First outing with my Leica M9

[smac]

I recently traveled to Thailand and took my M9 instead of the 5dMKII. It proved to be a much lighter than the Canon even with 4 lenses. I still need a lot more practice in order to master focusing with a rangefinder camera but I am pleased with my first real outing with this camera.

The "new" Bridge over the river Kwai


Room for one more? The mother actually got on the bike and they rode off with 5 passengers


The cemetery at the river Kwai


The floating markets

[zafra52]

Very nice pictures. I think the winner here is the
last one closely followed by the first. I noticed the
M9 has almost a full sensor.

[Killakoala]

I found all four images to be really interesting. I especially love the colour and life in the last one.

[smac]

Very nice pictures. I think the winner here is the
last one closely followed by the first. I noticed the
M9 has almost a full sensor.

Thanks for your comments, I liked the last one too but it is a pity that the fruit was a little bit overexposed, it was difficult lighting conditions and I didn't have a flash on me. The M9 is a full frame (23.9x35.8mm) camera. It is hard to imagine how they crammed a full frame sensor into such a small body. The M9 looks tiny sitting next to my 5D2.

[zafra52]

... but it is a pity that the fruit was a little bit overexposed...

I don't see it that way. In much the same way as the out of focus gradually
guides your eyes to the subject of the picture, the lady selling her fruits, you
can't help but noticing there is sunshine and shade in the picture. The camera
coped admirably with the two lights.

[Alex]

Nice series. I like the first one and the one at the floating market. The black and white treatment for the bridge over river Kwae. Was the floating market in Ratchaburi province?

Alex

[smac]

Was the floating market in Ratchaburi province?

Alex

Hi Alex, not sure of the province but it was the Damnoen Saduak Flaoting Markets.

Stuart

[Bob G]

Have been following the M9 online since it's release with great interest as it looked like the ideal travel camera.

It seems to attract reviews which either rave about it or bag it.

How long were you on the waiting list or has Leica caught up the baglog?

What are your impressions?

[smac]

How long were you on the waiting list or has Leica caught up the baglog?

What are your impressions?

Hi Bob, I have also been watching the release of the M9 and how difficult it has been to get one. When inquiring about availability in Australia in February I was told that there would be little or no stock until May. I actually "stumbled" across mine in a Camera shop in Innsbruck , Austria.

My, impressions......well as a travel camera it has proven to be great, lightweight and unobtrusive. I have had two overseas trips with it already and will be going to Hawaii next month. I can carry the body and four lenses on board a plane without fear of being told to stow some of my gear in the checked in luggage.

In terms of Leica service, I had some initial issues with the card reader and the local dealer (even though I bought it in Austria) gave me a loan body whilst mine was sent back to Germany for repairs. You would never get that with Canon or Nikon unless you were a serious professional.

Quality, well it is early days and I am still getting used to the rangefinder focus system but it is such a simple camera with great lenses that I found it easy to use and the quality has been as good as my Canon 5D2. I have heard that it is poor at high ISO but the lenses are quite fast and i rarely use high ISO...that 's why they invented flash guns.

I wouldn't attempt to use the Leica M9 for sports photography but it wasn't designed for that.

Hope this helps...
Stuart

[Bob G]

Thanks for the response

[ozimax]

The last one is great, gives a sense of what's going on. The motorcycle photo needed to have the subjects faces in view, but you can only get what you can at the moment. The colours are excellent.

Maybe we should organise a DSLRusers Thailand photo shoot one day?