Popular Post Rick Posted January 24, 2017 Popular Post Share #1 Posted January 24, 2017 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I was in Seattle Friday and stoped by Glazers Camera and had a chance to take out the M10 for about an hour and shoot around South Lake Union. Just some impressions of a few things I was wondering about. I'll try and keep them balanced so, it may sound like there isn't a lot of difference in this new M10 compared to the M240 I have. To save you time, the end of this initial impression review is, I will upgrade. The M10 is just better in about every way, but the M10 isn't wow better if, you are just interested in specs. But, for me, there is more to a camera than specs. Just a perspective about me, I've owned all of the M digital cameras from early 2008 with the M8 and have upgraded and traded in each iteration of the M digital line just as they came out. I hope to have the M10 on Tuesday and I'll trade in my M240. I never keep the previous version as I'd never use the previous camera and I know it would just sit. I have a bunch of Leica M and R glass and have tried and owned a couple of other current FF cameras, both Sony and Canon. And just like the previous generations of Leica M cameras I've owned, I sold them for one reason or another. I really just need and want (mostly) one camera... just me. Ok, first off the new M feels really good in hand as I carried it out of the store without a strap. It definitely feels smaller and a bit lighter. Once I brought the camera to my eye and started shooting, it didn't really feel much different in size or handling from my M240. Switching back and forth, actually shooting, they are very close in size and handling. The M240 is still a nice solid little shooter. Viewfinder. Very, very nice. Easier to focus. I'm a 28 shooter and the 28 lines are much easier to see... like 35 in the M240 finder. I found shooting 28 a lot easier and less fatiguing. Shooting 35 is even better. The 35 lines had a lot of image around the frame lines. I believe 35 shooters are going to be impressed by the viewfinder. But, again, the M240 is fine for 35... a little tough on 28 and still seems fine when I switched back to it. The ISO dial was a little fidgety to change (you'll never bump it accidentally) and I would have been fine with going to the menu, like the M240. I did like being able to glance down at the top of the camera and see shutter speed and ISO. The ISO dial does look cool and I'll probably warm to using it because, the dial seems to fit into the overall design concept of this camera. More on this. The screen is finally nice. The fidelity is much better than the M240. Finally, I could really enjoy looking through my pictures on the camera. But, not as good as some other cameras and not close to an iPhone. Speaking of the iPhone, I had the Leica M App on my phone and easily connected it to the M10. The App worked fine and was pretty cool. I can foresee using it occasionally to control the camera and it will make it easy to use the camera for social media, sharing and storing. I did find it kind of odd that Leica put it on this camera and maybe even more odd that it actually worked so well. I liked it. The buttons and the interface was excellent. Layout and simplicity was excellent. The implementation of the controls and menu just really get out of your way and resonate with the basic functionality of M cameras. The whole organic, simple gestalt of this camera has an integrated feel between shooting and control of the camera. This makes shooting very concentrated and focused. I won't miss the M240, and I thought it was simple. When I got home that night I looked through the images. My impressions of image quality always seem to evolve as I use a camera. So, I'll be brief as I want to actually get the camera and shoot it for a while before make any solid statements. Reds are truer and less yellow. Skin tones are less magenta and seem to be truer. Colors seem less flat and more like my old M9. Colors out of camera in DNG in LR using the Leica imbedded profile was really good as was WB. As you'd expect, Leica color processing has evolved. I shot all ISOs and my main impression was that the color fidelity was very good as ISO increased. And, no banding up to 25000 (only shot a dozen at that ISO). A lot of cameras do a good job smoothing out the noise but, don't seem to get the colors right. With the M10, it was the color at higher ISO that impressed me. The M10 does have noise at higher ISO but, it is way better than my M240. I'm sure it is not going to be best in class. But, the noise has a really nice smooth grainy feel I liked a lot. As usual, Leica leaves the files pretty "bare foot." You are going to have to apply NR in PP as you want. But, the amount of post processing needed on the files from this M10 is minimal to none. For me DNG was more like JPEG. I didn't find myself adjusting WB or curves much. Didn't need to adjust color much or at all either. I did reduce saturation a lot. Just my preference. Next, I personally like the smooth, grainy feel at higher ISO . The color fidelity at higher ISO was great with the M10. So, there you go. Any one factor is probably not enough to upgrade from the M240. But, in total, the M10 seems like a completely different camera. It is lean. The feature-fat has been trimmed... and some of that fat was certainly not the best part of the M240. I had an M9 and loved it at base ISO in natural light. I believe M9 owners are going to love this camera. Less bloat. More M9-like color and grain (but finer). The M10 is organic. More focused, simpler and less. I believe a lot of film M shooters are going to resonate with M10. I believe this M is going to be iconic. Rick Edited January 24, 2017 by Rick 52 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 24, 2017 Posted January 24, 2017 Hi Rick, Take a look here First impressions - M10. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Bill Livingston Posted January 24, 2017 Share #2 Posted January 24, 2017 Thank you Rick. That was a pleasure to read. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalfx Posted January 24, 2017 Share #3 Posted January 24, 2017 (edited) Thanks Rick, great review.I agree with everything and absolutely love my M10. What you will find is that you can easily shoot at iso 6400...and there is where the M10 separates itself from the M240. and the ISO dial...at first I thought WTF was Leica thinking, but after just a few days, it has become one of my favorite additions. Just leave it in the up position while shooting. Edited January 24, 2017 by digitalfx 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted January 24, 2017 organic |ôrˈɡanik| adjective 3) denoting a relation between elements of something such that they fit together harmoniously as necessary parts of a whole: the organic unity of the integral work of art. