[mst]

Well, not really a review, but more of an experience report:



http://www.canonrumors.com/reviews/the-leica-m9-experience-review/



Well written, IMO. Mostly matches my experiences ... except I don't really use it with UWA lenses and that unlike him I'd really love to have a better LCD.



Apart from that, also definitely in love with this camera ... and street photography, too <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Not that I think I'm good at it. Far from it. But it's fun for sure.



-- Markus

[Sylvain]

Markus,



A little question about your experience with the M9. Do you find that its rather small profile helps in making people easier with you taking pictures?



I found when moving from DSLR to m43 that I could certainly capture more "life" scenes than ever before but every now and then I feel like holding the camera at arms length still gives too much presence to the photographer. And that the last step would be to have a very small camera held at eye level. Which sadly I can't with my E-P1.

Would you agree about that last bit? eye level + compact body ?



thanks in advance,

Sylvain



[quote name='mst' timestamp='1291125660' post='4604']

Well, not really a review, but more of an experience report:



http://www.canonrumors.com/reviews/the-leica-m9-experience-review/



Well written, IMO. Mostly matches my experiences ... except I don't really use it with UWA lenses and that unlike him I'd really love to have a better LCD.



Apart from that, also definitely in love with this camera ... and street photography, too <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Not that I think I'm good at it. Far from it. But it's fun for sure.



-- Markus

[/quote]

[mst]

[quote name='Sylvain' timestamp='1291134494' post='4608']

Do you find that its rather small profile helps in making people easier with you taking pictures?[/quote]



Definitely.



A lot less people actually notice me as a photographer. And from those who do, many don't take me serious. "Nice ancient camera" ... I hear that regularly <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



[quote name='Sylvain' timestamp='1291134494' post='4608']

Would you agree about that last bit? eye level + compact body ?

[/quote]



I don't know, but I can imagine, yes. My experience with m43 is limited to the G1 (I just had to have a viewfinder).



-- Markus

[genotypewriter]

[quote name='mst' timestamp='1291148174' post='4612']

A lot less people actually notice me as a photographer. And from those who do, many don't take me serious. "Nice ancient camera" ... I hear that regularly <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[/quote]

Won't happen in Melbourne though... you often see people having rangefinders around their necks, sipping their soy lattes in roadside cafes <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



The gripe I have with the M9 (and rangefinders in particular) is the focus-recompose thing which is a problem with the nice fast lenses. Plus I could do with less sensor-produced image artifacts.



GTW

[Brightcolours]

An ok user account of the use of an M(, but I would not call it a "review". A shame the "reviewer" was drinking the Leica cool-aid though... It would have been better without the Leica marketing nonsense (it does not perform better at higher ISO's because if they made it behave better at higher ISO's the sharpness would be less? What the F? The noisy performance has to do with relatively outdated sensor technology (Kodak, is it?), and the "sharpness" has to do with the lack of AA-filter).

[mst]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1291211697' post='4654']

An ok user account of the use of an M(, but I would not call it a "review".[/quote]



As I already mentioned <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1291211697' post='4654']A shame the "reviewer" was drinking the Leica cool-aid though... It would have been better without the Leica marketing nonsense[/quote]



Hm, I don't see too much marketing nonsense in there ... but then, I'm of course as biased as he is, I'm afraid <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />



[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1291211697' post='4654'](it does not perform better at higher ISO's because if they made it behave better at higher ISO's the sharpness would be less? What the F? The noisy performance has to do with relatively outdated sensor technology (Kodak, is it?)[/quote]



Are you referring to this part?

Most of you know I don’t care much about ISO performance, I’ll take the grain. This camera does not produce clean ISO 1600 shots, they’re good enough for me though. You sacrifice ISO performance for sharpness I’m told. I’ll take that.

If so, I read it differently.



But yes, that Kodak sensor certainly is outdated. Question is, if it matters for your shooting style.



For mine, at least for the things I do with that camera, it doesn't.



YMMV, of course.



[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1291211697' post='4654']and the "sharpness" has to do with the lack of AA-filter).

[/quote]



Yes, of course. Still, the results are "wow". Again and again, even after using it for months.



Don't get me wrong, I'm not desperately trying to defend the camera or that "review". However, having used one myself for a while now, I found it a well written piece of text about what's to like so much about this camera.



There is a lot NOT to like about the M9. Most of it isn't even mentioned in that text.



However, there are also a few things which make this camera a unique and a terrific tool. At least for some. And if you happen to fall into that group, any drawbacks and disadvantages of the camera just fade away. At least they do for me.



Sorry if it sounds silly, but what makes this camera so special is not something you'll find in benchmarks. It's hard to describe ...



-- Markus

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='mst' timestamp='1291213947' post='4656']

As I already mentioned <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />







Hm, I don't see too much marketing nonsense in there ... but then, I'm of course as biased as he is, I'm afraid <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />







Are you referring to this part?







If so, I read it differently.



But yes, that Kodak sensor certainly is outdated. Question is, if it matters for your shooting style.



For mine, at least for the things I do with that camera, it doesn't.



YMMV, of course.







Yes, of course. Still, the results are "wow". Again and again, even after using it for months.



Don't get me wrong, I'm not desperately trying to defend the camera or that "review". However, having used one myself for a while now, I found it a well written piece of text about what's to like so much about this camera.



There is a lot NOT to like about the M9. Most of it isn't even mentioned in that text.



However, there are also a few things which make this camera a unique and a terrific tool. At least for some. And if you happen to fall into that group, any drawbacks and disadvantages of the camera just fade away. At least they do for me.



Sorry if it sounds silly, but what makes this camera so special is not something you'll find in benchmarks. It's hard to describe ...



-- Markus

[/quote]

Oh, but I am not in any way suggesting using that camera and its lenses can not be highly rewarding, I just fell over that silly part, basically. I am sure I would like using an M9 for certain things as well!

[Steinar1]

I found the "review" interesting reading. It is more about how he feels using the camera than the camera itself but I agree that he falls a little bit into the "La-La Land and Vancouver West Cost" cathegory with his almost methaphysical description of what it feels like to walk around with this camera. I can understand, but maybe not share.

What do you experts think would be a useable, similar camera to put in your pocket if you do not want to dish out 7000€? Fuji FX100, <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' /> NEX-5, Coolpics P7000, Lumix G1? There is definitely a need for something else than the DSLR at times. What would you all pick as your sidekick? Kindly Vieux Loup

[mst]

[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1291220070' post='4660']



What do you experts think would be a useable, similar camera to put in your pocket if you do not want to dish out 7000€? Fuji NX100,

[/quote]



Yep (it's FX100, though). However, I'm sure I'd miss the ability to change lenses.



Next best thing is probably a used M8. One should be well aware of the additional issues of this camera, though (due to IR sensivity).



-- Markus

[genotypewriter]

[quote name='mst' timestamp='1291223435' post='4662']

Next best thing is probably a used M8. One should be well aware of the additional issues of this camera, though (due to IR sensivity).

[/quote]

IMO it's not only Leica's cameras that have issues <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW