Re: First UK full Leica M9 test
The finder has a sweet spot around 35 - 50mm - go wider and you need an auxiliary finder, go longer and you need a focus magnifier. Fully 7 of the M lenses Leica makes are wider than the M9 finder can cope with and 5 of them need the magnifier.
Can't say I've ever had a problem focusing any of the lenses I've used on M cameras, ranging from 21mm through to 90mm (never owned a 135mm), but that's an individual thing based greatly on one's eyesight - and mine is far from perfect.
That includes such as the 75mm Summilux, 90mm Summicron (on film), and Canon 50mm f/1.2 (though admittedly my copy of that is so soft it's difficult to tell what is supposed to be the focal point at times!)
I'd agree that the M9 is still a work in progress, and it's likely we won't see what is really possible until Leica's Maestro engine is incorporated and a new better sensor. Despite that, I was still very impressed with what I saw when I had a brief play at Ivor's a few weeks back.
Tim BSRIPN
If I had all the money I've spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink