Inexpensive but high-quality entry into the Leica M world

Dear Leica fans and those who want to become one,

Leica stands for tradition, quality and craftsmanship and has a loyal fan base. The Leica M cameras in particular are very popular with photographers worldwide. But entering the world of Leica rangefinder cameras is not exactly cheap. Or does it? Can there be an inexpensive yet high-quality entry into the Leica M world?

There is actually a reasonably affordable entry into the world of Leica M cameras and I would like to share it with you today. The Leica M9 and the Summicron-C 40mm f/2 lens are the perfect combination for anyone who is interested in a Leica M camera but doesn't have the cash for an expensive model. Or, like me, you're simply not prepared to pay almost €9000 for a digital rangefinder camera - without a lens, mind you.

The Leica M9 camera

The Leica M9 is the first digital M camera with a full-format sensor and was introduced in 2009. It has since been appreciated by many photographers and is equipped with a resolution of 18 megapixels. The camera is easy to use and has the classic design that appeals to many photographers. The rangefinder allows you to focus perfectly on the subject and creates a unique one Photography experience. However, there are a few things to consider if you currently want to buy a used Leica M9. For example, you should be aware that the M9 has no video function and therefore no live view. Even at higher ISO values, it is not quite as low-noise as modern cameras. But these are things you can live with if you get involved in the Leica M world.

The most important note when buying a used M9 concerns the sensor. This initially had the problem that it suffered from corrosion. Affected sensors were replaced by Leica free of charge until mid-2017 - now no longer and Replacing it through a third party costs around €1000. So when buying, you should be sure that the sensor is newer and has no corrosion. You can tell whether the sensor of a Leica M9 has been replaced by the hardware ID. The CCD ID must be at least 15.

In order to read the hardware ID, you have to call up an internal system menu using a somewhat cryptic key combination. You can reach the menu with the following key sequence: Switch on the camera, press the “Delete” button, then use the rocker switch up 2x, down 4x, left three times, right once and then “Info”. Select the Hardware IDs menu and confirm with the “Set” button. By the way, you can see the number of triggers under NumExposures in the Body Debug Data menu. This information is certainly of interest when buying used. The counter is not reset by Leica when the sensor is replaced.

The Summicron-C 40mm f/2 lens

The Summicron-C 40mm f/2 lens is also a classic and was manufactured from 1973 to 1979. It is compact, bright and has a focal length whose viewing angle for XNUMXmm films aka full format sensors is very close to the natural perspective of the human eye. The lens is surprisingly sharp for what it is purely analog is calculated. The background blur is not as smooth as with current lenses, but the 10 aperture blades do a good job. It's really good for landscape shots, street photography or portraits.

But do you know what the best thing about this lens is? It is so small and light that I can easily carry it in my bag along with the M9. Complete and ready for use, the combination weighs just under 725 grams. The Q2 for comparison is 10 grams heavier. In terms of dimensions, the M9 with the Summicron-C attached is also comparable to the Q2 - it is slightly wider, but 2cm less deep. So even compared to a Q2, this combination saves space and money.

The lens itself weighs just 125g and protrudes roughly 3cm from the camera. The sun visor is screwed on and is a rather ugly rubber thing. The lens has a 39mm filter thread, but the thread has an atypical pitch. Therefore, 5.5 series filters are held in place by the lens hood. This has the advantage that the front lens of the lens is basically protected, but of course the disadvantage that it is difficult to use other filters.

And why does the name of the lens end with a C and not with an M, as is usual for Leica M lenses? The Summicron-C is a lens developed specifically for the Leica CL and, according to various internet sources, between 55000 and 64000 units were produced.

The C stands for CL

The Leica CL is a compact rangefinder camera that was produced between 1973 and 1976 by Leitz (now Leica Camera AG) in collaboration with Minolta. Designed as a more cost-effective alternative to the Leica M-series, it was popular with amateurs and professionals alike due to its size and ease of use. The analogue Leica CL was a great success for Leitz in its time and is still valued by many photographers today. The Leica CL had an M bayonet mount and was compatible with Leica M lenses and also with the smaller Leica C lenses.

