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Leica M9 Digital Rangefinder Camera - Page 20
 
Cuba, Havana. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
   
 
   

Leica M9 Digital Rangefinder Camera - Page 20

Index of Thorsten Overgaard's user review pages on Leica M9, Leica M9-P, Leica M-E, Leica M9 Monochrom, Leica M10, Leica M10-P, Leica M10-D, Leica M10-R, Leica M10 Monohcrom, Leica M11, Leica M 240, Leica M-D 262, Leica M Monochrom 246, Leica SL, Leica SL2, Leica SL2-S, as well as Leica TL2, Leica CL, Leica Q, Leica Q2 and Leica Q2 Monochrom:
Leica Digital Camera Reviews by Thorsten Overgaard
Leica M11 /M11-P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                          
Leica M10 / M10-R
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                         Video
Leica M 240
P 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44            
M 246 Monochrom 26 27 28 29
30
31      

                     
Leica M-D 262 1 2                                        
Leica M9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20   M9-P
M Monochrom 20 21 22 23 24 25      

                     
Leica SL / SL2 1   3   5 6 7                              
Leica SL3 1                                          
Leica Q 1                                          
Leica Q2 / Q2M 1                                          
Leica Q3 1 2                                        
Leica TL2 1 2                                        
Leica CL 1 2                                       Books

 

My (Almost) Complete Guide
to the Leica M9 Digital Rangefinder

By: Thorsten Overgaard. February 25, 2018. Edited January 15, 2023.

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My current travel kit is basically M9 and M10. And one backup of each. With a few lenses (50mm APO, 50mm Summilux ASPH, 50mm Noctilux, 28mm Summilux and 90mm APO). © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
My current travel kit is basically the Leica M9 and the Leica M10, and one backup of each, and a few lenses (50mm APO, 50mm Summilux ASPH, 50mm Noctilux, 28mm Summilux and 90mm APO). © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.



Leica M9: Instant Success

After 8 years on the market, the users of Leica M seem to agree that the Leica M9 is the de facto standard for how a Leica M image should look. The Leica M9 is above the endless discussions about sensor rendering and colors. When you take a Leica M9 photograph, it’s instantly great colors. When the Leica M10 came out in March 2017, it's sensor was tuned to look close to the Leica M9 sensor.

 

 

Havana, Cuba. Two of my workshop students are enjoying life a little too much. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
Havana, Cuba. Two of my workshop students are enjoying life a little too much. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

Recently I simplified my lineup of Leica gear I travel with. I sold off my two 35mm lenses (a 35mm FLE and a 35mm AA), I left my Leica TL2 in Denmark, my Leica Q in Hong Kong and sold the Leica CL. I now just travel with two Leica M9 cameras and two Leica M10 cameras with 50mm Summilux, 50mm APO, 50mm Noctilux, a 28mm Summilux and a 90mm APO-Summicron.

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Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

The Leica M10 is the iPhone X of Leica M cameras, in the sense it's the optimized luxury-version. The ISO dial has become a new standard, even most people leave the ISO dial up so it is easy to change. It’s too stiff to open and close the ISO dial whenever you want to change the setting. It wasn’t meant like this, but that’s how it’s come to be. A funny little quirk of the Leica M10 design that I’m sure we will want to keep the same way in the future.

 

 

 

Street life in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
Street life in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

The Leica M9 has become the digital classic. We carry it as if it was an old-school film camera, even though it is far advanced from the Leica M6 and Leica M3 cameras we used to regard as the classics.

 

 

 

     
 

How to tame a Leica M9 - Rule No 1

When you buy a Leica M9, or you take it out from the closet, you might have forgotten that the limit for SD-cards is 16GB. The de facto standard for the Leica M9 is the SanDisk 16GB 45MB/sec card. So buy a few while they still have them (they're only $5.50). Also, the 32GB Sandisk 95MB/sec will work.   If you get too enthusiastic and buy the awesome 128GB Angelbird cards, or a 64 GB SanDisk "to have space enough", the Leica M9 will simply not react when you turn it on, or will display a "No SD card" message.

Use the right SD card

When you buy a Leica M9, or you take it out from the closet, you might have forgotten that the limit for SD-cards is 16GB. The de facto standard for the Leica M9 is the SanDisk 16GB 45MB/sec card. So buy a few while they still have them (they're only $5.50). Also, the 32GB Sandisk 95MB/sec will work.

If you get too enthusiastic and buy the awesome 128GB Angelbird cards, or a 64 GB SanDisk "to have space enough", the Leica M9 will simply not react when you turn it on, or will display a "No SD card" message.

 
     

 

 

The round buttons of the Leica M9 have a delayed response when you press them.
The round buttons of the Leica M9 have a delayed response when you press them.

 

It’s cute with the round buttons that have a delayed response when you press them. The overall camera has a slow response to it so you sometimes wonder if it still works. It does. You turn it on, and sometimes it doesn’t really start. Or maybe it does. It’s part of the Leica M9 feeling that it’s all a bit quirky and slow.

 

Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 FLE. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 FLE. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

The menu that we once struggled to understand, now 8 years down the road where an iPhone requires a university degree and a full 30 minutes intense scrolling to set up, is so simple it’s laughable. It’s a joy to have so few choices in your photographic life.

 

Out and about in New York with the Leica M9 earlier in February 2018. Photo by Philip Koury.
Out and about in New York with the Leica M9 earlier in February 2018. Photo by Philip Koury.

 


Oh, I forgot! I acquired a Leica 40mm Summicron-C f/2.0 made for the original film camera Leica CL. It's a nice little compact lens, and Leica traditionally have made some very nice 40mm lenses (namely the 40mm on the Minilux). The strap on this camera is the A&A 252.
Oh, I forgot! I acquired a Leica 40mm Summicron-C f/2.0 made for the original film camera Leica CL. It's a nice little compact lens, and Leica traditionally have made some very nice 40mm lenses (namely the 40mm on the Minilux). The strap on this camera is the A&A 252.

 

When the Leica M9 came out, it was all about comparison to other current models. Who has the most megapixels, who has more ISO speed, how much you get for the money, does it work in rain and all that.

I told you so, I dare say, it’s about the feeling and the image. The two things the Leica M9 is superior on is the feeling of making photographs, and the image quality.

 

Alberto from Milano, in Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten Overgaard.
Alberto from Milano, in Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten Overgaard.

 

     
 

How to tame a Leica M9 - Rule No 2

My Leica M9 with the Hendrix Special Edition strap from Rock'n'Roll Straps.
My Leica M9 with the Hendrix Special Edition strap from Rock'n'Roll Straps.

Get a strap that works for you

The Leica M9 comes with the adjustable nylon strap that Leica Camera AG used to supply with all Leica models. It's not a bad strap, but you might want to sex it up with something else. Unfortunately, many camera straps are sold in 90 cm lengths, which makes them useless (especially if you wear a large winter jacket), unless you mean to wear your camera around the neck, hanging on the chest.

You should get a nice strap that allows you to have the camera across the chest, with the camera resting on the hip. For most people, 125 cm straps will do this. If you are smaller or larger than most people, you will need to measure with a measuring tape how long your ideal strap should be for the camera to end hanging by the hip. Not on the leg, not by the kidney.

"Always wear a camera" is my motto, and you can only do so if the camera actually sits comfortably. By the hip you can have it on the side of your body, or in front. If you want to bicycle or walk through a store without the camera getting noticed, you sling it so it hangs on the back of the body. You feel it's there, but it's not in the way.

Yet it's ready, should you see an inspiring frame you want to grab. That's what is meant with "Always wear a camera".

Look at my "Sexy Stuff for the World's most Sexy Camera" for straps. Or check Barton 1972 and Rock'n'Roll Straps for nice ones that I've used a lot.

 

 
     

 

 

Young Mr. Milo insisted on having his photo taken. Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
Young Mr. Milo insisted on having his photo taken. Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

18 megapixels was and is about the limit of what the human eye can see in terms of resolution (4K for video). If you need much more megapixels to tell your story, then maybe your story isn’t about what is in the photograph but rather about something else.

No doubt we will see much more megapixels in cameras, and more than 4K in video cameras. But unless you want or need to crop the frame greatly, you don't relly need more than 18MP or 4K.

 


Enjoying a private moment in Havana. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
Enjoying a private moment in Havana.
Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

Who should have thought the secret of good photography was to make good photographs?

For a moment, we all thought it was about technology, the most megapixels and the highest ISO, the longest battery time and if it works in the rain.

 

Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

Doodling around with the Leica M9 in Cuba and elsewhere, the never-ending blog discussions about new camera models becomes a clutter in the background, like traffic from a distant highway while you look at some interesting blue flowers in the bottom of the woods. Who wants to sit in traffic when you can photograph beautiful colors and get lost in a moment of interesting light?

 

Photographing in Havana. Photo by Mort O'Sullivan.
Photographing in Havana. Photo by Mort O'Sullivan.

 

One of the things you may notice with the Leica M9 is that your photographs don’t look that different from the ones you make with the Leica M10 or Leica SL. The point being that apparently, we didn’t need a new camera to make better photographs.

 

The girl in the candy store. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
The girl in the candy store. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

The Leica M9 has the instant lovable colors and black and white tones. There is no doubt, no time spent trying to tweak it to some other look or standard than what the camera makes. The secret is that after 8 years of use, we have come to agree that the Leica M9 look is the right look.

 


Portrait photography in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

No more sweating over tonality, noise, whether there is too strong a blue or too red skin tones. We accept it as a standard, just as we do with Tri-X, Kodachrome and all the other well-proven classics.

 

The workshop having too much fun in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
The workshop having too much fun in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

     
 

How to tame a Leica M9 - Rule No 3

Teaching the young enthusiast in Cuba the Leica M9. © 2018 Matt Schultz
Teaching the young enthusiast in Cuba the Leica M9. © 2018 Matt Schultz.

Get the exposure right

Once you master the few technical things on a Leica M9, there are very few things to know. It's actually like a film camera in that sense: All you have to control at all times, is the exposure.

No matter how advanced cameras have become, the exposure is one thing you cannot let a camera decide. It can help with the built-in light meter, but at any time your subject is not mid-tone, the light meter is destined to get it wrong. Light meters are all made for a grey world.

Read my Leica M9 article on page 17 "Light metering with the Leica M9" for more on this.

 
     


 

He manged to take this photo! Street life in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.
He managed to take this photo! Street life in Havana,
Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 

 

Here he is before he fell in love with the Leica M9. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.
Here he is before he fell in love with the Leica M9. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 

I feel beyond the fear of showing a photograph on a forum and somebody asking, “Don’t you find the blue a little too strong on this sensor”, because I don’t care anymore. What of it? I know this sensor, I know this look, I know it works. Nobody would spend time discussing if the Kodachrome look is too saturated or not. It’s the Kodachrome look.

 

Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 FLE. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 FLE. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

Leica M9 Video Review on Magic of Light Television

I've added this Leica M9 review to my Magic of Light Photography Television channel:

 

The Art Factory in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 FLE. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard. The Art Factory in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 FLE. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.


 

 



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Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.
Havana, Cuba.
Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

 


Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 

 

 

 
   
   
         
   
     
 

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How to tame a Leica M9 - Rule No 4

Doing a little Instagram post about my Dali Kubik Free loudspeakers that I travel with (with the Leica M10 and headphones from Fendi and B&O lying around as well).
Doing a little Instagram post about my Dali Kubik Free loudspeakers that I travel with (with the Leica M10 and headphones from Fendi and B&O lying around as well).

How to focus a Leica M

Focusing a Leica M is something you will never be able to do with 100% certainty. But the thing you will be able to do with certainty, is to focus a Leica M and learn to live with the fact that not all of the photos are in 100% focus - and never will be.

No matter if you are completely new to Leica M, or you've used it for eons, you will have some photos that are just 100% in focus; and some that aren't.

It's a subject I always address in my workshops (and I have a high rate for curing it), as well as in these articles:

Page 13: "Learning the simplicity of the Leica M9"

Page 42: "The Minority Report - Focusing the Leica M"

 
     

 

 

Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.
Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 

Sitting and waiting for a Leica M9 to come by and make an instant painting. Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.
Sitting and waiting for a Leica M9 to come by and make an instant painting. Havana, Cuba.
Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 


 

Was ist das?

A walk-through of the Leica M9 body. What are the different Leica M9 buttons and symbols for?

Inside light meter

The three small eyes in the bottom of the inside bayonet read the reflection of light that hits the white and two grey stripes on the shutter curtain through the lens.

Together, the three eyes see an oval of exposure in the center of the frame, about 1/3 of the entire frame. It's an improvement of the first TTL (Through The Lens) light metering introduced on the Leica M6, where it was simply one white dot in the middle and one eye.

