Two M240 improvements over M9...

[dwbell]

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On my new body;

 

1) The detent on the shutter dial for 'A' is much more pronounced. I really like it, I can spin in the dark to the obvious tactile A position and count back from there. On the M9 there was a bigger 'gap' around A and B but not enough to feel it. Bravo!

 

2) The on / off switch is noticeably harder to move into self timer mode. So if you're quickly powering up for a grab shot you normally get S (my preferred) but worst case you get C, which still gets you the shot(s). On my M9 and M9-P the same pressure start up often saw me going into 'miss the shot' mode, or self timer as it's also called. I've seen users here put bump rubber on their M9's to avoid this. Problem solved on the M240. Second Bravo!

 

With my thorough lack of trust in Leica's QC processes I'd be interested to hear if this is a lucky body, or if others have also noticed these two improvements?

[Hookeye]

With my thorough lack of trust in Leica's QC processes I'd be interested to hear if this is a lucky body, or if others have also noticed these two improvements?

 

No doubt, these are real and intended. I have happily noted these little 'niceties' as well.

[Peter H]

This is my experience too. Little things like this, not finding out too late that you're accidentally in continuous or self-timer mode when you didn't want to be, can make a huge difference to real-life photography. I'm finding the M better in almost every way than the M9. A host of little improvements and one or two big ones add up to a much more satisfying and productive experience.

 

This is a big surprise to me because I thought the M9 was all I needed, and I still think its a wonderful camera, but I'm delighted to have been proved wrong.

[dwbell]

But, ahhh, grrrr, I'm going to have to be all grumpy again I'm afraid because *again* Leica, for me, is a confusing beast.

 

There is this beautiful, photographer-centric element to the mechanical design which is sooo good, and then there's the button on the front for exposure compensation which is as clumsy and poor a solution as the new detent pressure is an improvement.

 

Who tested the M240, clicked through to A and said "oh yes, that's much better, I'll sign off on that", and then later than afternoon contorted his/her fingers into the front EC button whilst trying to keep the camera to his eye AND rotate the wheel dial (which sometimes does, sometimes doesn't actuate the compensation) and then again said "oh yes, that's an excellent application - I'll sign off on that too!"

 

It just doesn't make sense to me. I'm convinced that the mechanical department is full of experienced tight tolerance savvy quality engineers, whereas the electronic department is full of spotty teenagers just out of Uni who don't shoot regularly.

 

Sorry, I know, rant over.

[Peter H]

I can see what you mean, and you're not the only one to have moaned about this, so obviously its an inconvenience. But I find my finger falls naturally on the front button and pressing while turning the dial is such a natural operation for me that I don't give it a moment's thought, it seems to just happen. But I agree it is one area in which the M9's ease of use was even better.

 

Perhaps a firmware upgrade could give the option as to how the button/dial combination is used? I don't know whether this is possible.

[dwbell]

I sure hope so. If I could have the Movie record button as "EVF magnification" and the wheel as EC it would be an incredible improvement to my shooting comfort.

 

On the subject of the EC wheel as is though. If you depress the front button, then turn the dial, you have to turn it one "click" (soft click admittedly) to start the EC process, the NEXT click will take you to =/-0.3 It's insane! Arcane! Annoyingane!

 

Try it, you can even set -0.3 like this;

 

Half press shutter release, then let off.

Press front button.

Rotate dial RIGHT (increase) one detent

Nothing happens

Now rotate dial left one detent - -0.3 EC achieved!

 

The first roll does nothing! How intuitive is that!?

 

Now, get this. Turn the camera on from off, engage EVF, now press front button and rotate! In this mode you DIRECTLY get -0.3 EC. So same system of button presses depending on wether you come from an ON state or a half press state gives different results!

 

This, to me, is like the aperture ring having no detents and being infinitely rotatable! You know? It's simple user interface stuff that they keep messing up on. And yes, sorry, it annoys me because they should do / know better.