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M240 production - is it the end of the line for this wonderful camera?


Steve Ricoh

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No, Leica has clearly said that the M (Typ240)  will remain in production, as they are sensitive to the value of the added features. Let's hope this results in a two model line policy for Leica M cameras in the future.

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It may fall into the category of an ME - to be kept on till the next model - which might then be the hoped for EVF-based QL, complete with video, USB connectivity etc.

 

I'm not sure how distinctive two ranges (M240 & M10) would be, if video is the only real functional difference.

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If they develop the range I will buy it for sure, I always thought I would be shooting the M until my dying day. More resolution and a tethered connection are my primary needs but I'd also like to see video developed also.

 

I have a bad feeling it will just continue indefinitely with the M 240 until demand stops.

 

Or maybe wifi will just develop and resolution will slowly increase with the M10 line.

 

In general I think the future of the M, M10 or whatever is rather in the dark.

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If they develop the range I will buy it for sure, I always thought I would be shooting the M until my dying day. More resolution and a tethered connection are my primary needs but I'd also like to see video developed also.

 

I have a bad feeling it will just continue indefinitely with the M 240 until demand stops.

 

Or maybe wifi will just develop and resolution will slowly increase with the M10 line.

 

In general I think the future of the M, M10 or whatever is rather in the dark.

I hope there will be a successor to M-P 240, with 36 Mp, better EVF solution, very fast LV and video enhanced.

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I hope there will be a successor to M-P 240, with 36 Mp, better EVF solution, very fast LV and video enhanced.

 

Little hope i'm afraid. Ms are not supposed to compete with the flagship SL the same way as the CL was not supposed to compete with the then M5. I am ready to bet that the M10 will never have as fast an EVF as the SL's for the same reason. My feeling is the M240 will survive until Leica decides to give a little brother to the SL... or not.

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Little brother or big one - an EVF based camera is not an option. There are excellent other brand options out there. The 240 will have to serve until it - or  I - falls to pieces in that case.

But, maybe the hybrid digital RF/optical VF patent is meant for the M240 successor - we can always hope...

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It would seem probable (if Leica Marketing are convinced) that there would be space for a new variant on the M240.  It could use the same chassis as the M240, but share the processor, sensor and LV/EVF technology of the M10.  I would imagein this would come at a higher price, but if it offered the tethered shooting and video that so many appear to want, I would imagine it would have buyers.

If there's a market for this, the cost of development (while not trivial) shouldn't be the same as the development of the new M10.

Just a thought...

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It would seem probable (if Leica Marketing are convinced) that there would be space for a new variant on the M240.  It could use the same chassis as the M240, but share the processor, sensor and LV/EVF technology of the M10.  I would imagein this would come at a higher price, but if it offered the tethered shooting and video that so many appear to want, I would imagine it would have buyers.

If there's a market for this, the cost of development (while not trivial) shouldn't be the same as the development of the new M10.

Just a thought...

 

Its a rather interesting question as to which I would prefer, if there was an M240 follow up which, lets say retained video and the current battery size, included the other features of the M10 in terms of IQ, ISO wheel, perhaps retaining the current 6 button setup.  One imagine it could offer a  superior EVF to the M10's and perhaps, *gasp*  even a touch screen.... not that I'm interested in that or video. Likely would depend on the details and pricing.  But in general, I dont like having two very similar bodies with different interfaces and the ability to share batteries is a big thing in my world, so even if there were a number of features I wasnt really interested in, I would still be predisposed to consider it.  

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Historically when introducting a new model Leica has always kept the previous model(s) in their catalogue until they ran out of inventory, however production always stopped sometime prior to the new model's introduction.  And some part of that was due to Leica simply not having the space or personnel to keep the former production line going in tandem with the new one.  I don't know whether any of that has changed these days.  For one thing they have a bigger facility now.  And for another there are so many variants of the M240 but thus far only one M10. 

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It may fall into the category of an ME - to be kept on till the next model - which might then be the hoped for EVF-based QL, complete with video, USB connectivity etc.

 

I'm not sure how distinctive two ranges (M240 & M10) would be, if video is the only real functional difference.

I don’t think there will be two ranges forever. The M and M-P (Typ 240) will continue to be available but I am sure that any new model will be based on the M10, not the M/M-P (Typ 240). If it turns out there is a huge interest in an M with video capabilities there might eventually be an M11 with a video mode, but it won’t be related to the M (Typ 240).

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The M10 seems to be garnering favourable reviews amidst quite a lot of publicity. Would anyone in the market for a full-frame rangefinder really choose to order a new M240?  If they particularly needed the features that remain exclusive to the M240, there will be a considerable number of mint-minus and exc++ used ones to choose from.

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