M(240) Edition 60

[IkarusJohn]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I've had an order in since this broke cover.

[Anjolie]

I actually like this idea of having no LCD screen. You don't know what you've got until you can download your files at home. You need to trust your abilities and go for it like a film camera. Sadly, being a limited edition this will be out of reach of most, myself included. I hope the new owners of the M60 will actually use it and not store it in a safety deposit box. It would be nice if a future iteration of the Monochrom had no LCD screen. Or, if Leica made this as an option whether or not to include a LCD. The less I have to deal with on the camera, the better experience I have shooting with it

[bocaburger]

I actually like this idea of having no LCD screen. You don't know what you've got until you can download your files at home.

 

I have that now, so can you and anyone else. Disable autoreview and don't push the playback button. If Leica makes a production version of the next-generation with a thinner body and at a cheaper price reflective of the deletion of a major subassembly, I'll buy one.

[mwilliamsphotography]

My goodness, such a kerfluffle over a camera … to each their own I say.

 

Personally, I love minimalist gear with less distractions, which a rangefinder is very good at delivering.

 

I guess the only question I'd have about the elimination of the LCD is how fussy digital capture is compared to film when it comes to exposure latitude. Especially in tricky lighting situations.

 

I'd love to see a simple reversible LCD on one of the Leica small cameras if not the M. It really is quite practical because it protects the LCD when not in use … plus purists can just leave it reversed.

 

- Marc

[tomasis7]

plus purists can just leave it reversed.

 

- Marc

 

purists wont have reversible display otherwise they are not purists

[Delcredere]

I like a display so I can see the histograms and check exposure. That said I also believe in choice and quite understand the attractions and advantages of minimalism.

[bocaburger]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I absolutely agree and am a fan of minimalism...if it's consistent. Without the LCD assembly I expect it to have a thinner profile bodyshell, and cost less.

[justj]

I actually like this idea of having no LCD screen. You don't know what you've got until you can download your files at home. You need to trust your abilities and go for it like a film camera.

 

Duct tape over your existing LCD that's what I'll do.

[rosuna]

I'd love to see a simple reversible LCD on one of the Leica small cameras if not the M. It really is quite practical because it protects the LCD when not in use … plus purists can just leave it reversed.

 

- Marc

 

That is a great idea. But the camera would be more fragile than this M60 is.

 

 

It would easy for Leica taking M240 cameras and replace the back of the shell body transforming it in a M60 type camera.

[lct]

My ten years old R-D1 is still working fine and doesn't look any more fragile than my Leicas. Doesn't show the same "coffee stain" as my M8.2 either ...

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[AlanJW]

My goodness, such a kerfluffle over a camera … to each their own I say.

 

Personally, I love minimalist gear with less distractions, which a rangefinder is very good at delivering.

 

I guess the only question I'd have about the elimination of the LCD is how fussy digital capture is compared to film when it comes to exposure latitude. Especially in tricky lighting situations.

 

I'd love to see a simple reversible LCD on one of the Leica small cameras if not the M. It really is quite practical because it protects the LCD when not in use … plus purists can just leave it reversed.

 

- Marc

A brilliant idea. I understand those who don't want an LCD -- for whatever reason -- though I think it highly illogical, there is an emotional component in purchasing expensive gear too.

 

Having said that, there is simply no way I would want a digital camera without an LCD and without the controls that come with it. I am not so confident in my abilities to nail exposure and composition every time that I could forgo having the ability to check immediately. I have been in many tricky lighting situations that required trial and error. Many times my most efficient way of working is in full manual but with the ability to make adjustments on the fly by viewing results on the fly (either on LCD or EVF). I have also gotten adjusted to having bracketing and the ability to do HDR when desired. I am guessing that when auto exposure was introduced, many thought it unnecessary as well. But having an auto function gives you an exposure meter. You can use it or not use it. I believe on the M240 you can also turn off image review if you think it intrusive (but still have all the other features). Just like you can work in "M" mode if you don't like "A".

 

If Leica were to make a really thin M6 sized camera with no frame at least we could say there is some improvment in smaller size and lighter weight. But that is not what the M60 is. It is exactly the same as a M240 but stripped of features most would consider essential to digital photography.

