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M9 Sensor and LCD Design Choices
The Leica M9 is not a film camera, but it retains that design philosophy: the most valuable usability enhancements possible with a digital camera have been omitted: Live View, electronic viewfinder, autofocus or autofocus assist. Technical challenges are at least partly responsible for some omissions, e.g., Live View.
In context, the timing of the M9 initial release came just as Live View came into wide use. Leica was also burdened with the need to use a sensor that could accommodate the extreme ray angles of Leica M lenses. The Leica M240 (2013) addresses this issue.
The versatility of the M9 is compromised by the omission of key features of Live View and/or a high-res EVF, and this locks out a very large potential audience with less than perfect vision, as well as proving intimidating to newcomers to a rangefinder. Perhaps this is why cameras like the Fuji X100 have met with great success: they offer some of the design pluses of the Leica M9 coupled with Live View and EVF. Ditto for ALLVIEW cameras.
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Diglloyd Guide to LEICA contains in-depth coverage of Leica M system cameras and lenses, with additional coverage of Leica M Monochrom, Leica Q.
Special emphasis is placed on Leica M lenses and certain Zeiss ZM lenses.
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- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
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