Boris, KL and Luka, thank a lot guys
Luka, these set of shots are beautiful. Great lighting and feel to these shots
Boris, very nice shots! Beautiful rendering
KL, if your RF is misaligned, try and find some one local that can get the M9 first set as per a master calibration, and then check your lenses. Maybe the RF has not shifted, but using the M9 more, you have become more aware of the lenses.
I did have this problem with the 50 Lux Asph, when I first purchased it second hand, mid distances were way off, so it was sent to Solms and fixed under warranty. The lens is perfect now! With respect to the stiff focus ring, it may just require the correct lubricant. Having had all my lenses now checked and recalibrated where needed, a number of lenses were re lubricated and the stiffness disappeared. Cheeers.
KL, my M9 has been to Solms twice for rangefinder calibration. What happened the first time is not entirely certain but my best guess is that it was slightly off out of the box and that I made matters worse when I tried to calibrate it myself. The second time was after I dropped the camera and thought the vertical calibration was off by a hair. Leica disagreed after checking the camera saying it was dead on.
As for the focus ring stiffness, it varies between the lenses. My 35 Lux ASPH has a slightly looser focusing ring than my 75 Cron which is looser than my 50 Lux ASPH which in turn is much looser than my 90 Cron V3. The stiffness of the 90 Cron is welcome though as it facilitates exact focusing. The 75 Cron is somewhat too loose in my opinion while my 50 Lux ASPH copy is just perfect.
One interesting thing is that the aperture ring on the 50 has a different, more dampened feel than on my other Leica lenses. I'm guessing it's the difference between the chrome (brass) and black (aluminium) versions. Charles, have you noticed this difference as well?
denoir wrote:
As for the perfect camera for it, well, I can only say that I love my M9. That should be interpreted very literaly. It's a personal and not always rational evaluation. All I can say however is that right now I'm very unhappy when I have to use my 5DII or any other camera. The various objective limitations of the M9 have become a non-issue for me. And my currently favorite combo is the M9 + 50 Lux ASPH. I could give up all my other gear and I'd still be reasonably happy
Haha, this is funny to read for me, and probably for anyone who recalls what strong statements you made about live view, accurate framing and so on, way back when you didn't have the M9.
One day I'll join you guys with a FF digital M, but for now I am considering even selling my M8u, since I just use it so rarely. I think I would rather reinvest that money and wait for the M10. At the moment it just sits there and loses value
That's why I'm saying it's not always a rational evaluation. What I said about accurate framing and live view are all indisputable facts. The M9 has plenty of shortcomings and there are other cameras that do many things better. However the fact that the 5DII has a much better screen and live view doesn't prevent me from preferring the M9.
Think of it this way. Most people can objectively see that their spouse/girlfriend/partner isn't perfect but few in the end would 'trade up' to a better looking and smarter alternative. Same thing here - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
carstenw wrote:
One day I'll join you guys with a FF digital M, but for now I am considering even selling my M8u, since I just use it so rarely. I think I would rather reinvest that money and wait for the M10. At the moment it just sits there and loses value
When the M10 comes, you could wait for the M11 - I'm sure it will be much improved and so on. If you really want a FF digital M then denying yourself it for years is pointless. There will always be some future better model.
And as much as I'd like an M10 with live view and a better LCD, I can't see Leica releasing one any time soon. Not while they are earning piles of money off the M9. I think that if we're lucky we'll see one in three or four years. Look how old the current Canonikon FF cameras are and consider that Leica is a far smaller company with much longer turnaround times for a product.
Well, you were just full of facts back then. Now that you are married, you see it differently, I guess
I would at the very least like to have better LCD resolution, to judge the sharpness after capture, which with the 18MP sensor is so much more important than the 10MP of the M8. Live view would be good, but for me, the D3 has that, and I don't really need it in two cameras. I would like to see some kind of frame/rangefinder improvement too. Other than that, I could live with an M9, but 5000 Euro is a lot of money for a camera which I would be annoyed by daily.
In any case, it is not like I am suffering. I have the D3 and some Zeiss glass, as well as some other interesting specialty lenses, so I suppose that will keep me going for some time before I start to itch for another M.
I am curious about the strength of your statement about the 5DII though (on the previous page). You sound like it is almost torture to use it now. What is it about it which bothers you?
Charles and Luka, your pictures are always stunning.
Thanx for sharing!
I have some M8 pictures to share.
The pictures have been taken on 26th of March in Munich. This was a demonstration against nuclear power, trigged by the disaster in Japan. I did not demonstrate but it was a great opportunity to take some pictures!
