nik_nik9 Posted March 20, 2013 Share #1 Posted March 20, 2013 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) As I'm shooting with the M now for a week in Thailand and Cambodia I also like to share some thoughts. I'm with all the other users about the positive things, alone the new shutter sound is like heaven compare to the M9 . I can't say too much about the image quality yet, but I'm looking forward to work on files - thinking of how good they are as Steven Patterson explained. There are some bugs/flaws at least for me: 1. Yes, the buffer is much larger. But if you ever try to make a quick check on Play mode whether your pic is okay, you're blocked. After that you have to wait, till all of the files are stored on the card completely. If you've shot a series of a dozen pictures, that may last forever. In fact this makes the M - at least for my kind of shooting - even slower than the M9. The only solution is, if you are shooting an interesting scene: never check any picture during your shooting, or you'll be blocked. That's annoying and I wonder if this is something which can be improved with firmware upgrade? 2. The two seconds or so startup time is also annoying. During a bus ride, I wanted to take some pictures out of the window. That's impossible with this startup time. You have to leave the power completely on all the time .... a risky game, once you have only one battery right now 3. I still don't figure out the wonders of the automatic turn off of the camera After about 30 seconds the LED lights should go off - they do that, but not always. Sometimes it's stays on and on ... you just remark it when the camera body gets warm. And yes I have set the turnoff to 2 minutes. 4. Just a small thing - maybe it helps somebody: You can choose in the menu about the maximum speed once set Auto Iso. I've done that and wondered why the camera doesn't follow my parameters. I've found out that that you have to set the maximum speed not in the Menu but in the ISO folder (sorry, I don't have the manual with me, maybe it was stated there clearly). Hey - it's really fun to work with the M and I'm so glad it arrived just before my trip. Nik Edited March 20, 2013 by nik_nik9 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 20, 2013 Posted March 20, 2013 Hi nik_nik9, Take a look here My experience with the M240 - with some negative points. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Erik Gunst Lund Posted March 20, 2013 Share #2 Posted March 20, 2013 All interesting points, Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jffielde Posted March 20, 2013 Share #3 Posted March 20, 2013 (edited) In another thread, I think someone suggested the buffer was actually smaller (6 rather than 7 shots) when shooting uncompressed DNG. Can you verify whether that is the case? Perhaps you could confirm that the compressed DNGs are actually lossless (so that there's no need to shoot uncompressed DNGs). Thanks. Edited March 20, 2013 by jffielde Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted March 20, 2013 Share #4 Posted March 20, 2013 2. The two seconds or so startup time is also annoying. During a bus ride, I wanted to take some pictures out of the window. That's impossible with this startup time. You have to leave the power completely on all the time .... a risky game, once you have only one battery right now You can leave the camera on standby without worrying about battery drainage I left mine on as an experiment for 5 days and the battery indicator only moved when I had been taking pictures ..... it stayed on 55% for 2 days whilst the camera sat idle.... 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasjak Posted March 20, 2013 Share #5 Posted March 20, 2013 In another thread, I think someone suggested the buffer was actually smaller (6 rather than 7 shots) when shooting uncompressed DNG. Can you verify whether that is the case? Perhaps you could confirm that the compressed DNGs are actually lossless (so that there's no need to shoot uncompressed DNGs). Thanks. that someone also mentioned that after 6 shots, you can only shoot 1 frame per second or so, that is bad in reality, but even better than the m9 where you had to wait about 10seconds before being able to take a picture again! the new buffer doesn´t seem to be so great again but at least your camera continues to fire at 1fps that and the shutter are reasons enough for me to sell my m9p and get the M... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasjak Posted March 20, 2013 Share #6 Posted March 20, 2013 1. Yes, the buffer is much larger. But if you ever try to make a quick check on Play mode whether your pic is okay, you're blocked. After that you have to wait, till all of the files are stored on the card completely. If you've shot a series of a dozen pictures, that may last forever. In fact this makes the M - at least for my kind of shooting - even slower than the M9. The only solution is, if you are shooting an interesting scene: never check any picture during your shooting, or you'll be blocked. That's annoying and I wonder if this is something which can be improved with firmware upgrade? Nik, am I understanding this right? So you can watch the image but cannot continue to fire or do you mean that you can only check your photographs on the screen once they´re written on the card?! i hope for the latter...that´d be something i could live with... