Just bought a M9 - need help with accessories

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lencap

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I waited a long time to buy a M9 and Summicron 50mm F/2.0 lens and I want to start out on the right foot.

After reading many posts on this site I'm interested in buying:

X-Rite ColorChecker Passport
Sandisk SDHC 16GB Extreme cards Class 10
Extra Leica battery (is this necessary?)
Case - Billingham Stowaway (with insert? - may add 28mm lens)

Do you agree, other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
 
regarding the bag, I'd say go for a Billingham Hadley Small. they're pretty compact and will hold the M9 with a lens, plus some space for another 2 lenses (or 1 lens and some extra batteries below) and an empty area where you can have a bottle of water, always useful.
 
Extra battery a must.
I use a Artisan & Artist Oskar bag

And a Thumbs Up grip! Greatly improves handling!
 
I bought some third party batteries from Ebay, works great. I also have the Billingham Hadley Pro, which doubles as my work bag with the inserts removed. I like to use the thumbs up, makes the grip a lot more comfortable for me but it does restrict use of the hotshoe.

There was a thread recently about corrupted SD cards, does anyone recommend buying another brand card instead like Lexmark? Or is this issue regardless of brand?
 
I have only bought a Thumb's Up, a Luigi case, 2 extra batteries, a Ghiottos screen protector and a Billingham Leica/Alice bag for my M9.
I like the bag most of all the bags I've owned; there's room for the camera with a lens, an extra lens, a sandwich, and batteries and cards. It's fairly non-descript, too, so it doesn't look like a fancy camera bag.
And unless you're doing lots of studio work, I would pass on the color checker thing.

My .02.

Bob.
 
Congrats to your new M9. In order for you to enjoy it right away a few tips:
+1 extra battery is a must, of course.
SD cards: I use Lexar Pro 16GB SDHC cards and never had issues and I never heard of anyone using a Lexar card in M9 who had problems.
Format in camera and A L W A Y S watch the red light indicating data being written to the card. NEVER turn off the camera during this period. Look into the appropriate section in the manual, follow the instruction and you will never loose a picture.

White balance: there are several options, white/ grey cards, profile cards etc. For me the easiest to use every time is the Expodisc. Any tool giving supposedly an even better result, is only better when it is used every time you shoot under different light conditions. The Expodisc comes with a small attachable strap. I wear it around my neck, the disc in my shirt pocket, always handy.
Press : Set, select manual WB, press Set again, hold Exposdisc in front of the lens and release the shutter in setting A, no focus but accurate exposure necessary.

For me an essential the "thumbs up" attachment and a Photoequip MD grip. I also use a selfmade "sling" a double finger loop that attaches to the strap eyelet. And of course since years I use a Tom A. Softrelease.

Bag depends on how much you want to carry. I carry too much;).

Enjoy, get out and shoot and let's see some pictures.
 
Instead of a dedicated camera bag, I'd get a Crumpler Haven insert, and then have your pick of any backpack or messenger bag or whatever that you like.
 
I bought my M9 two weeks ago. Get additional batteries and an additional charger. The rest is not important, I think. I would buy things slowly.
 
raid said:
I bought my M9 two weeks go. Get additional batteries and an additional charger. The rest is not important, I think.
Click to expand...

Agree with Raid. A couple of extra batteries and possibly an extra charger. Maybe an additional SD card as well.
 
Yes, I got several SD cards too. B&H has a back-up charger for $35 shipped by Annsman. Bstteries, charger and SD cards are like film for a film camera.
 
Congrats on your new M9. Put it to use and enjoy it.

Accessorizing ... I'm a bit of a minimalist by nature, I often buy stuff to try out and then don't use it. What i find I use:

- spare battery ($129 ... I buy oem)

- HP SDHC class 10 32G memory cards (two of them, about $30 each)

- half case ... I bought case from Luigi which was very nice, but I found that for how I like to use the camera, any kind of back flap is always in my way. I tried the Artisan & Artist ... that does the job right for me. A half case protects the body and provides me with a more secure grip, I like it more than the Thumbs Up or Thumbie, which seem to always get in my way. The case was $260.

