Leica M9 images

[k-hawinkler]

Rio Grande

Leica M9 + Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH. (at 16mm) @ f/8, 1/350 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

 

[k-hawinkler]

Santa Fe • 2011 • Joe McNally Lighting Workshop

Joe McNally and 3 assistants had set up an elaborate workshop to demonstrate photography with lighting and TTL flash. One assistant maned a computer to project in real time the images being shot, while the other 2 held lighting fixtures in the desired positions.

Here is an image I shot of Joe McNally with my Leica M9.

The team at work taking pictures of a Model.

Joe McNally's favorite Santa Fe Model is observing the proceedings before getting photographed himself.

The main event.

I took a shot of the resulting image on the projection screen.

More shooting activity.

Another image of the projection screen with my M9.

The workshop was very well attended, mostly men and a few women.

The workshop concluded with an on stage discussion.

I shot my images with my Leica M9 and my Summicron-M 50mm f/2 (III).
The workshop was interesting, entertaining, and educational. I highly recommend it.

 

[k-hawinkler]

ROMANCING THE STONE
W SAN FRANCISCO ST / BURRO ALLEY

Leica M9 + Apo-Summicron-M 75mm f/2 ASPH. @ f/6.7, 1/180 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

Leica M9 + Apo-Summicron-M 75mm f/2 ASPH. @ f/6.7, 1/360 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

 

[k-hawinkler]

Have you found the charger? Just to be able to see if it still works OK mechanically would be a step forward, even if the sensor is now more heavily corroded.
The other critical thing to test would be the alignment and accuracy of the split image rangefinder.

K-H., Leica stopped this service somewhere in 2020.
However Kolari offers both full sensor replacement or just replacement of the cover glass on their website. Price depends on what replacement and calibration options you choose.
Since they're located in the US (NJ if I'm not mistaken) it would be relatively straight forward for you, no need to worry about customs or transatlantic shipping.

Thank you again Pieter for you excellent advice, much appreciated.

Yes, the battery is charged and I managed to take pictures with my M9.
Before I get ahead of myself, here is a sensor test comparison from back then and now.

M9 sensor corrosion on 2017-06-18

M9 sensor corrosion on 2023-02-20

Again taken now, on 2023-02-20, I also can detect 3 vertical lines, and lots of dead/hot pixels that DxO PL6 mapped out.

The above image also served as a rangefinder focus test. A couple more such tests.

In my assessment the rangefinder focusing mechanism seems fine. It's probably better than my aging eyes.
In my M9 is an old 16 GB Panasonic Gold memory card that fixed reliability problems with card writing.
I reformatted the card and it still seems to work correctly in the M9. Knock on wood.

So there are some good news and some bad news.

• The bad news first: The sensor cover plate is definitely badly corroded.
• The good news: The camera itself seems in good working order otherwise.

Considering the large number of Leica M-lenses I still have, addressing the issue demonstrated seems justified.
Well, Kolari to the rescue / rehabilitation of my M9.

Looking over my images, I see heavy use of my M9 in the 2010 - 2015 time period in parallel with Nikon and eventually Olympus cameras. Then my interest shifted to Sony APS-C and FF gear, and finally to Fuji GFX 50S as well.

BTW, I basically had forgotten everything about operating the M9. However the M9 is such a simple system, including its buttons and menus, that it only took me about a couple of hours to get back into it. In this context I found the following two references useful:

• https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m9/users-guide/index.htm
• the M9 Instructions_en.pdf I still had on my computer

So this exercise ahas been an interesting trip down memory lane.

 

[pegelli]

Great news K-H, I hope you get the camera repaired and give it a well deserved 2nd life. I think it's worth it!

 

[k-hawinkler]

Great news K-H, I hope you get the camera repaired and give it a well deserved 2nd life. I think it's worth it!

Thank you Pieter, I agree. It will be awhile before I get the camera back.

 

[k-hawinkler]

I wonder though whether Kolari can do a repair so that vertical lines don't show up in images.
Wouldn't that require a remapping of the sensor pixels by Leica?
Leica should still have the tools to achieve that, no?

 

[pegelli]

I wonder though whether Kolari can do a repair so that vertical lines don't show up in images.
Wouldn't that require a remapping of the sensor pixels by Leica?
Leica should still have the tools to achieve that, no?

