Leica M typ 246: Firmware feature requests (already...)

[dante]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

After a couple weeks with this thing, a few simple ideas come to mind:

 

1. Tone curves for image review. One thing about the M246 is that the screen - though miles better than the original Monochrom - is still not great at showing black and white tones (no surprise, since it is really a color screen being pressed into greyscale duty), and to compound that, it tends to make all pictures look dark and muddy (even when they are not). It would actually be nice to have the playback be able to (optionally) show the just-shot exposure with an S curve that is more representative of what you might do in post. Tone curves would also be nice for the video function, where you don't have the luxury of fixing things in Lightroom later.

 

2. Using the front function button as a "backlight button." This is an oldie but goody from the Nikon days, but that front function button could be used to effect a +2 exposure compensation (or some other user-selected value) as long as it is pressed in. This is something that old Nikon amateur SLRs had (like the FG), and for a camera like the M246 that tends to underexpose at the slightest hint of backlighting, it would be nice to be able to take an "insurance" shot without sticking your thumb in your own face to try to hit the EV comp (especially if you are left-eyed).

 

2a. One-time metering. Using the same button to take the meter reading in A mode - and not resetting the exposure until you press it again. This would be immensely useful in environments where a backlit window might end up in frame in a sequence of pictures. That kind of thing unduly influences the metering.

 

3. Fallback lens coding in automatic mode. Just as the ISO for flash changes to the last manually-set value, it would be nice that if lens detection is set to automatic, that the camera select a default profile when it detects no code. So, for example, if I am using a coded 35, a coded 75, and an uncoded 21 in automatic lens detection mode, the camera would default to the profile for the 21 if it didn't detect another lens.

 

4. "No correction" generic metadata coding. No one expects Leica to make color/vignetting corrections for all its old lenses, let alone anyone else's. BUT could we have some generic (and non-correcting) profiles that could cover things like the pre-ASPH 35/1.4, the Summarits, 40 Summicron/Rokkor, etc.? This would at least put something in the image metadata. The Fuji X cameras, when mated to Leica lenses, allow you to do this (the X-Pro actually changes the framelines to suit an arbitrarily selected focal length, but that's not an issue on the M240/M246).

 

5.  Highlight-clip beep. Just a little beep when you exceed the clipping limit set for image review. Nobody uses that speaker for anything else anyway.

 

Dante

[algrove]

Are you getting DNG histograms on your M246 like on the old MM1?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[dante]

Are you getting DNG histograms on your M246 like on the old MM1?

 

I believe so - though it would be the same as the JPG unless you monkeyed around with contrast or toning on the camera. This is one camera where it would be really nice to see the right side of the histogram greatly enlarged...

 

D

[jaapv]

 

5.  Highlight-clip beep. Just a little beep when you exceed the clipping limit set for image review. Nobody uses that speaker for anything else anyway.

An Audio-histogram like the DMR is even better.

[Overgaard]

I believe it already has this:

 

"3. Fallback lens coding in automatic mode"

 

I don't have a single uncoded lens in the house currently, but on the M240 it works like that. 

[dante]

I believe it already has this:

 

"3. Fallback lens coding in automatic mode"

 

I don't have a single uncoded lens in the house currently, but on the M240 it works like that. 

 

I'll check it, but I believe I've been getting "uncoded." Which is a disaster when you use 1/2 x focal length minimum shutter speeds in auto ISO. Less noise, more blur!

 

Dante

[gpwhite]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I believe it already has this:

 

"3. Fallback lens coding in automatic mode"

 

I don't have a single uncoded lens in the house currently, but on the M240 it works like that. 

 

I can call up all my R lens coding without a problem on M246. Even when you are in what I call six-bit (yes, it means just what you would expect), press /Menu, select /Lens detection, and give the multi-button a press to the right. The entire Leica lens menu programmed into the camera can be selected from there.

 

I use Super-Elmarit 15, Elmarit 19 and Makro 60. 

 

BTW, the Makro 60 on the M246 is just beautiful! Lovely range in tonality and deep black. The two wide guys are not as good as on M240.

[algrove]

I can call up all my R lens coding without a problem on M246. Even when you are in what I call six-bit (yes, it means just what you would expect), press /Menu, select /Lens detection, and give the multi-button a press to the right. The entire Leica lens menu programmed into the camera can be selected from there.

 

I use Super-Elmarit 15, Elmarit 19 and Makro 60. 

 

BTW, the Makro 60 on the M246 is just beautiful! Lovely range in tonality and deep black. The two wide guys are not as good as on M240.

Thanks, interesting to know.

[dante]

I believe it already has this:

 

"3. Fallback lens coding in automatic mode"

 

I don't have a single uncoded lens in the house currently, but on the M240 it works like that. 

 

Tried it - lens just shows up as uncoded.

 

I can call up all my R lens coding without a problem on M246. Even when you are in what I call six-bit (yes, it means just what you would expect), press /Menu, select /Lens detection, and give the multi-button a press to the right. The entire Leica lens menu programmed into the camera can be selected from there.

 

What framelines does the R adapter trigger? I was thinking as a cheat to code a Konica AR-Leica M adapter to get more metadata choices.

 

Thanks!

Dante

[menos I M6]

- ability to map custom functions to 1) function button 2) movie button and 3) LV button

- completely revamped ISO menu - at the very least replace it with the one from the M9/MM - here one can very quickly set ISO in full stops without being forced to click or scroll through all 1/3 stop increments

- ability to customize the display of exposure compensation in the viewfinder - I want my finder to ALWAYS display JUST the shutter speed and not jump back and forth between different displays

- bring back the now missing self timer option of "set to off and replicate single drive mode" from the M9 and MM - I like the mode dial to be treated as a camera on/off switch like on the M7

 

These are my very worst gripes I had since replacing (unwanted) my MM with a MM2 and I see these as really important, urgently needed improvements as these always throw a big stone just in front of my feet every time.

[Ciaren]

For me the best thing that they could do is bring back back the self timer.

[menos I M6]

For me the best thing that they could do is bring back back the self timer.

 

It would be great to have the old functionality of mapping single drive mode to the self timer position as per M9/MM.

The addition of a traditional, mechanic self timer as per classic film bodies would be really fantastic, but I doubt it be economically feasible, next to being technically challenging as of the already tight packaging of the digital M.

[dante]

I still want a +2 backlight button!

 

Dante

[drdannn]

Question: Does the m246 tend to underexpose? I am finding that mine does, and Camera Raw is needed to correct it. Otherwise I have to set the exposure to +3 or +7. Any responses would be helpful.

Thanks.

[pedoc]

My m246 tend to underexpose a bit too. Standard I have the exposure  on +3. 

[Luke_Miller]

Possibly the 246 metering is biased a bit towards underexposure since there is no option for highlight recovery if overexposure occurs.  My house has white siding and if I photograph it in direct sun -.7 EV exposure compensation is needed to prevent blowing the highlights.

Edited February 2, 2017 by Luke_Miller