M262 vs M240 image quality

[Budfox]

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I am seeing a few posts by M262 / M-D owners stating that there is slightly improved image quality and even less banding at higher ISOs on the M262 series cameras.

 

As the cameras are meant to have identical sensors, do we think this is just new owner's biased impressions (nothing wrong with that btw) is could there be something in this?

[edwardkaraa]

I didn't do any critical tests, but I feel the M262 may have around one stop advantage at high iso. There is still some faint banding, but a huge improvement over the M240. The color profile is quite different too, with more electric blues and purer reds. With ACR, my standard daylight setting for the M240 is 5300/10, while with the M262, it is 5000/0, both with embedded profile.

 

The sensor is not the same, by the way. Leica claims it uses different technology, whatever that means.

Edited July 7, 2016 by edwardkaraa

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[Budfox]

Thanks Edwardkaraa,

Can you let me know where you heard that the sensor uses different technology? I have not seen that anywhere in the promotional material.

Thanks

[elmars]

I think the sensor is the same, only the signal processing is different because there is no LV. Thats why the M-D 262 and the M 262 have the same type name.

 

Elmar

[edwardkaraa]

It was mentioned in LFI first issue of 2016. They didn't say it's a different sensor, they said different technology.

[edwardkaraa]

I'm not sure if it's ok to show a snapshot of the LFI article. If not, moderators please delete this post.

 

[Budfox]

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Ok many thanks !

[Pobble]

After more than a month of use it is apparent the M 262 Image quality is better than that of the M-240 (which i have used since it became available). . 

[lm_user]

Anyone have both that could provide a side by side?

[bcdano]

I didn't do any critical tests, but I feel the M262 may have around one stop advantage at high iso. There is still some faint banding, but a huge improvement over the M240. The color profile is quite different too, with more electric blues and purer reds. With ACR, my standard daylight setting for the M240 is 5300/10, while with the M262, it is 5000/0, both with embedded profile.

 

The sensor is not the same, by the way. Leica claims it uses different technology, whatever that means.

 

Edward - you are right about the blues and reds. I find the M262 colours different enough from the M-P I just sold - to my eye the blues, reds, aquas and purples feel denser. Thorsten Overgaard recently posted two comparative X-Rite colorchecker images that show the colour differences between the 262 and 240 which sold me on the 262. The following dropbox link to a small group of images hopefully illustrate these subtle but apparent colour densities.

 

All images generated with the M262 + 24mm 3.8 were taken July 6 between 3 and 5 PM around Victoria, BC in direct overhead sunlight (far from ideal) 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/borvrgwfsovpoiz/AADvQ-IsxTfl51btqaCD_i4Fa?dl=0

[jaapv]

There are two things to be separated here.

The 262 probably has a more stable power management, resulting in less banding and thus better high ISO performance

The colour differences between the two are due to slightly different colour handling in the camera and can be cancelled out completely by the camera profiles in LR.

Possibly Leica got the Bayer filter from a different supplier making the change needed.

[uhoh7]

This is good to know, TY Edward.

 

I had thought it was 240 sensor.