Would you swap M(type 240) for M(type 262) ?

[jto555]

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I compared the two side to side, and they made basically the same noise, same loudness.

I thought there was a small difference? Still, I used a colleague's Nikon D4 at a wedding we photographed together, and I jumped with the noise! I think I have gotton too use to the Leica.

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[Ranma13]

I thought there was a small difference? Still, I used a colleague's Nikon D4 at a wedding we photographed together, and I jumped with the noise! I think I have gotton too use to the Leica.

 

There's a small difference. The M262's shutter sound is slightly shorter than the M240, but sounds sharper. Volume-wise, I wouldn't say it's quieter. Around the same volume, just a different sound.

 

Also, you can feel the M262's shutter 'kick' the camera in your hands. This is something I don't feel with the M240.

[Schrödinger's cat]

I think I shall use "castration" a little more often in relation to castrated versions of the M.

 

It's nicely graphic. I like a little colour in my language.

 

Predominantly and appropriately red, in this case.

 

I rather think I prefer "gelded".  

 

Ken Rockwell uses the term quite often also. 

[Photoskeptic]

Been away for a while and just saw this thread. I've had my M-P for over a year and am just now getting to know the camera. I usually only take it on trips or use it for the very occasional street shoot. Recently I've been trying to use the higher iso and I've never been so unimpressed. So looking at the biggest changes from the M9 - LV, quieter shutter, more mp etc. the only thing I've been able to appreciate is the quieter shutter. For me the change to CMOS from CCD due to the hue and cry for LV is underwhelming. After the longish experience of the M-P's first trip outside the US, I would say that I want my M8.2 back. I went for the M-P because I figured the increased mp would give me better landscape shots. OK, that has not happened. So sure, I would trade my M-P for a 262. The LV that I thought would be a godsend I don't use at all - it's clunky and slow. The CMOS really doesn't give me the bw conversions which the M8 & M8.2 did. At first I thought the M-P was an equal or better than the M8.2 considering bw, but that was only on a weeks rental. Further testing and comparisons reveal (to me, anyway) that I was caught up in the hype of the new camera. For me, the M8 & M8.2 replicate film so much better than anything since (including the Mono, in my short test of the first iteration of the camera). The shutter of the M-P is sublime - why Leica couldn't do that before is puzzling.

Anyway, call me an old fogie, but I want the closest thing to an M3 or M4 in a digital I can get, so the 262 should be a better choice than an M240.

[jdlaing]

Okay. You're an old fogie. 

[algrove]

I remember shooting people on a bench in the street 1.5 meters from behind them with the M240, and they did not know I took the shot. Most streets are inherently noisy so using the M240 on the street does not add to the noise already present.

[jaapv]

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Been away for a while and just saw this thread. I've had my M-P for over a year and am just now getting to know the camera. I usually only take it on trips or use it for the very occasional street shoot. Recently I've been trying to use the higher iso and I've never been so unimpressed. So looking at the biggest changes from the M9 - LV, quieter shutter, more mp etc. the only thing I've been able to appreciate is the quieter shutter. For me the change to CMOS from CCD due to the hue and cry for LV is underwhelming. After the longish experience of the M-P's first trip outside the US, I would say that I want my M8.2 back. I went for the M-P because I figured the increased mp would give me better landscape shots. OK, that has not happened. So sure, I would trade my M-P for a 262. The LV that I thought would be a godsend I don't use at all - it's clunky and slow. The CMOS really doesn't give me the bw conversions which the M8 & M8.2 did. At first I thought the M-P was an equal or better than the M8.2 considering bw, but that was only on a weeks rental. Further testing and comparisons reveal (to me, anyway) that I was caught up in the hype of the new camera. For me, the M8 & M8.2 replicate film so much better than anything since (including the Mono, in my short test of the first iteration of the camera). The shutter of the M-P is sublime - why Leica couldn't do that before is puzzling.

Anyway, call me an old fogie, but I want the closest thing to an M3 or M4 in a digital I can get, so the 262 should be a better choice than an M240.

Errr...hue and cry for LV? I do not recall any... The switch to CMOS was for other reasons, not the least being that CCD technology is not being developed further for camera use. LV, EVF and video are  just side effects that come practically for free with CMOS.

I'm surprised you struggle with higher ISO, as it is substantially less noisy than the M9 and more so than the M8.

It is exactly the same on the 262, BTW, as it is the same camera with a few things switched off -that one could switch off on the M240 oneself-, so I hardly think you would be happy with that.

[Bill Livingston]

Errr...hue and cry for LV? I do not recall any... The switch to CMOS was for other reasons, not the least being that CCD technology is not being developed further for camera use. LV, EVF and video are  just side effects that come practically for free with CMOS.

