This is an image I included in my One camera, One lens, One holiday article on Steve Huff’s site (back in April of this year), but never posted here.
Interestingly, as of last night, I’ve got no lens and no camera!
—Peter.
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↑Leica M9 and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4.
Prosophos 
Just caught up on your blog – surprised with your decision but looking forward to your thoughts on the M240. I must admit, having read through a bunch of articles on the new Sony A7/7R, I find that camera intriguing, more so than the 240 – but still waiting for more reviews and comments before I “think some more” :))
So what did you sell? – no lens and no camera sounds very ominous!! 🙂
Everything has been sold – literally everything.
You’re probably feeling naked. 🙂
The picture above is very nice.
I’m feeling totally naked! But, on the positive side, I’m getting to know my wife’s Sony RX100 better.
Beautiful of course.
No lens? None? What purpose the M 240 or do you want to start from scratch with it?
I guess you are comfortable with your iPhone then
I’m starting from scratch… all my previous equipment was purchased used and I want less gear, but gear that’s under full warranty.
Hi Peter,
I hope everything is going well with you, even if I’m a bit worried about your last statement 🙂
Sold everything? Including the summi 50?
If you are not quitting photography, all this leads only in one direction: MF S system. But If I remember well, you were not satisfied by the Pentax, so it sounds strange to me. Or not, as in my opinion Leica S is a completely different beast… the best camera I ever tried so far. I’m just guessing! I wish you all the best for you future projects and plans, including this crazy one!
Hello Matteo, nice to hear from you again and I hope all is well with you.
I’m not quitting photography, I’m just going to give the M240 a try. Every so often, I have to start again and this is one of those times.
Hi Peter,
I’m very happy you decided to give a try to the M240. Finally! Don’t be in a hurry to judge the camera, to compare it directly with the M9. Enjoy it for a while, take your time. It will be a nice surprise, if you will get used to the ergonomics…
All the best,
M
Really like this image Peter. Nice light, tones and composition.
Can only suspect we’ll see a new Summi back in the kit soon, but you never know what you might produce. No M9’s in the house…..wow. I guess though since you’ve ordered an M240 to give it every chance that’s a smart move.
As you surmise Andrew, the 50/1.4 will of course be back.
Great photo! Nice shadows Peter! I assume it’s from the Barbados trip?
Correct!… and thank you.
M3?
Hi Peter,
I’m intrigued with your decision because I have been giving some thought to purchasing the M240 for the same reason you are. I love the M9 and thought that I would have it for life. I bought it in Jan. 2010 when I sold all of my Canon equipment (camera and many lenses) and gave it to myself as a retirement gift with my wife’s approval, ha. However, the ISO is frustrating in low light enough to at least get me entertaining the thought of an M240. If it wasn’t for the M9’s ISO, I wouldn’t give a thought to changing. At one point, I thought about replacing the M9 with the Monochrome but even though I prefer black & white to color, I don’t want to give up color with a Leica camera and can’t justify financially owning both cameras. If I do purchase the M240, I would stay with my current lens set-up. I have two lenses: the most recent 35mm lux 1.4 and 50mm lux 1.4 and would keep these because they give me everything that I want or need in lenses. Although there are other lenses that I like and would be fun to have, these two gems give me the minimalist approach to photography that I desire. Here are a few questions that I have:
I understand why you sold your Leica lenses. But what are you thinking of purchasing for the M240? Also, how does the live view work with the M240 relative to focus–when using live view is the camera in auto-focus? Lastly, where did you sell your Leica camera and lenses and did you need to know the number of actuations of the M9 when selling it? If so, how did you find this info?
Thanks and good luck with your new beginning.
George
Hello George,
I’m still going to be using Leica lenses (2 of them)… I’m just purchasing brand new ones where I am the original owner. I don’t know anything about Live View in the context of the M240 – I don’t even have the camera yet! However, the camera will not auto-focus, because Leica lenses are manually focused.
