I have both the M9 and the M9-P. I guess I w...as fooled by the Leica marketing people to buy the M9 with the lousy scratchable screen, only to be offered a year later with the M9-P, with the sapphire screen. But none the less, both cameras have a full frame sensor that can fully take advantage of most Leica M lens, which is the best glass you can use for photographs. After buying the M9-P body, start with the 35mm ASPH Summicron for your first lens, then it is up to you to save enough money for other Lecia M lens.
If you're buying an M9-P you know what you're g...etting into. It's a steep price for a camera that doesn't have any of the bells and whistles of even the cheapest entry-level DSLR. But using a Leica is unlike any digital camera experience you've ever had. These hand-made cameras feel great in your hand and offer you the closest experience to shooting with a film camera as you can get while having immediate access to digital images. There's not much to say about a Leica that hasn't already been said. It's the classic camera for the ages.
I've been using the M9-P now for several weeks. What empresses me... the most is how easy it is to use. I have been taking pictures for over 35 years. My first camera was a Leica lllF which I traded for a Nikon and that started me down the SLR road. DSLR have become so complicated with endless menus this Leica M9-P takes you back to taking photographs not programming a camera. The pictures it produces beat any camera out of Asia hands down when combined with a Leica lens. Don't bother with any other lens. I've owned so many Nikkor lens over the years and well the Leica is so much better in color, contract and rendering period. The pictures almost appear to be 3D. Again it is simple to use but not because it is dumbed down but because it is straight to the point of taking photography. The rangefinder perspective is a little hard to learn put that comes with practice and because I came from an age when you focused manually that is no big deal to me. In fact it gives you more control over what you do. The build quality is very impressive it is solid with out being heavy. It's not big and bulky like the DSLRs have become. Remember there is no built in flash and no video this is a camera built to do one thing very well take Photographs and no DSLR can match that accomplishment.
M9 Never Die, I used M9 fo...r the first time about seven years ago. Used it for about three years and then sold it to change to the MP-240 Finally, now I have to return to the M9-P. There is something that cmos can't do like ccd.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The M9/M9P was introduced in... 2009. Even by today it still produces beautiful images. Albeit the price, high ISO, and low resolution are things which can be better. Overall I'm still very happy with my M9P.