Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey) USA

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

To me, the Leica M9's main purpose in life is to provide the platform for capturing stunning images via the amazingly sharp array of Leica lenses. The camera is not the most advanced, certainly not the fastest, and certainly no bargain price-wise. It has compactness going for it for sure and a wise choice for the travel photographer who shoots mainly street scenes and landscapes. For fast moving subjects, you'd better get an SLR. What a rangefinder offers is a much slower, more methodical approach to photography. If you like to shoot with long lenses, you'd better get a good DSLR. The longest lens offered for the Leica M-system is a 135 and it will try your patience to focus it sharply. Rangefinders and long lenses just don't play nice together - never have, never will. Where the M9 shines is with the wide to short-tele range of Leica lenses, and especially with the 28-50 range. As I stated earlier, you can certainly find much more technically advanced cameras out there. For the price of the M9, you can buy the top-of-the-line pro Canon or Nikon DSLR currently on the market. If you know what you are getting for your hard earned $ and are willing to sacrifice speed, automation, focal length, and low-light/low noise capability, to name a few, then by all means, get yourself one. I did, and I don't regret it one bit. It's another tool to call upon when the time is right. Would I take it to an important fast-paced commercial shoot - no. At those times, I'm going with the Canon DSLR, but for those weekends in the country or that European vacation, I'm going with the Leica - no question. I know its limits and I accept them. And there's one more thing - it has to do with owning a finely, hand-made and crafted machine with a rich history of producing some of the finest images in the history of photography.One word of warning though, the paint on the steel gray version is delicate and easily scratched. The black seems to hold up better, in my experience.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

Used the unit for about a month and elected not to buy it. The M6 has been with me for decades by now, so due to owning interchangeable assets this was going to be a logical move. Unfortunately, and given technological advancements, the thickness of the M9 makes no sense and it is contrary to the concept. The screen is an embarrassment, specifically in this price range. Already needs a new sensor, increased low light capabilities, increased speed and other small tweaks. Perhaps the next version will incorporated some of the bone and more to be more up to date. However, given the leica philosophy it is doubtful for the M10 to be a vast improvement. Lenses are phenomenal, but also currently overpriced.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

I have had an MP for a number of years and purchased two lenses over that time period. I committed to the M9 as my digital camera simply because Leica produces such great lenses. For over two years now there is nothing available. I have been on the notify list at B&H for at least three lenses and have not gotten one notification that my desired lens was in stock. Most people I know who own a Leica do so because of the glass. That argument to spend this kind of money is quickly fading. The bodies are great but with no glass there just paperweights.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

I went through about 8 different small cameras before finally hearing about this one from a co-worker. I have a growing family and I wanted to be able to get some good shots of our kids, but my wife was never satisfied with the blurry photos I kept getting in our backyard.

I wasn't either. I was a little skeptical of this thing at first, but when I read that so many pro photographers like it, I decided to give it a shot. I'll just say this: the pros were right!

At an airport the other day, I took a picture of an older propeller plane making its approach, and when I checked my photo the props were FROZEN in place!! This camera has such a fast shutter and the pictures are so crisp and clear.

The manual focus is kind of funny, but it's just like using my Dad's old camera. I don't mind it, and I think it's made me better at taking pictures!

This camera looks beautiful, and I love the green sheen on the lenses. It's so small and compact that I can take it anywhere. People are always really impressed when I tell them the price of this thing. Most of them only know about Canon, Nikon, or Panasonic, etc.

My brother has one of those big cameras with the white lenses and he says my Leica M9 is certainly better. I'd say the folks at Leica did a pretty good job then!