 

     

Outside light reader

The small eye in the corner above the red Leica logo is something that was added for the digital Leica cameras. It's a light reader.

The only function it has is to measure the outside light and record it so that it is possible later to compare against what the inside lightmeter recorded.

In Lightroom, the aperture is then calculated/guessed based on the difference between the two readings.

This is the way to do it with the Leica M9 as there is no coupling between the lens and the camera.

When the aperture is guessed completely wrong in Lightroom, it's usually because this eye was in sun or shadow, and then subject you photographed was in the opposite.

 
     

Single or Continuous

The C by the shutter release is for Continuous and the S is for Single shooring.

The OFF is for camera off. If you leave the camera on for example Continuous and have set the Power Off to 2 minutes in the MENU, the camera turn off by itself after two minutes without use (no use of battery when it is off). The camera is turned no again by a light touch of the shutter release.

My camera is generally always in Continuous. I only turn it OFF when I travel with it in a bag where the shutter release might be activated by the sides of the bag.


 
     

Self timer

The symbol all the way to the left by the shutter release is the self timer. When you select that, the camera fires 2 or 12 seconds after you press the shutter release.
The 2 or 12 seconds is a choice you set in the MENU of the camera. Mine is set to 10 seconds.
A red light next to the viewfinder on front of the camera turns on when the camera releases, in the case you are in front of the camera and would like to know when the picture has been taken.

 
     

Shutter time/
Shutter speed dial

The white line on the camera body indicates what the shutter wheel is set to. It is not the mark (as in the old days) of where the film plane is.

The red A stands for Aperture Priority but is actually more Auto in my opinion. In that mode, the camera will show the shutter time in the viewfinder (calculated at whichever aperture you have set the lens at).

When you turn away from A, you are in fully manual mode and can choose shutter speed manually from 1/4000 second to 8 seconds.

B stands for Bulb mode which is where the shutter stays open for as long as you hold down the shutter release.

  Shutter time  The white line on the camera body indicates what the shutter wheel is set to. It is not the mark (as in the old days) of where the film plane is.
     

Plastic protection

The square piece of plastic by the lens strap is to protect the painted body from scratches from the metal ring/strap.

 
     

Focus mechanism

The chrome ring in top of the bayonet inside is pressed in when the focus ring is turned on a lens. This is how the Leica M measures the distance to the subject and match the two images.

 
     

Frameline selector

This arm on the front of the Leica M9 can be moved from left, centre to right. If you look through the viewfinder at the same time, you will see that the framelines inside the viewfinder changes. This is meant as a way to preview which lens you should put on the camera to get the framing you want.

It's one of those things hardly anybody uses but many seem to think must be on a Leica M. So even the Leica M 240 omitted this, you will see it coming and going in Leica M models as a piece of nostalgia.

I do love the look of it - but do not miss it when it's not there.

 

 

 

 

Frameline Window

The framelines inside the viewfinder shows where the edge of the frame is. They are also sometimes referred to as brightlines as they are bright. The window in the center of the camera provides the light to light up the framelines.

In later versions, Leica M 240 and onward, the framelines are lit up by LED and this window is not to be found on the camera anymore.

 
     
     

The Rangefinder

The rangefinder on the Leica M is the cooperation between the viewfinder (to the right) and the small rangefinder eye (to the left of the logo) in the picture above.

The rangefinder works very closely, and with exceptional mechanical precision, with the large viewfinder window to the right in the picture above.

When the focusing ring on the lens is turned, the chrome metal wheel inside the camera is pressed, and that chrome metal wheel moves a prism that mirrors what the small rangefinder eye sees.

It is the reflection of that small rangefinder eye that you see in the middle of the large rangefinder window. When it lays on top and matches the rest of the image, the image is in focus.

It's 100% mechanical and one of the few wonders of this world that still impress people.

Here is a drawing - seen from the inside/back of the camera that shows how the mechanism works:

Above: The back of the lens pushes the chrome wheel that moves the rangefinder eye (to the right) so the subject is mirrored into the viewfinder (to the left). The result is that the two images of the subject match: You have achieved focus!
Above: The back of the lens pushes the chrome wheel that moves the rangefinder eye (to the right) so the subject is mirrored into the viewfinder (to the left). The result is that the two images of the subject match: You have achieved focus!

     

6-bit code

On the edge of the Leica M9's bayonet you see a small red see-through eye. It reads the 6-bit code of the lens if it has one. All Leica M lenses since 2003 have 6-bit code, and older lenses can be modified by the factory in Wetzlar (they engrave it).

The 6-bit code tells the camera which focal length is mounted on the camera. In some cases, it can trigger a software adjustment of the lens performance.

The main advantage, in my opinion, is that you can see in the image file which lens you used.

If the lens doesn't have a 6-bit code, you can go into the MENU of the Leica M9 and set the lens model manually. You will often forget to change it when you change lens; and then it's just as confusing having the wrong one as if there was none.

Considering that all Leica M cameras since Leica M8 and all future Leica M cameras use the 6-bit code it's worth the trouble to get all one’s older lenses engraved with the 6-bit code.
 
     
     
     

Bayonet lock and red dot

There is a bayonet un-lock button on the Leica 9 that is pressed to release the lens.

When you put on a lens, the red dot on the lens has to be on top of the bayonet lock, then when you turn the lens clockwise it locks.

You can see the lock (with a small red dot) on the bayonet here.


 
     

Aperture ring

The front ring on a Leica lens is the aperture adjustment. Each number is a "stop" and most lenses have a click in between the numbers that is a "half stop".

Focus ring

The focus ring has meters in white and feet in orange (sometimes red).

Depth of Field

The lines and numbers closest to the body shows the depth of field at different aperture stops. Note that for the infinity symbol (the 8 lying down), the actual infinity distance is in the middle of the 8. So if you wanted to set the lens to f/16 and make sure you got the most in focus, you would put the center of the 8 above the line of 16.

 
     

Focus tab

Some Leica lenses have a focus tab that fits a finger so you can easily slide the lens' focus.

Bigger and longer lenses usually don't have the focus tab; most likely because it would be too heavy to adjust with a finger and/or because it would be in the way.

I find that I get used to a lens with or without it. After a while you don't think about it.

 
     

Aperture blades

If you look into the lens you can easily see the aperture blades. This is another way (other than the shutter and the ISO speed) to control the exposure.

Aperture means "to open" and each stop reduces the light to half. Most apertures can reduce the light intake from 100% to 1.6% with the aperture.

