The M9 does not have a spot metering mode, as far as I can tell. Now and then I think spot metering is helpful, particularly when I can't approach the subject and there are multiple light sources and/or a complex mix of highlights and deep shadow. For example, back in the 70s when I was assisting a fashion photographer here in LA, I used a Pentax 1-degree spotmeter a great deal to make sure we nailed the exposure on whatever was really important: facial skin tone, garment detail, etc. I also used the spot meter when shooting concerts with a telephoto lens (typically, 200mm). For example, when Peter, Paul & Mary were at Hollywood Bowl, and I was shooting high speed Ektachrome, I would have been in trouble without the spotmeter.
On the other hand, when shooting portraits in close proximity or candids, and the light is relatively well distributed in the frame, I much prefer to take an incident reading. I used to use a SpectraCine professional incident meter, but the metal slides annoyed me. Great, great meter, but really designed for motion picture, not still, applications.
I find the Leica M9 TTL meter is very reliable, as long as I just take a second to reflect (no pun intended) on the qualities of the light and shadow in the frame. But then, that's one reason I (and many of us LVLrs) like the Leica M: it encourages more thoughtful shooting.
By the way, I still have a Gossen Luna-Pro SBC meter (with the Zone VI scale) which I use (always in incident mode) now and then, when I really want to be sure of the exposure.
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