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Some years of happy using first version Monochrom had lead me to try out the M246. Hesitation for long because in my view, I didn't want to replace my MM1 with the later Monochrom. So opportunity came with a "nice like new M246" presented itself, some weeks ago. Over time some reasons like CCD/CMOS debats delayed untill I've found myself that the CCD/CMOS war was not a problem for me, in my practices and final results in pictures. With once replaced CCD sensor on my MM1 (no charge), I always fear another need to "replace again" this time with expensive notes. Have read that sometimes, three or four replacements of same MM1 said sensor. The good news is, the output of M246 is equal to (if not better than ! ) MM1 one's 😊. In use this M246 is much responsive and I appreciate more modern features. At first , I thought that the LED illuminated frame lines would bother me, but in use it's a very nice improvement. The frames lines show up within 1 second when switch "ON", so nothing to complain. No "flare" when used in contre-jour situation, as sometimes happen with MM1 (very rare but there as other film M even MP ). In very dim scenes, this is a must, and I can use also LCD/EVF if need be = incredible this enhanced light features (a bit flickering, I admit but usable). When I want to use some colored filters, preview of filter rendering with rear LCD or EVF is something I've never think of. I'll give myself more time to "compare" them more than a couple of weeks. Please feel free to give your opinions on the outputs of Monochrom CCD/CMOS if you had used (or use now) the two nice Monochroms from Leica.

I have a chance to upgrade from an M9 to an M240 at a pretty good price, so I'm thinking about doing it. I'll have a chance to try out the M240 before deciding, so most of my decision will be based on my own experience with the two cameras. Before that happens, I've gotten way too caught up in reading comparisons online, looking at images from each camera, internally debating which one I would like better. With some background, I would appreciate any advice and points for consideration in making this decision, which is significant for me both financially and photographically. I can only afford to have one digital M body. I think the M-Monochrom would be my preferred one, but it's a little out of my price range at the moment. My favorite M is my M7--it's quiet, easy to focus, and I love the resulting images, which I print up to 16" x 20". I shoot mostly Tri-X and some Portra 400. I find the texture of film in b&w prints to be really appealing. (If I could have one camera, it would be the M7 + 50mm Summicron.) But the process of scanning and printing is expensive and sometimes frustrating and more time-consuming that I can manage. Nonetheless, I love the process of shooting with this camera more than any other. My first digital Leica was the M8, which I really enjoyed using and thought had excellent image quality and colors, particularly when paired with Leica lenses. I then upgraded to an M9, which I also really liked. Though I mostly convert to B&W, the color images can be used and look special without any post processing. I use Lightroom and Nik applications, but I would prefer to not have to process my images on the computer. I don't enjoy the process much at all. Thus, having a really flat, malleable file upon DNG import isn't necessarily a good thing to me. (I know that goes against my desire for an MM.) With that said, why would I consider upgrading? Well, not having been able to shoot my M9 at f/8 or above has been somewhat limiting because of the sensor corrosion issue. I don't change lenses or clean my sensor often, so I don't know if the problem would return in a couple years once I get it replaced. But I imagine that, at some point, Leica will no longer be able to replace the sensors, and I'll then have to pay much more to upgrade. Or maybe that's an overly pessimistic outlook, and they will support the M9 for another decade. Some of the usability features of the M240 appeal to me. Some people say that the rangefinder is easier to focus, and that would be a boon. I've found the M8 and M9 more difficult to focus than the M7. I like that the body is weather-sealed. I like the quieter shutter sound, although the discreet mode on the M9 is good enough for me. One of the major issues I've had with my M9 is not always knowing whether to trust the rangefinder or not. Having liveview confirmation and a better LCD screen now and then might improve my confidence in shooting with the rangefinder on the M240 with different lenses. That would be worth quite a bit to me. Being able to shoot reliably at higher ISOs would be nice, but I don't really need any more capability than what I can get with traditional 35mm film. I understand that the M240 might be more responsive, and that's a good thing. I don't like missing shots because my camera has been asleep and I forget to first press the shutter release to wake it up before taking a photo. I don't having interest in video or the longer-life battery or bigger buffer. Those features simply don't come into play in how I shoot. So, part of the decision will be about which camera I enjoy using more. I suspect it will be the M240. And part of it will be about which camera produces images that I like better. That I'm not sure about right now. Based on what I've seen so far, I fear that I may be in the camp that favors the M9 images. The ones I've seen from the M240 too often look like what I could get by processing files from my Nikon D600. That's not a bad thing--the D600 has many great, objective qualities: dynamic range, color representation, etc. However, the images also often look too smooth, too plastic-like, too perfect, too digital, too accurate, etc. And I want a Leica that will produce a subtly distinct look that is more textured, more film-like, less realistic and more interpretive. Anyhow, I'll be trying out the M240 to see if I think it's a suitable digital alternative to my M7 and a replacement for my M9--not only in the way it handles, but also in the way it uniquely renders images.