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted March 20, 2013 Share #7 Posted March 20, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been reading that the battery life is in line with other CMOS cameras, like a 5d3 or D3. That alone would be reason enough for me to switch from the M9 to M240. It sounds nuts to some people, but when I shoot the M9 for 12 to 14 continuous hours, I need 3 batteries. It's bad enough switching cards, but--especially with the last update to the firmware for battery usefulness--it's hard predicting when the M9 will run out. So fewer battery changes would be spectacular From some reports, it sounds like I could do most weddings with a single battery (which is what I always got from the D3 (huge battery), and mostly get from the 5d3 (much smaller battery)). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nik_nik9 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted March 20, 2013 Nik, am I understanding this right? So you can watch the image but cannot continue to fire or do you mean that you can only check your photographs on the screen once they´re written on the card?! i hope for the latter...that´d be something i could live with... You can check a picture right after you have shot it, there's no lag. But now you have to wait till the picture is completely written on your card before you can shoot again. If you have made a bunch of pictures the same time you can wait forever ... I missed quiet some pictures like that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nik_nik9 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted March 20, 2013 You can leave the camera on standby without worrying about battery drainage I left mine on as an experiment for 5 days and the battery indicator only moved when I had been taking pictures ..... it stayed on 55% for 2 days whilst the camera sat idle.... Thanks - my experience so far is that the camera doesn't go always to stand by mode although it should after two minutes. And that sucks the battery empty rather qickly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nik_nik9 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted March 20, 2013 that someone also mentioned that after 6 shots, you can only shoot 1 frame per second or so, that is bad in reality, but even better than the m9 where you had to wait about 10seconds before being able to take a picture again!the new buffer doesn´t seem to be so great again but at least your camera continues to fire at 1fps that and the shutter are reasons enough for me to sell my m9p and get the M... I have the feeling I could shoot mor than 6 or 7 DNGs in a row - and I shoot uncompressed! But maybe I should switch to compressed. That would help to shorten the writing time and could allow me more to use the play mode again. Is theree really no difference? It was said with the M9 that uncompressed is of advantage when you heavily crop your pictures. I do that sometimes. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted March 20, 2013 Share #11 Posted March 20, 2013 You can leave the camera on standby without worrying about battery drainage ................. When people talk about the 2 second start-up time, is that only from the fully "OFF" position? How does it compare with the M9 to wake it up from the standby position? Thanks. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted March 20, 2013 Share #12 Posted March 20, 2013 Man, that start up lag is a buzz kill for me. That was the #1 improvement from the M9 I wanted, and instead Leica went backwards. Hopefully it'll be improved with firmware. Or maybe the next generation Leica will use an electronic shutter release and eliminate the issue altogether. With the M9 I've gotten used to giving it a little tap before shooting something but even then I get caught out sometimes. But having to then wait a further couple of seconds is just unacceptable in this day and age. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted March 20, 2013 Share #13 Posted March 20, 2013 Hi Charles, I'll be in Seattle for the weekend if you are going into town let me know and I'll buy you a beer or coffee... I could bring a sharpee and your book. Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglasf13 Posted March 20, 2013 Share #14 Posted March 20, 2013 Man, that start up lag is a buzz kill for me. That was the #1 improvement from the M9 I wanted, and instead Leica went backwards. Hopefully it'll be improved with firmware. Or maybe the next generation Leica will use an electronic shutter release and eliminate the issue altogether. With the M9 I've gotten used to giving it a little tap before shooting something but even then I get caught out sometimes. But having to then wait a further couple of seconds is just unacceptable in this day and age. Agreed. This would be the number one deal breaker for me, too. I've seen others mention it can be as much as 3 seconds. Do we have confirmation as to whether the delay also exists from standby, or just the OFF position? If it doesn't happen from standby, I could probably deal with it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted March 20, 2013 Share #15 Posted March 20, 2013 Man, that start up lag is a buzz kill for me. That was the #1 improvement from the M9 I wanted, and instead Leica went backwards. I don't see this as an issue for me. Generally, when I am shooting, I leave the camera on and just have to touch the shutter button to reactivate it from sleep mode. So any small delay after turning the camera switch to "On" is no big deal. I am not going to miss any shots because of it. Heck, sometimes it takes me two or three seconds to get accurate focus with an M. If I were worried about missing a shot due to the time lag, I would use my Canon 5D3. No lag and near instant AF. The M is not exactly meant to be a speed shooter. As you say, maybe it will be fixed in firmware updates and not be an issue for anyone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 20, 2013 Share #16 Posted March 20, 2013 I have the feeling I could shoot mor than 6 or 7 DNGs in a row - and I shoot uncompressed! But maybe I should switch to compressed. That would help to shorten the writing time and could allow me more to use the play mode again. Is theree really no difference? It was said with the M9 that uncompressed is of advantage when you heavily crop your pictures. I do that sometimes. I have also had the situation where I have got unexpected battery depletion. I charged it up yesterday afternoon, took 6 or 7 photographs for a website but left it on stand-by overnight (by mistake). When I checked the battery this morning, prior to cleaning the sensor with my new EyeLead sticky wand, I was surprised to find the battery only at 80%. I would have expected to find it around 97-98%. I am going to re-run the test tonight. The battery is on charge at the moment. Given that battery makers churn these things out by the thousands for larger clients, I am a little surprised that there is currently a shortage and it appears only sufficient for new M's. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted March 20, 2013 Share #17 Posted March 20, 2013 (edited) Hmmm, the M not meant to be a speed shooter? Actually it is. I'm sure that all of those great HCB, Winogrand, etc shots weren't exactly deliberated over, and no way to switch to an AF lens then. If all the other pro digital cameras on the market can wake up instantly then why can't Leicas. There have been many a time I've gone to take a shot and - nothing. I'm better with it now (the before press) but it's not the way it should be. And two to three-seconds wake up from standby is archaic (it is standby - from On I could probably deal with). I'm a died in the wool Leica user (my daughter's name is Leica) but I'm also not a Leica can do no wrong, uber-fan apologist. Having to wait for the shutter to wake up is not in the Leica tradition. They should fix this. RICK- sent you a PM. Edited March 20, 2013 by charlesphoto99 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 20, 2013 Share #18 Posted March 20, 2013 Wilson, think back to the M8, spare batteries were as rare as hens teeth when that camera came out. I can understand more complex accessories coming later such as the enhanced grip but I agree spare batteries should have been available from Day One. We'll be interested in your static drain test - it's possible there's a problem with the power management. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted March 20, 2013 Share #19 Posted March 20, 2013 Wilson For those of us still without any direst experience of the M, would you be able to answer the simple question that everyone else seems to be avoiding please? Does the long (2-3 seconds) start-up time apply only when starting from "Off", or also when waking the camera from standby? How does it compare with the M9 in this respect, which seems much quicker? This could be a very important consideration. Many thanks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted March 20, 2013 Share #20 Posted March 20, 2013 I think there is a misunderstanding here. Yes, there's a lag after switching the camera on. But if you leave it on, and go out on the street, and tap the shutter as you are bringing it to your eye, there is no lag. You just activate the shutter with a gentle tap of your finger. If you walk around with the camera turned off, of course there's a brief interval after you turn it on before you can take a picture. But that's why one should keep the camera turned on when taking pictures; it may sleep if you don't use it, but it wakes instantly. At least that's my experience, with the M9 and the M240. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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