What do you want in the next digital M?

[CheshireCat]

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Haven't you learned anything hanging out here over the last 3-years.

 

Sounds a lot like "you will be assimilated"

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Michael,

 

I agree that what I am suggesting is not likely to be the major focus for a large segment of the photographic market.

 

The issues I am dealing with here are somewhat different.

 

From the M8 to the latest iteration today: A significant portion of the hardware of all of the Leica Digital Cameras within the "M" Mount & Range/Viewfinder System have been composed of the same or similar components that have to be disposed of & then re-acquired when changing from 1 model to another.

 

With the no longer produced Hasselblad 500 Series it is simply a matter of replacing 1 image sensor capture device (whether film or digital) with another in order to upgrade a digital sensor or to go back to film. Or to possibly go to somewhere inbetween. Various other Companies have also made interchangable backs for various other Medium Format & Large Format cameras as per Hasselblad above.

 

This, of course, does not allow for the inclusion of all of the "bells & whistles" that an entirely new model could contain. But it doesn't have to leave out that many*.

 

In the past there have been technological complexities that have made this type of device impractical or unweildy when using a 24mm by 36mm sensor within the mechanical limitations of more or less an "M" body. As an example: Accurate image placement on the sensor surface.

 

Today is a different day in terms of technological development than the day was when the first M8 appeared. Problems that were too difficult to solve at that time are in many cases more resolvable today.

 

My suggestion is not to focus all or even a significant ammount of Leica's energy or resources in this direction. Rather, Leica should develop this system the same way that it developed a number of other cameras & lenses earlier by repeatedly doing new things exceptionally that no 1 else had done before.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

* Example: The already existant Variable ISO Program could (With some possible minor alteration.) most likely compensate for any inaccuracies in a mechanical shutter the same way it adjusts when the photographer changes the aperture by hand.

[wlaidlaw]

The lens rental folk said that the Zeiss Otus was the best lens they had ever tested, so probably at least the equal of anything from Leica. I have never been a big fan of the Leica 50 ASPH Summilux in any case, due to its very high edge contrast which can lead to purple fringing issues (as well as the sticky focus ring). I suspect that the Otus may have similar problems, although many other Zeiss lenses tend to spread their high contrast more evenly across the object and edge, other than the Contax 35/f2 Planar G, which also had extreme edge contrast. Of course film copes with this better than digital sensors but it still gave odd rendition.

 

Wilson

[david strachan]

I'd like a digital Leica that was a lot more serious about using flash (strobe). The hot shoe is the only flash connector in all the digital M's. Too bad if you want to use a Visoflex, or a viewfinder...no flash can be used, because it covers the electrics.

 

How about a separate flash connection Leica?

 

cheers Dave S

[Echo63]

I'd like a digital Leica that was a lot more serious about using flash (strobe). The hot shoe is the only flash connector in all the digital M's. Too bad if you want to use a Visoflex, or a viewfinder...no flash can be used, because it covers the electrics.

 

How about a separate flash connection Leica?

 

cheers Dave S

 

Like a PC socket near the eyepiece, in or near the traditional location ?

Good idea !

 

There is a PC socket on the MF grip - but i cant see myself paying the money for the grip just for that

[Exodies]

Or a pocket wizard module...

[Echo63]

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Or a pocket wizard module...

 

Built in wireless - thats a good idea (providing it can work both ways, trigger lights, or trigger the camera remotely)

[FlashGordonPhotography]

I'd like a digital Leica that was a lot more serious about using flash (strobe). The hot shoe is the only flash connector in all the digital M's. Too bad if you want to use a Visoflex, or a viewfinder...no flash can be used, because it covers the electrics.

 

How about a separate flash connection Leica?

 

cheers Dave S

 

Multi Function Grip?

 

It has both a pc and TTL connection available in an expensive package. The M can then take the EVF as well. None of the digital M's are designed to take the old visoflex, even if some make it work.

 

Gordon

[david strachan]

Multi Function Grip?

 

It has both a pc and TTL connection available in an expensive package. The M can then take the EVF as well. None of the digital M's are designed to take the old visoflex, even if some make it work.

 

Gordon

 

Hi Gordon

The M8 handgrips do not have an electrical plug for flash take off. I am still stuck with just hot shoe

 

cheers Dave S

[FA85]

To me it would be the following:

 

- Smaller

- Lighter

- Dedicated ISO dial besides the shutter speed dial

 

- 24mp is more than enough, i would rather reduce it to 18mp with crazy DR or keep it at 24mp with maximum DR

 

for now the m240 is just perfect, i just don't want leica to mess up with the M experience.