- a 12 inch cable release and tripod adapter plate for use with my QR system (I don't use the M9 on a tripod very often, but occasionally it is very handy like when using the next gadget ...) Ten bucks or so for the release, $40 for the plate.

- a Skink pinhole pro kit ... pinhole and zone plate photography is fun and challenging, and the Skink kit is nicely worked out for $90.

- A bag to carry the camera and junk around in. I like the Billinghams, I like the Domkes, but what I use for the M9 most is either a Black Label Bag "Oskar' One Day Bag" Mark II (from Photovillage in New York, about $190 IIRC) or an A&A GCAM 1100 "Elliot's Everyday Bag" (very pretty and too fricking expensive, but I got it used from a friend for $150), depending on how much stuff I need to carry. (The Black Label Bag version of the Oskar's One Day Bag is a little bigger and has a couple of features I prefer.) Another bag I use to carry gear around with a lot is a cheap and small Lowepro Teraclime 100 fitted with the interior insert from the GCAM 1100 (that's $80 for the bag and $110 for the insert); it works a treat for a light kit.

You can read into the above that I have a Thumbie and a nice Luigi half case for sale. Drop me a note if you're interested.
 
Definitely get the thumbs up and and extra battery. For a bag, it depends on whether you want incognito or not. For incognito, check out a Domke ...
 
In addition to the extra battery, I initially went for the Luigi half case/strap which is useful since you don't have to set the camera down so gingerly each time.

I've stopped using the case and got the Really Right Stuff L plate with grip as it is easy to hold and is very convenient as in addition to shots of the family, I bring my tripod and take landscapes as well on vacation. I now bracket and post process using a HDR program. I like it so much, I got a second grip/L plate in anticipation for the M Monochrom which I ordered.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=BM9-B-Set&type=3&eq=&desc=BM9-B-Set%3a-Includes-Base%2bL-Plate%2bGrip
 
I have managed fine with no extra battery for six months now. I would only buy an original from what I have read on RFF about the need for alterantive batteries to always be nearly full and cutting out at 50% charge etc. Again the firmware update may have improved this, but I am not convinced. If I was shooting all day on successive days away from my home city I would get another Leica battery.

I have used a WhiBal card for special situations. It is good. It is not necessary.

I would not get SanDisk cards and see no reason for you to try them. Supposedly the latest firmware resolves the previous issues. I don't choose to find out, either with that firmware or those cards. Since I started using Lexar cards I have had none of the problems that troubled my early experience with the M9.

Bag is personal. No advice from me on that.
 
Extra battery is a must.

I bought a Zhou half-case; makes handling very nice, and quietens the camera just a bit.
 
Ciesta half case with incorporated grip, beautiful and not too expensive.
Any card other than Sandisk. I'm the one from the other thread with the fried card. Transcend cards have worked for me so far, and they are made in Taiwan not China. I just bought 2 extra ones.
One extra battery, original. The batteries last me about 2 weeks of use each, I like to carry the camera along and shoot whatever I like , so I rarely take 600 shots a day, more like 0 to 50.
Delsey cortex or Corium 03 bag is perfect for the M9. I also have the 05 when I take all my lenses on a trip.
 
Nothing is essential but the following will add to the experience

Spare battery
Zhou half case
Thumbs up
Soft release
Gordy wrist strap

Im using a sandisk 16gb class 10 and I've had no issues.

Don't worry about grey cards or the like. Shoot Dng and temp is easily fixed in post. But I would definitely not rely on autowb. Find a nice medium that works for you in your area with the light available and dial it in as a custom.

Domke f803 is a nice bag, a lot cheaper than billingham and far more discreet
 
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