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

If you have some of the remarkable M lenses of any era, and want to use them digitally, the M9 suits the bill. It has the Leica "feel", has some heft to it and fits snugly in your grip. The viewfinder is very bright and the rangefinder is accurate even with my Noctilux. The "whirr" sound of the shutter was odd at first, but easy to get used to. Very quiet mechanism. Felt no vibration at all. This camera is true to the Leica philosophy where the person takes the picture, not the camera. BUT it works well in aperture priority. It requires a decent knowledge of photographic principles. Where a DSLR with 8 fps drive, auto-everything may be likened to a machine gun, the M9 is more a snipers rifle...capturing the moment one thoughtful shot at a time. The menu is very simple to follow as there are few bells and whistles to figure out how to use. There are some downsides. The battery life is short, even when turned off. The viewscreen is of very poor quality and resolution, especially considering the cost of the camera. Sapphire glass should be standard and at least 450,000 screen. D-Lux 5 has much better screen. The steel grey body is ok, but the shutter dial is chrome, which I actually prefer over the painted grey body. The color difference is very noticable. I wonder why they chose a painted top. The strap that comes with the body is incredibly cheap, again, considering the price of the camera. The metal "catch" that fits into the eye has very sharp, ragged edges, so unfortunately, I now have a 1/4 inch scratch near the eyelet. A machined "O" ring would have been easier and safer to install.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

I am new to rangefinder camera's, thought I would just jump in the deep end with the M9. Good thing I can swim!The camera's ease of use and intuitive design make it fun and exciting to take pictures. It allows you to get back to the "roots" of photography, while giving you remarkable pictures. Having to set your own exposure and compose pictures with knowledge instead of automatic is a breath of fresh air. It really makes you appreciate the experience and pictures more.The camera is superbly built. The camera weight is nice, add the lens its heavy. But that helps with stabilization (i think). The image quality is unbelievable, Leica did the job right with this sensor. Colors are amazing. Sometimes you forget you are using a digital camera, the way it feels and sounds, it amazing. Its almost as if they took the M7 and put a digital sensor in it, oh wait thats what they did!!BLUF, this camera is expensive, but ultimate quality has a high price. This is not a "i'll get another one next year, this is "i'll add another lens next year, and pass this camera off to the next generation 50 years from now". Its fun to use, outstanding pictures, and its 18 mega pixels. WOW

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

Very good camera but it is too expensive.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

This camera takes amazing pictures, but at this price point there's no auto-focus and no zoom lenses available which disappoints me. I'd even be fine with a more versatile tri-elmar lens for traveling. I don't care what the Leica purists say. Give me auto-focus and more versatile lenses so I don't have to swap lenses. I also don't trust my aging eyes enough to manually focus. As a travel photographer I look to travel as light as possible. This still doesn't quite fit the bill for me but could for others.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

A couple of weeks ago I got a new Leica M9. All excited, I put in the best SD card on the market, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 8GB. It took only a few hours of taking pictures before the card crashed and the camera become unresponsive until I removed the card. I wasn't worried at the beginning. I was in love.

A few days after, I had a high profile portrait photo shoot for an important client. Of course I took the M9 and my beloved Leica 90mm with me, together with a new SanDisk SD card, not before installing the newest firmware update. It was a very long photo shoot with heavy production, a tight schedule and sweaty assistants. It was just before that end of the photo shoot that the other new SanDisk SD card Extreme crashed inside the M9, making the camera dead and the card unreadable in any device. With all the embarrassment, I had to reshoot everything all over again with my backup equipment.

SanDisk were kind enough to replace the card immediately. "Bad batch" is was I was told. I got new SanDisk extreme pro cards from another batch. The same problem came back after one day. Both cards died again, erasing all of the images I created for my clients while shooting, causing me an enormous loss.

This time, I decided to replace not only the kind of cards but the camera itself and to get another M9.

I opened the new M9 Box, took the camera out, charged the battery, put a SanDisk Ultra card this time and went out to check the new one. The first issue I noticed was how slow the camera was writing to the card, but I was ready to live with that for the reliability. And by slow, I mean ridiculously slow. Much slower then the M8.

Today, 5 days later, the camera started to behave very strangely with. I could see the pictures that I had just shot on the screen but then after few moments it disappeared from the card. Occasionally the camera got stuck stating "writing" indefinitely. I waited up to 20-30 minutes after shooting just one frame before removing the battery to fix it. Other times it said "no sd card". The card was formatted in the camera minutes before used.

When I got back and downloaded the files, most of them were "written" but as 0 KByte files. Tried both DNG and Jpeg.