I don't know, maybe ask Kolari what they think about it.

B.t.w., maybe I didn't look good enough but I only spotted the vertical line in the "sink" image and not the two others, did you (or PL6) remove the lines?
Also in none of the three images the sensor corrosion shows up, so the larger aperture and darker background hides these blemishes pretty well.
So maybe just use it for a few weeks and see if it holds up or if any other problems show up before spending a lot of money on it. That's probably my Dutch nature speaking there

 

[k-hawinkler]

Thanks Pieter. Good points. I am not going to worry about it any further. I didn’t remove any vertical lines in the other images. Maybe PL6 did. It certainly eliminated a number of dead / hot pixels.
Thanks again.

 

[dave.gt]

Thanks Pieter. Good points. I am not going to worry about it any further. I didn’t remove any vertical lines in the other images. Maybe PL6 did. It certainly eliminated a number of dead / hot pixels.
Thanks again.

Gotta admit, I am looking forward to your newly refurbished M9 when it returns from Kolari!

 

[k-hawinkler]

Gotta admit, I am looking forward to your newly refurbished M9 when it returns from Kolari!

Thank you Dave. Me too. That will take awhile though.

Leica M9 + Apo-Summicron-M 75mm f/2 ASPH. @ f/13, 1/250 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

 

[k-hawinkler]

The Leica M9 Menu offers automatic lens detection for those lenses that have the dotted markers. For other lenses that don't have the markers one can manually select from a lens list in the M9 Menu. As I couldn't find such a list on the Internet I made up my own list. Here it is.

I started with a list from:

A Complete Guide to Leica M Lenses

A Complete Guide to Leica M Lenses

A complete guide to the world of Leica M-mount lenses, from their history to how to understand the company's naming conventions.

petapixel.com

Quote:

"Here is a list of Leica M-mount lenses,
both historical ones as well as those
currently in production:"

I added the Lens Identification
Numbers from the M9 Menu.
If there is no Number added then the
lens is not listed in the M9 Menu.

16-18-21mm f/4 Tri-Elmar-M ASPH 11626
18mm f/3.8 Super-Elmar-M ASPH
21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11134
21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH 11135/11897
21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon-M
21mm f/3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH
21mm f/4.0 Super-Angulon-M
24mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
24mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH 11878/11898
24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH
28mm f/5.6 Summaron-M
28mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
28mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH 11604
28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11804/11809
28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH 11806
28–35–50mm f/4 Tri-Elmar-M ASPH 11625
35mm f/1.4 Summilux 11870/11860
35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPHERICAL 11873
35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH 11874/11883
35mm f/2 Summicron-M 11310/11311
35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH 11879/11882
35mm f/2.5 Summarit-M
50mm f/0.95 Noctilux-M ASPH
50mm f/1 Noctilux-M 11821/11822
50mm f/1.2 Noctilux-M 11820
75mm f/1.25 Noctilux-M
50mm f/1.4 Summilux 11868/11856/11114
50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH 11891/11892
50mm f/1.5 Summarit
50mm f/2 Summicron-M 11817
50mm f/2 Summicron-M 11819/11825/11826/11816
50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH
50mm f/2.5 Summarit-M
50mm f/2.8 Elmar-M 11831/11823/11824
75mm f/1.4 Summilux-M 11814/11815/11810
75mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH 11637
75mm f/2.5 Summarit-M
90mm f/2 Summicron-M 11136/11137
90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH 11884/11885
90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11800
90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11807/11808
90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M
90mm f/4 Macro-Elmar-M 11633/11634
MACRO-ADAPTER-M f. 90/4 14409
135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11829
135mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt-M 11889
135mm f/4.0 Elmar 11851/11861
135mm f/4.5 Hektor

Some of my lenses have these dotted markers.
They either came with them or I had them added.
But some of my lenses don't have the markers
and need to be identified manually from the M9 Menu.
Otherwise DxO PL6 cannot apply its available lens corrections.

BTW my Leica M9 is on Firmware version 1.202.

 

[k-hawinkler]

Camera Shop ...

M9+75/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH.
... across the street from La Fonda on the Plaza.

