M240 - Things I like

[Rick]

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Not a complete list, just something I was thinking about over the last several months of shooting this summer. In March of next year I'll have had the camera for 2 years and I have really enjoyed it, immensely. Nearing its two year anniversary, in no particular order, just off the top of my head here are some things I have come to appreciate and like about my M240:

 

1. The shutter is so vibration free I can shoot at insanely low shutter speeds. Also, I can shoot my long R Tele APO lenses at all shutter speeds without worry of shutter vibration. Thanks Leica!

 

2. The shutter is a lot quieter than my M4, for example. Nice.

 

3. The shutter release is the smoothest of any of my M cameras and facilitates jitter-free images.

 

4. Leica doesn't compress its RAW files like that popular brand. I can manipulate the files much more before I get posterization and artifacts than I can with say, my RX1 (which you know I love).

 

5. The camera to lens mount is much tighter than my M9. I am sure Leica tightened up the spec on the mount. I had not realize that this was so important until I tried to fit my M and R lenses to my Sony A7r and realized the mount and adaptor are sloppy... and this affects image quality. Thanks Leica for upping the tolerance of the mount on the M240, which I now understand is critical for taking advantage of the optics and 24MP sensor.

 

6. The R-M Adaptor is of the highest tolerance. Again, I had not realized how important the precision of the mount was until I explored other cameras for my Leica lenses and was disappointed with both the adaptors and mount. I complained that it took Leica so long to get the R-M Adaptor to market and I now understand that some of the delay may have been justified if, Leica was having problems meeting the tolerance needed. Thanks Leica for such a great adaptor.

 

7. Thanks for the larger battery capacity on the M240. Unlike some of the current cameras that I own (or the M9), I don't have to carry an extra battery or two. My M9 was lighter, but I'll take the slightly heavier M240 + greater battery capacity. Nice move Leica.

 

8. Living in Seattle, weather protection has worked well many times.

 

9. The rear LCD screen is mostly scratch resistant . I haven't had to use a screen protector since I got the M240. I really am not a fan of screen protectors.

 

10. The horizon lines that are superimposable over the LV image have become indispensable when shooting my WATE especially doing interior sales shots. I understand this feature is common on about every other camera.

 

11. Auto ISO is much more usable, for me. Not saying another word.

 

12. ISO is easily very usable up to 6400, just don't under expose. Color stays pretty nice in higher ISO and this is so much appreciated after using the M9. Maybe, not quite state of the art for 24MP, but only about a stop off the RX1 I have which does a huge amount of processing in-camera.

 

13. Although, I haven't been able to detect the RF improvements others write about here, I like the new? M240 RF and illuminated frame lines. I just flat out like the simple, fast, handling of the M240 and the RF, improved or not, it is the essence of the camera. I just can't seem to get away from this emotional connection. And, it without a doubt helps me create better photographs and that is the bottom line. Thanks Leica for striving to improve the essence of this camera.

 

Lastly, I really like the M lenses and they just make the M240. I didn't list this as one of the things I like about the M240 because, technically, this thread is about the M240. But, I have learned recently that a camera without a lot of great lenses is not a system I am interested in. No matter how technically superior the camera may look on paper, the final image is a creative process that starts with the system - Camera and Lens. Body and Soul.

 

Rick

[MEB]

Rick,

 

I agree with every one of your points (except that I haven't used the R-M adaptor). I'd like to add that though I rarely use it, LV is a nice addition when I do need it.

 

Mark

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[blimey]

Do you have the black color one? How is the paint holding up?

[Rick]

Do you have the black color one? How is the paint holding up?

 

Yes, and the paint is maybe slightly better than my M9 was. But, it still is paint. I would really like to see black chrome like what was introduced with the M5 and is also on my M4.

 

Rick

[algrove]

Rick

 

You missed the addition of LV, unless I missed it in your post. Also, even though many complain about the EVF, I use it regularly (maybe more than most) and do not have tunnel vision problems with it. Frankly, I also often use the RX-1 and have no preference using one over the other as far as EVF goes.

