One Year With The Leica M9 || Why Would Anyone Buy This 15 Year Old Camera in 2024?

[@Funktrainer]

It is not made out of Titanium.

[@AlexCCarter]

Yep, magnesium alloy and brass top/bottom. Don't know what I was thinking... The brass is one of my favorite parts of the camera. Just looks better with age/use imo

[@Funktrainer]

@@AlexCCarter The M8 and M9 have the best build quality and user interface of all digital Ms in my opinion. Nothing comes close. When I carry the M4 together with those cameras there are times when I mix them up. I hate LED lit framelines.

[@Funktrainer]

@@AlexCCarter The black paint Ms age so nicely.

[@anthonymiller8979]

They did do a limited Titanium M9 paired with a 35mm Summilux, a run of 500 pieces. Styling is a bit different and it does not really look like the usual M9

[@ccw5886]

I have a 16 year old M8 I just purchased. Three months later Im in love! OMG! the essence of photography , stripped down in a beautiful tactile object of complete desire.

[@ansgarbook712]

M8 is soooo great. it makes you love it after very short

[@davidw2454]

Just got my M8 this week, loving it

[@Funktrainer]

The M8 and M9-P are my favourite cameras of all time. Forever. I use them almost on a daily basis. Just the perfect output for me.

[@AlexCCarter]

No doubt. I've also found the ease of use to be pretty unparalleled in a digital camera

[@ansgarbook712]

same here!!

[@zkramez]

I just got an M9 last week as my first “real” camera. I absolutely love it.

[@AlexCCarter]

Love to hear it. Enjoy!

[@blakeandrew2158]

Simply put. You get “it”. Subscribed! thanks for making this

[@AlexCCarter]

The M4 has been at the camera spa for almost a month now... needless to say the M9 has seen a decent uptick in use.

[@joepphoto]

Literally could have been me talking here. Great explanation of the cameras usecases, would doubt switching in my M10 for this.

[@DavidTurner-z9y]

Great review. I have an M9-P and love it. You’re spot on.

[@gregheo]

Appreciate the thoughtfulness behind your reasoning, and the great photos too of course. As both an M9 fan and a Fujifilm digital fan it was interesting hearing your thoughts on the "analog-ness"/digital feel of the cameras.

[@AlexCCarter]

Thanks for watching

[@CreativeCommunityRoss]

As someone who shoots an M6, but is looking for a digital form of my M6 due to rising film prices, this was super helpful. Thanks amigo!

[@AlexCCarter]

Glad you found it helpful! Feel free to reach out if you ever are looking for a second opinion.

[@anthonymiller8979]

Great discussion on the M9, my favorite camera. Started with an M8 but quickly switched to the M9. Love the colors and it inspires me to shoot all the time.

[@thomverhoeven7896]

Dear Alex, good job on the video. I am picking up the M9 again very soon and you have the same approach on it as I do. Its closest as film you can get on digital. Lovely colors that can not be made with the later models.

[@256k_]

great video! thanks for the lovely talk. just pulled the trigger on one after growing increasingly frustrated with the inconveniences of film. especially the scanning part. was debating between this or a m10 for a more modern camera but i was truly surprised at the quality this camera is able to deliver for its age, comparing it to my 2014 DSLR and it doesn't even stand a chance. something about not having a AA filter i guess but also having it be full frame and the CCD although that's debatable. In reality it was all i could realistically afford but i think it's all i realistically need. plus i can still have my M2 on the side.

[@merseberger]

Love my M9 since 8 years. But it is not about the body, it's about the lenses! Combined with my Summicron 50mm it delivers great pics even in JPEG! Great CCD sensor, if you find one with a replacement sensor. Thank you for your video! I enjoyed watching it.

[@AlexCCarter]

Thanks for the comment! Picked up a 35mm Summicron about a year ago, and couldn't agree more.. Flawless image (in the best possible way)

[@s.baumann6665]

I love my M9, my only Camera. Use some great Leica lenses. Simply and pure photographie.

[@khoakhoinguyen4222]

I'm owning an M2 and an M3 and thinking of selling the M2 for a digital one, and the M9 caught my attention because of its price range. Came here for the M9 review, but I have to be the creep and confess that I accidentally fell in love with you instead 😂 I love the way you process your relationship with photography through the purchases, it makes your encounters with all the gears sound intimate, no matter how long or short the encounters are. And that makes your feeling with the cameras very relatable 🥰 That said, I myself is also an emotional buyer when it comes to cameras and lenses, so this feels like a trap. I won't be surprise if I end up with an M9 in the near future 😂 Anyway, please keep up with the beatiful works. It's not everyday we can bump into such an intimate review about digital products like yours 😊

[@AlexCCarter]

💙 thanks for the kind words. Imo most things are better when processed through a bit of an emotional lens. M9 is a fantastic camera, definitely don't think you'll regret picking one up.

[@TheGyroBarqusShow]

If I could buy a Leica it would be a monochrome one, M9 monochrome or something newer but still kinda affordable in Leica terms.

[@bernardlesperance742]

Great talk. Especially appreciate your authenticity and earnestness. I do have two questions. One, having seen a good number of sample images taken with M9s (in addition to yours), I often have found the colors to appear off, somehow. For example, skin tones appearing a bit orange-ish, and other colors often not appearing quite as expected (in comparison to my typical experience with color perception in real life or with images from other digital cameras). Two, most if not all images presented in the video appear out of focus. I know that the M9 is capable of producing sharp images, but for what ever reason this was not the case here. Just wondering if there may be some particular reason for this that you are aware of. I haven't seen any of your other videos yet (I will), but have just subscribed to make sure I have your channel saved. Wishing you the very best with your continued photographic journey and self discovery !