My equipment is usually sold to a local reseller, but if you’re in the US, look into selling on consignment at Popflash. They will take a portion of the sale, but will handle all of the work involved with selling.
I have a little applet called “M9 Info” I use to check the shutter count. I can’t readily find it online anymore (maybe someone else reading this can help you).
Your current two lenses are great… I think you’re wise to keep them!
Thanks for writing,
Peter.
Hi Peter.
the app that checks the M9 (and MMonochrom) shutter count is online: http://www.soens.de/software/m9info/m9info.html
Hi Peter
You are full of surprises….:-)
In a strange way I envy this moment you’re in, however brief. Time to clear the head and start afresh actually sounds like a great idea.
In recent weeks I’ve found myself being drawn a little more to images from the M240, in all honesty I like the look of the A7r and now I’m over the initial release euphoria I am taking some time to plan my next move also, nothing set in stone yet.
All the best to you.
Jason.
“Time to clear the head and start afresh actually sounds like a great idea.”
—-
I do this every year…it’s frightening at first but inevitably I am enriched for having gone through the exercise.
Keep me posted on what you decide to do. My only hesitation about the A7r is that it’s not a rangefinder. But on the positive side, it’s not a rangefinder 😉
—Peter.
An interesting time indeed! Whilst it’s a bit of a shock to read that you’ve sold everything, it’s only gear after all and for the most part its out there and relatively easily found again should you regret any decisions! Did the film M3 go too?
I’ve posted on another thread here that it’s an interesting time with new tech developments and more options than we’ve ever had on finding that tool of choice… I’ve been extremely happy shooting Micro 4/3 alongside 35mm and 120 film for the last few years, but have long been waiting to take the full frame digital plunge and will sit back and see how the Sony cameras look when properly tested, as well as keenly awaiting your views on the M240.
Enjoy the experimentation!
Great photo incidentally! 🙂
Peter…pardon me for being so abrupt but it comes from a place of confusion. You are getting the M240? I don’t understand. I have always appreciated your anti-G.A.S. viewpoint and loyalty to the images created from the m9. You were the guy who seemingly had both middle fingers up and in the face of the M240. Your images have always been spectacular with the weapon you had mastered. And now…now you want to be the original owner with a warranty?
Respectfully, I mean that, what the heck is going on here? Did I miss a year’s worth of blog posts in which we saw you slowly changing your mind?
I will expect more great imagery from you with whatever gear but then again you were doing that plenty great with the M9.
Bob — take deep breaths, deep breaths. They’re just cameras, and they don’t own us. Seriously.
Très cher Peter,
First, this photo is remarkable! It is probably a little bit of transition in which you find yourself ( photographically speaking) … or rather , the intérogations we could see on the faces of your ” fans ” … LOL!
Joking aside, as I was writing it , I have a M 240 for several months now … Besides 200 isos , where M9 is set equal (see surpasses the 240 in his side a little more ” roots” ) … You can not be disappointed with this new M!
Now , this is not a M9 at his record ! But it is the LEICA … With your 50 Lux, and great quality for your image processing , you have to quickly find your bearings!
One thing , do not try to replicate the signature offers the M9 …
I think IMHO, it is best to find his style forgetting the M9 !
Finally, Sony ‘s and other News are really interresting … but I can never go back on the RANGEFINDER ! To me , this style of sight , and this approach to photography , and why I will stay with the system M forever ….
Much happiness with your new ” immigrants ” ….
Best regards !
Hugues.
“One thing, do not try to replicate the signature offers the M9…”
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Precisely. I’m anticipating going in a new direction, and I’ll have to throw my old post-processing style out the window.
It will definitely be a challenge.
—Peter.
Bravo for turning autumn into a time for spring cleaning. The photo? Lovely. The “scared” caption? To borrow from a popular ad campaign…..priceless. Enjoy your new tools and developing a new approach to seeing, framing, and understanding the world. Any camera or lens would beg for your talent, intelligence, eyes, and heart to adopt it and give it a new home. Astonish yourself and astonish the rest of us with what you discover. Enjoy the fresh start.