy with the photos of the d800, and I certainly don't expect better out of the Leica. However the looks and portability compared to the nikon definitely appeal, especially for holidays etc.
 
I had a Leica M9 and a D800, although now sold the M9 and kept the D800. The M9 is a camera at home on the streets, portraits or landscapes. It would be very annoying to use for macro or anything moving quickly. Low light getting it to focus is good due to the rangefinder, but the high ISO is terrible. If it was me I'd look at the Sony A7 or A7R with some Leica glass which is superb, but expensive. I always felt there was something special about the M9 images with the Leica glass and the CCD sensor, but the Sony cameras look so versatile.
 
W44NNE said:
Sorry I should have explained. I'm not at all unhappy with the photos of the d800, and I certainly don't expect better out of the Leica. However the looks and portability compared to the nikon definitely appeal, especially for holidays etc.
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I don't shoot Nikon but if I did and had M9 money burning a hole in my pocket my gear lust would be pulling me to a Nikon Df.

Pete
 
viewfromthenorth said:
The Fuji X-Pro looks very similar to the M9, does everything an M9 does, works well at high ISO's and is a fraction of the price. It doesn't have the red dot though. That may or may not be a deal breaker.
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It's not full frame or a rangefinder though. The X-pro is nice, but I wouldn't class it as a rival to the M9.
 
Thanks for the replies and I've taken all your points on board.

I did consider a Sony A7/A7R but the lenses are just as large as my D800 so I'd save very little space/gain very little extra mobility.

The DF looks great but again, is barely any different in size to my D800.

The Fujis look great on paper but looking at the sample images from users on flickr, I just couldn't get excited.

I think the D800 will stay but I just wish we had the technology available for a smaller form factor system in terms of lenses as well.

There's a Leica store a few miles from me though so just to scratch the itch, I need to at least have a play around with one :-D
 
An A7R and M mount lenses via an adapter is a discreet package, plus you can mount almost anything on these new Sony cameras and their sensor is about as good as it gets. The focus peaking might get you more keepers than the rangefinder of the M9. Stephens Photo Centre of Manchester is a good dealer plus Red Dot Camera I can recommend if you want a closer look into Leica. Once you have a feel and a play of them you will become hooked though, so be careful picking up any £7k lenses and £5k bodies!
 
Go to a shop and try one out and see what you think about it. You may just have to have one for some things.
 
Another vote for Sony

W44NNE said:
Thanks for the replies and I've taken all your points on board.

I did consider a Sony A7/A7R but the lenses are just as large as my D800 so I'd save very little space/gain very little extra mobility.

The DF looks great but again, is barely any different in size to my D800.

The Fujis look great on paper but looking at the sample images from users on flickr, I just couldn't get excited.

I think the D800 will stay but I just wish we had the technology available for a smaller form factor system in terms of lenses as well.

There's a Leica store a few miles from me though so just to scratch the itch, I need to at least have a play around with one :-D
Click to expand...

Which lenses are you referring to?

You can mount just about any lens on the planet
 
Go and play with an M9- it is completely different from anything mentioned above. Minimal and lovely to shoot with. It will be idea for street, photo and travel style photography. It is wonderful for recording life around you. the fairly unique sensor has a look that no other camera has managed and with some of the great RF lenses out there the PQ is superb. I found the ISO usable up to 1600. Yes, the D800 will do all of it and more but having the sheer size of the camera and its lenses makes it less portable and more noticeable when you are out with it. As an SLR it also doesn't have the RF bonus of being able to watch outside the frame lines, which really can help you frame a photo.

The M9 and the other leica RF cameras (I also had an M6) are a completely different way of shooting and as objects the cameras are beautiful. I sold mine as my eyesight didn't allow me to focus well enough, especially as my main subject is a small, fast moving boy! Hence the 5D3.

It is one of those things that if you get the itch you just have to scratch it. Go try one out and see how it suits you!
 
I had a play with an m9 comparing to the d300 I have... Loved it... just the price...

However I am now really wanted (hence saving) for the m (240) but the glass will have to be voigtlander. I'm really only interested in wide and a nice portrait lens set... although... 90mm... hmmm ;)


I'd go and try it. I personally liked the manual focus and the image over image in the view finder.

Tobers pictures (if you search on here) has a thread about his use with the leica, really good read and some leica glass images to boot. Worth searching and reading it all if you are considering. But if the store is close, I found the sales people understanding and helpful.
 
The M9 won't (really) do macro or sports.

That being said, if you want one then sell the the D800 and buy one and pick up a cheaper crop-body for the things it can't do. The Leica will give you a very different experience to an SLR and I'm a firm believer that photography can be as much about the experience as the result.
 
W44NNE said:
I did consider a Sony A7/A7R but the lenses are just as large as my D800 so I'd save very little space/gain very little extra mobility.
Click to expand...

Noooooooo. Where on earth did you get that idea? :D

If you get a Leica you'll be using manual lenses not big fat modern fly by wire IS jobbies and you can do the same on an A7. It's true that you need an adapter but the package is still small and you have the option of mounting a quite compact AF lens should you wish to do so and that's something you can't do with a Leica.

Here's my A7 with a MASSIVE Monolta 50mm f1.4 lens next to a 5D with Sigma 50mm f1.4 and a Panasonic G1 with Voigtlander 25mm f0.95. As you can the the A7 combo isn't exectly the size of a suit case :D

 
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