After too long, as I approached Popular photography magazine Leica admitted that the M9/M9P suffers from malfunction causing files deleting and memory card corruption. Leica still selling the cameras while knowing about this malfunction

More details available on my Blog

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

This camera is only worth buying if you already own a full range of Leica Lenses from the old days. I am enjoying mine up to a point but have been very disappointed that Leica Camera is not willing to support it after the sale with up to date accessories or to cooperate in allowing third parties to offer accessories. If you are thinking about owning this as your only camera I give it a definite thumbs down. Given todays technology it is cumbersome in comparison to whats out there competitively. If Leica wants to really compete in the digital age they will have to do considerably better. Of the 10 attributes listed in the Pros I am only honestly able to tick one, it does have good image quality but you really need a tripod to get the best out of it, this is not a product to be handheld if you are looking for top class quality.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

To my knowledge, this is the smallest FF camera on the market. The functionality is very basic, but it has all I would expect from a rangefinder. It is a bit more bulky than film series Leica. The electronics is several years behind modern SLRs, but the image quality, especially at lower ISO is excellent.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

I am a Nikon user, and i was so happy and still recommend Nikon.Recently, i have been interested in Leica due to the size and the quality of their products especially the flagship M9.Decided to buy it.Also i bought Summilux 50 asph.and after 2 weeks, i cannot put it away of my hands . . perfect feeling.It is excellent camera by all means. I LOVE IT.Liked:1. The size2. The built quality3. Images quality4. Accurate focusing, it needs time, but when u get used to it, it's amazing. 5. Silver Grey version looks amazing . . better than black, IMHO.6. Direct camera, no need to read manual, easy menu, all what u need.7. Leica lenses are the best, for my only lens, Summilux, this 50mm is by far, the best 50 performer i have tried so far.Disliked:1. Zooming the photos in LCD is slow.2. LCD screen made of plastic!! [$] camera! there are more better materials to put or at least provide with the camera a protective screen like Nikon does.3. ISO performance is bad if compared to Nikon D700 or higher . . ISO performance was enhanced big deal and I wonder why Leica failed to compete with even D700.4. Strap comes with package is the worst and cheapest strap i have seen in my whole life.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

What can be said, that hasn't been said already about the quintesential rangefinder. It is smooth, fast, and just plain dynamite.
I use it primarily for street photography, but have used it to photo my 2 and 4 y/o boys.
It is easy to take with you almost anywhere.
Aside from the price, the camera can't be beat.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

The idea of the Leica M9 is to craft a Photograph! It is reminiscent of how Photography was. Take some time to look at the history of the range finder! This camera is not designed to be used as a machine gun of picture takin'. You have to work your way up to be a Leica M9 photographer. Anyone can cook at [...], it takes great knowledge to be a Chef. - Graham

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

For a long time M9 was a desire, not only for its well known quality, as well its vintage stile. The first opportunity I went to NY I bought it and M9 exceed my expectative! There is no colour and quality like those! As soon you be used to its manual operation, a world is open to you. I had before a Nikon D700 and no regret to change all my gear. Great with 35 Summarit lense, specially for portraits.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

I've wanted a Leica M and it's high quality lenses for a number of years and I'm not disappointed.
What's to say? It's a Leica - nothing better.
I can't wait for my next trip and put it to real use.
I think I'll need some more batteries though!

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

The camera is all that I expected and more. It will always be by my side as my digital solution. Having used an MP for years it fits nicely into my habits and expectations for size, quality and results. I am really pleased I can continue to use my Leica lenses which includes the now older f1.0. Upon receipt I began charging my battery. Within a half hour it no longer worked. You can only imagine my disappointment after waiting so long for the moment. [...] camera and no response. After my initial contact with Leica I ordered a second replacement for myself simply because I did not want to get stuck traveling without a spare.[...] Leica is still nowhere to be found.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

This camera will come close to equalling the image quality of the best DSLRs but is much smaller and easy to carry (the IQ of the X1 is almost as good and it will fit in a pocket). The lenses are generally very clear, equalling the best Canon L glass. Most Leica lenses are fast and clear corner to corner, which is an advantage over the soft corners of the Canon wide angle lenses when shot wide open. Colors are excellent.