The more open, the less light you can work with, and the narrower the focus is. Leica traditionally are low light cameras with lenses that are optimized to be used wide open and still produce contrast and accurate colors.

The more closed it is, the more the foreground and background will be sharp, and you will of course need more light to get the correct exposure. The more you close it, the less important the quality of the lens design is.

 
     

SD card

To insert or take out the SD-card in a Leica M9 you take off the metal bottom plate first.

Be careful to turn the SD-card the right way so you don't jam the contacts in the camera. It should slide in very easy when done right, and a gentle press locks it in position. A similar gentle press down unlocks it when you want to take it out.

 

     

USB port

The Leica M9 has a small port for USB hidden behind a plastic cover. The sole purpose is if you want to use a cable to download images from the camera to the computer. It serves no other purpose or function.

In later model Leica M 240 and so on there is no USB port anymore.

 
     

Red light

There's a little lamp in the down right corner of the back that you don't notice until it lights up, bright red.

When it is on, the camera buffer is working on starting up the camera (when you turn it on), or busy storing digital data to the SD card when you just took one or more pictures.

 
     

Enlarge, adjust, navigate

The wheel by the thumb on the back has several functions.

The icon printed on it is an enlargement glass and a plus and minus. When looking at a preview on the screen, turning the wheel right zooms into the picture, turning left zooms out.

When you are in the MENU of the camera, the arrows up and down, left and right, can be used to navigate the menu. The wheel can also be used to scroll up and down the menu.

You can set up the camera MENU so that the wheel also works as exposure adjustment.

 
     

Lock mechanism

The bottom plate is securely closed with the sturdy metal lock. You grab the ring with a nail and then turn counter-clockwise to open it.

It's a traditional way to open and close a Leica since a long time ago when there was real film under the bottom plate.

 
     

Inside lock mechanism

When you look at the bottom of the Leica M9 you see this shape that looks like the shape of a film cassette.

It's not for decoration. When you look at the brass bottom plate, you see that's the space for the lock mechanism.

 
     

Bottom plate grip

The little piece of chrome sticking out of the side in the bottom goes into the bottom plate so that it stays there when the bottom plate is locked.

 
     

Bottom plate contact

Sometimes you will see the error message "Bottom cover removed" and you have to find whether you forgot to put it on, or it's not properly mounted.

The way the Leica M9 knows is that the small piece of extruded metal on the bottom plate doesn't press down the small contact next to the battery (the little black one; the big white is for releasing the battery).

The camera would work perfectly fine without the bottom plate, except Leica made this contact that prevents it from working without it. Should you find yourself on a mountain top and you have lost the bottom plate, you'll have to find a way to keep this small contact depressed to keep using the camera. A piece of chewing gum or something similar will suffice.

 
     

A hole in the bottom

The hole you see in the bottom is to make space for the tripod mount that sits on the bottom plate (to the right in this picture).

In the later Leica M 240 the tripod mount sits on the actual camera body and there is a hole through the bottom plate instead (more stability as the camera and not just the bottom plate is attached to the tripod).

 
     

Tripod socket

The tripod socket is on the bottom of the camera, centered in the middle.

Note that I removed the protective plastic of the bottom plate, as well as the sticker that tell all the EC rules the camera complies with. Prettier that way I think.

 

 
     

Serial number and flash shoe

The serial number of a Leica M is engraved on the hot shoe. (On lenses the serial number is usually engraved in white, visible from the front, or sometimes on the side of the lens barrel).

The hot shoe, or flash shoe, is made so it corresponds with Leica and Metz flashes. It of course works with all flashes, but the Metz and Leica flashes get information from the camera’s lightmeter during exposure. It's a continuous debate if a Leica M needs a hot shoe or not as so few would use a flash with it. But at least it holds the serial number and - I guess - works as a decoration that reminds us of the old days.

By the way, it was Leica that invented the hot shoe back when it was used for mounting the first rangefinder, and later a viewfinder, to the camera.

 
     

Type number

The lenses often have a number on them. Lens shades and other accessories may also have a number. It is not a serial number but solely records which model it is. Sometimes similar looking lenses may be different model (numbers), indicating slight or major changes of the mechanical or optical design.

 
     

 


Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 

 

Comparison of Leica M8, Leica M9, Leica M10, Leica M 262 and Leica M 240

Model Leica
M8
Leica
M8.2
Leica
M9
Leica
M9-P
M-E
Type 220
M
Type 240
M-P
Type 240
M
Type
262

Leica
M10
Nickname           "M10" "M10"    
Start 2006 2008 09/2009 06/2011 09/2012 03/2013 11/2014 12/2015 03/2017
End 2009 2009 2012 2012 2015 - - - -
MP 10 10 18 18 18 24 24 24 24
Sensor CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD CMOS CMOS CMOS CMOS
Format 18x27 18x27 24x36 24x36 24x36 24x36 24x36 24x36 24x36
AA filter No No No No No No No No No
Video           Yes Yes    
Adapters Leica screw mount Leica screw mount Leica screw mount Leica screw mount Leica screw mount Leica R
Nikkor
Leica R
Nikkor
Leica screw mount Leica screw mount
Shutterless No No No No No No No No No
Mirrorless Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Live View No No No No No Yes Yes No No
EVF
(Electronic Viewfinder)
No No No No No Extra
EVF-2
Extra
EVF-2
No Extra
Visoflex
0020
Framelines           LED
White
Red
LED
White
Red
LED
White
LED
White
Red
DNG DNG DNG DNG DNG DNG DNG DNG DNG DNG
JPG JPG JPG JPG JPG JPG JPG JPG JPG JPG
Base ISO 160 160 160 160 160 200 200 200 150
Max ISO 2800 2800 3200 3200 3200 6400 6400 6400 50000
Processor           Maestro Maestro Maestro  
Buffer No No No No No No 2GB 1GB  
Frame selector Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes
USB port Yes Yes Yes Yes No Extra Extra No Yes
GPS           With Handgrip With Handgrip No With Visoflex 0020
Battery pack No No No No No No No No No
Weather sealed No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Weight     580g 600g 585g 680g 680g 580g 580g
Digital color filters for B&W           Built-in Built-in Built-in  
Price $US new 4,800 5,995 7,000 8,000 5,450 7,250 7,250 5,195  
Price Pounds 2,990   4,950 5,395 3,900 5,100 5,100 3,950  
Price Euro     5,000 6,000 4,800 6,200 6,200 5,500  
Second-hand     $2,500 $3,000   $4,000 $5,000    

 


Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 

         
 

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Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.
Havana, Cuba.
Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 

The Leica M story is to be continued ...