I'm surprised you struggle with higher ISO, as it is substantially less noisy than the M9 and more so than the M8.

It is exactly the same on the 262, BTW, as it is the same camera with a few things switched off -that one could switch off on the M240 oneself-, so I hardly think you would be happy with that.

 

 

A perfect answer to the points raised... Thank you for posting that Jaap. I was a lot a loss to understand the original post this was in reply to... (post 64)

 

Almost none of post #64 made any sense to me, based on my reasonably long period of experience with this camera since its launch (I bought one more or less at the time it was released) nor of my understanding how the M-P compares to earlier cameras (and I have used them too), nor does it make any sense in terms of the conclusion. 

 

And why would you change an M-P for a 262 when absolutely none of the things the poster complained about would change in any way - even assuming these assumptions were correct...!

[Peter H]

I have it from an exceedingly good source that the new M that will be announced in just over four weeks time will include  another simple innovation along the lines of those used in the M262: you'll be able to select whatever DIN setting you like (iso is being dropped for this model) and having selected it, it will be fixed for either the next 24 or 36 exposures, at the users' preference.

 

I think this will help return us to the discipline and integrity of the cameras that made Leica famous.

 

My source also tells me that following the success of the M262 the new M will return to the same size as the M9, which should also please many of us.

[CheshireCat]

I bought one more or less at the time it was released

 

 

You probably mean: "I bought one more or equal at the time it was released", as you could not have bought it before it was released.

 

Unless you mean you bought one camera, more or less. If less, I hope you got almost one camera, as taking photos with less than one camera is problematic !

[jaapv]

I bought my M8 a fortnight before the official release...

[Bill Livingston]

God!!! The pedants are at large today, aren't they!:)

 

I see I will have to be a little more precise in my use of language in the future...

[Peter H]

You probably mean: "I bought one more or equal at the time it was released", as you could not have bought it before it was released.

 

Unless you mean you bought one camera, more or less. If less, I hope you got almost one camera, as taking photos with less than one camera is problematic !

 

 

You are wrong.

 

Or do I mean mistaken?

[mmradman]

We can expect return of inferior battery and lesser rear screen to satisfy Luddites, just in time for April the 1st. 

I have it from an exceedingly good source that the new M that will be announced in just over four weeks time will include  another simple innovation along the lines of those used in the M262: you'll be able to select whatever DIN setting you like (iso is being dropped for this model) and having selected it, it will be fixed for either the next 24 or 36 exposures, at the users' preference.

 

I think this will help return us to the discipline and integrity of the cameras that made Leica famous.

 

My source also tells me that following the success of the M262 the new M will return to the same size as the M9, which should also please many of us.

[Exodies]

Shouldn't it be "more or fewer"?

[CheshireCat]

I bought my M8 a fortnight before the official release...

 

 

That's because it was released a fortnight less the official release.

Hope the official was put on probation.

[CheshireCat]

We can expect return of inferior battery and lesser rear screen to satisfy Luddites, just in time for April the 1st. 

 

Love it !

 

- Replace the battery with an advance lever that is attached to a dynamo and provides just enough energy for the next shot.

 

- Replace the huge display with an essential 16x16 pixel mini-screen showing the 16x16 area of more contrast after each shot. This way you can check sharpness without chimping at the entire image and spoiling the surprise of going home and see your shots are crap and definitely not what you wanted.

 

- Replace the SD card with a 24 or 36 exposures roll of magnetic tape. Or even make it musicassette compatible, so you can even listen to your photos ! Revolutionary !

[Tailwagger]

We can expect return of inferior battery and lesser rear screen to satisfy Luddites, just in time for April the 1st. 

 

You forgot to mention that it will be hardwired in, non-user serviceable and will bitch incessantly after 6 months it requires replacement.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[a.noctilux]

Now that I use my M (type 262) for a couple of weeks, I much appreciate the change from my other Ms.

 

As said, for someone who never use M (type 240), I must admit that sometime liveview would be nice for accurate framing and focussing in some occasions.

With a MATE, like my other Ms, the right lower side of framing is "in the dark" at 35mm and worse at 28mm.

 

The LCD screen is wonderful compared with the one on M9 or Monochrom original.

Even in sunny day, this screen is fully usable to change menu or scruting histogramm (and why not judging the pictures color/sharpness).

With my M9/MM, to do the same thing, I have to be in shade.

 

Regards,

 

Arnaud

[epand56]

Why should I do that? Would you swap a baking tin of Parmigiana with eggplant slices, tomato suce, oil, cheese, basil and parmesan for a baking tin of eggplant slices with just some basil and parmesan?