[@AlexCCarter]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. The Achilles heel of the M9 is w/o a doubt the skin tones... Number 1 reason that I get frustrated with the camera. I've found a couple of workarounds, but nothing that's as easy as I'd like. If anyone has any solutions, I'm absolutely all ears. As for the focus, I'd say it's a combination of YT compression, and me missing the mark from time to time... Actually, just rewatched the images and YT compression is doing NO favors...

[@derrenleepoole]

Nice. As someone who is really really close to pulling the plug on one of these, this was very helpful.

[@THOR2029]

Have you? Have you pull the plug? Is the trigger but did you got one?

[@derrenleepoole]

@@THOR2029 I did. Best decision ever. Totally love it :)

[@derrenleepoole]

Well, I did get one. Best decision ever.@@THOR2029

[@mpw621]

Great music to your content !

[@micheledeidda2565]

Dude! You underexposed your own video!!! Jokes apart great video , thanks, love the m9

[@AlexCCarter]

Just playing around a bit. Appreciate you! Definitely a beautiful piece of equipment

[@herbertandrewdutton]

Really enjoyed the images, thanks!!

[@FrankDavalos]

Awesome video! Doesn’t support the 50mm Summicron DR* just FYI, at least not at infinity :(

[@bngr_bngr]

Hopefully you have the 2nd version of the sensor replacement by Leica. The first sensor replacement from Leica fails.

[@AlexCCarter]

Sensor replaced late 2018 🤞🏼

[@tudorciobanu3895]

Hi. Nice work, keep upload pls. In my eyes there is a tint of red in the whites. I think you should take care of this in post.

[@alexmbbs]

M9 is not for beginner. Is it becoz only manual focus with viewfinder can be used and focus peaking and liveview is not available?

[@AlexCCarter]

In terms of use, it's very easy to get used to, just takes a bit of time investment. However, if someone is still learning how to shoot manual then I could see not getting any exciting results at first and walking away before getting the hang of things. NO live view or focus peaking but the RF patch is very easy to use and accurate. The bigger barrier is the price to versatility. For a beginner I'd probably recommend something much cheaper and more versatile while they figure out what they most enjoy shooting.

[@Caesar.Aquanaut]

What focussing? You wouldn't need to if you understand the principle of Rule 16 & Zone focusing. When one can do that, it is literally the fastest focussing method in photography.

[@q3813]

There will be no CCD sensor available when it breaks down.

[@izustun9851]

Paying 2k for early digital 9stop dynamic range, corroded sensor which has a maximum 800 usable ISO. Only a Leica could achieve this.

[@audreysmith4782]

💙

[@AlexCCarter]

💙

[@Funktrainer]

It takes 32GB SD Cards, speed is irrelevant.

[@AlexCCarter]

I'll have to check it out. Read so much about the 16gb card limit, I just bought a bunch alongside the camera and have never tried anything else

[@Funktrainer]

@@AlexCCarter I use the Lexar Professional 633x 95MB/s UHS-I SDHC cards in the M8 and M9-P with no issues for years. The 16GB and the 32GB. 32GB in the M9-P and 16GB in the M8 as there will be too many images on a 32GB card in the M8.

[@Funktrainer]

@@AlexCCarter Do you have the latest Firmware in your M9? Another tip is to never use the uncompressed raw mode on the M9 as the processor simply can‘t handle the files and turns the M9 into an incredible slow machine, simply unusable.

[@niqvuk]

after seeing the images i can confidently say spending $3000 for a CCD sensor is a new level of crazy

[@JourneyThruExperience]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@MrGreenfields]

I love my m9 but sadly I am going to have to sell it.

[@rehab4everybody]

Why?

[@thomaskelton2554]

heart

[@AlexCCarter]

heart

[@jasongold6751]

The new replacement sensor will corrode, in similar conditions! Food for thought! battery no longer avaialble. Buying a dead horse, a bad idea, even if Leica.. I use a recent sensor replacment body. It was OK. Not wow! My cheaper rigs were better. The Zeiss 35mm lens had bad flare! Funny nobody ever mentioned that! You guys are into rewards, not truth. Maybe ignorance, maybe not.. sad

[@AlexCCarter]

Appreciate the comment and understand the opinion. Just to give people watching/reading some more context, The M9 replacement sensors use a corrosion resistant glass (BG60 glass iirc) that prevents oxidation and have not been shown to corrode at least in the ten or so years since the program launched. If you have one that was replaced by Leica, you're probably good to go. You can also have them replaced to this day at Kolar Vision for $1000. Batteries are still available through BH and other suppliers for $150, and they work well (at least the two I've purchased have). Never had a flare issue with the Zeiss, but maybe I just got lucky and had a good coating.

[@AlexCCarter]

If anything I just commented doesn't check out/you have alternate information I haven't seen, I'd love to take a look and update whatever I have wrong.

[@caseyguthery9048]

Do you actually have any idea how garbage the m9 is? I mean get a grip! Grow up and buy a fuji xpro3 like a real photographer...

[@AlexCCarter]

lmao

[@caseyguthery9048]

@@rebelfrogstudios375 brother I’m yanking his chain. Love Alex ❤️