I hope you enjoyed this look back at the Leica M9. There are plenty of pages to read here about the different Leica M cameras.

If you want to stay in the loop, sign up for my free newsletter to be the first to know.

 
 

 

 

Read about the Leica M9-P --- >

Read about the Leica M Monochrom --- >

Read about the Leica M 240 --->

 

 

 

 

Getting strong coffee in Havana, Cuba. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.
Getting strong coffee in Havana, Cuba.
Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC.

 

Leica M9 Definitions

 

Aperture = The f/ stop on the camera that regulates how much light passes through the lens. On a f/1.4 lens the lens is "fully open" at f/1.4. At f/2.0 the aperture inside the lens make the hole through the lens smaller so only half the amount of light at f/1.4 passes through. For each f/-stop (4.0 - 5.6 - 8.0 - 11 - 16) you halve the light. The aperture of the lens is basically the focal length divided with the f/-stop = size of the hole (50mm divided with f/2.0 = the hole is 25 mm).
ORIGIN: Late Middle English : from Latin apertura, from apert- ‘opened,’ from aperire ‘to open’.

ASPH = stands for "aspheric design". Most lenses have a spherical design - that is, the radius of curvature is constant. These are easy to manufacture by grinding while "spinning" the glass. This design however restricts the number of optical corrections that can be made to the design to render the most realistic image possible. ASPH lenses, however, involve usually 1 element that does *not* have a constant radius of curvature. These elements can be made by 1) expensive manual grinding, 2) molded plastic, or 3) Leica's patented "press" process, where the element is pressed into an aspherical ("non-spherical") shape. This design allows Leica to introduce corrections into compact lens designs that weren't possible before. Practically, the lens performs "better" (up to interpretation) due to increased correction of the image, in a package not significantly bigger than the spherical version. Most Leica ASPH lenses from Leica has 1 or 2 aspherical elements.

     
Normal speric lens (grinded)   ASPH (note the shape of the glass as result of pressing rather than grinding)

Sphere: ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French espere, from late Latin sphera, earlier sphaera, from Greek sphaira "ball".

Banding = Noise in digital images. Horizontal lines in a horizontal pictures (if the camera is in portrait mode/vertical, the lines will be obviously be vertical). It's simply noise; the result of uncontrolled algorithms working overtime with an image the sensor really can't see because it's very dark. (If your image have vertical lines in it, it is more likely that the sensor needs remapping).

Bokeh = The visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens: It's a matter of taste and usually photographers discuss a 'nice' or 'pleasant' bokeh (the out-of-focus area is always unsharp why the quality discussed is if one likes the way it renders or not by a particular lens). ORIGIN from Japanese 'bo-ke' which mean 'fuzzines' or 'blur.'.

C = Continuous shooting. When the ring by the Shutter Release on top of the camera is moved from OFF to C, the Leica M takes series of images as long as the shutter release is pressed down.

CCD sensor (as used in the Leica M9 and Leica MM).
= Charge-Coupled Device. Historically considered better quality sensors than later technology of CMOS. The question is if improvement of CMOS technology have made CMOS sensors just as good, or better, than CCD.The Leica M9 uses CCD sensor, and at the time of it's launch in 2006, medium format cameras also used CCD sensors (for quality) whereas many dSLR cameras used CMOS (for speed and ecomomy).

CMOS sensor (as used in Leica Q, Leica M 240, Leica X, Leica D-Lux, etc)
= (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) chips use transistors at each pixel to move the charge through traditional wires. This offers flexibility because each pixel is treated individually. Traditional manufacturing processes are used to make CMOS. It's the same as creating microchips. Because they're easier to produce, CMOS sensors are cheaper than CCD sensors. CMOS allow Live View and use less energy than CCD.

DNG = Digital Negative, an open standard developed by Adobe. It is a single file that contains the raw image data from the sensor of the camera as well as date, time, GPS, focal length, settings, etc.
The alternative is a RAW file + XLM file where the RAW file contains the image information and the XML contains the rest of information about where, how and when the picture was taken.
A Camera Raw profile (that is specific for that camera) in the computer helps the software program, for example Adobe Lightroom, to translate the RAW data into the image.

  DOF scale ont the Leica Q lens
  DOF scale ont the Leica Q lens
   

DOF = Depth of Field. This is how much of the image will be in focus. The measurement on top of the Leica Q lens shows lines for each f-stop that indicates from which distance to which distance the image will be sharp. Shallow DOF is a generally used term in photography that refer to lenses with very narrow focus tolerance (which can be used to do selective focus; making irrelevant subjects in the foreground and background blurry so only the subjects of essence are in focus and catches the viewers eye).

EVF = Electronic ViewFinder.

Exposure Bracketing = The possibility to set the camera to automatically record a series of images where the exposure is above and below what the camera measures. The idea is that at least one of the images will be correctly exposed.

 
  A 28 mm lens has a 74° viewing angle
   

Focal length = On the Leica Q it is 28mm and originally referred to the distance from the sensor (or film in older days) to the center of focus inside the lens. Nobody uses that measurement, except those who construct lenses! For users of lenses, focal length refers to how wide the lens sees. The viewing angle, which is often given in for example 90° viewing angle for a 21mm lens, 74° viewing angle for a 28mm lens, 6° viewing angle for a 400mm lens, etc.
Each human eye individually has anywhere from a 120° to 200° angle of view, but focus only in the center.

Full Frame (FF) = The size of the sensor is 24 x 36mm which is the format Oskar Barnack and Leica Camera AG invented with the first Leica that was introduced in 1925. Many other formats invented since, such as APS, APS-C and all usually refer to Full Frame ratio, by which it means what size they have compared to Full Frame.

 
  Full Frame is "king of photography"
   

The 24 x 36mm Full Frame format is so "king of photography" that it has continued to be the ideal for all cameras. Besides this, there exists Large Format cameras such as 4x5" (100 x 125 mm) and Medium Format 6x6 (60 x 60mm amongst other sizes in that area).

Hue = A color or shade depending on the dominant wavelength of red, green or blue. The word Hue comes from Swedish hy which is "skin complexion". It is independent of intensity, so often (in computer editing programs for example), Hue is an adjustment along Saturation which is (intensity of color as compared to white).

