Leica M9 - Field Test and Hands-on Review - DigitalRev.com

[Compendium34]

So... Who's dick do I have to suck to get one of these M9s..

[slowersea]

if i had a dollor for everyday i have lived i would not still be able to afford this cam btw i am 20

[slowersea]

he has strap around his neck for the cam...rarely does for other cams....its all about money honey

[bfmv580]

Beautiful video. What an achievement. What a camera.

[ace62able]

Thanks for this. I have always wanted a Leica so I could use the glass, I almost has a Leica R9, the last SLR that came out, and would still get one if I could

But alas, the closest I will get to a Leica is a Lumix with a supposed Leica lens. LOL!

[Aragiss]

d7000: fast af, low noise, superb image quality 1200 dollars

people: meh....

leica m9: no af, noisy as hell in high iso, mediocre image quality, 8000 dollars

people: shut up and take my money!!!

[bfmv580]

@Aragiss Did you not watch the video? You don't buy this because of specs, you buy it like you'd buy an old classic car. It's a love thing, not a practical purchase. Plus it's not like it takes bad photos, it takes fucking amazing photos.

[Aragiss]

@bfmv580 Yes, I know that it is a vintage camera. But I still think they should have added a nice updated sensor on it. Just compare M9's sensor to other full frame or even DX/APS-C sensors. Especially noise performance is shit compared to other full frame DSLR's. Colors and dynamic range isn't on par either.

Of course you wouldn't expect superb performance from an old classic car, but you'd expect some muscle from a renewed classic car right? Like a Mustang GT.

[samgab]

Hmmm, it looks like an imitation X100...

[massatsch1]

@samgab 

[mimstyle]

The best camera in the world and the best chanel too!

[killersw1]

This is where Kai fell in love ;)

[mucalai]

blabla. schneider kreuznach or carl zeiss makeing good optics too...

[DeludedManiac]

scary expensive

[overcklockangel7]

nikon L120 or the nikon j1 10-30mm

[matanglawin26]

Such a beautiful camera. Has its own identity. :)

[tryser000]

Lol I'm 15, and I'm gonna try saving up for one of these. Wish me luck!

[laVagabundo90]

@tryser000 wouldnt you rather buy....oh i dont know....a car?

[TheMrSkittleism]

Why is there so much tits in the related videos?

[Adorenoirmag]

I wish I could afford this camera! but..I love my X100!! If you like black and white photography check out this e-mag. Go to google and search Adore Noir.

Cheers!

[4rtic3]

I would kill a whale for that :P

[BigRooster747]

m9 = 640 iso max.... ouch, for 6000 US dollar.

[obbym4sta]

Get a Nikon D7000 and go to quiet mode :)

[geonerd]

De-lightful!

[concubinage]

This is like a ferrari...not worth it. Go get a mercedes

[aVEzPz]

@concubinage everyone has something they're passionate about, and they want the very best in that specific area. clearly, for him its cameras.

[xiilazyalex]

@concubinage How is a Ferrari not worth it? First of all, it was never meant to be driven by the average, inexperienced driver. People have interests, or hobbies. Most of us want to experience the ideal life with fancy objects. If you're able to buy something and you have an immense passion for it, then heck, why not buy it? By the way, MB builds more of luxury cars and Ferrari builds more of super cars; not precisely comparable.

[concubinage]

@xiilazyalex You are exactly right, this is a super car camera, whereas the dslr are luxury cars, and compacts are everyday cars. Buying a super car is rarely a rational decision, unless it is for somethings that generate profits for you e.g. using it as marketing tool or rather. Then heck, why not buy it is an irrational decision.

[xiilazyalex]

@concubinage e_e your sarcasm is harsh.

[Rotten3ullet]

but will it blend?

[shawngao777]

where did u get that leather strap 

[aVEzPz]

everyone send me a dollar

[misstique08]

@aVEzPz

lol

[AleksyLeonov]

@helthuismartin if you don't like it, then why are you flaming it? If I don't like a camera, I won't flame the hell out of it on youtube. Plz, some people like, some don't and if you don't then please love your fav cam and take photo's with it instead of flaming on other. With all due respect, you can like dslr's and I don't hate you for that, but what I don't like is that all you do here is flame and flame at this cam.

