1 year with a Leica M

[jonoslack]

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Hi There -

 

it's been a year since I collected a prototype from Solms.

 

together with the release of the new firmware, I thought it worth writing a piece about it.

 

One Year with a Leica M

[Guest Essemmlee]

I read that review and it's excellent. Clearly written by someone who knows what he's talking about.

 

I've had mine for one day. So this is my 24 hr review.

 

It's marvellous. To me the images are not so different from the M9; there is definitely that ill defined, and never well described, 'Leica look' with my 50 Lux ASPH. The shutter is much quieter and sounds almost like a silent shot. It is a more positive shooting experience. I quite like the bright LED rangefinder lines though they don't make much difference. There is a definite improvement (to me) on the accuracy of focus and, as a single big buying influence, this is the one. More in focus images is brilliant.

 

I pre-purchased an Olympus VF2 off the internet very cheap but I'm already not keen on it and I really can't bothered with the rear LCD live view. However, it's there if I need to use it in the future. As for video; it's not to happen for me.

 

Overall, I think it's worth the paying the same price as I paid for the M9 originally as there is no doubt it's a definite move forward. However, I do think the next iteration may be worth waiting for if you have a reliable M9.

 

Not a long review, but hey it's just my view.

 

Thanks Jono, for yours.

[algrove]

As always, well done Jono. Good insight. 40k images! My gosh and I thought my13k images were a lot.

[r7photo]

Nice write up

[IWC Doppel]

A comforting review, thanks for the openess reagrding how you find it. If the next 'new one' is M6 size, I'd be very tempted too. I had a justificable reason to move from the M8 (wide angle), I don't as yet from the M9

 

Some nice pictures and that's what matters

[Mike Rawcs]

Good review, thank you.

 

If the camera was M6 size I would buy one for sure.

 

Mike.

[Stealth3kpl]

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Just imagine if it were barnack size. It would sell like hot cakes. No screen on the back, just a histogram on the top plate and dials to change the iso.

Bliss

Pete

[jonoslack]

Thanks for the kind words.

. . not sure about Barnack sized, but M6 sized would be so nice.

 

But as I said, personally I feel that the M is nearly perfect as a rangefinder, and that it addresses almost all the M9 issues (such as they were)

 

all the best

[davidmills10]

I sold my M9 a few months before the M was announced, having become frustrated with niggles as well as having lost some important images with the SD card issue. Once a Camera lets you down it is like a car, you never completely trust it again. Having been a year without an M series Leica I was eagerly anticipating getting my M and so far have not been disappointed.

 

I like the fatter body, the live view coupled with the electronic viewfinder is superb for Wide angle or telephoto lenses and in almost every respect it is so far superior to the M9.

 

I agree with comments on shutter noise, it does seem so much quieter and the picture quality is superb.

 

Auto white balance is so much better than the M9 and of course low light performance is a significant improvement.

 

if from this you have the impression I like the camera, you could well be correct.

 

I regularly use Nikon's for professional work, and bought an Olympus OM whatever it's called for personal, low key work, goodbye Olympus hello Leica M.

[microview]

Rather like Essemmlee, I have had just a few hours with a black M (courtesy of RG Lewis); I also bought the EVF. My snap judgment is that it supersedes the M9, with all its virtues well versed here and elsewhere. I liked the EVF for composition having set focus via the rangefinder. It seems that you can hold the M steady for quite long hand-held exposures of acceptable quality too.

[Tibicen]

Dear Jono,

 

thank you for this excellent review. It is brief but up to the point.

I got my M in April. I used an M9 the previous 2 years and loved it. I think everyone who worked with an M9 knew it's shortcomings, but learned to live with them because it is nevertheless a great camera.

But now the M is a Revelation. Sure, it has it's quirks. Some are ironed out with the latest Firmware, others will be attended to in future (you mentioned an upcoming update).

 

On the whole I consider it the best digital camera I ever owned, for exactly the reasons you stated in your review.

 

Of course these insights are purely subjective, therefore I fail to understand why some can only niggle and find fault with the M.

When I praised the virtues of the camera in another thread, some Troll (he "trolled" his way through the entire thread) said to me: "Welcome to 2008" (granted, compared to the hate Leica generates in some people, this was a harmless enough remark).

But then, 2008 must have been a great year...

 

Best Regards,

 

Claus

[wda]

Thank you Jono. While I haven't upgraded my M9 I do follow well-written reports such as yours.

 

You discuss the rangefinder v. live view, which I found interesting; but you did not comment on the relative merits of the new frame-lines versus the old. Has your framing accuracy proved to be any better with the new model? That is the kind of practical improvement which would appeal to me.

[Falstaff]

Thank you Jono. While I haven't upgraded my M9 I do follow well-written reports such as yours.

 

.

 

Exactly my view also.

Thank you.

 

Falstaff

[jonoslack]

Thank you Jono. While I haven't upgraded my M9 I do follow well-written reports such as yours.

 

You discuss the rangefinder v. live view, which I found interesting; but you did not comment on the relative merits of the new frame-lines versus the old. Has your framing accuracy proved to be any better with the new model? That is the kind of practical improvement which would appeal to me.

 

Hi David

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I suppose the reason for not discussing the Framelines was that I didn't give them a thought!

There is a slight irritation that they're off when the camera is off, but that can also be good as a warning! Generally speaking I prefer them (white for me)

 

All the best

[HV25]

Thank you very much Jono for this wonderful review.

 

Reading it makes me want to grab my M and go shooting .

 

I'm a few ten thousand pictures behind you in terms of experience but I can relate well to the thoughts expressed in your lovely review.

 

Again many thanks - a joy to read.

[jonoslack]

Thank you very much Jono for this wonderful review.

 

Reading it makes me want to grab my M and go shooting .

 

I'm a few ten thousand pictures behind you in terms of experience but I can relate well to the thoughts expressed in your lovely review.

 

Again many thanks - a joy to read.

 

Thank you! Really thank you - I really do write stuff for other people's pleasure, so it's great if you enjoyed it (I though it was a bit lightweight myself - but it did reinthuse me too).

 

all the best

[paulsydaus]

Just imagine if it were barnack size. It would sell like hot cakes. No screen on the back, just a histogram on the top plate and dials to change the iso.

Bliss

Pete

 

I couldn't agree more! I thought I was the only one flying the dedicated ISO button flag...