Leica M9: Extended range

Baloney...

This "review" is submitted by an obvious Leica worshipper, There is no evidence to support what he is claiming that the Summilux "adds a higher level of definition to those JPEG files than previously possible"...

The fact is that the M9 is a very fine camera with fine lenses, but it still lags behind the top DSLRs on most real-world performance.

For a rangefinder, it's tops, but if you're looking for enlargement capabilities, you'd be better off using top Nikon or Canon gear...

Extended range???

I've used professionally and in earnest an M9 for more than a year now. I'd agree in part that it is a tremendous (yet absurdly overpriced) camera. The image quality and build is only what I would expect from a Solms product and while it has serious design flaws for a €5500 camera body the most serious of problems inherent with the M9 is that shooting in RAW, as most professionals practice, the processing time required to register more than 3 continuous frames is nothing short of a bad joke.
I didn't buy this camera to ponce about with and impress my friends nor so that I could go out and drop another £3750 on a "new" f1.4 Summilux. I bought it because as a Leica M photographer of 30 years experience I hope that it would serve me as long as my M2 has though I seriously doubt it will.
Few professional photojournalists can afford to buy this camera let alone two of them, never mind the 'latest' glass, which is a shame as Leica built their reputation on the backs of those whose names are synonymous with the brand.
Its all very well producing limited edition titanium models and the like which I hope helps them financially. Isn't however about time they realised that the professionals out there can ill afford to buy their products at 'luxury goods' prices? Its good but it ain't that good!

Fanboi

Don't you just love how pretentious the reviewer is:

The lens hood is a: "a perfectly formed flock-lined tool threaded in such a way to interlock when mated with the lens barrel at exactly the correct position".

Of course, if one doesn't quite put it on properly one is not using the camera properly...

And what's this load of bollocks:

"In the event of a catastrophe coming to pass in the days when transferring files from a card through a reader to the computer were sometimes fraught with errors and resulting file corruptions, so long as you had shot in raw, data could always be retrieved off the card. The same reliability did not apply to JPEGs."

Err. If the data is corrupt then it's corrupt. Regardless of what format it's in.

Is the author living in the real world.

It would appear not when the only reason for splashing all that extra cash is "more the look users of Leica film cameras are used to when shooting certain reversal emulsions."

When you read garbage like this it's little wonder that you think the BJP is losing touch with real world photographers

...

well that wan't worth reading...

Mountain View Taxi Service

I love photography.Specially when some one satisfy with the work i do , i feel more satisfaction and smile.

My 2c about M9

A great camera indeed still miles away from the quality of M3 MP and other film versions.
It's slower, noisier, vibrates all in one a step back. But stepping back from very very high levels gives you an excellent result though.
I keep it because it shares (if not 100%) the same lenses as film cameras and love rangefinders. The output is from a technical point of view inferior to the best japanese DSLR. The religion continues.

Compared to DSLR's

There is not, nor can there be any comparison with DSLR cameras, whether from Nikon or Canon or anyone one else. the criticisms levelled at the reviewr are piffle. This chap, like me, knows Leicas.
I use 8 Leicas from 1933 lol to. Modern MP. The price of cameras and lenses is high but, as Henry Royce said'The quality will remain when the price is forgotten.' Although the comments regarding RAW/JPEG are lost on me, (I do not use digital) the review of the M9 and latest 35 mm f1.4 are of interest especially the lens as I have an older version.

Nice article

I guess people either get Leica M9 or not.

I have it and the amazing Canon 5Dii.

I can say that the M9 sensor floors the Canon (and D700) at base ISO. Its gets more ropey as you increase the ISO.

Coupled with Leica glass you can get images no other non-medium format camera can deliver.

Is it worth it for everyone ? of course not.
But no other camera can combine this quality with suth a small and light package. Period.

M9, yes but..

The biggest problem with the M9, apart from the colossal price, is that there is nowhere to put the film.