New Leica M9 landmark in digital photography
Sep
16
Written by:
9/16/2009 8:39 AM
It’s been a few years since I abandoned film and bought a digital camera. I sold my old Leica M cameras and lenses on Ebay as Leica was so behind the digital age at that time that I decided to sell them while I could. In that time I’ve stuggled with digital and never been completely satisfied with the results or the cameras.
The problem is that most digital cameras that create digital files that are of the highest quality (i.e. good enough to sell) are huge. There have been no serious digital compacts on the market from any manufacturer which is a huge problem. Leica did produce the M8 but it was a cludge and I’m glad I never bought one.
But on the 9th September 2009 Leica announced the M9. Finally, we have a camera that is a true Leica M and has a full frame digital sensor. This makes it as good as, if not better (given the quality of Leica M lenses) as the top end Nikon and Canon SLR’s.
For this reason I’m beginning to wish I’d held on to my old Leica M lenses as these have held their value well and are now even more desirable since there is a body on the market to do them justice. Alas, if I want an M9 I will have to buy one new AND buy a lens. The body alone is nearly $7000 and a new lens at least $1000 for the most basic.
You get what you pay for and with Leica you get a beautiful instrument that is a joy to use and to behold. I want one and unless I sell the boat I’ll have to start saving in earnest..
Leica M9 hands on preview
Some further reading.. nice book. Shame about the dull front cover picture. Hardly does the M justice. What about that classic picture of Che Gevara taken with an M2?