 

So Leica thanks for LV and the EVF plus the usability of focus peaking with M lenses (the smoothest by just turning the focus knob) and R lenses too.

 

Also thanks Leica for keeping the body size nearly the same as previous digital models.

 

I notice you did not thank Leica for adding video capabilities to the M240 which I thank you for not thanking them, since I have never taken a video with my M240 and did not buy it for video use.

[Rick]

Rick

 

You missed the addition of LV, unless I missed it in your post. Also, even though many complain about the EVF, I use it regularly (maybe more than most) and do not have tunnel vision problems with it. Frankly, I also often use the RX-1 and have no preference using one over the other as far as EVF goes.

 

So Leica thanks for LV and the EVF plus the usability of focus peaking with M lenses (the smoothest by just turning the focus knob) and R lenses too.

 

Also thanks Leica for keeping the body size nearly the same as previous digital models.

 

I notice you did not thank Leica for adding video capabilities to the M240 which I thank you for not thanking them, since I have never taken a video with my M240 and did not buy it for video use.

 

I agree with these, starting with LV. The sneaky part is that a lot of folks don't realize how well Leica implemented focus peaking on the M240. On my Sony A7r (not picking on it) it was too wide (deep) for my R-lenses and I could not nail the focus with it. The M240 is narrow enough to be able to tell where the plane of focus is. I will say, it doesn't work well with my 90mm Macro Elmar. I can't for the life of me get the plane of focus correct with LV + focus peaking. I like the goggles much better for focus. LV is nice (required) for framing.

 

I was an early protagonist for video. Not so much anymore. I just did not understand how hard video is to do right. I'm glad it is there, but not a big deal for me. I'm not quite ready to ask for no video button, but I can understand that it would be nice to reassign it. But, I do "like" video and thanks Leica for at least putting into the M240 package.

[Jeff S]

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I also like the b/w conversions, often even better than my valued M8.2. And my sample has been trouble-free, something not to be taken lightly these days. It's generally a more robust RF camera, both in build quality and performance.

 

Jeff

[Torgian]

I also enjoy my -240. Other than the name

 

I just wish I could focus better. It can be hard to focus with the rangefinder sometimes, but when Id o get it it's very nice. I'm talking mostly about when I do portraiture and model work. Street photography I use zone focusing, but at night I have to shoot wide open. Fortunately I'm slowly getting better at gauging distances and shooting.

 

I also wish lenses were not as expensive. I really wanna get a Summilux someday. XD haha

[Rick]

I also like the b/w conversions, often even better than my valued M8.2. And my sample has been trouble-free, something not to be taken lightly these days. It's generally a more robust RF camera, both in build quality and performance.

 

Jeff

 

Jeff,

 

I agree, the B&W conversion is really nice. Part of the reason why the conversion, for me, is so good is because of what can be done with the Leica uncompressed RAW files in PP. They are fantastic in C1 and really good in LR and the NIK software adds another way to give the M240 files more creative dimension.

 

Rick

[darylgo]

I like this thread Rick.

 

Leica has succceded in leaving the basic functionality while adding cutting edge (or nearly) technology. Not an easy task, or not deemed important by other manufacturers.

[Rick]

I also enjoy my -240. Other than the name

 

I just wish I could focus better.

 

Torgian,

 

Thanks for the reply and I just want to say, give yourself a break and stop down to f4. It may not give you the total creative effect you want, but it will give you a sharp photograph. I rarely shoot wide open unless the lighting is so low I need to utilize the Summilux f1.4. But, I'm not a bokeh shooter. It is just something needed in low light, for me. Bokeh often just looks like an out of focus shot, to me.

 

Rick

[farnz]

Rick,

 

Thanks for starting a 'Feel The Love' thread, I think we could do with more of them.

 

I agree with all of your points and particularly about the unexpected emotional bond. I certainly do notice the difference in the M's RF though.