A Summicron-M is more expensive than the Summicron-C due to its greater compatibility with other cameras and larger image circle. In addition, the Summicron-M is available in different versions, such as an aspherical version, while the Summicron-C is only available in one version. In my recordings, I didn't notice any disadvantage of the smaller image circle. Even when used with higher-resolution Leica M cameras, such as the M10 or even M11, I couldn't find any serious disadvantages. The sharpness performance was good, even if the lens was too bright in the corners saggital coma tends.

The high-quality entry into the Leica M world

But why do I recommend the Leica M9 and the Summicron-C 40mm f/2? Quite simply: The M9 is the last Leica M with a CCD sensor. This sensor delivers an image that is unique in its color and tone reproduction. Together with the Summicron-C 40mm f/2, the result is a combination that offers excellent performance. The camera and lens are of high quality and are perfect for a high-quality entry into the world of Leica M cameras. You can take great pictures with it and enjoy the unique photography experience with a rangefinder camera.

I have been using the Leica M9 and the Summicron-C 40mm f/2 for some time and am still thrilled with them. The camera and lens are reliable and take great pictures. I have captured many beautiful moments with it and am always impressed by the quality.

The budget for a high-quality entry into the Leica M world

But back to the topic of budget. How much do you have to spend to enjoy this combination? Well, of course this depends on the condition of the camera and lens. But you can expect to get the M9 used from around 2.000 euros and the Summicron-C 40mm f/2 used from around 600 euros. Yes, I know, that sounds like a lot of money at first. But remember: a used Summicron-M with a comparable focal length of 35mm can easily cost three times as much as a 40mm lens. The M9 is not just a tool, but also a piece of craftsmanship that you can always carry with you.

Of course, there are also cheaper alternatives, but only with lenses from third-party manufacturers. I recommend the combination for an introduction to the pure Leica world: an inexpensive yet high-quality combination that will delight you in terms of image quality and ease of use.

The disadvantages of Leica M9 and Summicron-C 40mm

Enough of the adulation – there are of course also disadvantages to this inexpensive entry into the Leica M world. Without these disadvantages, this combination of camera and lens would probably no longer be inexpensive. After all, we are talking about Leica here. As already mentioned, the M9 is quite old for a digital camera and I cannot recommend using it beyond ISO 1250. I've always tried to use them at a maximum of ISO640.

Therefore, the fast 40mm lens is a good choice. However, the Summicron-C was never intended for an M. That's why there is no lens recognition on a digital M. You also can't specify a 40mm focal length in the settings. There isn't even an adjustment frame for the 40mm in the M's viewfinder. I helped myself by moving the lever for the light frame away from the lens to the left. This means that the bounding box for 35mm is displayed in the viewfinder and not the default one for 50mm. 35mm is close enough to 40mm and the composition can be achieved with a little practice in the viewfinder.

The M9's battery doesn't last too long and even shorter in cold temperatures. There actually still is new batteries for the M9 to buy. However, the price of €130 is not necessarily a bargain.

The display on the Leica M9 is probably the worst ever installed on a digital camera. You can't see anything on it. You can only judge the sharpness of the subject after waiting a while and then scrolling in. It's so annoying that you rarely do it.

In general, the processing speed of the M9 is very slow. Taking photos with this digital camera probably comes closest to the experience of analogue photography. But of course analog film has a larger exposure range. All CCD sensors previously installed in digital cameras were very sensitive to overexposure. This is not Leica specific. This is where you notice the age of the camera. The nice thing about the combination I recommend here, however, is that at some point you can swap the camera for something newer and still have a great lens. The Summicron-C also surprised me positively on the M11.

Conclusion on the inexpensive but high-quality entry into the Leica M world

There's an inexpensive way to explore the world of Leica M cameras. The Leica M9 camera and the Summicron-C 40mm f/2 lens are a perfect combination for an entry into the Leica M world. The camera has a full-frame sensor with 18 megapixels and is easy to use. The lens is small and light, making the camera easy to carry in your bag. But there are also disadvantages such as the slow processing speed and the lack of lens detection. But you should also pay attention to the sensor replacement that has been carried out.

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PS: Large parts of the text were read automatically Chat GPT created. But it still reflects my opinion and my experience because I asked helpful questions. By the way: the AI ​​initially answered my question about the inexpensive entry into the Leica M world with the Leica M2. I was probably too imprecise, because the M2 is actually a great tip for people who would like to take analogue photos.