M240 - Things I like

[jonoslack]

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Hi There Chris

So - after more than two years with 2 M240s I've found them to be rock solid reliable (the one problem I had with lockup was battery rather than camera related), fully capable of delivering for my needs and those of my clients, and, essential for me, a pleasure to use.

Improvements? I suppose making the EVF more usable will be the next big thing, but I don't feel any need for much else, and, if I had to, could very happily stay with the M-240 until I hand in my cards.

 

I quite agree - I really thing that Leica are in the enviable position of having got the firmware and operation pretty much right - I love the thumbwheel for exposure compensation (especially when using R lenses). Hopefully the next M camera will pretty much stick to the same operation as this one.

 

I also agree about the lovely 80-200 f4 R lens - it does really well on the M. The 60 macro elmarit is also great - both are reasonably affordable too.

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[chris_tribble]

I have always been disappointed with inbuilt camera microphones., admittedly on older Leica models. Could you expand on how your use of the Olympus tie-clip mike is attached to the camera and the extension length? I have no knowledge or experience of such accessories so cannot imagine what I would be looking for. Does it work with the basic body or does it require the Multi-function hand-grip?

 

David - all you need is the Olympus / Leica microphone adaptor (fits into the hotshoe). This comes with a detachable stereo mike. All you then need is a long cable to take the mike of the camera body. I know there are others who swear by wireless, but for all my work i've found the tethered mike more than sufficient. I'm NOT a film maker, but being able to do short video interviews with the M has been fantastically useful for my practice.

 

re the utility of the R80-200 on the M-240, evidence attached

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[bocaburger]

I'd also like to add how much I'm starting to enjoy using the R 80-200 f4 as an alternative to carrying the Canon 70-200 IS. Of course, it's not a replacement when it comes to rapid movement, low light work (as with theatre) - mainly because if EVF lag, though auto-focus does help .

So - after more than two years with 2 M240s I've found them to be rock solid reliable

 

Chris I assume you meant the 70-200 f/2.8 not the f/4. I sold mine a long time ago because it on the 5D was a literal pain in the neck. When I got my M240 I found a 70-210 R for about $200 and I have been using it a lot and enjoying it. The lack of IS plus the EVF lag are real disadvantages, but the trade off is not having to fall back on the bulky EOS system.

 

Comforting to hear the M240 is turning out to be reliable.

[chris_tribble]

Chris I assume you meant the 70-200 f/2.8 not the f/4.

 

Yep - the Canon 70-200 L IS mk2 . It's a stellar lens, and I still give it regular use on the 5D2 I still keep for when I need autofocus on a long zoom. However, given the good hi-iso performance of the M240, I don't find the f4 on the 80-200 too great a problem + with a monopod IS is less of an issue, so if I'm travelling and having to hand carry a full system, I know which long lens I reach for

[bocaburger]

I usually travel with a 1-series CF Gitzo tripod, which can do duty as a monopod if the legs aren't spread, but I somehow always end up leaving it at the hotel and only use it if I rent a car and go scenic shooting. My mainstay is the Leitz table tripod which I brace against anything solid I can find...tree, lamp post, door jamb...or my chest. As a chest pod it gets me halfway to IS. But I just remembered I have an Adorama monopod laying around somewhere, which is about 1" dia and telescopes down to about a foot long. Have to dig it out.

 

My regret is jumping on a used Novoflex R-M adapter because it was half the cost of the Leica one. At the time I only considered using my 400/6.8 which has its own tripod attachment. Now that I got the zoom I should probably sell up to the Leica adapter.

[chris_tribble]

I can't recommend the Leica R to M adapter too highly. It's worth every penny.

[drdannn]

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Believe it or not, I actually like the thumb rest. Leica could have made a big honkin thumb rest, but that would not be Leicalike. It's just enough when I'm using the EVF or Flash and it's not obtrusive. If I want more I use a "thumbs-up", but as of late I just use Leica's.

Edited December 9, 2014 by drdannn
typo

[bocaburger]

I can't recommend the Leica R to M adapter too highly. It's worth every penny.

 

I see the price has gone down under $300US so maybe I'll pick one up and sell my Novoflex. It's the current 6-bit coded version.

