Reading mode: Light Dark

One year with the Leica M9. A review.

Go to last post
D

Dirk67

Forum Enthusiast
Messages
254
Reaction score
63
Location
US
I have been using my M9 for exactly one year now and decided to write down some thoughts about this camera. This may be interesting to those who are thinking about purchasing this camera and hopefully still inspiring to those who are using it already. I hope it is an interesting read. English is not my first language but I gave it my best. Enjoy. D!RK

http://www.dirkahlgrim.com/wordpress/
 
I really enjoyed the read. Some great photos as well.

Not so sure about you in a photo booth though! ;-)
 
A very interesting read. Thank you very much. I also dislike the bottom plate and have ordered a Really Right Stuff aftermarket plate. I haven't received it yet, so I wonder if, like you, I shall stick to the original plate or the new one. Also good to hear you had no breakdowns at all.

Great images too...you are certainly the traveller!

Pete
 
Hi Nodrog

Try it out. You may like it. I am not a big fan doors at the bottom. I am not a big fan of doors and flaps in general. To me it is more an aesthetic decision versus a practical one. Yes, no breakdowns. This camera has been very reliable so far. Knock on wood.

D!RK
 
Great review! A very enjoyable read, humorous in parts, and I can relate to many of the stories. I remember the first dent in my brand new car (1 week old at the time). It cost me $500 to repair it! In retrospect, I have to wonder what I was thinking! :) Thankfully, my M9 has no dents so far.

Great images as well, my favorite is also the one of the girl, dog and passer by.

And yes, I've shared the link with a few friends.

Dana
--
http://danacvoss.blogspot.com/
 
Hi Edmond. Thanks for the feedback. I like that image too. I took it in Konstanz/Germany. Absolutely fine to tweet.

D!RK
 
In the end, what I have seen everwhere is that every single photograph no matter what... it's still only a photo. Something which someone used a machine to assist to capture a vision.

The more photo's I see the less I care about what equipment was used. Unless it's a requirement like a supertele for birding etc.

--
Life as an artist has had some unusual times to say the least.
visit my web site http://www.flickr.com/photos/artist_eyes/
Remember to click on 'All Sizes' for better viewing.
Artist Eyes
 
Dirk,

Thanks for an excellent and useful article, and for sharing your outstanding photographs. Our photography history is quite similar in that I had Leica M-3's a long time ago, but then moved away from rangefinders to the current Canon 5D Mk2, and Sigma SD-15. I really like Leica lenses and tried adapting Leica R lenses to the Canon and Sigma, but found it to be an unsatisfactory compromise. The S2 system is way out of my financial reach so the M-9 looked to be the answer to the quest for Leica glass plus FF digital sensor.

Your review convinced me to NOT invest in the M9 as my photography interests range from Formula 1 racing to macro photography which seem to be areas in which the M9 would not be suitable. Your article probably saved me a lot of money and a year or two of frustration. Thanks again for a great review.
 
Hi Alfaflash. Thank you for the kind words. Based on your photographic style I would think that the Leica M9 would be too limiting. There will always be people who will take good macro and sport photography with this rangefinder but it is not its ideal home. I would invest in good Canon glass to get the most out of it. And buy a simple lens, like the 50mm 1.4 just for nice walk-around photography. D!RK
 
Dirk67 said:
I have been using my M9 for exactly one year now and decided to write down some thoughts about this camera. This may be interesting to those who are thinking about purchasing this camera and hopefully still inspiring to those who are using it already. I hope it is an interesting read. English is not my first language but I gave it my best. Enjoy. D!RK

http://www.dirkahlgrim.com/wordpress/
Click to expand...
What a fantastic review. Such great thoughts and comparisons - amazing stuff, you could reall be a pro journalist (if you aren't already)

Excuse me now, I am going to read the rest of your blog :)
--
Dinko Jakovljevic

http://odin.zenfolio.com
 
Hi Odin. Thanks for your comment. I am not a professional journalist. I have a full time job (actually more than full time) as a design consultant and I use photography on the side. Sometimes I can combine both. I don't have enough time to do frequent updates to my blog but will do my best to share some thoughts here and there. My next review will most likely be on an 8x10 camera. Thanks for reading. D!RK

BTW I added some extra comments around White Balance and cost to the review.
 
I own humongous pro Canon and Nikon cameras that I shoot on the street, but need something small for social occasions. In NYC, I cannot afford to be without a camera, because so much is going on on the streets all the time.

Price is not an issue, but the time to meld with the camera would be.

Your review was very helpful in reminding me that most of the time when I need a small camera I need to shoot at high iso.

As weak in IQ as the alternatives are, the M9 cannot compete as a street camera in low light.

My search continues.

Thanks for the great review.

PS. Your street shots show excellent design, but you might want to experiment with getting more of the 'smell of the street' into them.
--
Frank
http://www.sidewalkshadows.com

All photos shot in downtown Manhattan unless otherwise noted.
Thanks in advance for the kindness of your comments or critiques.
 
A very honest, interesting and well written article along with many superb photos, dog with its head through the star shape brick is my favorite
 
fad said:
I own humongous pro Canon and Nikon cameras that I shoot on the street, but need something small for social occasions. In NYC, I cannot afford to be without a camera, because so much is going on on the streets all the time.

Price is not an issue, but the time to meld with the camera would be.

Your review was very helpful in reminding me that most of the time when I need a small camera I need to shoot at high iso.

As weak in IQ as the alternatives are, the M9 cannot compete as a street camera in low light.
Click to expand...
I disagree. How low-light do you need to shoot? This image was shot using a 35mm f/1.4 at dusk this winter. You are perhaps forgetting the quality of the lenses? Any darker and I would have been unable to focus at all. This was shot as a jpeg and has had no PP and has been cropped from the original.




fad said:
My search continues.

Thanks for the great review.

PS. Your street shots show excellent design, but you might want to experiment with getting more of the 'smell of the street' into them.
--
Frank
http://www.sidewalkshadows.com

All photos shot in downtown Manhattan unless otherwise noted.
Thanks in advance for the kindness of your comments or critiques.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top