EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-04-18 20:36:21
UA_SEARCH_BOT_compatible_botmozilla/5.0 applewebkit/537.36 (khtml, like gecko; compatible; claudebot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com) @ 52.14.85.76
For full access, subscribe here. Or click title to login. 
Leica M9 Main page
Introduced for sale in November 2009, the Leica M9 was the world’s first full-frame rangefinder camera, with an active sensor area of 23.9 x 35.8 mm, producing a 5212 x 3472 (18 Megapixel) image.
More than two years later, little changed except that the M9P with sapphire glass was offered as an alternative, but with the same resolution sensor, same low-grade LCD, etc.
Background
It was only a few years ago that Leica intimated that there would not be a digital “M”. This was based on the fact that ray angles in M lenses are not well suited to a digital sensor, as documented here and has an impact on color off center.
Article continues for subscribers...
Diglloyd Guide to Leica is by yearly subscription. Subscribe now for about 25 cents a day ($90/year).
BEST DEAL: get full access to ALL 8 PUBLICATIONS for about 75 cents a day!
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.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly the Summilux/Summicron/Elmarit choice and/or Zeiss ZM.
- Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning. Processing parameters are discussed and shown.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- 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.
Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Leica.