ISO = Light sensitivity of the camera sensor is given in ISO (International Organization for Standardization). It's a standard that was used in film and is now used in all digital cameras also. The base ISO for the Leica Q sensor is 100 ISO which means that this is what the sensor "sees". All other levels are computer algorithms calculating the effect as if the sensor could "see" more (hence noise at higher ISO levels).
ISO goes in steps of doubling: When the ISO is raised from 100 ISO to 200 ISO, the camera only need half the amount of light to make a picture. For each step in ISO to 400, 800, 1600, 3200, etc the light sensitivity is doubled for the sensor (and the camera sensor only need half the light of the previous ISO to record the same image).

JPEG = A standard for picture format made in the 1990's by Joint Photographic Experts Group). Mostly referred to as JPG as in L1003455.JPG which would be the name for a JPG file from the camera.

Summilux = Refers to the maximum lens aperture - normally f1.4 , "-lux" added for "light" (ie. the enhanced light gathering abilities). In the Leica Q the lens is a Summilux even it is a f/1.7 and not f/1.4.

Leica = A compound word derived from " (Lei)tz" and "(ca)mera". Apparently they were originally going to use "LECA", but another camera company already used a similar name in France, so they inserted the 'i' to prevent any confusion.

Lens hood = A tube or ring attached to the front of a camera lens to prevent unwanted light from reaching the lens and sensor. ORIGIN Old English hod; related to Dutch hoed, German Hut 'hat,' also to hat.

LTM = Leica Thread-Mount, also known as M39, the 39mm screw mount that the first Leica lenses had to be mounted onto the camra. It was developed by Oskar Barnack in the 1930's at Leica to provide a system that would allow for the exchange of lenses on their new film cameras. The idea was that other camea manufacturers would use the same mount. It was replaced with the Leica M boyonet that cameras from Leica M3 (1954) and forward uses. All older Leica lenses with the 39mm LTM can be used on new Leica M cameras with a LTM to M adapter.

MACRO = Macro lens. The word macro comes from Greek makros ‘long, large.’ There exist a Leica macro kit for the Leica M9 (a Leica 90mm f/4.0 lens with macro adapter/googles and angle viewfinder).

 

Leica Q sample photo
The word macro comes from Greek makros ‘long, large. © 2015 Thorsten Overgaard.

 

Meßsucher (rangefinder or distance finder) = Mess = range, sucher = finder. It is always correctly written with the "ß". There are technically not three "s", rather the "ß" and one "s" because it is a word constructed by the combining of two precise words.

ND = Neutral Density filters are grey filters that functions as 'sunglasses' for lenses. They simply block the light so that a lens can work at for example f/1.7 in sunshine. A 3-stop ND filter is recommend for the Leica Q.

Neutral Density filters
ND (Neutral Density) filters to put in front of lenses to reduce the amount of light that comes in. They don't have any other effect than that and doesn't change contrast, color or anything.

 

S = Single image. When the ring by the shutter release on top of the Leica Q is moved from OFF to S, the Leica Q takes one photo at the time (Single). The other possibility is Continuous (see above).

SDC = Software Distortion Correction. A correction of lens distortion (not straight lines) applied in the camera and which is part of the DNG file. In Lightroom the SDC of the camrea file can applied automatically based on the lens profile you set in the camera (or the camera reads from the 6-bit code). Sean Reid reviews have written a good article on what SDC is and does in "Software Distortion Correction".

SLR = Abbreviation for Single-Lens Reflex; the lens that forms the image on the film/sensor also provides the image in the viewfinder via a mirror. The Leica Q has no traditional viewfinder and no mirror. the image seen in the EVF is what the sensor sees.

Summilux = Refers to the maximum lens aperture - here f1.4 , "-lux" added for "light" (ie. the enhanced light gathering abilities). In Leica terminology a Summilux is always a f/1.4 lens and a Summicron is a f/2.0 lens. In the Leica Q the lens is f/1.7 but is called a Summilux because it is closer to f/1.4 than f/2.0.

Viewfinder = a device on a camera showing the field of view of the lens.
1) A built-in viewfinder in a camera that simply show the frame you get when you look through the viewfinder.
2) A rangefinder viewfinder which is also used to focus the lens. In Leica M cameras two pictures has to meet and lay 'on top of each other' for the picture to be in focus.
3) An external viewfinder, usually on top of the camera in the flash shoe, so as to show the field of view of lenses wider than what the built-in viewfinder can show (15mm, 21mm, 24mm, 28mm etc viewfinders exist)
4) Very simple "aiming-devices" on top of a camera that is simply a metal frame without any optics. Just a frame, as for example very old cameras (the original Leica), or when using cameras in diving where you can't look through the camera.
5) A Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) that shows what the sensor sees "live".

   

 

- Thorsten Overgaard
#1849-0318

 

   

Thank you

Peter Karbe
André de Winter
Evris Papanikolas

Leica M9 with Leica 28mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 and the ventilated shade designed by Thorsten von Overgaard. Hendrix camera strap from Rock'n'Roll Straps.
Leica M9 with Leica 28mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 and the ventilated shade designed by Thorsten von Overgaard. Hendrix camera strap from Rock'n'Roll Straps.

 

   


Index of Thorsten Overgaard's user review pages on Leica M9, Leica M9-P, Leica M-E, Leica M9 Monochrom, Leica M10, Leica M10-P, Leica M10-D, Leica M10-R, Leica M10 Monohcrom, Leica M11, Leica M 240, Leica M-D 262, Leica M Monochrom 246, Leica SL, Leica SL2, Leica SL2-S, as well as Leica TL2, Leica CL, Leica Q, Leica Q2 and Leica Q2 Monochrom:
Leica Digital Camera Reviews by Thorsten Overgaard
Leica M11 /M11-P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                          
Leica M10 / M10-R
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                         Video
Leica M 240
P 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44            
M 246 Monochrom 26 27 28 29
30
31      

                     
Leica M-D 262 1 2                                        
Leica M9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20   M9-P
M Monochrom 20 21 22 23 24 25      

                     
Leica SL / SL2 1   3   5 6 7                              
Leica SL3 1                                          
Leica Q 1                                          
Leica Q2 / Q2M 1                                          
Leica Q3 1 2                                        
Leica TL2 1 2                                        
Leica CL 1 2                                       Books