This camera is especially suited to isolating subjects in shots. The lenses are legendary for crisp detail and dreamy backgrounds. Sunstars are really spectacular.

One thing I particularly like is auto ISO. The default is 160. The camera can be keyed to the lens and will begin adjusting ISO up when the shutter speed would be less than the focal length of the lens. So, if the lens is 90mm, the camera will shoot ISO 160 as long as the shutter speed is 1/90th or faster. Otherwise it will hold the shutter speed at 1/90th and begin boosting ISO. This is an option you can turn off if you want to shoot at a slower speed.

The images are so good that some reviewers think the M9 will replace DSLRs. I strongly disagree. The M9's big drawback is its limited uses. Shooting a M9 is almost like a large format camera. Aperture and focus must be set manually. Unless you buy all new Leica lenses, you must set the lens being used in the menu each time a lens is changed. (The camera compensates for vignetting and other anomalies for each lens in addition to adjusting ISO that way. New lenses are coded but even then the camera must be told to select automatically). This camera is not useful for shooting things that move. Lens choices are also limited to about 18 to 135 mm. No very wide or long telephoto options available. Focus is tricky even for stationary objects except at infinity. No image stabilization or similar options available. This is not a camera for people who think software is the future of cameras.

I intend to use this as a carry around camera when traveling and hiking and I hope it will cover most casual shots as well as a DSLR. I also look forward to experimenting more with shots isolating specific things. But for the ultimate keeper photos, shots of kids and animals and other things that move, quick shots, shots requiring polarizing and graduated filers, and very wide or long shots -- for me that is the biggest majority of what I shoot when not traveling -- I will still generally rely on a DSLR and would be lost without my Canon.

One final con, battery life is poor. A battery can easily be exhausted in a day of casual shooting. A spare is recommended.

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

The M9 and its smaller version the X1 have excellent image quality but their only advantage over a good DSLR is size and the trade offs are huge.

Functionally a Leica rangefinder is no more versatile than a large format camera. It takes time to set up for each shot. Unless you buy all new coded Leica lenses it is necessary to tell the camera what lens is attached each time a lens is changed. Then you must set the aperture and focus through the viewfinder. This is not useful for shooting kids or anything moving.

The lenses are indeed excellent but are better than a Canon L only in the corners on a wide angle lens. The Summarit 90mm is not as sharp as the Canon 24-70, 24-105 or 70-200 zooms. I got a used Tele-Elmar 90mm f2.8 that is as sharp as the Canon lenses but it has soft corners wide open. Lens selection is limited. No ultra wide or strong telephoto options available.

One nice feature is auto ISO linked to the lens. ISO can be limited. The default is ISO 160 and the camera will shoot that as long as the shutter speed (set by the camera) is not less than the focal length of the lens. So, if the lens is 90mm, the camera will shoot any shutter speed faster than 1/90th and then boost ISO if needed to avoid a slower shutter speed.

I will use the Leica mostly for a walking round camera including traveling and hiking and for some landscapes. Image quality and detail on the Canon 1Ds III easily equals or exceeds the M9 and the X1 and I will always take the Canon when I am after the ultimate keeper photos. I hope the Leicas will provide equally good photos other times when I would normally take a smaller camera for whatever shots may come along.

One definite drawback is battery life and a spare is recommended. It would be easy to exhaust a M9 battery in a day of casual shooting.

Bottom line: The M9 is perhaps the first camera of its size to produce photos comparable to the best DSLRs. Some reviewers have even declared the M9 the end of DSLRs. But that is simply ridiculous. The M9 will take great photos within a certain range but they are no better than a good DSLR and there is no comparison in terms of versatility. A manual focus rangefinder camera is not useful for shooting anything that moves, a very wide landscape, a telephoto stronger than 135mm, or anything that needs image stabilization. The cost of one lens alone can be enough to buy a Canon 5D II and a 24-105 IS zoom which will take equally good photos and cover virtually all of the focal lengths available with the Leica. The only advantage to the Leica is size (and the Leica mystique).

Comments about Leica M9 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Steel Grey):

It's a perfect camera, amazing definition. But a poor LCD display.