I hate and love the M8. Most annoying for me are crop, live view, ISO and filter issues. Handling and portability are great, though. I was considering selling my 5Dii and some other Canon gear to finance a M9, but I could not convince myself to make that move. The 5D has a lot to offer.
carstenw wrote:
Well, you were just full of facts back then. Now that you are married, you see it differently, I guess
The facts are the same. The way I feel about them is different.
Other than that, I could live with an M9, but 5000 Euro is a lot of money for a camera which I would be annoyed by daily.
That's very unlikely. You'll learn to live with the shortcomings just like you've learned to live with the shortcomings of the D3. I mean, seriously, if I who wasn't exactly a Leica fan to begin with could learn to love the M9, I'm sure you could too.
Anyway, if you are going to get rid of your M8, you should get a NEX or sell your Leica glass. I think it is bad enough that I have good quality Canon glass collecting dust, but to leave lenses like the 50 Lux ASPH unused.. that's just criminal
I am curious about the strength of your statement about the 5DII though (on the previous page). You sound like it is almost torture to use it now. What is it about it which bothers you?
Simply put, size, weight and handheld operation. It's just so big and clumsy compared to the M9 - especially if you carry a backpack full of heavy lenses to go along with it. The M9 is just much nicer to bring along for casual photography.
If I start doing more tripod based photography then I'm sure the 5DII will get more use.
denoir wrote:
That's very unlikely. You'll learn to live with the shortcomings just like you've learned to live with the shortcomings of the D3. I mean, seriously, if I who wasn't exactly a Leica fan to begin with could learn to love the M9, I'm sure you could too.
It is possible, but I do know the body and operation very well. I used the M8 pretty much exclusively for about 3 1/2 years, and the M9 is really not very different. Mostly it just has more resolution and better IQ, if we ignore the FF argument (which adds to the IQ mainly).
Anyway, if you are going to get rid of your M8, you should get a NEX or sell your Leica glass. I think it is bad enough that I have good quality Canon glass collecting dust, but to leave lenses like the 50 Lux ASPH unused.. that's just criminal
Well, I don't think I will. I don't like the NEX cameras at all, really, and anyway, having a 1.5x crop factor instead of 1.3x would also annoy me quite a bit. I will definitely not sell my glass. I have four of the best lenses ever made for M cameras. Only something wide is missing. Selling now, I would probably have to pay more when I buy them back one day.
Effectively, I am not in a hurry. I enjoy my photography immensely at the moment, and see no need to change anything drastically. I will make my strategic move, and see what happens with time. I might even take the money from the M8 and buy a nice wide angle lens.
If I start doing more tripod based photography then I'm sure the 5DII will get more use.
You used to do exactly that, so you had to stop doing it before you ended up here. Is it a phase, do you think?
I think actually the weather has a lot to do with it. I did my tripod based photography when it was warm and pleasant outside. Quite a bit of it was at dusk/night. So I might return to it now when it's warmer outside. Another contributing factor was that new gear is always more fun to use and the change of season coincided with me getting the M9 and it in turn is really not good for tripod based use. I guess I'll see what happens
I've been using my Pentax 67 a bunch of times recently, although I have yet to develop the film. Although in terms of size it is the antithesis of the M9, I'm thoroughly enjoying its clunky mechanical operation. Unlike the 5DII, I can't be tempted to bring along a pile of lenses as I only have one for it. I have also recently been thinking about perhaps getting a film M - perhaps an M6.
In the long run I'm hoping for a 6x7 digital medium format camera with live view. But I'm guessing I'll have to wait for that as long as you'll be waiting for the M10
Haha, I think the M10 will get there first. I don't think Leica will wait until they stop selling the M9 before making the M10. That wouldn't be clever. They also have a design department which has been somewhat idle, and they need something to do. I am sure that the design is already under way, with feasibility studies and what-not. They need to source some nice screens. I can imagine that they might make some changes to the rangefinder, after the M9 Ti. I don't know if they will add live view, simply because I don't know where they would get the sensor. Kodak doesn't make that kind of thing, to my knowledge. There is also Dalsa, but that is perhaps not that likely. Sony?
In fact, what *would* be clever is if they partially redesign the M9 for easier production and easier maintainability. The rangefinder is probably the primary culprit here. Some weather sealing also would not hurt. I find it interesting that Leica and Magnum now have a partnership, and I can only imagine that the feedback they get from this will be along these exact lines. The camera is great, but there are specific things which could be improved.
I recently swapped my Hasselblad 2000FC/M for a 203FE, and I am itching to use it, but I have not started yet. I feel like I have unfinished work with my D3. I guess I should formalize all the work I have been doing with it, put together a few galleries, and see what I still feel is missing for things to feel complete. Then maybe I will start with the 203FE, probably with the 50/2.8 and 110/2. I do want to send the kit in for a tune-up, as it is kinda old and I suspect that it isn't completely fresh, especially the 110/2.