[bocaburger]

Believe it or not, I actually like the thumb rest. Leica could have made a big honkin thumb rest, but that would not be Leicalike. It's just enough when I'm using the EFV or Flash and it's not obtrusive. If I want more I use a "thumbs-up", but as of late I just use Leica's.

 

I got used to gripping the M8 and 9 with my thumb in that spot. If I press my thumb against the wheel and it's shroud I find it uncomfortable and not a secure grip. So I shift my thumb position, which completely changes the biomechanics for me, and not for the better. I've sort of re-trained myself, so it's not a huge deal anymore as it was in the beginning. But inasmuch as I never use the wheel, it's one of the few irritations of this great camera.

[algrove]

Completely forgot to mention one of my favorite accessories-the MF grip. Even though it can take a few minutes to recognize where you are if traveling many thousands of miles between its use, I very much like the data I can access during LR reviews. Also the grip itself fits my hand perfectly and I like the shape of the grip which allows easy access to the front button #3 which activates focus magnification with R lenses. Also like how it works with the SCA adapter for when I use studio setups where Pocket Wizard connections are important.

 

You know the more I think positive thoughts about this camera, the more I am very satisfied with this model and it makes me wonder how Leica can improve on it in order to make me want to change up for the next iteration of the M.

Edited December 10, 2014 by algrove

[Rick]

You know the more I think positive thoughts about this camera, the more I am very satisfied with this model and it makes me wonder how Leica can improve on it in order to make me want to change up for the next iteration of the M.

 

My work is done here. Group hug?

[farnz]

<hug>

[Exodies]

I like walking about with the grip and finger loops (attached to the camera of course, I'm not weird). Just remember to put the contents of your right hand pocket in the left hand one and carry an across the shoulder bag for when you need both hands. Periodically tighten the loop screw.

Very comfortable, very convenient and high availability.

[Theodor Heinrichsohn]

Thanks to Rick and Chris for their posts. I agree on all points after using the M240 for nearly 2 years.

I purchased it (kept my M9 and M8.2) because I wanted to use my various Leica R lenses as well as a variety of Nikon lenses (a.o. Noct Nikkor 1.2 with Novoflex adapter). I also found the Leica R/M converter to be superior not only because of its great precision but because I can attach it to a tripod. The R 6o Macro, 100 Apo Macro, 35-70 2.8, 70-180 2.8 and 180 3.4 are

my favorites .

On a recent trip to the States I purchased a Really Right Stuff table tripod + ball head and

quick release as well as the L-frame for the M240. Absolutely rock solid. It is heavier than the

Leica table tripod.

I have had only one lock up which was quickly fixed.

Teddy

[mfunnell]

The trouble I have contributing to this thread is that I like pretty much everything about my M240. For those things I like rangefinder cameras for, it does everything just the way I like them done only in digital. That matters to me because I like to shoot colour as well as black and white, and colour film photography was just becoming too difficult and inconvenient for me - which meant I was using DSLRs more and more for things I really prefer to do with a rangefinder.

 

I expected to like the M240 a lot, and I do, so I wasn't surprised by that. Things that I didn't know, or wasn't sure of, that do work well for me include:

 

I like the viewfinder magnification. I've previously used only .60x (Hexar RF) and .93x (M3) finders. But the .68x magnification of the M240 works well for me, even the 28mm frame lines and even though I wear glasses. I wasn't sure they would, but they do.

 

I like the implementation of auto-ISO (I was lucky that the 2.0.1.5 firmware came out just as I bought my camera, I guess). I'd never used auto-ISO on any of my other digital cameras as I'd not liked their implementation. But I've found that the M240 implementation, in conjunction with the qualities of it's sensor, means that I now use it most of the time, whether in Av or M modes.

 

I like the B&W conversions I can get from M240 photos. In fact I like the quailty of the files produced by the M240 system in general. I'd not expected the quality to be as high as it is, probably because of assorted nay-sayers extolling the virtues of any sensor made by Sony and decrying all others. That's fine, as I'm sure Sony do make wonderful sensors. But I find the CMOSIS-designed sensor in the M240 is pretty wonderful in itself and works more than well enough for me regardless of how it compares with others.