M9+75/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH.

Inside is an excellent Restaurant and this great French Pastry Shop.

M9+75/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH.

 

[k-hawinkler]

M9+75/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH.

 

[k-hawinkler]

Looking across the Rio Grande at White Rock, NM. 7-Frame Panorama

Leica M9 + Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. @ f/9.5, 1/750 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

 

[k-hawinkler]

Fire Lookout Station on top of St. Peter's Dome in the San Miguel Mountains in the Jemez Mountains.

Leica M9 +Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. @ f/8,1/750 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

Leica M9 +Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. @ f/6.7,1/500 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

Leica M9 +Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. @ f/6.7,1/360 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

Looking towards the Jemez Mountains

Leica M9 +Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. @ f/6.7,1/180 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

Cochiti Lake in the center of the frame.

Leica M9 +Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. @ f/6.7,1/500 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

 

[k-hawinkler]

Kiva at Bandelier National Monument.

Leica M9 + Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 (II) @ f/6.7, 1/45 s, ISO 160, DxO PL6.

 

[dave.gt]

Kolari.

I found this thread interesting.

Corrosion Repair Success Stories? Failures?

I recently received my M9 from Kolari Vision, with sensor rendered completely dead by Kolari Vision's attempt to replace the cover glass. It might be interesting to see some anecdotes on attempted repairs, by Kolari, MaxMax and others(?).

www.l-camera-forum.com

 

[dave.gt]

Are there any reviews by respected individuals in the community of successful results? I hope this will be a great trend as I am appalled to see M9 cameras being up for sale, at very high prices, with corroded sensors. I am not sure how the replacement actually performs or affects future value due to numerous other possible issues with each camera.

Those cameras deserve an excellent replacement. I hope this works out for this camera!

 

[k-hawinkler]

The Leica M9 Menu offers automatic lens detection for those lenses that have the dotted markers. For other lenses that don't have the markers one can manually select from a lens list in the M9 Menu. As I couldn't find such a list on the Internet I made up my own list. Here it is.

I started with a list from:

A Complete Guide to Leica M Lenses

A Complete Guide to Leica M Lenses

A complete guide to the world of Leica M-mount lenses, from their history to how to understand the company's naming conventions.

petapixel.com

Quote:

"Here is a list of Leica M-mount lenses,
both historical ones as well as those
currently in production:"

I added the Lens Identification
Numbers from the M9 Menu.
If there is no Number added then the
lens is not listed in the M9 Menu.

16-18-21mm f/4 Tri-Elmar-M ASPH 11626
18mm f/3.8 Super-Elmar-M ASPH
21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11134
21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH 11135/11897
21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon-M
21mm f/3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH
21mm f/4.0 Super-Angulon-M
24mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
24mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH 11878/11898
24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH
28mm f/5.6 Summaron-M
28mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
28mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH 11604
28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11804/11809
28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH 11806
28–35–50mm f/4 Tri-Elmar-M ASPH 11625
35mm f/1.4 Summilux 11870/11860
35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPHERICAL 11873
35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH 11874/11883
35mm f/2 Summicron-M 11310/11311
35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH 11879/11882
35mm f/2.5 Summarit-M
50mm f/0.95 Noctilux-M ASPH
50mm f/1 Noctilux-M 11821/11822
50mm f/1.2 Noctilux-M 11820
75mm f/1.25 Noctilux-M
50mm f/1.4 Summilux 11868/11856/11114
50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH 11891/11892
50mm f/1.5 Summarit
50mm f/2 Summicron-M 11817
50mm f/2 Summicron-M 11819/11825/11826/11816
50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH
50mm f/2.5 Summarit-M
50mm f/2.8 Elmar-M 11831/11823/11824
75mm f/1.4 Summilux-M 11814/11815/11810
75mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH 11637
75mm f/2.5 Summarit-M
90mm f/2 Summicron-M 11136/11137
90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH 11884/11885
90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11800
90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11807/11808
90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M
90mm f/4 Macro-Elmar-M 11633/11634
MACRO-ADAPTER-M f. 90/4 14409
135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 11829
135mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt-M 11889
135mm f/4.0 Elmar 11851/11861
135mm f/4.5 Hektor

Some of my lenses have these dotted markers.
They either came with them or I had them added.
But some of my lenses don't have the markers
and need to be identified manually from the M9 Menu.
Otherwise DxO PL6 cannot apply its available lens corrections.