[Alberti]

- - -

It would easy for Leica taking M240 cameras and replace the back of the shell body transforming it in a M60 type camera.

 

The body is thicker than needed then, the thickness for the LCD would not be milled out, thus the body would be a lot heavier.

Leaving out the LCD of the concept and giving only the essentials in the viewfinder would give the opportunity of a slimmer and lighter body, compact like an M2 (just mentioning that, being my long-time favorite).

 

And going for a lighter body is better (less then, is more [pleasure] )

[tomasis7]

My ten years old R-D1 is still working fine and doesn't look any more fragile than my Leicas. Doesn't show the same "coffee stain" as my M8.2 either ...

 

mine is still working. though batteries are dying out, are you using original batteries?

 

i think the issue is to replicate m3 look, following tradition can be curse and praise. same thickness of m3 for m90 edition would be awesome.

[lct]

Sure a slimmer and lighter M would be fine but the R-D1 is closer to the M3 than any other digital M with its 1:1 viewfinder IMHO. Been using third party batteries since the beginning ten years ago. Any good replacement to Fuji (not Casio) NP-80 batteries should work fine. Mine are "Hähnel HL-F80" but also cheap Chinese copies found on e**y.

[Mr. Thompson]

Not sure if it has been mentioned, Sean Reid has the 60 review up.

[edwardkaraa]

I think the more we rely on automation, the more skills we loose. In analog phone days, I used to remember the numbers of at least 200 people, now I barely remember my own number.

 

We shot film since forever, and we always had confidence in our metering abilities, not guessing, but very close and reliable estimation, supported by incident light readings. I think we simply lost this self confidence, as I'm sure most of us can meter just fine without looking at the LCD. Still I feel an irresistible urge to confirm on the LCD that I nailed exposure, even when I took all the precautions in the world and took several light readings with the camera meter and a handheld meter. Chimping is just a psychological disorder based on low self confidence

[tomasis7]

I think the more we rely on automation, the more skills we loose. In analog phone days, I used to remember the numbers of at least 200 people, now I barely remember my own number.

 

We shot film since forever, and we always had confidence in our metering abilities, not guessing, but very close and reliable estimation, supported by incident light readings. I think we simply lost this self confidence, as I'm sure most of us can meter just fine without looking at the LCD. Still I feel an irresistible urge to confirm on the LCD that I nailed exposure, even when I took all the precautions in the world and took several light readings with the camera meter and a handheld meter. Chimping is just a psychological disorder based on low self confidence

 

Good point.

 

Soon we'll use Google to figure out what are we going say since we won't remember any words.

[edwardkaraa]

Thank you tomasis!

 

Another point I can think of, is that our metering was more accurate with film cameras. Our concentration on the photographic process was more intense. It's like rock climbing without a safety rope. There is no room for failure. The LCD is the safety rope of digital photography, which also makes our technique more sloppy.

 

 

I think the M 60 brings back the no room for failure intensity to photography.

[Alberti]

It is also the perfect continuation of focussing on essentials with just three elements: shutter, diaphragm, speed:

"Die Kunst des Weglassens in noch mehr Perfektion"

 

-sounds better in German than in the English translation

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[carstenw]

It is also the perfect continuation of focussing on essentials with just three elements: shutter, diaphragm, speed:

"Die Kunst des Weglassens in noch mehr Perfektion"

 

-sounds better in German than in the English translation

 

I guess I would translate the original M-P Leica ad as:

 

"The art of reduction perfected"

 

Similar to Saint-Exupéry's:

 

"La perfection est atteinte, non pas lorsqu'il n'y a plus rien à ajouter, mais lorsqu'il n'y a plus rien à retirer."

 

Or in English:

 

"Perfection is attained, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to remove."

 

Or my abbreviated version (applying his principle to his principle), borne out of necessity when the original would not fit in an engraving on the back of my new iPad:

 

"Perfection is attained when there is nothing left to remove."

 

The M60 is a good example of this. Sure, some thing are arguably better or more accurate with the LCD, but the pureness of purpose, the requirement of mastery, is a stroke of brilliance. It obviously doesn't work for people who expose correctly by looking at the LCD and shooting again.