 

I like the body shape, size and weight just fine (another concern that proved groundless - the differences in weight and thickness compared to film M bodies barely even register with me). I like the controls - the traditional ones and the digital doo-dad-ery. I found using the M240 became almost 2nd-nature to me after a very short familiarisation period. I've found the menu layout, in particular, gives me rapid access to the functions I use regularly, while the various buttons and dials allow me to do what I want quickly and seamlessly while shooting.

 

I could keep going on and on. What I won't talk about are the live-view and EVF functions, movie mode etcetera - simply because I don't use them. I'm glad they're there, just in case I ever do want to use them and for those who find value in them. But I use my M240 pretty much as a digital pure rangefinder. And I really, really, like it. It suits me and it produces photographs I like.

 

...Mike

[indergaard]

I love everything about the M240 with a few exceptions.

I just wish it didn't have to spend as much time in Wetzlar as it has, so that I could use it more.

[LocalHero1953]

Given the arguments about simplicity vs customisation, it is to Leica's big credit that the three features I do not want can be switched off - but as I find myself wanting them sometimes I am glad they have not been removed altogether: LV, focus peaking and video.

 

One aspect of Leicas over the years that has not had sufficient attention is that, while you might not pick a Leica as your first choice for many photographic tasks (wildlife, macro, sports, studio), the system goes out of its way to help you achieve them if you wish (at different times: LV, Visoflex, BOOWU, OUFRO, R/M adapter, MF grip etc). The M sits squarely within that tradition.

[rob_w]

This thread appeared at just the right time for me -- thanks Rick always appreciate your contributions. I have just collected my shiny new silver M240 from Richard Caplan's shop in London.

 

I thought I might sit out this model and wait for the next one. After all my M9 takes pretty much the same photos, with the same lenses and the same form factor, right? But then Leica offered £500 off for Christmas and Caplan's gave me a good exchange price so I held out no longer.

 

I had forgotten just how many incremental improvements Leica made with this model. Was about to go back and re-read some of the reviews at initial release and in fact did re-read Jono's review (thanks there too). But this thread nicely summarises everything for me, with the added benefit of extended experience.

 

I can only echo the majority opinion: the sum of the incremental improvements is a model which feels responsive, mature and complete. Simple to use for any experienced M user. Still wrestling with new features: LV, Movie Mode, Focus Peaking, etc. (and what is that second button on the front all about??). But loving it and no regrets.

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[Gibbo]

I have had my M240 for just over a year. I have had two issues with it. Lockups and the battery/charger.

 

Lockups have been infrequent, mostly when using the EVF in very low light situations. As this is not a common place for me to be taking photos I have decided to live with it for now hoping that, one day, a firmware release will resolve it once and for all.

 

The original battery would stop working in camera once it dropped to 75% charged. I was given a spare battery last Christmas so have lived with the problem. The leds on the original charger never ever stopped flashing so I never really knew when my batteries were fully charged. Just recently I returned, via London Camera Exchange in Bristol, both battery and charger to Leica Mayfair and, after a few weeks wait, they have replaced both with new ones. I bought a universal charger from LSE which allowed me to continue charging my remaining battery in the mean time.

 

That's it really. Oh, there's lots of talk about how quiet the shutter is and this has me slightly confused because, compared to my M2 the shutter is very loud. Presumably it is quiet when compared to some that are noisier but, for me, it is not quiet!

 

Overall though, the M240 is the VERY BEST camera I have ever had and I wish my Dad, whose M2 I inherited and look after, was still around to have a go with it. He too would have loved it! He bought the M2 in 1968 and both he (mainly) and I (less so) have used it since then. I still do, so that's 46 years of continuous Leica useage.

 

Well done Rick for starting this thread and also thanks for all your input to the forum which is informative, thoughtful, insightful and often has an added humour which means I always make sure that I read your posts!

 

 

Oi ........ pass the sick bag please

[colonel]

congrats on your new camera!

 

"A simple warning: Leicas can be seriously addictive. Once you handle one, there are only two possibilities. Either it will leave you cold, or you are going to want one. If it’s the latter, you’ll almost certainly buy a Leica sooner or later. A ratty old film M for a few hundred dollars may be all the Leica fix you ever need. But equally, you might one day find yourself in a Leica store, heart beating fast, palms sweating as you contemplate handing over your credit card for a $7,000 M. I can’t tell you how you will react. All I can do is warn you."

- americanphoto