Agent M10 Posted June 19, 2015 Share #1 Posted June 19, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am culling down my equipment, and selling my M9-P and Monochrom. I had my eyes set on the M240, but I've read here in the forum about so many M240 users having laid down the M240 and using the Sony a7r instead that I'm wondering whether getting the M240 is a good idea. It seems that weight is a big issue. I'd be interested in hearing some thoughts about this. Is weight really a problem with the M240? What about image quality? Wouldn't Leica's lenses be better with the M240 than the Sony? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 Hi Agent M10, Take a look here Laying Down the M (Type 240) for the Sony a7r?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
EdwardM Posted June 19, 2015 Share #2 Posted June 19, 2015 Sony is Sony, Leica is Leica. Don't mix:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted June 19, 2015 Share #3 Posted June 19, 2015 You have 2 great cameras, why sell them for One? - heavy or light, reliable or not, they are personal views, thereafter image quality is down to the photographer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted June 19, 2015 Share #4 Posted June 19, 2015 My advice is to try out the Sony first. My experience with the A7r was that it is not great with all Leica lenses (if you are keeping Leica lenses) as the focus peaking requires that you be wide open for good results, and even then with wide angles, it is not so easy. The OVF is superior. The Sony 36mp sensor is a good one but the results are not noticeably better than the Leica's 24mp sensor. The Sony A7r is also one of the loudest cameras I have ever used, included SLRs. For some reason even without a mirror it clacks like a screen door slammed close. I thought it would be a decent backup but it was not. As a primary camera if you are used to Leicas I would be very hesitant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted June 19, 2015 Share #5 Posted June 19, 2015 The Sony system is on a roll, but check out the lenses and compare them what what you have or will need for size / weight / performance. You may also want to wait for the A7r II or even just go to the A7 II if you won't need the extra MPx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted June 19, 2015 Share #6 Posted June 19, 2015 I have an M240 and I tried out the A7 and A7R when I was shopping for a backup. Neither of them played well with my ultra wide lenses. As someone said, they are loud...for what reason I can't imagine. I saw no reason why it had to have that bulky faux-pentaprism on top other than to evoke the look of a film SLR. I finally settled on a NEX6, for a 1/3 the price. The crop sensor handles the wides ok (I've got a 12mm so I'm still ok), it's quiet as a mouse, and the EVF while still being a poor third to rangefinder or reflex viewing, is at least integrated into the small body shape. All that said, eventually I bought a second M240 and have not touched the Sony since. (I even tried out a pair of E-mount zooms thinking I'd use the NEX that way, but the AF is abominably slow and hunts like AF from the 80s). Yes the M240 is weighty, but it's an optical rangefinder and made to work with M lenses. If not for that, if weight was the deciding issue I would go for a Canon Rebel series with the 18-55 and 55-250 (light but remarkably sharp) and a 35/2 prime. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted June 19, 2015 Share #7 Posted June 19, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm wondering whether getting the M240 is a good idea. It seems that weight is a big issue. I'd be interested in hearing some thoughts about this. Why not wait until the autumn? Leica are predictable and September/October will be the time that the M240 successor is likely to be announced. It might just be a warmed over version of the current camera (with minor techie improvements here and there) or it might be something more interesting? Either way, it's not a great time to be paying full whack for a digital Leica body like the M240. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosgavina Posted June 19, 2015 Share #8 Posted June 19, 2015 Depends on what you do for a living. If just for the pleasure of shooting, I would go with the Leica. I actually bough first a Sony a7 II, then a Leica m240. I'm now selling my Sony, as is just not the same feeling when I'm shooting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted June 19, 2015 Share #9 Posted June 19, 2015 I sold my M9 and bought the A7 when the sensor developed chicken pox. It only lasted 3 months and I really hated it. The M240 is in a completely different league. The Sony is just a toy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted June 19, 2015 Share #10 Posted June 19, 2015 It all boils down to whether rangefinder photography is your thing. If it is then your options are to get an M (Typ 240) now or to wait for its successor. If you don’t really care about rangefinders you should consider the Alpha 7R II – with its new BSI sensor it might be a better match for M lenses than previous models. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted June 19, 2015 Share #11 Posted June 19, 2015 It all boils down to whether rangefinder photography is your thing. If it is then your options are to get an M (Typ 240) now or to wait for its successor. If you don’t really care about rangefinders you should consider the Alpha 7R II – with its new BSI sensor it might be a better match for M lenses than previous models. Could be! :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted June 19, 2015 Share #12 Posted June 19, 2015 If this BSI thing works, it will only reduce color shading, which is easily removed in post. The smearing will remain as long as Sony uses the coke bottle sensor glass And it seems they are still using the lossy 8 bit compression by the way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ai_Print Posted June 19, 2015 Share #13 Posted June 19, 2015 For an M, the 240 is a bit portly at 680 grams but M's have never been the lightest bricks in the bunch with most film versions tipping the scales at around 600 grams then losing only a bit of that heft in models like the M9, M-E. I have used the Sonys, when not beating up the edges of otherwise great lenses, they allow their users to produce fine images. But the micro lenses on the 240 are no joke, that sensor just rocks and is what sold me on getting one and I got a good solid deal on a mint high serial number so I'm excited to get it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted June 19, 2015 Share #14 Posted June 19, 2015 If this BSI thing works, it will only reduce color shading, which is easily removed in post. The smearing will remain as long as Sony uses the coke bottle sensor glass And it seems they are still using the lossy 8 bit compression by the way. Hopefully, we'll find out soon. BTW, according to the Sony manager in charge they are working on 14 bit. That should be a firmware update. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted June 19, 2015 Share #15 Posted June 19, 2015 Hopefully, we'll find out soon. BTW, according to the Sony manager in charge they are working on 14 bit. That should be a firmware update. I read the transcript of the interview and I'm not really convinced they will do it. He was kind of pushed by the interviewer to say it. But I might be wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 19, 2015 Share #16 Posted June 19, 2015 It all boils down to whether rangefinder photography is your thing. If it is then your options are to get an M (Typ 240) now or to wait for its successor. If you don’t really care about rangefinders you should consider the Alpha 7R II – with its new BSI sensor it might be a better match for M lenses than previous models. I rather doubt that. A BSI sensor requires a thicker microlens layer - and we all know about the problems that poses with rangefinder lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted June 19, 2015 Share #17 Posted June 19, 2015 I read the transcript of the interview and I'm not really convinced they will do it. He was kind of pushed by the interviewer to say it. But I might be wrong. So far in my images I have not noticed lossy compression in the A7R more than the lossy compression in my M9 or the lossless compression in my D800E. But I see folks who shoot star trails are complaining bitterly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted June 19, 2015 Share #18 Posted June 19, 2015 I rather doubt that. A BSI sensor requires a thicker microlens layer - and we all know about the problems that poses with rangefinder lenses. Jaap, I am not sure whether that statement is correct! In fact the sensor structure seems flatter than before. According to what I have read that seems to imply somewhat of a micro lens effect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 19, 2015 Share #19 Posted June 19, 2015 https://www.aptina.com/news/FSI-BSI-WhitePaper.pdf An interesting White Paper on the subject by Aptina. Have a look at page 3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted June 19, 2015 Share #20 Posted June 19, 2015 So far in my images I have not noticed lossy compression in the A7R more than the lossy compression in my M9 or the lossless compression in my D800E. But I see folks who shoot star trails are complaining bitterly. I always shot uncompressed with the M9. The a7 didn't give me the choice, only lossy compression. I could see the effect clearly in some of my photos that required somewhat heavier PP than usual, in form of posterization. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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