Thorsten von Overgaard
Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Article Index
Leica M digital camera reviews:   Leica L digital cameras:
Leica M11   Leica SL
Leica M11-P   Leica SL2
Leica M11 Monochrom   Leica SL2-S
Leica M10   Panasonic Lumix S5 II X
Leica M10-P   Panasonic Lumix S1R
Leica M10-R   Leica SL3
Leica M10-D   Leica TL2
Leica M10 Monochrom   Leica CL
Leica M9 and Leica M-E   Leica L-Mount lenses
Leica M9-P    
Leica M9 Monochrom   Leica R digital cameras:
Leica M240   Leica R8/R9/DMR
Leica M246 Monochrom    
Leica MD-262 and Leica M60   Small Leica mirrorless digital cameras:
    Leica Q3
    Leica Q2 / Leica Q2 Monochrom
Leica M film cameras:   Leica Q
Leica M6   Leica V-Lux
Leica M4   Leica C-Lux
Leica CL /Minota CLE (1973)   Leica D-Lux
    Leica Digilux 3
Leica M lenses:   Leica Digilux 2
Leica 21mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4   Leica Digilux 1
Leica 21mm Leica Super-Elmar-M ASPH f/3.4   Leica Digilux
Leica 21mm Super-Angulon-M f/3.4    
Leica 28mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4   Leica R film cameras:
Leica 35mm Summilux-M ASPH FLE f/1.4 and f/1.4 AA   Leica R8 / R9
Leica 35mm Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0   Leica R4
Leica 35mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0   Leica R3 electronic
Leica 50mm ELCAN f/2.0   Leicaflex SL / SLmot
Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 FLE   Leica compact film cameras:
Leica 50mm Noctilux-M f/1.0   Leica Minilux 35mm film camera
Leica 50mm Noctilux-M f/1.2   Leica CM 35mm film camera
7artisans 50mm f/1.1   Leica R lenses:
Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f//1.4   Leica 19mm Elmarit-R f/2.8
Leica 50mm Summicron-M f/2.0 "rigid" Series II   Leica 35mm Elmarit-R f/2.8
Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0   Leica 50mm Summicron-R f/2.0
Leica 50mm Elmar-M f/2.8 collapsible   Leica 60mm Macro-Elmarit f/2.8
Leica 75mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/1.25   Leica 80mm Summilux-R f/1.4
7artisans 75mm f/1.25   Leica 90mm Summicron-R f/2.0
Leica 75mm Summilux-M f/1.4   Leica 180mm R lenses
Leica 90mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.5   Leica 250mm Telyt-R f/4.0
Leica 90mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0   Leica 400mm Telyt-R f/6.8
Leica 90mm Summarit-M f/2.5   Leica 35-70mm Vario-Elmarit-R f/2.8
Leica 90mm Elmarit f/2.8   Leica 35-70mm Vario-Elmarit-R f/4.0
Leitz 90mm Thambar f/2.2    
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Leitz Cine lenses:   Leica S1 digital scan camera
Leica Cine lenses from Leitz Cine Wetzlar   Leica S2
    Leica S
     
History and overview:   Sony mirrorless digital cameras:
Leica History and Heritage   Sony A7
Famous Leica Usears   Fujifilm mirorrless digital cameras:
Leica Definitions   Fujifilm X-Pro 2
Leica Lens Compendium    
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The Solms factory and Leica Wetzlar Campus   Thorsten von Overgaard YouTube Channel
     
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Which Computer for Photographers?   Lightroom Survival Kit
What is Copyright? Advice for Photogarphers   Lightroom Presets by Overgaard
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Quality of Light   Capture One Survival Kit
Lightmeters   "Finding the Magic of Light" eBook (English)
Color meters for accurate colors (White Balance)   "Die Magie des Lichts Finden" eBook (German)
White Balance & WhiBal   "The Moment of Emotional Impact in Photography"
Film in Digital Age   "Freedom of Photographic Expression" eBook
Dodge and Burn   "Composition in Photography" eBook
All You Need is Love   "The Portrait Book" eBook
How to shoot Rock'n'Roll   "A Little Book on Photography" eBook
X-Rite   "After the Tsunami" Free eBook
The Origin of Photography   "Why do I Photograph?"
Hasselblad/Imacon Flextight 35mm and 6x6 scanner   "The Artist's Guide to the Galaxy" eBook
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Morten Albek    
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Thorsten Overgaard Workshop Schedule   Leica M10 Masterclass (video course)
    Leica M240 Masterclass (video course)
Leica Forums and Blogs:   Leica M11 Masterclass (video course)
Leica M11 / M240 / M10 User Forum on Facebook   Leica Q Masterclass (video course)
Jono Slack   Leica Q2 Masterclass (video course)
Sean Reid Review (reviews)   Leica Q3 Masterclass (video course)
Heinz Richter's Leica Barnack Berek Blog   Leica SL2 Masterclass (video course)
    Leica SL3 Masterclass (video course)
Connect with Thorsten Overgaard:   Leica TL2 Quick Start (video course)
Thorsten Overgaard on Instagram   Camera Excellence (video course)
Thorsten Overgaard on Threads   A Fly on the Wall (video course)
Thorsten Overgaard on YouTube   Mastering the Noctilux (video course)
Join the Thorsten Overgaard Mailing List   The Leica 50mm Lens Class (video course)
Thorsten Overgaard on Facebook   Street Photography Masterclass (video course)
    Adobe Photoshop Editing Masterclass
    The Photoraphers Workflow Masterclass
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The Von Overgaard Gallery Store:   Von Overgaard Ventilated lens shades:
Ventilated Shades "Always Wear A Camera"   Ventilated Shade for Current 35mm Summilux FLE
Camera Straps "Always Wear A Camera"   Ventilated Shade E46 for old Leica 35mm/1.4 lens
The Von Camera Bag   Ventilated Shade for Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH
The Von Mini Messenger Walkabout Camera Bag   Ventilated Shade E43 for older 50mm Summilux
Desk Blotters 'Always Wear A Camera"   Ventilated Shade for 35mm Summicron-M ASPH
Sterling Silver Leica Necklace   Ventilated Shade for older 35mm/f2 lenses
Software for Photography   Ventilated Shade E39 for 50mm Summicron lenses
Signed Thorsten Overgaard Gallery Prints   Ventilated Shade for Leica 28mm Summilux
Video Masterclasses   Ventilated Shade for current 28mm Elmarit-M
Photography Books by Thorsten Overgaard   Ventilated Shade for older 28mm Elmarti-M
Home School Photography Extension Courses   Ventilated Shade E49 for 75mm Summicron
    ventilated Shade E55 for 90mm Summicron
    Ventilated Shade for 28mm Summaron
    Ventilated Shade for 24mm Elmarit
    Ventilated Shade E60 for 50mm Noctilux and 75/1.4
Gallery Store Specials   Ventilated Shade for Leica Q, Leica Q2 and Leica Q3
 

 


 

Above: Cuba, Havana. Leica M9 with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 BC. © 2018 Thorsten von Overgaard.

