First M

[Big John]

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Hi all,

 

Not sure where to post this but on basis this relates to getting an M10 at some point, and given that I hope lots of other M users are reading this section of the forum....

 

I have an SL and am about to buy first M lens. Tried M10 and M246 recently. Have preciously tried M240 - nearly bought one but went for the SL instead! Truth is that I have wanted an M for decades!

 

Anyway, current dilemma is this: M10 looks like just what I want. Question really is do I wait the 5 months (Leica Mayfair quoted) waiting time.....which means losing a whole summer of shooting or buy another M in the meantime. That would allow me to really spend time with a rangefinder and confirm (or otherwise) if it is for me! Assuming I like RF, then prob sell the M later in the year and get the M10.

 

So - choice is used now or new.....262 is too new for much of a used market, 240 could be a contender.

 

But I have to say that I am strongly drawn to the 246 - the parallel to film days is alluring.

 

I am a light amateur user who really appreciate Leica.

 

I know what folk will say.....buy what you like etc....but grateful for any comments pls.

 

Thanks.

[Surelythisnameisfree]

If you buy used you'll be able to sell again for maybe 20% less (dealers commission) so not that expensive for a summer of shooting. Can't help you between 240 or 246 - that's got to be up to you.

In terms of M10 availability, try other places around London too as the wait may be a lot less. Richard Caplan, Selfridges, Park Cameras and even Harrods would all, I think, have shorter lists than the more obvious choices of Leica Mayfair and Red Dot Cameras

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[Big John]

If you buy used you'll be able to sell again for maybe 20% less (dealers commission) so not that expensive for a summer of shooting. Can't help you between 240 or 246 - that's got to be up to you.

In terms of M10 availability, try other places around London too as the wait may be a lot less. Richard Caplan, Selfridges, Park Cameras and even Harrods would all, I think, have shorter lists than the more obvious choices of Leica Mayfair and Red Dot Cameras

Thanks - thought 5 months was lengthy! 20% for a summer of shorting is fine - also it is a chance to spend 2.5/3k before committing 5.6

[Jeff S]

Well, if you decide on the M240 and process EVERY pic for 5 months as b/w, you will have at least determined if a Monochrom version is really your cup of tea.

 

It shouldn't, however, take so long to find an M10 if you're determined and resourceful. I'm content to wait for mine while I'm happily using my M240, but I could have bought 2 M10s already. Try calling small dealers all over.... repeatedly. I found my M240 that way..... when major dealer lists were long....and I'm staying loyal to that small shop owner this time around despite the wait.

 

Jeff

[tbonanno]

Keep trying to find the M10.  You will succeed.  It's worth the effort.

[lpeeples]

I agree, keep looking for the M10.  You'll find one.

[M11 for me]

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You will not have to wait for 5 months. Unless the term of delivery got much longer during the last few weeks. But I did not hear anything like that. I had to wait for 4 weeks . . . You have to shop around.

[pico]

A five-month wait is nothing compared to how long you will live to enjoy the M10. It is worthwhile.

[M11 for me]

A five-month wait is nothing compared to how long you will live to enjoy the M10. It is worthwhile.

 

About 4 years . . .

[Surelythisnameisfree]

All those recommending shopping around - you will be able to shorten from 5 months but don't expect less than 8-10 weeks in the U.K.

[duotones]

This is my First Leica. I ordered it in January and like others I'm still waiting- No worries though cause within the mean time I read so much info on this site that I feel I'm ready for my first range finder. the M10-

It's funny for I have everything else -like two lenses- an extra battery-Art di mano case-trumb rest. but no M10

I'll just have to read some more.

[Herr Barnack]

You do not have to stick with a UK based Leica dealer, do you?  Get online and shop some of the U.S. based dealers like

Camera West

B&H

Leica Store Miami

Tamarkin

 

If you find an M10 that is available in the U.S., shipping to you should take around 10 days, give or take.

 

If the above is a no-go, I say give up on the M10 for now and buy the Monochrom 246.  You could do worse... 

Edited April 21, 2017 by Carlos Danger

[Surelythisnameisfree]

That wouldn't work as he'd get stung for 20% import duty plus fees

[marcg]

Apparently the prices are about to go up as well. About $300 for an M10?

[Herr Barnack]

The M10 is not even on dealer shelves yet, and already there's a $300 price increase coming?? 

[otto.f]

If you want a b&w Leica why not go for an MM1. It's cheaper and just has more bite than the M246 and is thus more distinctive from the SL in results. The M10 b&w results are very very good though and very difficult to distinguish from MM1

[Big John]

Hi guys. Tried the M10 yesterday, found it much easier to focus than when I have tried other Ms. Lovely size and weight - which really reminded me how heavy my SL is, even with an M lens.

 

Going to get an M lens for the SL and shoot that for the summer. Will watch M240 prices stabilise and M10 availability improve.

 

Thanks for all the comments.

[adan]

Sounds very smart to me.

 

Back in late 2005, Leica announced they would be releasing a digital M. No name, only general specs ("at least 10 Mpixels, probably 1.3 crop" etc.) and projected final product announcement at photokina 2006.

 

To get me through the 10-month wait (probably longer than most people will have to wait for their M10s) I got a Sony R1 - cheap, self-contained (rather decent Zeiss zoom 24-120 equivalent), also 10 Mpixels, on a sensor with a 1.7x crop factor - larger than 4/3rds). Sort of their ultimate attempt thus far at something SLR-like (they had not yet bought Konica/Minolta). Taught me raw shooting and camera calibration, and took quite nice color.

 

But if I had already had an R9/DMR, sticking with that for the interim would have been the more obvious solution. Rather than a stop-gap like the R1.