[hiroaki22]

50mm F1.4 良さそうですね・・

[tstar05]

believe!

[xjoshurzx]

now explain to the wife that you painted the thing 'pinkenta' :P

[itsmeTIBOR]

@xjoshurzx It was Kai's boss who wanted it pink. Not him.

[xjoshurzx]

@itsmeTIBOR no shit...

[ImBenPark]

Why is this honky trying to sound like a British aristocrat ? Using words like jolly and pudding.. lol he totally fails

[R0WMaC]

@ImBenPark Shut the fuck up you squabbling shitcunt ben park

[diciannove1100]

@ImBenPark stay in your shit hole of a flat you racist chav cunt.

[legaCskate]

@DISBELIEFOFBEAUTY its 7000 dollars in US whick is like a new car

[wadood8]

Lieca is the LV of camera's

but made in GERMANY !

[ununknown]

@wadood8 what do you mean by "LV"?

[wadood8]

@ununknown Louis Vuitton

[TheJapeKing]

epic camera... but i know i'll never be able to afford a Leica camera and Leica lenses... xexe :)

[wadood8]

@TheJapeKing me too :(

[phonesplanet]

wow.... interesting reviews. 

[saphira512]

DIGITALREV NEEDS TO DO A LEICA M9 GIVEAWAY!!!! :D haha

[MattJTV]

LEICA BOSS!

[ITSbigwillystyle]

@MattJTV I SEE WAT U DID THAR...

[patrujo]

tech-nan-chi @ 9:31

not built in a Chinese sweat shop, but one in Portugal....

[skonatrix]

cut the bass from ur mic or use a pop filter

[garygrant2000]

A truly heartfelt, thoughtful and intelligent review, well done.

[Siwep]

Shooting on auto @ 9:38

[Hallslys]

@JulesZosia What kind of elitist bullshit is that? If someone wants one and can afford a M9, why the hell not?

[souravzzz]

@Hallslys Because he will probably be hating it within a week (it is not at all a beginner's camera) and will be badmouthing Leica. More importantly, he will not enjoy photography at all!

[akroisel]

@Hallslys cause it's awkward to buy a ferrari, when you just had your first driving lessons! ;)

[DenseGraffiti]

The production quality of this video and it's pictures might not have been top of the line, but I swear my iPhone 4S can take those same pictures and video.

[Tolerantoba]

thank you for your reviews , it helped me alot, i will subscribe and keep watchin your reviews .

[BboyWildWind]

Kai have a boss ?

[helthuismartin]

What a long story is needed too sell this camera.,It cant be good.,A realy good camera doesnt need a selling story,it sells it self.

[DGundam90]

hey I love the leica but little afraid with the rangefinder. I use dslr for my photo shoot, but I wanna get into film cameras. I know canon and nikon do film camera with no rangefinder which are perfect but its huge like the dslr. I wanna get it to street photography dslr great but some people do find it uncomfortable are cameras. I'm just researching still but what do you recommend is best film camera for people starting out...

thank you

[Scwirul]

@DGundam90 I have a Pentax ME Super, It's got automatic settings and is very easy to use! It's manual focus, it looks and feels good. Plus it's cheap if you find it on ebay. Although, it's an SLR - not sure if that's what you're looking for.

[DGundam90]

@Scwirul Thank you for the reply but the slr are huge bigger then the leica. That the only reason why I want the leica. only downside is rangerfinder.

[Scwirul]

@DGundam90 Well the problem with a lot of film rangefinders is that they have no light meters built in. That means you either have to use a handheld/attachable one or 'guess' by judging the light in your head (which is what I'm trying to train myself to do at the moment!)

If you have no problem with this, then have a look on Ebay again, I recently bought a Zorki 6, it looks and feels really nice, but I haven't had any photos developed yet!

[MayorCallaghan]

@DGundam90 I'd recommend an Olympus OM camera. It's an SLR, but it's slightly smaller than a rangefinder, with the OM-1 and OM-2 holding the record for the smallest SLRs ever created, and the others only a couple millimeters bigger. I use mine for street photography all the time.

[DGundam90]

@MayorCallaghan thank you for the reply. what would you recommend Olympus OM camera range?

have you ever used rangerfinder before because I do still want to buy leica, just little scared of rangerfinder :(.

[MayorCallaghan]

@DGundam90 I would recommend an OM-4, but if that's to pricey an OM-2 would be perfect.

I have a few rangefinders, and believe me there's nothing to be afraid of. They're really easy and quick to focus manually. Other than the focusing system there's not much difference in how you operate a rangefinder compared to an SLR. I would be a little worried about picking up older rangefinders (anything older than a Leica M5) because they don't have light meters.

[DGundam90]

@MayorCallaghan thank you so much for your help. 

[morloff]

Trying to sell you why you should get this camera feels like a door salesman trying to sell you a $1500.00 vacuum cleaner. I do not see any ground breaking technology or picture quality to justify 10k to 15k investment. It's a brain wash.

[TheLawrenceStill]

@morloff It depends on a person's likes, but if i had the money i wouldnt hesitate and buy it. Its build like a tank, its a digital rangefinder. That says it all.

[joemobumtwizzler]

lol "some people find it a bit of a pain in the derriere" .... "but i like it" ahahaha :D

[Cagey75]

one of these or a D3x ... hmm ...

[JorJorArmany]

Why can't he do other camera review like this one, only Leica can be nice review?

[RuleOf21]

@TalkandLaugh or DigitalRev Magenta... lolz

[c4st4w4y101]

first time i've seen kai use the strap :P

[helthuismartin]

I have never understood this brand hornyness.

[helthuismartin]

Thats exactly what you are buyinf for 6000euro,A brand cold Leica and nothing more,Not even a camera.

[helthuismartin]

Iam not impressed.,if you leave the high price what stays behind? NOTHING. Forget the high price and whats left is a very bad simple non practicul low quality camera.Just forget it and buy a Canon EOS 5D2 and your life looks suddenly much much bedder.

[helthuismartin]

Buy a DSLR and all your problems are solved.

[adriandrewreyes]

@TalkandLaugh As if do you know how much it costs!!! it's more then $7000

[Boros777]

@staone1 cause its a handcrafted high-quality tool for superior photos

[Lil17Lil]

7:26 says a lot. you have a great eye for moments!

[pumpum000]

Kai was less stupid and more serious that time lol

[aarondkeogh]

The guy in the suit 7:36 was sniffing his finger for poo

[JGarcia9211]

I don't know why but I am so very attracted to this camera. Its just so sexy.

[coodysk8er]

this guy just knows nothing......

[namatra]

this guy dont even know what to do with the camera,,,shoo

[staone1]

can somone explain why there cameras are so expensive

[nepalihercules]

@staone1 cuz people are willing to pay that much money for it. and they don't make a lot of 'em. kinda like bugatti veyron.

[MrHunt456]

This isn't a review. This is pornography. <3

[TurkiyeCumhurbaskani]

This camera is over $9000 I think some commentators think it is $300

[Sleepinglion22]

@TurkiyeCumhurbaskani Thats what I thought at first xD, I called up the camera shot and they said sixty nine ninety... I was like 69.90? he was like no, I wish, 6970.00. He also mentioned it was for the body only :P

[Anton338]

Hmm, even considering fantastic hand built quality and discrete look of this camera, its got a STEEP price. The only way these will continue to be around is if Leica lower their price! D:

[camosplater]

iam just starting photography, what camera should i get - Fujifilm X100 Or Leica M9?!

[JulesZosia]

@camosplater Just starting adn looking at a M9?? No... just... no.... Go and buy a entery level DSLR, it is MORE than enough for you, it is the photographer, NOT the camera... I promise you will be wasting money on a high end camera at the start! Learn the bascis, read books, videos, blogs, go out and shoot, all day, a few days a week... in a few years, you might be ready to invest in a M9... maybe.

[camosplater]

@JulesZosia oh ok thank you for the help and what books and that should i read and is the Fujifilm X100 a good starter camera ?!