 

Leica reviews by Thorsten Overgaard. LEICA = LEItz CAmera. Founded 1849 in Wetzlar, Germany. Leica logo in photo by Thorsten Overgaard

LEItz CAmera = LEICA
Founded 1849 in Wetzlar, Germany.

Latest Leica M9 & Leica M-P 9 Firmware update from Leica Camera AG

Latest Leica ME Firmware update from Leica Camera AG

Latest Leica M Type 240 Firmware
update from Leica Camera AG

Latest Leica M-P Type 240 Firmware update from Leica Camera AG

Latest Leica M Type 262 Firmware
update from Leica Camera AG

Latest Leica M-D Type 262 Firmware update from Leica Camera AG

Latest Adobe Camera Raw software for Leica M 262 and Leica M-D 262.

 

 


Thorsten Overgaard in Hong Kong by Steve Lee.

 

 

 

 

Also visit:

Overgaard Photography Workshops
Books by Thorsten Overgaard
Street Photography Masterclass Video
Adobe Photoshop Editing Masterclass
Adobe Lightroom Survival Kit
Lightroom Presets by Overgaard
Lightroom Brushes by Overgaard
Capture One Survival Kit

Capture One Styles by Overgaard
Signed Original Prints by Overgaard

Von Overgaard Gallery Store
Ventilated Shades by Overgaaard
Leather Camera Straps
Camea Bags
Leather Writing Pads
Sterling Silver Camera Necklace

Leica Definitions
Leica History
Leica Lens Compendium
Leica Camera Compendium
Leica 21mm Super-Elmar-M ASPH f/3.4
Leica 21mm Super-Angulon f/3.4
Leica 21mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4

Leica 28mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4
Leica 35mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4
Leica 35mm Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0
Leica 35mm APO-Summicron-M f/2.0

Leica 40mm Summicron-C f/2.0
Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95
Leica 50mm Summicron-SL f/2.0
Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M f/2.0
Leica 50mm Summicron-M f/2.0
ELCAN 50mm f/2.0
Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4
7artisans 50mm f/1.1
Leica 75mm Summilux-M f/1.4
Leica 75mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/1.25
7artisans 75mm f/1.25
Leica 80mm Summilux-R f/1.4
Leica 90mm APO-Summicron-M f/2.0
Leica 90mm Summilux-M f/1.5
Leica 35-70mm Vario-Elmarit-R f/2.8
Leitz Cine lenses
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Leica M6

Leica M11-P
Leica M11
Leica M11 Monochrom
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Leica M10-R
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Leica M10 Monochrom
Leica M9, M9-P and Leica ME
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Leica M 240 for video
Leica M 262
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Leica M 246 Monochrom

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Leica V-Lux

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Leica Digilux 1

Leica Digilux 2
Leica Digilux Zoom

Leica Digilux 4.3

Leica Digilux 3

Light metering
White Balance for More Beauty
Color Meters

Screen Calibration
Which computer to get
Sync'ing photo archive to iPhone
The Story Behind That Picture
"On The Road With von Overgaard"

Von Overgaard Masterclasses:
M11 / M10 / M9 / M240 / Q / Q2 / Q3 / SL2 / SL3 /TL2 /

 

 

 

 

Thorsten Overgaard
Thorsten von Overgaard is a Danish-American multiple award-winning photographer, known for his writings about photography and Leica cameras. He travels to more than 25 countries a year, photographing and teaching workshops to photographers. Some photos are available as signed editions via galleries or online. For specific photography needs, contact Thorsten Overgaard via email.

You can follow Thorsten Overgaard at his television channel magicoflight.tv.

Feel free to email to thorsten@overgaard.dk for questions, advice and ideas.

 

 

Thorsten Overgaard photo workshops and masterclasses for Leica photographers and digital photographers

 

 

     
Buy eBooks by
Thorsten Overgaard
     
"A Little Book on Photography"   "A Little Book on Photography"
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"The Leica Q Know-All eBook"  
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"Finding the Magic of Light"   "Composition in Photography - The Photographer as Storyteller"
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"The Freedom of Photographic Expression"   "The Moment of Emptional Impact"
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The Portrait Book
How to Make People Beautifu
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Preorder: The Noctilux Masterclass
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Extension Courses
     
The New Photography Extension Course"   "New Inspiration Extension Course"
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Lightroom
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Workflow
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Video Classes
     

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This is Street Photography

  Street Photo
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Leica Q2
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"Leica M10 Video Masterclass"   "Leica M 240 Video Masterclass"
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Lightroom Presets Leica M10   Lightroom Presets Leica M9
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Lightroom Presets Leica TL2   Lightroom Presets Leica Q
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Lightroom Dutch Painters Presets by Thorsten Overgaard   Leica Presets for Lightroom by Thorsten Overgaard
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"Hollywood Film Presets"
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Hemingway Presets for Lightroom by Thorsten Overgaard
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201 Lightroom Presets
+ 4 Export Presets
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Capture One Styles:
     
"Capture One Pro Survival Kit"
Capture One
Survival Kit 22
  Leica Styles for Capture One by Thorsten Overgaard
Leica Styles for
Capture One
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17 Capture One Styles
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Join a Thorsten Overgaard
Photography Workshop

I am in constant orbit teaching
Leica and photography workshops.

Most people prefer to explore a
new place when doing my workshop.
30% of my students are women.
35% of my students dotwo or more workshops.
95% are Leica users.
Age range is from 15 to 87 years
with the majority in the 30-55 range.
Skill level ranges from two weeks
to a lifetime of experience.
97% use a digital camera.
100% of my workshop graduates photograph more after a workshop.

I would love to see you in one!
Click to see the calendar.

     
St. Louis   Chicago

Hong Kong

 

New York

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Boston

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Austin

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Berlin

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Münich

 

Barcelona

Salzburg

 

Amsterdam

Vienna

 

Paris

Cannes  

London

Reykjavik   Portugal
Roadtrip USA   Milano
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

 






 

Thorsten Overgaard photo workshops and masterclasses for Leica photographers and digital photographers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
           
  · © Copyright 1996-2024 · Thorsten von Overgaard


 

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