M9 full specs leaked

<p>Ok Andy, have your way. You're obviously a 'fanboy'. The fact is the M8 was announced the first week of September 2006 but was late shipping in that quarter so for all practical purposes quantities were not shipping till the early part of 2007. 10,000 units is not a large quantity by Nikon or Canon standards. The product was bug ridden enough that Leica later announced the M8.2 and free upgrades to keep customers. </p>

<p>First week of Sept. = Later that quarter = the next year?</p>

<p>Ahh, now I see. Enron accounting methods.</p>

<p>A "fanboy" of facts, certainly.</p>

<p>Several observations:</p>

<p>1. Ton and David, yes, almost all cameras can be used to capture decisive moments, but not all photography is decisive moment photography. The term has a special meaning in the context of the history of photography, and I would assume you're both aware of the term's origin and meaning. (If not, there's always google.) The Leica M series has been optimized for that genre of photography. Other cameras are optimized for other purposes. Still other camera systems are designed to be universal, in that they can do all things reasonably well without necessarily being the best at any one task. I think the brochure makes the design philosophy and positioning of the M9 quite clear.</p>

<p>2. The unusual thing about the photos in the brochure is not the irony of using an expensive camera to shoot in a communist country, but the fact that Leica chose a particularly challenging subject: dark skin, highly reflective from perspiration, in bright sunlight. I have an M8, but with subject matter like that, I'd probably reach for a film M and load it with a low-contrast portrait film. I wonder whether the M9 is superior to the M8 in its ability to record a greater subject brightness range.</p>

<p>3. Andy, I've learned never to argue with people who introduce the word "fanboy" into a thread. It's just not fair of you to fight insults with facts!</p>

<p>One more thought: Looking through the brochure quickly, I didn't notice any mention of silver chrome lenses, and the the option of a silver chrome body has apparently been replaced with gun-metal grey. I wonder whether all lenses will now be black or if there will be gun-metal grey lenses in the future. Not the most important issue, surely, but it did pique my curiosity.</p>

<p>The lens data table in the brochure still lists the 50/35 cron weights for both silver and black. I think Leica runs of silver lenses if they feel a market opportunity - they have come and gone over the years. In the Hermes era, almost everything except 28s was available in silver, but once the camera guys got back in charge, most of the silver lenses were dropped.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>The Leica M series has been optimized for that genre of photography.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Jonathan would you care to explain that? In what way optimized?<br /> The real reason is that the Leica M provides an all in focus image through it´s viewfinder, just like any rangefinder does. Some people prefer that because it helps them in composing their photo. The only place where decisive (or any other) moment photography is generated is between your ears. Some people are more talented in that than others indepent from what cameratype is used. It never ceases to amaze me how longlived that myth is.</p>

<p>Jonathan - people photography with my Zorki-4 or Fed-2 or my now ex Leica III, or reportage wedding photography with a chunky Canon 5D with big lens and flash are both most definitely decisive moment photography. I agree that the Leica M's are more suitable in terms of size for the purpose, but the big ol DSLR is the tool of choice for weddings right now as the Leica M digital just cannot cut it in low light. I really look forward to the day we have a Leica M digital which can compete with a 5DII at high ISO's, or even the 5D - very eager to see how this M9 does, then maybe I will have to get one! This is my opinion, and there is no right or wrong as its down to personal opinion and preference.....and yes of course I know the origin of that statement, I have a sizeable collection of books by that great Frenchman.</p>

<p>As a user of M Leicas for over 40 years I find the emphasis on "street photography" rather amusing. It would seem that many restrict these cameras to that particular genre when, in fact, one can take any type of picture with a Leica M. I have portraits taken with my M4 and 90mm Tele Elmarit and wildflowers tken with my M2, Visoflex, Bellows and 65mm Elmar. Negative film in the M4, slide film in the M2. Both cameras are used for scenics and candid shots. The M9 simply offers those of us with an existing M system a full frame digital alternative. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that the reason we have this equipment is to produce a print, slide or file to share our vision with others. <br>

It's gratifying to see Leica continuing to update and expand the M system with the M9 and new lenses. The presentation tomorrow should be interesting but I hope there are more facts than PR. It would also be refreshing to see some photos from the "first" rather then the "third" world.<br>

Andy - your facts are always welcome. <br>

</p>

<p>200 ISO film and f1.4 lenses never seemed to limit the available light photographers of the past, perhaps because they enjoyed isolating their (often human) subject from everything else in low light. Wedding photography might require great depth of field and admittedly higher ISO digital response, but I think that the issue of the limted useable ISO range of the Leica M digital is a bit overstated. Most users will probably never want anything above 640 or 1250 ISO, and probably a lot less. A look at most photos in the photo.Net galleries shows that.</p>

<p>[[Anyone who's using Photoshop for more than zero seconds to correct for chromatic aberration is doing it wrong.]]</p>

<p>Wow Bob, you could not have missed the point of my post more if you really tried.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I can't afford an M9 but would have one if I could. All of you getting one...enjoy it! The X-1 looks interesting though. :-)</p>

<p>Some Leica shops in London already taking orders for the M9 and promising delivery within a month.</p>

<p>PopFlash has posted its US retails on its home page: X1=$1,995. M9=$6,995.</p>

<p>OK, anybody interested in a very clean M8, 21 Asph, and 28mm 3rd version Elmarit? That would get me close enough to 7 grand. :)</p>

<p>Ray, you need to sell the body, not the lenses! ;-))</p>

<p>I'm ready to sell my body for the M9.</p>

<p>Just kidding of course :-)</p>

<a href= "http://www.dpreview.com/previews/leicam9/">Here.</a>

<a href= "http://www.dpreview.com/articles/leicafactory2009/">And here...</a>

<p>Thanks Brad. You're up early!</p>

<p>Well, it is all in the open.</p>

<p>I was going to get a 58mm UV/IR cut filter for my Nokton 50/1.1. Maybe I'll just get it an M9.</p>

<p>I wonder what the "vintage black and white" mode is like.</p>

 

 

 

<p><em>Most users will probably never want anything above 640 or 1250 ISO, and probably a lot less. A look at most photos in the photo.Net galleries shows that.</em></p>

<p>That is only because most people don't have cameras that perform well at high ISO (i.e. 3200). Once people are provided with such cameras (e.g. the Nikon D700) the use of high ISO dramatically increases (unless they're doing tripod based photography of still subjects or studio work exclusively). I think I average around ISO 1250 nowadays (with nature photos shot at 200-400, most people photos around ISO 800-3200), although I have very fast glass. Going back to a camera that will not give spectacular quality at 1600 or 3200 would be a significant step backwards unless the quality of the optics offers sufficient compensation (i.e. better quality images at f/1.4 and f/2).</p>

 

 

<p>Before I got the D3, I thought the same as you. That camera totally changed photography.</p>

<p>I have to admit that I am spoiled by the light weight of Leica Ms. The Nikons are great, but so heavy. </p>