Thread: Naked Eye: M9 and X-Pro1

I can see why people do comparisons between lenses, cameras etc and I am one of those guilty of analyzing photography gear to death prior to making a purchase. It has become a lot less important to me now as I have realised that test results do not always tell the full story, some things that other people see as drawbacks I see as beneficial.

I have been using the Leica M digital system for the past year using both the M8 and now M9 and am the first to admit that it is not a perfect system. There are design issues such as poor high ISO performance and slow buffering speeds then there are impediments to shooting such as minimum focus distances and the inability to use long lenses. Then there are the "flaws" that I embrace - prime lenses only, manual focus, manual exposure settings and basic user interface. Then there are the things that enticed me into the system originally - access to glass that is peerless and using it with the system it was designed for, rangefinder focussing, quality workmanship and heritage.

To me it is hard to put a value on some of those things and the Leica is always going to get "the next big thing" compared to it because it is bloody expensive. But justifiably so to me.

Fuji built a camera nearly identical in size and shape to the M9. They directly referenced it in their early discussions on the camera. It's only natural for other to make that comparison. Especially when the XP1 has those functions (macro, long lens capability, AF, high ISO performance) that the M9 lacks. There are exactly three reasons to buy an M9. The handling, the rangefinder and the lenses. Using a M is about the experience as much as the results. It's understandable that people are going to see if they can get a similar experience from a camera that seems to fill the M9's holes at a lower cost. The author concludes that they're to be used side by side and not exclusively. Since I agree with him I think that he's done a great job.

The Fuji is like the digital love child of an Xpan and a Contax G2. Since both of those don't get made any more the only logical comparison is the M9.

Gordon

I've not read all this stuff - I've stopped reading such stuff and i wish people would stop trying to compare Leica M with anything else

All I know is that I used my M8 today, (in the pouring rain) - it is so so easy to use - M glass is magnificent - and it is a joy to hold and shoot with......... every time I go back to it - it IS just so much better than all your M43 and SCs and whatever

Look, I'm just a OAP, (old average photographer), but for me - at 28mm/35mm and 50mm nothing competes with a Leica M .............. period

at longer focals it's got to be a Nikon DSLR

I have a used M9 in sight and I don't mind spending the money on one

I would think if you can hold off until the M10 is announced shortly that there will be a flood of used M9s on the market, but maybe that won't affect the price.

Originally Posted by Luke

I would think if you can hold off until the M10 is announced shortly that there will be a flood of used M9s on the market, but maybe that won't affect the price.

I'm sensitive about what mega mega pixel will do to my present computing capacity - iMac and MBP

I reckon that if I bought a D800, for example, I would have to upgrade both, plus additional storage, plus big expensive CF cards, plus maybe a better screen - I think that once these cams are producing 34mp+ RAW files this is going to hit a lot of people

Originally Posted by BillN

I'm sensitive about what mega mega pixel will do to my present computing capacity - iMac and MBP

I reckon that if I bought a D800, for example, I would have to upgrade both, plus additional storage, plus big expensive CF cards, plus maybe a better screen - I think that once these cams are producing 34mp+ RAW files this is going to hit a lot of people

I'm there now Bill and I'm just using this measly 12mp GXR. My laptop screen is not big enough, my hard drive is full, and my machine croaks now when I try to run a couple apps along with Aperture. (My MacBook Pro is 5 years old).

So I'm there already Bill! Plus I've developed a hankering for a used M9 too. My Leica 40 on my GXR has told me enough. Plus on my GXR, I don't give a rip about all of that other stuff that gets in the way. All I want is easy access to Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO and Exposure Compensation.

I've been holding off on a new laptop for I'm hoping Apple will hurry and announce an updated one. But I keep looking at their refurbished models. I also have a NEC 22" display in my wish list folder at B&H to finally really look at what I'm doing.

So I'm hoping this month of May will see some ground breaking news, i.e.; Leica M10 and new Apple MacBook Pro.

Originally Posted by Luke

I would think if you can hold off until the M10 is announced shortly that there will be a flood of used M9s on the market, but maybe that won't affect the price.

I considered that before purchasing mine, but unless the folks at Leica are extremely good at keeping secrets and spreading false rumors, the rumor mill strongly indicates that what will be announced is a B&W only M body and that the M9 successor will be announced in September. If that is indeed the case, I do not think M9 prices will be significantly impacted by the announcement.

Still, I was able to get $1,000 off the price of mine (reason why I bought an M9P instead of an M9 - discount was not available on the M9) even though the dealer swore that it had nothing to do with the upcoming announcement.

In any event, there is no reason now not to wait (it's only one more week) unless it's a really good deal and you risk losing it.

Cheers,

Antonio

It seems like your doing it right, Duane... spending the money on lenses, that you can always use on a new GXR body down the road, or maybe even a M10. In the meantime, you are getting great shots out of that pitiful, outdated GXR!

Originally Posted by krugorg

It seems like your doing it right, Duane... spending the money on lenses, that you can always use on a new GXR body down the road, or maybe even a M10. In the meantime, you are getting great shots out of that pitiful, outdated GXR!

Thanks krugorg!

you guys with storage issues have heard of external drives right? Jan 1 every year I dump all my photos off onto an external and then back it up to another external. I have 2 drives with the same library of pics (What are the odds of them both failing at the same time). Keeps the laptop running lean and mean. I rarely go through old photos anyways and if I do, I just plug in one of the externals.