Sony most likely. That's what they turned to for the X1, if I'm not mistaken. As for the general design, I suspect that the Leica design department is about as proactive as the Porsche 911 design department.
When it comes to features, I've posted this before, but this is my wish list for the M10:
1. Live view
2. Improved screen resolution and image preview function
3. Improved high ISO performance
4. Electronically coupled rangefinder
5. Better handling of RAW files (lens corrections should not be applied to the RAW file itself, better DNG profile etc)
6. Faster software & electronics.
7. Ultrasonic sensor cleaning function
As for which will be released first - the M10 vs a 6x7 digital sensor, want to bet a beer?
Sure If the M10 comes out first, you buy me a beer the first time we meet. If a 6x7 sensor comes out first (no scanning sensors!), then I'll buy you a beer when we meet
I like your list, although I am not hung up on the lens correction change, nor the live view. I really cannot imagine using the M10 in live view mode. There are other features which go well with live view, and a DSLR is a better platform for such things, IMO. But it wouldn't bother me either.
I would like to add the most important thing of all:
0. Make the body the same dimensions as the original Leica M6, available in chrome.
The M8 feels great, the M6 feels perfect. I would also like to add one more feature:
8. Make the shutter at least as silent as the M8.2/M8u.
And I agree with you that the form factor of the M6 would be nice. As for live view, I find it a necessity for precise focusing - regardless of platform. Using framelines for composing and rangefinder focusing from a tripod is just atrocious - not to say wildly inaccurate. I've really been appalled each time I had to use the M9 from a tripod. Live view would resolve that and I could then think of ditching my DSLR gear.
The shutter volume doesn't bother me as it is but it would not bother me if it was more quiet.
The lens correction thing isn't all that important, but it's really a stupid implementation that they've done. A RAW file should be as raw as possible. Right now you can ruin your images if you happen to set the wrong manual lens configuration.
I find it interesting that you would at least in theory consider ditching your DSLR if the M10 had live view (and whatever else on the list, I presume). It still can't do macro, tilt/shift (I guess live view could eliminate this, but there are still no lenses), tele (i.e. not great for wildlife), auto-focus (i.e. not great for fast sports, moving kids and animals), high framerates, and so on. Does this mean that you do enough of your photography from 18-90mm with manual focus that you would give up the rest?
carstenw wrote:
Haha, I think the M10 will get there first....
I don't know if they will add live view, simply because I don't know where they would get the sensor. Kodak doesn't make that kind of thing, to my knowledge. There is also Dalsa, but that is perhaps not that likely. Sony?
In fact, what *would* be clever is if they partially redesign the M9 for easier production and easier maintainability. The rangefinder is probably the primary culprit here. Some weather sealing also would not hurt. I find it interesting that Leica and Magnum now have a partnership, and I can only imagine that the feedback they get from this will be along these exact lines. The camera is great, but there are specific things which could be improved.
....Show more →
Kodak shut down its CMOS division sometime last year, and I don't believe DALSA makes any CMOS sensors in 35mm format. If Leica wants to stick to CCD, it looks like Leica's options are getting pretty limited. I wonder if Sony with their new BSI in SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology might be a worthy contender. A company like Leica can easily absorb the additional process costs of SOI.
carstenw wrote:
I find it interesting that you would at least in theory consider ditching your DSLR if the M10 had live view (and whatever else on the list, I presume). It still can't do macro, tilt/shift (I guess live view could eliminate this, but there are still no lenses), tele (i.e. not great for wildlife), auto-focus (i.e. not great for fast sports, moving kids and animals), high framerates, and so on. Does this mean that you do enough of your photography from 18-90mm with manual focus that you would give up the rest?
I could imagine doing this. I have no autofocus lenses, I have no lens longer than 100mm, I don't do macros anymore, I seldom use tilt/shift, I don't need high framerates. Sounds like a M10 could be the perfect camera for me. But only if it gets lifeview since I nearly always work from a tripod.
carstenw wrote:
I find it interesting that you would at least in theory consider ditching your DSLR if the M10 had live view (and whatever else on the list, I presume). It still can't do macro, tilt/shift (I guess live view could eliminate this, but there are still no lenses), tele (i.e. not great for wildlife), auto-focus (i.e. not great for fast sports, moving kids and animals), high framerates, and so on. Does this mean that you do enough of your photography from 18-90mm with manual focus that you would give up the rest?
I was happy with being limited to 21-100mm Zeiss lenses on the 5DII, so I don't see why I'd have a problem with it on the M9. Sure, I've kept some longer lenses and lenses with AF, but I really don't use them at all. I'm only keeping them "just in case".
So when it comes to focal lengths and AF, I don't really see a a change compared to how I use a DSLR today.
so many beautiful samples, Luka your last set is appealing!