[m0t3ki]

@camosplater i have been shooting for few years before switching over from nikon to leica.. i can tell u its not a camera for people new to photography.. u shouldnt get x100 or m9. but a starter dslr like D5100 or D3100, 600D.. so that u can learn photography.. people who use dslr, might not even know whats distance scale focusing.. try a dslr, know what u wanna shoot before buying x100 or even an m9.. considering if u can afford a leica...

[hickehelbro]

@JulesZosia I don't agree. It's not harder to learn to be a great photographer than with an entry level dslr. The Leica M9 will force the user to do things manually and won't be as forgiving as a Canon EOS in fully automatic mode. I don't think it's about results, it should be about understanding how light, aperture and shutter speed work together to make each photo a piece of art.

[evonecc]

@JulesZosia Hey, that's what my dad told me. I started with a Nikon FM2N and now I am shooting with Leica and Hassey. Basics are very important, but consumers today only care about all the camera features rather than the technics behind photography.

[akroisel]

@JulesZosia so agree with that comment! i started up with a canon 1000d, then went to 7d, sold 7d, bought 5dmII... this is what i use now... i love my 5DmII with which i work for two companies next to my medicine studies... but the next camera i m going to buy is an m9 (or m10 probably, by the time i ll be able to afford it!)... but without experience buying an m9 is a waste! you need to learn how a camera works.. it s not just the shutter that takes the picture!

[BubuSnow93]

@JulesZosia if i had the money to buy a M9... i would buy a D3s !

[YodaMan19]

@JulesZosia if it's not about the camera, why would you suggest someone "might be ready to invest" in a good camera?

[CitiesAndColours]

@camosplater For a start, there two complete different cameras! Ones a £5000 rangefinder and the other is essentially a £1000 compact

[JGarcia9211]

He is so right about people being scarred off from a dslr (or slr for that matter.)

[IndiaWhiskeyHotel]

@nosmailliwydocbocaj because it is German quality ! and handmade not from asia production line

[bradhorn14]

@nosmailliwydocbocaj because when you pay for custom awesomeness, you are going to pay for it

[penuli5]

hessss...... fiuhhhhh........

[BobZOMG84]

damn.. in Malaysia its cost RM26k!!!

[DrBukcake]

Hello, I have a problem. I just bought a Leica M9 but no matter what lens I put on it the autofocus is broken! Where should I send it back to have this fixed? Thanks in advance!

[Aleksandaryt]

@DrBukcake actually it doesn't have autofocus. it's not broken, it doesn't exist.

[DjDemille]

@DrBukcake Vote up for pure fun :p

[adrianahermanu]

@DrBukcake lol

[RonnieIrawan]

@DrBukcake HAHAH :D:D

[qantas8888]

@DrBukcake LOL you buy a $9000 camera and yet you didn't know all leica M dosen't have auto focus

[TheEiriktan]

leica fanboy

[mrcooldud24]

i cant even aford the viewfinder for the leica M9...

why am i here!

[MrYerbaMate1]

@mrcooldud24 Because everyone can have dreams

[Jebusjoose]

@nosmailliwydocbocaj

Full frame cameras are expensive

[mikeismad61]

Wonderful - played with one at the In Focus Show - NEC Birmingham England, however its far from perfect - heard the one about M9's refusing to save or/and wiping images already taken? For real - check it out......

[KrissiBenassi]

this is my fav video!

[TheLawrenceStill]

@nosmailliwydocbocaj Because of the quality of this camera, the simplicity of it. And it's German made. Only true digital range finder this day and age. I wish i could afford this piece of awesomeness...

[kyotoloto]

can you remove the lens ?

[derlukasbahr]

@kyotoloto :D sure its a rangefinder not a fucking digitalcamera

[demamanio]

@derlukasbahr It IS a digitalcamera!!! Not every Rangefinder camera ist a film camera. :P

[derlukasbahr]

@demamanio i know i mean with digitalcamera the little point andshoots like the nikon coolpix a dslr is a dslr and a rangefinder is a rangefinder

[demamanio]

@derlukasbahr Then call it Compactcrap or wathever, so everybody knows what you mean. ;)

[derlukasbahr]

@demamanio yeah i should but in germany a compact is a digital so whatver ;P

[jannikmeissner]

The only mode I really need is the manual mode. But unfortunately most compacts don't even have aperture priority.... Would love to have an M9 but my A200 is, well OK. Tried street photography for the first time on last monday and I have to say: It is fun! And now I can justify an M9 to myself, even though I can't effort one right now.