 

 

 

and maybe leica should introduce another digital M that is FF, smaller, lighter, only 12mp AND WITHOUT THE SCREEN. that i would love!

[Exodies]

I want the index mark for the shutter speed control to be in a different position. It's currently hard to tell what it's set to when the hotshot is occupied.

[BerndReini]

Dedicated ISO dial besides the shutter speed dial

 

I can live with changing ISO in the menu. make it an EV compensation wheel with click stops next to the shutter wheel for me.

[renes]

This is the best and most informative thread about M240. I have not imagined how many serious faults this camera has, it is beyond belief! I have totaly lost interesting in it, though I will go for Leica lenses. It seems it will be better for me to buy Leica M film camera or mirrorless (Sony, and probably this year Canikon).

[Jeff S]

This is the best and most informative thread about M240. I have not imagined how many serious faults this camera has, it is beyond belief! I have totaly lost interesting in it, though I will go for Leica lenses. It seems it will be better for me to buy Leica M film camera or mirrorless (Sony, and probably this year Canikon).

 

I hope this is tongue in cheek.

 

Any camera would of course generate the same kind of coulda, woulda, shoulda comments. The only opinion that matters is the user's….and that can't be determined without use…lots of it.

 

No complaints here after much use….and lots of prints. Not perfect, but no camera is. It is, however, better for my needs and preferences than any other.

 

Jeff

[lct]

Never got a "serious fault" since May 2013 with my M240 and i can't seem to recall complaints about such faults in this long thread. Unless a body is faulty when we cannot afford it of course, but even the price sounds reasonable to me for the best rangefinder ever made.

[trickness]

Banding at 3200 ISO needs to go away, would love clean a 6400 iso. If Nikon, Canon etc can do it, no reason Leica can't.

 

I've had a freeze that required battery removal (this is on an M-P manufactured in October, 2014) - a bit worrisome. Not the end of the world but they should 100% sort out the firmware.

 

Body could be thinner too, M6 thickness. Other than these few niggles, I wouldn't change a thing. I like shooting my M-P a lot more than my D4.

[colonel]

Banding at 3200 ISO needs to go away, would love clean a 6400 iso. If Nikon, Canon etc can do it, no reason Leica can't.

 

 

 

I've had a freeze that required battery removal (this is on an M-P manufactured in October, 2014) - a bit worrisome. Not the end of the world but they should 100% sort out the firmware.

 

 

 

Body could be thinner too, M6 thickness. Other than these few niggles, I wouldn't change a thing. I like shooting my M-P a lot more than my D4.

 

 

I don't seem to be able to locate banding at 3200. I probably don't push the raw enough. I have found light banding at 6400 when editing but small noise reduction seems to take care of it.

 

My main request for the M260 remains a nano sim tray and a 4G radio so my photos can be silently backed up in the background and available on line for downloading and editing when I get back to my desk.

[Exodies]

Organic self cleaning, self healing lenses grown by bacteria.

 

240 frames per second video is quite nice on the iPhone; I'll have that too please.

 

Get rid of the focusing and aperture nonsense; it's a technology problem like colourless pictures. Blurred isn't in the scene, I don't want it in my photograph. (If anyone thinks that blurring isolates the subject then look at the comments posted about pictures, it works in exactly the opposite way to what was intended - "nice bokeh" they say, not "nice subject").

[skuromis]

My main request for the M260 remains a nano sim tray and a 4G radio so my photos can be silently backed up in the background and available on line for downloading and editing when I get back to my desk.

For this you should a world wide data roaming package as well as some proper batteries.. Just imagine 8 GB update... that takes a lot of time and energy

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[indergaard]

I don't seem to be able to locate banding at 3200. I probably don't push the raw enough. I have found light banding at 6400 when editing but small noise reduction seems to take care of it.

 

My main request for the M260 remains a nano sim tray and a 4G radio so my photos can be silently backed up in the background and available on line for downloading and editing when I get back to my desk.

 

Try to make an image at ISO 3200 of a dark night sky partially, with properly exposed foreground, and you'll easily discover banding in the darkest parts of the image without zooming in at all. It is fixable with the Nik noise software, though, but still it shouldn't be necessary at that low ISO.