 

I'd add one more point that's allied with the EVF and that's the ability to use an extraordinary number of lenses with the M and I'd hazard a guess that it's more than with any other camera. (I feel sure someone will kindly point out that a <add brand here> camera is compatible with a greater number of lenses than the M but until they do I'm sticking with my guess.

 

Pete.

[Rick]

Pete,

 

Thanks for the reply. I agree, the EVF makes so many lenses accessible with the M240, including the all of the R lenses. My R 280/f4.0 APO and other lenses work so well on the M240. I use the LV more often than I would like to admit.

 

Rick

[bocaburger]

I agree with most of what you say Rick. I will add that it's the first digital M I could use the jpgs from. I never shot uncompressed DNGs with the M8 or M9 and haven't with the M240 either. I also haven't listened to it next to either of my M4's but compared to the M8 and M9 the M240 is light years improved in quiet shutter action due to the absence of the loud recocking sound. I have never used auto ISO, and rarely use LV and never the superimposed frames. I also prefer the ambient-illuminated framelines as to me the M240's are too bright but that's the only place I think the M9 excelled. I have the Novoflex R adaptor, but I think the Leica one is better because it has the tripod attachment. Like you I can't see any improvement in the RF, but at least mine came perfectly adjusted from the factory, unlike my M9. Battery capacity I suppose is dependent on how much one uses LV, the EVF, or shoots movies. In my case it's rare for the 2 former and never for the latter, so like you I find the capacity better. Though I didn't know at the time I bought the camera, and picked up a couple of used batteries so now I have 3. I have always had a protector on the screen though, at first the one that came with it and now a glass Sopi protector which is virtually invisible. All in all so far I really like the camera too. Probably the 2 things I like most are the quietness and the fact jpegs at the default settings almost always suffice for me, thus almost completely obviating the need for PP.

[Rick]

Thanks for the reply. You are a very critical and precise commentator here on the forum. (Compliment)

 

I agree, it is the recocking sound that is the reason the M9 has the goofy sound.

 

I like the illuminated frame lines. But, I will agree with you that Leica could attenuate the brightness of the frame lines a little bit under certain lighting conditions and they would be less distracting. But, overall I like them better than the frame lines of the M9 in dim light and bright light, except when they overwhelm the view. Overall, I like them. Work in progress.

 

Agree, the battery is better.

 

Agree, PP is sometimes just perfect without any adjustment.

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

Rick

[Bill W]

Rick,

I was at first a no show on wanting the 240. I told myself it just had features I would never use so why buy one. Well after trading in my M9 for a black one, I added the silver. I agree with everything you say including that video is nice but still not something I will use unless by accident....

[Jeff S]

video…. unless by accident....

 

That should no longer happen with disabling function provided in new FW.

 

Jeff

[Londonmember]

Dunno....

I'm thinking of selling mine.

I have a Monochrom that I use 90% of the time, as I just adore the images it produces. I don't like the whiny shutter or the small buffer, but I've learned to live with them.

As for the M240, I don't like its extra weight and thickness, the shutter is still quite noisy, and theres something about the colour rendition and highlight drop-off that I just don't gel with.

Its only been out 4 x this year, and I've now got a used RX1 that may suit my needs for a 'casual camera that shoots colour'.

Will probably list it in the new year.

[jaapv]

Thickness?

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[FlashGordonPhotography]

A few things I can add to the list.

 

1. In live view I really like the implementation of the image boost. Nice and bright for focusing and then to see the actual exposure just touch the shutter. Great.

2. The way exposure compensation and shutter speed are displayed in the RF. I do wish Leica would add the option to show shutter speed in manual though.

3. The tilting EVF. When I use my Sony's I really miss this.

4. My Novoflex N adaptor. Because it means I can use the Zeiss 100mm Makro Plannar on the M. And a fisheye.

 

I do like video on cameras, except the M. I do wish I could reprogram the button to something useful.

 

Gordon