Anyone looking to enter the Leica M world faces a familiar problem: the cameras are excellent, and so are the prices. There is, however, a way to keep the two reasonably in balance.
The Leica M9 paired with a Summicron-C 40mm f/2 is that way. It’s the right choice for anyone drawn to Leica rangefinder photography but unwilling – or unable – to spend nearly €9,000 on a digital camera body alone.
The Leica M9
Launched in 2009, the M9 was Leica’s first full-frame digital M camera. Its 18-megapixel CCD sensor and classic rangefinder design have earned it a devoted following that hasn’t faded much with time. Focusing is precise and deliberate, which is either the point or the problem, depending on what you’re used to.
A few limitations are worth knowing upfront. The M9 has no video mode and no Live View, and noise performance above ISO 1250 is noticeably behind modern standards. None of this is a dealbreaker if you shoot accordingly – but it’s better to know before you buy.
The more pressing concern with a used M9 is the sensor. Early units were prone to corrosion, and while Leica replaced affected sensors free of charge until mid-2017, that programme has since ended. A third-party replacement now costs around €1,000. Before buying, verify that the sensor has been swapped by checking the hardware ID: the CCD ID must be at least 15.
Reading out the sensor ID
Accessing the hardware ID requires a slightly obscure key sequence. With the camera switched on, press the Delete button, then navigate with the joystick: up twice, down four times, left three times, right once, then select Info. From there, open the Hardware IDs menu and confirm with Set. While you’re in the system menu, the Body Debug Data section also shows the shutter count under NumExposures – useful to know when buying secondhand. Note that this counter is not reset when Leica replaces the sensor.
Summicron-C 40mm f/2 lens
Produced between 1973 and 1979, the Summicron-C was designed specifically for the Leica CL, not the M. It’s compact, fast, and – for a purely optical design from half a century ago – surprisingly sharp. The 40mm focal length sits close to the natural field of view of the human eye on full-frame, making it a versatile choice for street, landscape, and portrait work. Ten aperture blades keep the bokeh reasonably smooth, even if it doesn’t match the creaminess of modern glass.
The real argument for this lens, though, is its size. At 125g and roughly 3cm deep, it barely registers on the camera. The M9 and Summicron-C together weigh just under 725g – almost identical to the Q2, and in the same ballpark for dimensions, just slightly wider and 2cm shorter. All things considered, a more versatile and considerably cheaper package.
One quirk: the 39mm filter thread uses a non-standard pitch, so regular filters won’t fit. Series 5.5 filters attach via the lens hood instead, which keeps the front element protected but limits filter use in practice. The hood itself is a screwed-on rubber affair – functional, not pretty.
Why the C and not the M?
The C in Summicron-C stands for CL. The lens was built for the Leica CL, a compact rangefinder produced by Leitz in collaboration with Minolta from 1973 to 1976 – a more affordable alternative to the M series that found an audience with both amateurs and professionals. Around 55,000 to 64,000 units of the Summicron-C were made, according to various sources.
A Summicron-M costs more for good reason: broader camera compatibility, a larger image circle, and availability in multiple versions including an aspherical variant. The Summicron-C comes in only one version. In practice, I haven’t found the smaller image circle to be an issue – even on higher-resolution bodies like the M10 and M11, the results held up well. The one optical caveat worth mentioning is sagittal coma in the corners when shooting point light sources.
The premium entry point to the Leica M world
An M9 is the last Leica M to use a CCD sensor. For portraits especially, this matters: the CCD’s colour and tonal rendering produce skin tones that many photographers find more natural and pleasing than those delivered by modern CMOS sensors. Paired with the Summicron-C, it makes for a compact, capable kit with a genuinely distinctive look. After two years with this combination, I’ve yet to feel the urge to upgrade the lens – which, for a piece of glass made in 1973, says something.
I’ve been using the Leica M9 and the Summicron-C 40mm f/2 for some time now, and I’m still absolutely delighted with them. The M9’s CCD renders skin tones and shadows in a way that still holds up against modern sensors – not better in every respect, but distinctly different in a way many photographers actively prefer.
The budget for a high-quality introduction to the Leica M world
Prices vary with condition, but expect to pay around €2,000 for a good used M9 and around €600 for the Summicron-C. That’s not pocket change, but consider the alternative: a used Summicron-M in a comparable focal length (35mm) routinely costs three times as much for the lens alone. Third-party glass would bring the entry price down further, but this particular combination offers something more than just a budget compromise.
The drawbacks of the Leica M9 and the Summicron-C 40mm
Without its weaknesses, this kit probably wouldn’t be affordable – this is Leica, after all. Here’s what you’re actually signing up for.
The M9 is old by digital standards. ISO 1250 is the practical ceiling; I shoot at 640 or below whenever possible. The fast f/2 aperture of the Summicron-C helps, but there’s no getting around the sensor’s age in low light.
Because the Summicron-C was designed for the CL rather than the M, there’s no lens recognition on a digital M body – and no way to set 40mm in the camera’s settings. The M’s viewfinder also has no 40mm frameline. My workaround: move the frameline selector lever away from the lens, which brings up the 35mm frameline instead of the default 50mm. It’s close enough, and you adapt quickly.
Battery life is modest, worse in the cold, and a genuine replacement from Leica costs €130. The display is, frankly, terrible – low resolution and all but useless for judging sharpness in the field. You learn to trust the rangefinder and check later.
Going slow for an analogue feeling
The M9 is slow. Processing takes a moment, the display lags, the workflow demands patience. In some ways, shooting with it comes closer to the rhythm of film photography than any other digital camera I’ve used. CCD sensors, regardless of brand, are also less forgiving of overexposure than modern CMOS – so metering carefully is part of the deal. These aren’t bugs, exactly, but they do require adjustment.
The good news is that the lens doesn’t age the same way the camera does. When the time comes to move to something newer, the Summicron-C comes with you. It held its own on my M11.
In summary: an affordable yet high-quality introduction to the Leica M world
The Leica M9 and Summicron-C 40mm f/2 make a strong case as an entry into the M world: full-frame, compact, with a distinctive rendering that’s hard to replicate with newer technology. The limitations are real: slow processing, an ISO ceiling, no frameline for 40mm, and a display that belongs in a museum. But none of them is surprising once you know what you’re buying. Check the sensor ID, verify the shutter count, and you’ll have a setup that’s genuinely worth carrying.
