Digitaljournalist.org published what I think is the longest Leica M9 review I've seen so far. It includes size comparison with full frame DLSRs, SD cards test results, sample shots at different ISO (compared to Leica M8.2, Nikon D700 and Canon 5D), IR sensitivity comparison and more. The M9’s processor is listed as the only major flaw.
The conclusions (according ot the author David Keenan):
"Well, friends, the M9 is da bomb. Other than a fix for the "major flaw" described above, it is difficult to envision why an M10 is even going to be necessary."
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7 Comments
There’s advice Leica should heed here, especially in terms of the shooting speed and memory buffer and transfer speeds and weather sealing. This camera isn’t for everyone and yet there can be a reasonable number of people who can afford this.
Now, although I really want one for the sake of wanting one, and the price not being my biggest obstacle, it is making sence of the purchase for this price that does… and certain concerns need to be addressed. Why do I even bother to comment if it looks like I may not purchase one, I could say if the M9.2 or M10 comes out with these improvements. Don’t get me wrong, the M9 has many great advantages, and these are few, however, are important. I also feel like the X1 is a bad idea (I’m entitled to an opinion) ;p
LOL
only lesser brand advertises these…(according to Kenrockwell)
No live view
No integrated dust removal system
Absence of any video mode
My biggest complaint about the M9 is that there’s no cell phone.
As the author of the review, I’d like to request that the text in Leica Rumours be corrected…
The things listed are were not described as “major flaws”. In my review, there is only one “major flaw”. And that is the fact that the camera’s processor cannot empty the buffer fast enough.
The items listed are things that one might like to see (or expect to see) in a camera costing $7000 — definitely not “major flaws”.
Please correct this.
Thanks.
Dave.
That list of “major flaws” is a major flaw in itself. The only valid point is that lack of weather sealing IMO.
Some interesting points here and also some comments on the article itself. I have an M7 with the new viewfinder and the DX system that works beautifully and although I love the idea of the M9, I agree, it feels a bit like the M8 with some changes that need to be made. I don’t care about the frames per second as I don’t shoot that way but what does bother me is the processing speed. Just not good enough. I have a D700 as well and that is lightening. Think I will wait for the M9.2 or the M10. I think Leica said in an interview somewhere that cameras nowdays have about a 2 year lifecycle so we about about 1. somthing years away from the M10? During this time, I will keep shooting my M7 which is my favourite camera.
If Leica adds weather sealing to the M10, it will be mine.