BTW my Leica M9 is on Firmware version 1.202.

Above I mentioned that my M9 has Firmware version 1.202.

In this link

Determining New Sensor - M9

Trying to determine CCD update. I had no success but perhaps someone smarter than I can help here. This applies to firmware: 1.210 Do this with a freshly charged battery. For the M9 there is a service menu which can be brought up as follows. Power on Delete -> up (2x) -> down (4x) -> lef...

www.l-camera-forum.com

Some folks have their M9’s on firmware: 1.210.

Question: Which version is the latest for the M9 Firmware?
Question: How can I get the latest version?
Question: How would I update my M9 Firmware?

TIA for any pointers.

In the above reference is also a discussion how to invoke the M9 service menu.

Quote:

”For the M9 there is a service menu which can be brought up as follows.

Power on

Delete -> up (2x) -> down (4x) -> left (3x) -> right (3x) -> Info

This shows the service menu.
Scroll down and up using the arrow buttons.
Press Set to select an item
Gently press the shutter release to leave item.
Press Info again for the menu

Under Hardware IDS, I get this on one M9

CCD ID: 8
CCD Board: 2
Control BRD: 2
M16CID: 0”

In another case someone finds for his M9 this information:

Quote:

”My M9 with new gen sensor:

CCD ID: 15
CCD Board ID: 2
Control Brd ID: 2
M16C ID: 0”

Very interesting.
I faintly remember that in the past I actually brought up the M9 service menu as well.
Once I have my camera back, I should look into this topic again.


More quotes:

"The problem with identifying via the firmware is that there has been another release since 1.204.
The latest version only adds support for the new Summaron 28mm but you can bet that
a lot of people installed it even if they don't have the lens. Such is human nature."

"One (sic) the L-site from M-E download page I could get 1.202 and 1.210, but not 1.204..."

"
Exactly. If you find a Leica M9 with firmware 1.202 it means old sensor. 1.204 is the new sensor.
But 1.210 could be both new or old. My old M9 sensor for example has FW 1.210 installed.
The CCD ID seems to be a better identifier to determine new or old sensor."

"Interesting, however I suspect the new sensor does not require different firmware, no dual support.
At the time of a senor replacement Leica simply did a firmware update as a routine procedure."

"As Leica installed 1.204 on replacing my sensor I feel confident that the new non-corroding, all singing, all dancing sensor was indeed used.
Reminder to self, don't update to 1.210, you don't need it and it will only confuse others if and when you sell."

"It is funny.... Under Hardware IDS, I get this on my M9:
CCD ID: 11
CCD Board: 2
Control BRD: 2
M16CID: 0
My sensor was replaced in 2013 (July). The old one had not sign of corrosion. The exchange was made for another reason."

"Here's a success story for you:
2010 M9 (early first batch)
Replaced 7 years ago with ID 11 and never received the update to 15 or 16.
My M9 is still running strong with no signs of corrosion, and I have the guaranteed
Kodak version of the CCD with its original magical color rendering.
Edited August 13, 2022 by BlackPaint
Update: Found corrosion from my M9 sensor ID 11 Leica. A picture is attached to show it."

This is all very interesting.

As I saw vertical lines in some of my images, but not all images, I had to conclude that there might be an intermittent problem.
It was explained to me that: "Typically these lines can begin to form over time as the bond wires attached to the edge of the sensor array begin to fail."
So I asked Kolari to swap the sensor out and put the Schott BG61 Glass on it, as they had then swapping out the sensor on sale. So they did.

Kolari informed me as follows. Quote:

"WE swapped the faulty Leica CCD 5 sensor that had the dead pixel lines out for a newer Leica CCD 11 sensor that is working correctly.
We also installed corrosion resistant Schott BG61 glass onto this newer CCD 11 sensor.

Everything was tested and verified by our technician prior to return shipment, however, should you run into any issues in the future please feel free to reach out. As your new sensor has our Schott BG61 glass it is covered by us under a lifetime warranty against future corrosion."

Beautiful!