Lets drop the M "240" altogether!

[beewee]

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I recall Apple tried the same with the iPod and failed miserably. When the second generation iPod came out (the one that succeeded the original 1 GB model), they tried to call it the iPod as well but people just called it the iPod 2G (2nd gen) and it just kept going from there. When it came time to release the 2nd gen iPad, Apple had given up completely on the notion of trying to make it also the iPad and just branded it iPad 2. Same thing happened to the MacBook and other computers, everyone added a year to it.

 

Just think for a moment, if you were trying to unload an iPad on eBay and every version was called the same thing over the years, how can you differentiate between the various versions?

[lct]

The 'gormless eedjit' appears to be Dr Kaufmann himself!...

Hopefully not. Makes the M a commodity whilst each number has its own personnality. M2 is not M3 which is not M4 and so on. Even M8 and M8.2 are not the same. For lack of M10, the M240 will remain as is and the forthcoming Ms will keep the number of their type concatenated according to my crystal ball.

[jaapv]

Whatever, it makes not one bit of difference to me what it is called. But one thing we can all agree on. A massive M10 on the front would have been even worse than the present rather obtrusive M.

[Guido]

The metal covers for the M were already produced with M10.

Mr Kaufmann himself then decided to rename the M10 to M.

All M10 metal cover plates were destroyed by Leica and new ones were made with the M.

 

From a trustful source

 

John

Except for a precious few plates which were smuggled out of the factory and have changed owners for six-digit prices in the parking garage of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

[kokoshawnuff]

As Bill mentioned, SEO is an issue; something that can actually hurt leica in marketing and sales.

 

You can be one who is in the 'know' and search M240 or M type 240, but then there are likely going to be valuable reviews, forum posts and product pages that don't use that nomenclature or have it 'buried'. You can be someone new to leica, looking for info and search for Leica M, in which case you'll be shown 59 years of M cameras...so no matter what you know, searching for info can be a pain.

[dwbell]

Whatever, it makes not one bit of difference to me what it is called. But one thing we can all agree on. A massive M10 on the front would have been even worse than the present rather obtrusive M.

 

As if we don't know what's coming and at what cost.........

[bybrett]

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I wonder if the "M" idea came from the same brilliant brains who launched the calamitous "mini M" campaign BTW.

 

So the MINI M is a MINI M typ 240 not a MINI M series camera...

[zeitz]

I assume at some point the Leica M will be replaced by a new version. What will it be called to differentiate from the Leica M? M-2? M-2 looks a lot like the M2, which has already been used. Or Mn, like the Canon F-1n. (I assume Canon knew there would never be a third version of the Canon F-1.) An "M" without a designator leads to endless confusion. Look at the consternation that the "Mini-M" caused, and it wasn't even an M at all.

[M9reno]

To me the new designation "M" implies that Leica sees the future development of its flagship rangefinder as a process of evolution, not revolution, and wants to mark some sort of break with the past (numerical) sequence of M3 to M9. Hard to say if this is right, but it is the Leica equivalent of Fukuyama's famous assertion of the "end of history" - perhaps with more than a little hybris in the mix.

[jaapv]

To me the new designation "M" implies that Leica sees the future development of its flagship rangefinder as a process of evolution, not revolution, and wants to mark some sort of break with the past (numerical) sequence of M3 to M9. Hard to say if this is right, but it is the Leica equivalent of Fukuyama's famous assertion of the "end of history" - perhaps with more than a little hybris in the mix.

Well, it is hard to see where the can go from here apart from some finetuning and keeping up with technology.

[bocaburger]

Porsche hasn't internally refered to the designation 911 since the 80s but the general public still calls it that. To the point the company finally realized the value of that kind of iconic identification and now emblazons the latest model with "911" on the rear deck. As we say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

[mjh]

From a trustful source

While I suppose that ‘trustworthy’ is the word you were looking for, ‘trustful’ is probably quite apt.

[jaapv]

As if we don't know what's coming and at what cost.........

 

I'll probably be a sucker for the upgrade....

[IkarusJohn]

To me the new designation "M" implies that Leica sees the future development of its flagship rangefinder as a process of evolution, not revolution, and wants to mark some sort of break with the past (numerical) sequence of M3 to M9. Hard to say if this is right, but it is the Leica equivalent of Fukuyama's famous assertion of the "end of history" - perhaps with more than a little hybris in the mix.

 

I think this is the point.

 

Leica's future product range will be the S, the M (and the M7 and MP for those who want it), and the others. You will just buy an M - as they are electronic, the assumption is that the last model will be irrelevant. The M will be Leica's latest digital M mount camera, and the Monochrom the B&W equivalent.

 

Like the 911, the RS4 or the M3 (okay, I know - BMW have rebadged this the M4 for some unfathomable reason).

[01af]

The metal covers for the M were already produced with M10. Mr Kaufmann himself then decided to rename the M10 to M. All M10 metal cover plates were destroyed by Leica and new ones were made with the M.

The decision to name the M9's successor just M rather than M10 was made before May 2012. So if this story is true in the first place (I'm not so trustful ) then it probably pertained only to a couple of prototypes.

[gpwhite]

Whatever Leica officially labels its M variants, the marketplace will attach simple names to each model as the new and used, current and once-removed, models circulate through dealerships.

 

When you say to the Porsche salesman that you want to trade in, he looks at your ride and says, "OK, so you want to sell your 993 and buy a 991? C2 or C4?"

 

When Leica starts shipping the M type 360 (or whatever it will be), buyers and sellers will converse using simple names, like "my black 240 for a silver 360." So eventually, this will all work out. I notice that when I say M240 and MM, no one in Leicadom is confused .

[MarkP]

Well, it is hard to see where the can go from here apart from some finetuning and keeping up with technology.

 

I suspect that was said of the M3 at the time it was released

[MarkP]

Whatever Leica officially labels its M variants, the marketplace will attach simple names to each model as the new and used, current and once-removed, models circulate through dealerships.

 

 

 

I notice that when I say M240 and MM, no one in Leicadom is confused .

 

Exactly!

[hamey]

I have no problem with the designation M240, IMHO Leica got it right.

 

The camera is the class M.

With the oncoming variations 240-??? etc etc, otherwise every three years you will have M 11, 12, 13,14.

 

Remember the Leica M is an icon in design and it's exterior hasn't chanded much since the M3.

 

It will always be known as the Leica M, variation or type 240.

 

Ken.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Jeff S]

...otherwise every three years you will have M 11, 12, 13,14.

 

Yep, as it should have been. If the designers were kind, the number could be displayed only on the hot shoe, with the camera face having only the M designation you desire (or, better yet, nothing). I'd likely be dead before the M20 anyway.

 

Now we can presumably look forward to the 260 or 280 or 340 or 410, or whatever. Or maybe the M (Typ 260MM-P). Can't wait.

 

Jeff