Whats the Verdict - X Pro 1, Leica M9, NEX-7 etc

[locopano]

I see that a few of you have bought these cameras and wanted to get some feedback. I assume that some of you also see each other socially so you probably have accees to both cameras.

Ive decided to put the M9 money (again) away and consider the Nex-7 and X Pro 1. I have been going between NEX-5 and Leica M8's, etc fora while now.

Have any of you used both, zeiss 24mm or 35 f1.4. is the optical vs hybrid alot better. I found it hard usign the EVF on the NEX-7.

What made you choose what you chose?
Will you be keeping them?


Just after some feedback rather than persuation. It will be a travel camera but im not really limited by size etc,

[chilloutbuddy]

I have the XP1 but I've only played with catalyst's M9 briefly and a NEX7 in a shop. Well basically the M9 is a rangefinder, the others arent... if thats important to you or if you have any expensive RF lenses and you hate the idea of cropping them, you save your pennies and get the M9.

Between the other two the Nex is cheaper and probably better in most things, the main reason you'd pick the XP1 is the OVF. Personally I'd rather stab myself than work with my eye glued on a 1" television, but that's just me. Also the XP1 is useless with most manual lenses but has a nicer collection of AF primes.

[^catalyst]

M9 is great, only problem is the price.

Not sold on people saying it has crappy high-iso performance, seems ok to me?

[simplelogik]

I’ve shot a wedding with the M9 once and I have to say that it was a very painful experience. I don’t quite understand what’s the attraction with manual focus, an inaccurate viewfinder, horrible PQ, impossible to shoot/focus at low light.

Here’s the irony, in a dimly lit room a $600 camera such as the Lumix GF1 + 20mm F1.7 + YN560 can take better photos than the $12K M9+50F1.4 Summiflux .

Forgot to mention, one thing that the M9 does better than the GF1 is attracting geeky camera enthusiasts

[^catalyst]

Originally Posted by simplelogik

I’ve shot a wedding with the M9 once and I have to say that it was a very painful experience. I don’t quite understand what’s the attraction with manual focus, an inaccurate viewfinder, horrible PQ, impossible to shoot/focus at low light.

Here’s the irony, in a dimly lit room a $600 camera such as the Lumix GF1 + 20mm F1.7 + YN560 can take better photos than the $12K M9+50F1.4 Summiflux .

I must tell all my clients! hahaha. The old RF takes a bit of getting used to.

[simplelogik]

Originally Posted by ^catalyst

I must tell all my clients! hahaha. The old RF takes a bit of getting used to.

Hehehehe, I wonder if the clients could tell the difference between a picture from an M9 or GF1 ?? We should do a shootout and test ..

[bueller]

Originally Posted by simplelogik

I’ve shot a wedding with the M9 once

That's your problem right there. People aren't buying these to shoot weddings, a DSLR would be far better suited to that role. You'll probably find most people are shooting street or reportage with them, I know that's what I'd be using one for.

[chilloutbuddy]

Originally Posted by simplelogik

I’ve shot a wedding with the M9 once and I have to say that it was a very painful experience.

I tagged a long with a couple of DSLRs with 2.8 zooms once and it was also a painful experience.
Mostly in the lower back and shoulder I found

[simplelogik]

Originally Posted by laidlow

That's your problem right there. People aren't buying these to shoot weddings, a DSLR would be far better suited to that role. You'll probably find most people are shooting street or reportage with them, I know that's what I'd be using one for.

I find it difficult to comprehend why so many people try to justify the M9 as a “street photography” camera. Why would you buy a f1.4 lense and shoot at f11 or f16 without looking through the viewfinder, wouldn’t a point and shoot with live view be sufficient and more accurate? I would argue that the iphone + instagram or hipstamatic would be make a better street camera. At least when you point an iPhone at stranger, they’ll feel less intimidating than if you were to point an M9 at them.

I think the M9 is a very EXPENSIVE, compact full frame camera with LOTS of faults.

Originally Posted by chilloutbuddy

I tagged a long with a couple of DSLRs with 2.8 zooms once and it was also a painful experience.
Mostly in the lower back and shoulder I found

Getting ole ??

[bueller]

Originally Posted by simplelogik

I find it difficult to comprehend why so many people try to justify the M9 as a “street photography” camera. Why would you buy a f1.4 lense and shoot at f11 or f16 without looking through the viewfinder, wouldn’t a point and shoot with live view be sufficient and more accurate? I would argue that the iphone + instagram or hipstamatic would be make a better street camera. At least when you point an iPhone at stranger, they’ll feel less intimidating than if you were to point an M9 at them.

I dunno about the whole "not looking through the viewfinder thing, I always use mine. And that's one of the kickers, I need a camera that a) has an optical viewfinder (not some crummy EVF) and b) has manual focus capable of zone focusing. Show me a P+S that can do that and I'll buy it. The X100 and Micro 4/3 systems come close but there's always something that's a big let down with them.

It's pretty much why I still use film for street, apart from the M9 there isn't a lot out there that tick all the boxes.

[zach]

Originally Posted by laidlow

It's pretty much why I still use film for street, apart from the M9 there isn't a lot out there that tick all the boxes.

Epson rd-1.

[bueller]

Originally Posted by zach

Epson rd-1.

$1500 for 8 year old technology with a 6MP sensor? No thanks, I'll stick to film or get an X100 and put it up with it's foibles instead.

Basically my point is while people can complain all they like about the Leica M9 being overpriced, there is literally nothing on the market that can do what it can. For that reason alone they can pretty much ask whatever price they like. Matter of fact from what I hear they can't even keep up with production to meet demand since they came out.

EDIT: FWIW I've never even owned a Leica, just my 2 cents.

[simplelogik]

Originally Posted by laidlow

EDIT: FWIW I've never even owned a Leica, just my 2 cents.

Whooahh .. Daniel .. you're basing all your opinion on something you haven't tried ??

BTW, is the shortage of CCD due to Kodak going bankrupt ?

FWIT : I was also impressed by the M9 when I first read it on the interweb .. but when I actually got to use it, it's a PoP (piece of poo).

I'm pretty confident to say that the GF1 + YN560 can produce just a good or better (I know it's subjective) image quality than the M9.

Anyone with a M9 up for a challenge ? Common Paul, if you're lurking around

[bueller]

Originally Posted by simplelogik

Whooahh .. Daniel .. you're basing all your opinion on something you haven't tried ??

Haha I said I've never OWNED a Leica

Just realised you run Albedo - didn't realise you were in Perth, love your work!

[WRC]

I've got a NEX 7. EVF is great during the day, gets a bit grainy in low light which makes it a little hard to focus manually as the grain gets in the way of being able to see if you've really achieved critical focus.

Other than that my only complaint is the size of the files the thing generates.

Best thing is that I have the camera with me a lot of the time now because of its size so I'm taking a lot more photos these days than I have in a long while.

I can't comment on the AF as I have no AF lenses.

Happy with my choice to swap out Canon of DSLRs.

I haven't tried any of the mirrorless competitors but I don't think you can really go wrong with any of them.

Edit: I haven't tried the E Mount Zeiss 24 as I wanted smaller lenses to keep the system as small as possible. I've gone Zeiss M mount lenses instead.

Edit2: Oh and the battery life is a bit short. I bought a 2nd battery to make sure I can get through a day.

CW we should catch up for lunch next week. I'll bring the 7 for you to play around with if you like. See if you like it more than the Leica.