m9, m10p and m10r. WB has been corrected in post using the color checker. I actually had several different scenes to share. But on those, I set all 3 to the same kelvin in-camera thinking it would be comparable. But it produced such dramatically different results that I failed those scenes by not adding in a grey card. But it actually helped me learn how adjust the white balance for each camera since they are all very different.
Anyway back to it. The profiles used in Lightroom are the respective “embedded” profiles. No other edits. Which camera took which picture do you think?
Last photo seems to have the most intense colors which could indicate that this was taken with the M9. Hard to tell in the web-size photos which one comes with higher resolution and DR - it is a rough guess, but maybe image #2 with M10R and image #1 with M10P?
I agree with all of you. Once white balance is corrected the differences subside quite a bit.
There is no way to not include a LR profile except to share SOOC jpgs, which I’ll do later today from this same scene. The “embedded” profiles have the least amount of processing.
To me the middle picture reminds me the most of the M9. Mostly by the color of the sky and the more red/ warm colors.
I'm amazed by the difference of vignetting. That middle picture seems to have no vignetting while the other two do.
Fred Miranda wrote:
The M10-P and R have similar color output but it looks like the middle image was taken with the M9.
I'd say: M10-R, M9 and M10-P.
Also the M9 has the older style contrast curve, less contrasty SOOC. M9 also over correct the vignette so it stood out from the rest. Didn't have experience with both the M10 series but I remembered a brief test shows that the P has more pink rendering than the R.
The M9 contrary to popular believe, has less saturations SOOC. It was notorious for being highly saturated due to limited dynamic range, moving sliders when editing the images will make the colors pop and saturated easily.
Those that said the middle image is the m9 were right. Fred was right on all 3 images. The order is m10r, m9, m10p. The reds on the m9 are a dead giveaway.
Even when set to the same color temperature, the m9 is cooler than the other two (by ~1000k). The m10r has more magenta than the other two. The m10p is warmer than the other two.
I can’t explain the lack of vignetting on the m9 compared to the other two, especially on the DNGs. It’s still there even with lens profiles turned off.
lifeandmylens wrote:
I can’t explain the lack of vignetting on the m9 compared to the other two, especially on the DNGs. It’s still there even with lens profiles turned off.
I suspect the CCD stack was always much thinner than the CMOS. The sensor on the M8 was incredibly sharp (I guess the crop helps too). But I would take the ease of handling the later cameras any day.
lifeandmylens wrote:
Those that said the middle image is the m9 were right. Fred was right on all 3 images. The order is m10r, m9, m10p. The reds on the m9 are a dead giveaway.
Even when set to the same color temperature, the m9 is cooler than the other two (by ~1000k). The m10r has more magenta than the other two. The m10p is warmer than the other two.
I can’t explain the lack of vignetting on the m9 compared to the other two, especially on the DNGs. It’s still there even with lens profiles turned off.
The original sensor had moderately corrected vignette, but it also under correct the color cast, I shot both 35/28 summicron asph and both had magenta/red edges. For some weird reason the non corrosive new sensor became the way it is now. When shooting stopped down the corners now became slightly brighter than normal, not so natural looking. Also if you look closely, certain lens like the 28mm summicron the corners now has subtle greenish tint to it...
I didn't play but I guessed the M9 immediately. I didn't bother with the other two. I'm highly sensitive to the magenta cast in the CCD Leica's and over the years I've grown to dislike it more and more. When I had my M9's I also kept using the UV/IR filters as well. Something else I'm sensitive to. I adored my M9's but I was happy to have the colour of the M(240). Same with the S2 to S007 change. I know a lot of people loved the CCD colours. I wasn't one of them. I did love the contrast and the *bite* the files had. But personally, I'm happy with the colour of the modern Leica's.
Then again, I preferred Ektachrome and Fujichrome over Kodachrome. So I have no taste and make poor life choices.....
The colors produced by the M9 are highly distinct and easily noticeable. If the comparison had included the M11, it would have exhibited a noticeable difference as well. Personally, I prefer the color rendering of the M10 series bodies over the M11, despite the M11 delivering more accurate colors in my opinion.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Which camera did you keep. All three?
Hah! Your website is a bad influence on me. Too much temptation!
I actually sold the m9 shortly after this. Really liked the nostalgia feeling from it but in reality it was frustrating - mostly the buffer and the colors. I had to spend more time in post tweaking white balance and colors on it (to my taste) than the other two cameras.
I was left with the m10r and m10p. Love them both, more than the m11. But I discovered the m10-d and quickly fell in love. So I decided to keep the m10p and m10d if for no other reason than both having the same sensor and output.
lifeandmylens wrote:
Hah! Your website is a bad influence on me. Too much temptation!
I actually sold the m9 shortly after this. Really liked the nostalgia feeling from it but in reality it was frustrating - mostly the buffer and the colors. I had to spend more time in post tweaking white balance and colors on it (to my taste) than the other two cameras.
I was left with the m10r and m10p. Love them both, more than the m11. But I discovered the m10-d and quickly fell in love. So I decided to keep the m10p and m10d if for no other reason than both having the same sensor and output....Show more →
I had a similar experience where I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with the M9 for a couple of years. However, in the end, I found that I preferred the files from the M10-P or M10-R the most and didn't quite warm up to the M11. After careful consideration, I decided to go with the M10-R, and I'm happy with my choice.
Although I wouldn’t argue that a M9 is quite a peculiar choice in 2023, I love it and chose it for the quirks of the output, budget was part of it of course but still was drawn to it and toward Leica because of it.
I use my more color accurate Nikon Z6 II less for I prefere what I get from the M9.
I have not tried other Leica models so my opinion is surely a bit biased.
