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New 262 M-D - initial thoughts and questions


Photon42

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Now - finally a camera came along which caught my eye, so I took the challenge and swapped (up- and downgraded at the same time  :blink: )  my slightly ageing M9 for this back beauty. The M9 was with me for more than six years.

As it was just yesterday, obviously no regrets yet. It works surprisingly well without that screen, which I mostly used on the M9 anyways only for settings. Not settings here to bother. Well, almost. As it is not my only digital camera (still got the Q and some investment in m43), I really don't give the missing LCD any negative thought at all. Would be anyways funny after buying it ...

 

I noticed two things though, which I wanted to bring up here.

  • The recognition of no-name self-coded lenses, while worked really flawlessly on the M9, does not work at all. I really don't have much left but for instance the Zeiss 18/4 would be nice to code well for obvious reasons. None of my lenses gets the code read. That is slightly frustrating, as there is no way of setting them manually ... Well - I knew there will be a challenge. But still I wonder - is the reader more picky these days? I never bothered coding the white marks in the six bit coding area actually, only the black ones. Could that be a (one ...) reason? Would clearly be interested in pointers on the matter.
  • The memory card cannot be formatted in camera. Well. No big deal, maybe. But I really wonder if Leica cannot do a Firmware upgrade and allow something like they did for date and time adjustment. For instance: Pressing the FN button while in C position for more than 12s, then have SD (aka 5D) flashing, then confirm. I just like to have the option as a backup.

Another quick note/info: If we M-D users really must look at the photograph, my iPhone 6s with SD card adapter reads the card reasonably fast and Lightroom is now able to display the DNGs properly, so it is not the poor quality embedded JPEG anymore.

 

Cheers

Ivo

 

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Hi Ivo,

I encounter exactly the same fact: my self coded lenses are no more recognized by my M-D. They were well aknowledged by M8, M9. The M240 needed that the white bits be painted (at least for an Elmar 5cm f3.5 from 1956). My experience with the M-D is that the detection system needs that blanck bits (white) be painted and - more diffcult - that the color marks be nearer the edge of the flange (i.e. exterior of it). I succeeded to get the Elmar and a Summaron (1966) recognized by my M-D. I still have no success with my Summicron 5cm f2. (1956), apparently the flange "holes" are not enough near the external side.
That is my recent experience with self coding old lenses. Must say that this work is a pain as my coding is of Dremel'type... B)

HTH

Enjoy your M-D anyway, good pictures

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Useful information - thanks for this. Maybe you have got a photo sometime of the successful and non-successful lens flanges.

 

(sent you a private message, as I see you are in Geneva).

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I prefer the SDFormatter to format the card while it is in the card reader after I have confirmed successful import of the DNGs .... very fast and the card had to be inserted to import the files ... about a 15 second deal.

 

On a Mac but I am sure software on the PC exists to do the same.

 

Bob

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Another quick note/info: If we M-D users really must look at the photograph, my iPhone 6s with SD card adapter reads the card reasonably fast and Lightroom is now able to display the DNGs properly, so it is not the poor quality embedded JPEG anymore.

 

Cheers

Ivo

 

Leica are currently developing an M-D mk2 which will allow you to slot an iPhone into the back and it will then display the actual photos you've taken with the camera! It's going to be amazing. 

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You don't have to wait for Leica. If you are the unfortunate owner of a screenless M, simply take another photograph with your phone pointing in the same direction after taking one with your M. Who knows, you may, over time, start to leave the camera with the invisible pictures in your bag and just use the phone.

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you guys are awesome [emoji1] I was just not sure everyone is aware of the DNG functionality of Lightroom mobile.

 

As to the real topic: I just found out that my trusty 28/2 does not show, despite coded properly by Leica decades back [emoji316]. Probably needs a refresh. I'm not quite sure why specifically the M-D reader needs to be that sensitive.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Not a topic, really. I tried to highlight that we can look at DNGs now in LR mobile. I wasn't aware of this as I think an earlier version did not allow viewing and editing RAW files. I am not just finding out that thingy does not have a display [emoji51][emoji33] I may at some point try a wifi card just out of curiosity. BTW after two days in Genève I am still on 50% charge.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Thanks Jaap  to refresh the fact. I even would say: plus or minus finicky... :) : some lenses are going well, some not, and regarding old lenses with adapters, some adapters don't work at all some are well acepted. The M8 or M9 accepted all.

 

Good pictures.

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  • 3 weeks later...

[...................................]  regarding old lenses with adapters, some adapters don't work at all some are well acepted. [................................]

 

I must add to my #2 post that I succeeded al last to have the Summicron 5cm f2. (1956) recognized by the M-D 262: for that I got the Kypon adapter (see the Bay ;) ). It was accepted by my M-D straight just after painting.

 

Of course I hav'nt any link with this marchant... :rolleyes:

 

Good pictures to all

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I stumbled across a new/used MD at a significant discount. I ordered it. Life has treated me too well. I yearn for the hardship and frustration promised by the camera. Maybe this will be the thing that stops my infernal tendency to purchase things I do not need.

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I admit that had the M-D been a lower-cost option alonside the M240 when I upgraded from an M9, I would have certainly chosen the M-D.  I swore I would never use video mode or LV.  In fact I have never used video, but I have used the EVF a multitude of times, mainly for shots I could never have gotten before unless I had dragged a Visoflex along on travels...which I never did.

 

I have always kept auto-review "OFF", rarely ever chimp, or change a setting in the field.  I keep mine in half-cases with backflaps.  I never use the LCD for LV, only the EVF.  But the M-D doesn't have a port for it. 

 

Also at the time I was used to always shooting DNG, as it was the only consistent option on an M9.  I  would have been fine continuing to do so with an M-D.  However discovering to my surprise and delight that the M240's jpeg output is so good has allowed me to save a lot of time in PP when I'm shooting events/parties for friends and family who are not all that picky.  I can just delete any really bad shots, burn the rest to a CD and say "Here ya go!"

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  • 3 weeks later...

Well, I have had it for two weeks, and used it pretty much the entire time. It is exactly what it was advertised to be. While I do, occasionally, catch myself attempting to fiddle with things that were part of using other digital cameras, I find that, rather than feeling frustration at their not being there, I smile, and move on with taking photographs. Results have been good so far.

 

It occurs to me that Leica has a platform here that they could use to re implement a full upgrade program. Imagine, having a digital camera that you could realistically expect to use for the rest of your life........Monochrome upgrade?

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