[florhapsody]

FUUUUUUUARRKKKK!!!

[1992photographer]

@nosmailliwydocbocaj if your asking that question, im questioning your understanding of this video...

[paiwanhan]

What's the point of having a camera with the freedom of view, when you are stuck in a society where people don't have the freedom of viewing them....

[TheLawrenceStill]

@paiwanhan well said mate

[Boodhunnilesh]

too damn fucking expensive

[lukejohnspencer]

so basically are you just buying the Leica camera body just so you can use their lenses? :S

[MrMistaification]

If i saw him walking the street with that i would hit him with my car and steal it.

[NIBIR98]

it was the original leica camera that the Hansa Kwanon, Canon's first camera(with a nikon lens) was based upon. it would be very nice of Canon to pay their respects th Leica and make a camera much like the M9.

[aumkar2]

Nice video

[carlos1234567898765]

I'm a disabled person in a wheelchair and i can second that.

[Snruff]

Great video and awesome shots.

[lgnant]

I'd rather have the gun.



[awesomeheid]

i love you

[Charlieepy]

im crying i have to wait for my wallet to grow up

[toymachine135]

do an s2 now

[plutomok]

from the videos ive seen from DigitalRev, ive determined his editor or boss is a real dick

[TheIamfrustrated]

God damn, I want one of these in black now

[nulnoh219]

Love the Leica Glass...

[pianoadib]

keep buying lens for this leica like you r keep buying a new DSLR ...

[createyourselfh]

i've got a feeling in my stomach..

like the first time i fell in love with a girl xD

[tranvthuy]

how much is this anyway, cant be more than a 5d mark 2..

[GamingOfSolace]

@tranvthuy it's US$7,525.00 i saw the price at their website

[zeddik]

@tranvthuy Hehe.. How about 3 5d MkII's, and then you'll get 1 Leica M9 without lenses. And then you need to go get some Leica glass, which isn't exactly cheap :)

[tranvthuy]

m8 = mate

[ninjashidan]

If this camera was affordable i'd definately get one some day. But its more expansive than 2 5D mkiis and 1 1D. Its one of those cameras that you need to seriously love to convince yourself to purchase.

[ndragos87]

this camera suck,it is only for the rich guys who want to have the most expensive crap,my 550d is 10000times better than m9

[seeingdouble77]

i noticed that stevehuffphoto and iloverangefinders have M9 competitions going on

is it really worth $7000 ? is it that much better than a 5d ? or a d700 ?

[iRobii]

@seeingdouble77 Not really

[daijazz]

@iRobii i think you might be right lol

[iRobii]

@daijazz Its more about passion then specs :p

But damn you must be a fanboy to pay for this!

[writeDVD]

I wonder what you think about the protruding control buttons on the back of the camera. I find them awful on the M8.2, changing settings without my knowledge while I walk as they bang against my chest. Leica should have recessed the buttons or ringed them with a protective collar like the one around the lens release button, in my opinion. I think they are the same on the M9.

[FutureOfGamesNL]

It looks like a great camera, full frame and everything, but its so expansive, damn.. I think it isn't worth it.. but okay...

Its not the camera, but the person who makes the photos, so why spend so much for a camera ;D

[ePanic2]

Yeah Leica M9 is great.

[UtopiaMinor666]

tht is a camera you can really stand out with....

[UtopiaMinor666]

gee what is the name of this song? it is great.

[Bemap30]

Okay, if one day i get very rich, this will be one of the first thing i buy

[guweck]

I don´t know if this camera predisposes you to make good pictures. But I don´t see the huge amount of excellent pictures I´ve seen in this review, in the rest of the reviews made by the same photographer of DigitalRev com.

[BoxxyFan]

"The great thing about the M9 is that it has the most precise focusing system on any camera, it's called your fingers and your eyes"

Yours fingers and your eyes aren't part of the camera... fucking dumb ass asian chink.

[OrcunCan1923]

They don't make videos like this anymore.