Is the leica m9 good for beginners?

The Leica M9 is a demanding first camera. It's a rangefinder, so you focus through a separate viewfinder rather than a live view, and the body has no stabilisation, so you'll rely on stabilised lenses or faster shutter speeds. It's full frame, which is a real pleasure, but its CCD sensor can corrode, so check that before you buy.

If you still want one, start with a single lens and learn how the camera handles. These are good first picks from the list:

• Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 for a classic everyday view
• Voigtländer Color-Skopar 35mm f/2.5 P II for a compact, versatile standard
• Voigtländer Color-Skopar 28mm f/2.8 Aspherical for wider scenes

For the broader decision, the first camera guide explains why size and handling matter more than specs, and buying used is worth reading before you commit to any body on this site, the M9 included.

Written by Claude from this site's pages.