The prices that people want for their M9's...

I had the CCD in my M9 replaced when the M10 was announced, and the M Monochrom the year before that. Leica replaced the main circuit board at the same time. Basically rebuilt the camera while they were at it. How long will either last- you never know, but the chances are good that they will go for a long time. It is the S8612 cover glass that is the source of most problems suffered by the M9. Earlier M9 problems included the CCD itself cracking, and of course electronics failures.

The Back-Side Illuminated CCD with offset microlens arrays are optimal for the older lenses that I prefer. Optically, they are well matched to the older lenses. The 18MPixel sensors have fairly large pixels, meaning more efficient at collecting light coming in at an angle. Small pixel/ high-count sensors are not as efficient collecting light of lenses sitting close to the image plane.

If someone wanted an M9, and could get one with the newer CCD in it- they know up-front that if the CCD blows out, they have a paperweight. This is true of most Digital products: components at end-of-life and no longer available. Whether it's the LCD screen of an M8, the CCD of an M9, or an embedded microcontroller or FPGA used in the electronics. Camera manufacturers are at the mercy of the parts vendors. One critical part out of production, or back-ordered for TWO YEARS the camera will be useless. Two Year Back Order: I just got hit by that. I had my hardware engineer design a new circuit board using different components. Something most camera manufacturers will not do. Otherwise we'd have a CMOS based sensor replacement board for the M9. That would not be hard to do, just manufacturers want to sell new cameras, not update the old ones.

Brian, just letting you know that I always appreciate your comments. I actually would not mind someone putting the M10-P shutter in the M9. The shutter noise was pretty much the worst feature of that camera. I can live with everything else.

Allen, I have no doubt that people are using fridges that are that old, or almost as old.

A friend mine is shooting an M9 I gave him 2-3 years ago happy as a clam.

I figure the chances either my current M262 or M246 bodies giving up the ghost within the next 8-10 years is remote at best and could possibly outlast me.

I assume Leica will continue supplying batteries for the M240 family of cameras. With two of my three cells now 4-5 years old I'll be needing to add new units sooner rather than later.

Having recently purchased a new Amadeo Contax to Leica adapter, I should soon have some Carl Zeiss 50mm f2 Sonnar image files from both Leicas to post here.

Sonnar_F2_1b by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

1934 Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F2, wide-open on the M9. This one converted to Leica mount as shown previously.

Lighting is from the Red canopy of the miniature Train we are riding in.

About the same difference as between the M 240 and M-P 240 (the "P" has the sapphire glass back cover, topcover engraving, and no red dot).

Thanks Bill. Important stuff I guess. :)

What's the difference between an M9 and an M9 P?

About the same difference as between the M 240 and M-P 240 (the "P" has the sapphire glass back cover, topcover engraving, and no red dot).

About the same difference as between the M 240 and M-P 240 (the "P" has the sapphire glass back cover, topcover engraving, and no red dot).

Don't forget the increased buffer. Which should have been bigger in the first place.

Magnificent Seven by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Now I'll have to see if the M Monochrom has the bigger buffer. In all these years- never filled it up.

Magnificent Seven by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

Now I'll have to see if the M Monochrom has the bigger buffer. In all these years- never filled it up.

Brian, can you give me some advice on using non-native lenses, those attached with adapters. Do you just use live view, or an EVF. Or do you just use a lightmeter and do things manually. I've just got adapters for a couple of M42 lenses, and a Nikkor. One of the M42's is a helios with pre-set aperture, which adds interest. Any advice would be appreciated.

Love the 'magnificent seven'. You probably know that there were at least two sequels. Thanks, any advice would be useful. The leica manual is not helpful. Regards, Arthur (apiarist1).

Arthur- Of course Live-View would make it much easier to use a lens adapted to Leica mount. You would not have to worry about calibrating the lens to the rangefinder. Depending on the lens- this can be relatively easy. I used a late Valdai Jupiter-3 mount to convert the 1934 5cm F1.5 Sonnar to RF coupled LTM, then use a good quality LTM to M Mount adapter. I can also use it with my film cameras. The 5cm F2 Sonnar, i used a Jupiter-8 mount. The trick is to properly Shim the lens and then re-index the aperture ring. Amadeo sells Contax to Leica adapters that are RF coupled. and Skyllaney will convert lenses to RF coupled Leica mount.

50mm Jupiter 3 f/1.5 Information — Jason Howe

Jason Howe hosts PDF versions of the instructions above.

For newer csameras with Liveview- a Simple adapter to M-Mount (or which ever mount) is all you need. There are some great bargain lenses- like the Konica 50/1.7 and Minolta 50/1.4, and the Canon FL mount 50/1.4. For those- I ended up making an RF cam to use on the M8. It's a change from writing code.

With Liveview- a Simple adapter, this one was $25 or so. Minolta SLR mount to M-Mount.

For a film camera, or an M8, M9, or M monochrom: you need an RF cam that moves with the lens- exactly the correct length.

This one is made from the leg of a broken tripod, and calibrated using Copper tape. Cheap, Skyllaney would charge a few $ for a professional conversion.

For a film camera, or an M8, M9, or M monochrom: you need an RF cam that moves with the lens- exactly the correct length.

This one is made from the leg of a broken tripod, and calibrated using Copper tape.

Damn. You really know your stuff. I'm very impressed.

Arthur- Of course Live-View would make it much easier to use a lens adapted to Leica mount. You would not have to worry about calibrating the lens to the rangefinder. Depending on the lens- this can be relatively easy. I used a late Valdai Jupiter-3 mount to convert the 1934 5cm F1.5 Sonnar to RF coupled LTM, then use a good quality LTM to M Mount adapter. I can also use it with my film cameras. The 5cm F2 Sonnar, i used a Jupiter-8 mount. The trick is to properly Shim the lens and then re-index the aperture ring. Amadeo sells Contax to Leica adapters that are RF coupled. and Skyllaney will convert lenses to RF coupled Leica mount.

 

50mm Jupiter 3 f/1.5 Information — Jason Howe

 

Jason Howe hosts PDF versions of the instructions above.

 

For newer csameras with Liveview- a Simple adapter to M-Mount (or which ever mount) is all you need. There are some great bargain lenses- like the Konica 50/1.7 and Minolta 50/1.4, and the Canon FL mount 50/1.4. For those- I ended up making an RF cam to use on the M8. It's a change from writing code.

Thanks, Brian. Much appreciated and bravo. And like Karim, I am impressed. But better, I know now what to do. Arthur (apiarist1)