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Not that I intend or indeed can afford to buy one but from the Reviews and Field Test Report I have read this appears to be an excellent addition to the Leica family.
One feature that I think is really cool and not even thought of or come across before is the photographer manually setting both the aperture and shutter speed with the camera automatically selecting the ISO for a correct exposure.
Perhaps Programme Mode is the closest I can think of.
Any comments on how one would use this ?
Also it is a Rangefinder, so what are benefits or not of that ?
Just thought this would be something slightly different to talk about on here, for a change ! 
Quote: both the aperture and shutter speed with the camera automatically selecting the ISO
Nothing new, My D700 Nikon can do that.....
Quote: Also it is a Rangefinder, so what are benefits or not of that
None, Or every camera in the world would be one....
Quote: Just thought this would be something slightly different to talk about on here, for a change
Cameras, On a photography site, Thats a new twist....
I handled one briefly yesterday that Will Cheung is using, having being appointed as a Leica demonstrator. I owned a Leica M2 many years ago and it has that familiar substantial build.
I tried it in a hotel reception that was varied - bright sunlight coming through the doors, darker shadow areas inside. The result on screen looked good. Very sharp, accurate metering on that difficult scene.
I also looked at one of Will's A2 prints and the detail into the edges was outstanding.
The advantage of a rangefinder is there's no mirror necessary so a full frame CCD can be used in a smaller space, with more compact lenses.
Also the big advantage of that is the quiet shutter as there's no mirror bouncing out of the way. So it tends to be used by photo journalists.
Would I buy one? No. I'm a tight northerner, and £4.5k (body only) would buy me much more practical DSLR gear.
Would I like one...Oh yes! First impressions was very desirable. Money no object...camera purchase certainly no object!
Pentax have an ISO priority mode, not quite the same, but similar principles.
Quote: Would I like one...Oh yes!
Me too! Mind you there are a fair few M8s coming on the 2nd hand market now.... must..........resist........
Quote: Beloved by Victor Blackman
There a name to evoke some memories...
Met him once at a Lecture he gave at The Wyvern Theatre in Swindon back in the late '80's. Have a signed copy of one of his books too. That book taught me a lot about PJ.
The M9 is about the same price as a Nikon D3X, so the price isn't out of order. Leica lenses are expensive but you get what you pay for. For lower cost, use Voigtlander optics.
Spending about £5000 on a camera body like a M9 is not the wisest buy, maybe it's better to spend that money on a Nikon D3x. Leica should review their high prices before they are consigned to the history books.
Quote: Leica should review their high prices before they are consigned to the history books.
Well, you can either buy a cheap, high-volume mass-produced DSLR or you can buy a camera which has been beautifully engineered and carefully hand-assembled by skilled craftsmen and which offers something that is unique in the world of photography. Just don't expect to get the latter for the same price.
Certainly a DSLR is more flexible but for anyone wanting the utmost quality in a package which won't cripple the photographer's shoulder after a day's shooting then the M9 is the only camera that fits the bill.
Quality costs.
Well, I just checked the prices, and a good professional DSLR costs over £5,000, so I expect Leica have got the price about right.
Quote: Spending about £5000 on a camera body like a M9 is not the wisest buy, maybe it's better to spend that money on a Nikon D3x. Leica should review their high prices before they are consigned to the history books.
Two totally different cameras, with different applications in mind. Are you suggesting if I want a a silent, lightweight, compact reportage camera, I would actually be better off carrying around a huge great noisy DSLR instead?
Take the example of the price between the Panasonic Lumix LX3 & Leica DLux4 which are both built in the same factory and in most things they are the same camera and both take very similar photos and are both built in Japan, but the Leica is almost double the price, now I hope you can see why I think Leica are charging to higher prices for the M9 body only, there isn't even a lens included in the price, maybe a 35mm Leica is worth paying a high price because it will probably last you a life time, but an M9 would at the most being digital could only last about 20 years, I think it's better to go out and find a good second hand M6 for £1000 which is the going rate on a lot of websites, I might aim for that at some point.
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