. . . Leica will continue to support the CCD sensor cameras (M8, M9, M-E, MM)? I'd love an M-E, or maybe an MM, but as someone who bought a DMR not knowing Leica was about to drop the R line altogether, I worry about how long the sensors and other electronics might be available. Has Leica made any announcement in this regard, or does anyone have any inside information? I should mention that my R9/DMR is still working marvelously, so far. I just have these insecurities. Did the monetary outlay not reflect such a significant commitment, I wouldn't worry so much. Brent

I rarely clean my M9 CCD, nothing more than using a rocket blower if needed. Recently I have discovered a quite obvious scratch on my photos at F16. So I checked my CCD pixel by pixel and saw a quite big scratch. I thought it was just a hair stuck on CCD so I brought my M9 to a local Leica dealer. They told me that it's a scratch on CCD coating. I had no idea how this happen and they had no clue either. I contacted Leica Germany and told them the issue, the response was they're short in CCD, and they're moving the manufacture to a new place, which means the process of sending my M9 from Taiwan to Germany and get it fixed, then returning to me will take more than 2 months...2 months...jees.... has anyone here had the same problem? I didn't even touch my CCD and it got scratched...out of no where...and it'll take more than 2 months to get it fixed.

Few weeks ago, I use my M9-P compared to Kodak 35mm film (Portra 160 & 800). Honestly, I don't think how good is M9 series image performance, but the CCD do makes M9 series become the unique one in Leica digital camera. M9-P w/Summicron 35mm f2 11673 (f/2.0, Auto WB, ISO 800) 👇 Kodak Portra 800 w/Summilux 35mm f1.4 11663 (f/2.0) 👇

I have cleaned with sensor cleaning swab and blower for a few times but these spots just do not go away or move abit. They are not on the lens for sure. This is a CCD sensor ID 5 (old one) but with the filter of the sensor replaced with corrosive-proof ones. The sensor looks very clean. So are these dust undernealth the filter? or corrosion? or anything else? Thank you!

Hello all, I have recently bought a Noctilux ASPH (under warranty), and decided to have it perfectly calibrated and matched with my M9 (out of warranty). So both were sent to Leica Solms. Now Leica's representative tells me that the M9's CCD sensor is misaligned and some repair should be charged. When I ask this person if the misalignment is due to some incorrect tolerance during the M9 assembly, he answers that it is most certainly due to some chock or bad usage like "skiing with the camera" (!). Have you met some similar issues if "sensor misalignment" before ? Was it due to unsifficient tolerance during assembly, bad QC, or some chock (how bad) ? Do you know if a sensor can really move that easily ? The only case I have found was due to bad QC checking : http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/260171-some-thoughts-leica-quality-leica-nj.html Thanks & regards, David

Hi, how much does it cost a Leica Monochrome (sensor changed) today? thank you

Hi I'm new to this forum, after buying a second hand Leica M8 and a second hand cron 50. I love the gear, but can you tell me if the ccd is too old or something else is wrong. Can it be fixed? If you magnify the attached pic You can see in the dark parts have lots of white spots. Best sabPHOTO

We all know of the fondness of users, current and past, for the Digilux 2 camera and it seems that new people keep finding their way to it's unique design. We all also know that a day will come when the supply of working Digilux 2 ( & Panasonic LC1) cameras will run out and that marvelous lens will go dark. I truly think that if Leica were to release an update of the Digilux 2 it would sell well and could probably be developed for minimal cost (CCD, Logic Board, Software). Technology has certainly improved greatly since the early 2000's design timeframe and herein lies my question: If Leica were do release a new camera built around the Digilux 2's lens (essentially the same physical size sensor), what kind of Megapixel count could be achieved today? Secondly, if a Foveon sensor was used, could the pixel count be even higher. The relatively fast glass of the Digilux 2 lens would seem to be custom made for a Foveon sensor. Not being a geek about such things, I was wondering if those who are would humor me with their speculation as to what kind of performance 2010 CCD technology could cram in that small sensor size.

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