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sell my M 240?


frogfish

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Hi,

 

I need some serious help here. Could also go to a psyciatrist I assume...

 

OK, it´s like this. I am a serious photographer and earn part of my living with wedding-photography. I still am deeply in love with photography, so it is not just bussiness.

 

For years I used and loved my M9 for wedding work...

see here if you like:

The Leica M for wedding photography | Hochzeitsfotografie mit Leica M

 

I got my M for a few weeks ago. And the problem started. The M was highly anticcipated by me because it deals with some flaws I had with the M9. So I though I finally will get my perfect camera... BUT:

 

 

Over the last months my photografic style has happened to change:

 

I shoot mainly photojournalsitic (always had, also with the M9). But I force myself constantly to get more interesting angles (like low from the ground) and often close to the subject and with shallow depht of field. This is becoming more and more difficult with the rangefinder.

 

Furthermore I use handheld off-camera flash more and more in this kind of settings. This is my main problem: I cannot hold a flash in one hand and focus the M with the other (no, hyperfocal does not work at 2.0). Here is an example what I mean:

 

Familien-Shooting and der Ostsee

 

 

End of story I use my Nikons again but want a small camera with me to complement. I feel the M is overkill and too heavy for that (I think the M feels worse then the M9 because of it´s increased thickness, it just feels different...) AND I want this small camera to be able to be used in the settings above.

 

 

 

the question:

 

Shall I sell my M and get the Fuji x100s or am I simply plain stupid and should sit it out, being this just a phase? (I know, how can you possibly answer this...)

Anyway, I do not have the money to let this kind of gear sitting on my shelf and not beeing used.

 

Any ideas how to proceed? (Yes, seeing a psyciatrist, I know)

 

 

heiko

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Just a very, very small point which doesn't help at all I'm sure, but the M is not thicker than the M9. Apart from the tiny thumb-grip which contains the dial, it is identical.

 

And I see you had added grips front and back to your M9, meaning the M240 is actually slightly slimmer than you're used to, but to all intents and purposes, they are the same.

 

I congratulate you on your wedding photos though. Very nice!

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Something to try at home:

 

Set a distance approximate for the angle of view

Use live view with focus peaking

Move the camera towards and away from the subject to control the plane of focus

 

This is what I do for flowers and plants.

 

If this fails, I'll trade you even up for my month-old X100s - just kidding.

 

Good luck.

 

Eric

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Sorry, if I didn't get the problem right, but if your way of taking pictures has changed and the M (neither M9) is the suitable tool for it, you got to change the cam.

Unless you're using screwdrivers to hit nails ;)

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Another possibility is the Leica X Variable with an APS size sensor, and 28-70MM equivalent zoom, auto focus, analogue controls, and slightly smaller than the M. However, I'd first experiment with Enboe's suggestion in post #3 above.

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thanks for the replies

 

when taking this kind of pics with flash like you can see in the link I just hold the camera where I think I will get a good composition (don,t look into the viewfinder) press my AF-on button, hold the flash where I need it and fire a shot or two.

This, while the subject is moving, like a kid running/playing.

 

No way to do that with looking for focus-peeking on the screen. Let aside that you cannot see it at all when in bright sunlight...

 

 

heiko

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Your camera is a tool so you need what gets the results regardless of the make. Have you looked at the fuji X series, they are continually extending the range of lenses along with zeiss ones though I should imagine that the Xpro-1 is due for an update. As to the m240 and flash I do like it with the SF58 and TTl-HSS giving you the full shutter speed range

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Consider a Nex6 or Fuji XPro1/XE1. Both are small, maneuverable, excellent cameras. Reliable with good enough auto focus for what your needs appear to be. Plus, you can get an adaptor for your collection of M lenses and continue to use them.

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Apart from sentimental value - say, a family heirloom, people get insanely attached to cameras (and other tools) even when it's patently obvious the camera/tool doesn't meet their needs to get the job done... and there's an awful lot of tosh written about this make and that make of camera.

 

Never lose sight that a camera is just a tool.

 

If it doesn't do what you want it to do, or you've changed the way you work, get rid of it and buy something that does.

 

But try out if you can, your future camera. You might find it isn't cracked up to be all you thought it might be, and that on balance you'd be better to stick with what you've got.

 

Nothing's perfect. ;)

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Does the 240 really support HSS? Have you tried? I haven't received mine yet but the tech specs don't say anything about HSS except for the M7. Do you still need the SCA adapter? How does that thing work anyway? What exactly does it do?

 

Your camera is a tool so you need what gets the results regardless of the make. Have you looked at the fuji X series, they are continually extending the range of lenses along with zeiss ones though I should imagine that the Xpro-1 is due for an update. As to the m240 and flash I do like it with the SF58 and TTl-HSS giving you the full shutter speed range
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I would stick with it and rather than see it as a negative see it as a positive in the sense that you are growing within your style. It's a new camera and there is going to be change but that is a good thing. Learning new ways to do old things helps your style grow immensely because you pick other new things things up along the way. You're aware of the change so it's all good. You don't have to stray too far if you don't want but the most important thing is to explore.

 

I went from dSLR and Medium format to the M9 and it was the same experience. tricky at first but my style has really grown in accepting the new ways of working, new lenses, speed of working wiht a small camera etc etc

 

Try using a "Manfrotto Flexible Arm 237" or something similar for holding flash while shooting with a rangefinder. Or a C-Stand which is what I often use.

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Try the X-vario. It's a wonderful tool, well-built, and you could use it with an off-camera flash, say the SF24-D.

 

Yesss. I offer one:D:D:D to exchange with the M!

p.s. I regret that I sold my M240 2 months ago!

 

John

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