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlenz Posted January 24, 2017 Share #5 Posted January 24, 2017 organic |ôrˈɡanik| adjective 3) denoting a relation between elements of something such that they fit together harmoniously as necessary parts of a whole: the organic unity of the integral work of art. For those with any chemistry education the word would have another meaning. For example, any plastic parts in a camera are organic in nature. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Albertson Posted January 24, 2017 Share #6 Posted January 24, 2017 I handled the same camera a bit on Sunday. Mark said people had been coming in for a look since they opened at noon. Not many appeared to be familiar with rangefinderss, as the viewfinder window was slathered with fingerprints. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmars Posted January 24, 2017 Share #7 Posted January 24, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank You, Rick. I was impressed by the M10, when I held it in my hands in Wetzlar last week. I decided to buy one and hope to get it this week. My main concern was the Colors - an old Leica problem. Glad to hear Your good experiences. Elmar 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share #8 Posted January 24, 2017 For those with any chemistry education the word would have another meaning. For example, any plastic parts in a camera are organic in nature. I happen to almost have a degree in chemistry. Cell Molecular Biology to be exact. But, I took a f*ckload of inorganic, organic, p-chem, and biochemistry. Badge of honor. But, I don't remember any test questions about plastic camera parts??? Rick(The e- pusher) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted January 24, 2017 Share #9 Posted January 24, 2017 Rick, thanks for informed insights. Silver chrome arrives today and a great weather forecast for Wednesday so I'll give it a run in the hills at base ISO. Indoor tests today. I'll post some examples in the image thread and written a short first impressions here. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollisd Posted January 24, 2017 Share #10 Posted January 24, 2017 (edited) Rick is from Seattle, thanks for the review sir. Edited January 24, 2017 by hollisd Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share #11 Posted January 25, 2017 To add a bit more to my first impressions now that I actually have the camera. The start-up time seems to be about the same as the fastest card startup times reported for the M240. Probably slightly faster. I'm going to guess a bit over 1 sec. We are still not talking lightening fast. Blackout time for the EVF has moved into the very acceptable range unless you are expecting SL instantaneous - 80ms kind of stuff. The whole M10 shutter close/open/close/open then a slight pause before the image returns is acceptable. The EVF is really good. No jello on magnification and no rolling shutter effect on normal view. Sharpness is pretty good. I'd say if you have the M240 and that EVF you are going to think this new Visoflex 020 is amazing. If, you have used the SL... then no so much. So far I'm happy. More to come. Rick 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vec Posted January 25, 2017 Share #12 Posted January 25, 2017 Mark didn't have a Visoflex there today when I was there... did you have one already? (If he had one there, I would've purchased it...) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted January 25, 2017 Hi George, I swung by Bellevue. I think they have one more... give them a call in the am and have them set one aside. Cheers, Rick Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share #14 Posted January 25, 2017 (edited) I want to change my impression about the size and handling. Now that I've had a chance to get used to the size I want to say that it is noticeable in shooting. Specifically, the way my right hand holds the smaller camera seems to keep my fingers off the RF patch window. I always seemed to get my finger on the RF window. Now, my fingers on the front of the camera seem to fall below the RF window and on the camera cover area. This is a big deal for me. I can't tell you how much I cleaned that window! No more. Also, the thinner design and the new thumb grip are finally secure. All of these changes (thumb rest and thinner body) feel really good. I think folks are going to like this body. Rick Edited January 25, 2017 by Rick 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share #15 Posted January 25, 2017 Color. Oh man, the color is finally really pleasing. Haven't shot enough to vet every condition, but the color is going to be the best part of this new camera, not the finder (which is great) and not the size (which is nice) and not the high ISO performance (which I'm still being impressed by it). Color, so far, is just so nice. Under artificial lighting I do find the camera wants to go a little yellow. Which is way better than magenta like the M9 and to a lesser degree the M240. It kind of reminds me of the Sony DSLR color. Marc (I think it was Marc that liked the skin tone of the Sony?) is going to like the skin tones out of the M10. Rick ps I am really trying to not be the M10 fanboy. I understand my bias, really. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted January 25, 2017 Color. Under non-incandesent lighting the M10 produces color that is too yellow. This appears to be a WB issue and can be solved easily by decreasing the color temp (slider). The images (color) then become correct and I hate to say, stunning. This camera has amazing color. You picky M9 owners are going to love this thing. The Lr profile is the embedded one. There is no Adobe Standard profile yet and I assume we are going to get an update in the firmware from Leica as well. But, if you can do a minimal amount of PP you will be able to produce amazing color. The amount of PP is nothing like the amount of profiling the M240 needed. Rick 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalfx Posted January 25, 2017 Share #17 Posted January 25, 2017 (edited) I would reserve color comments until the final profile is released and new FW which should be out in a few weeks. The cameras were produced in early December (mine 8th of December) to get them to dealers in time for what is the fastest launch ever for Leica...so I'm sure Leica has improvements coming. Edited January 25, 2017 by digitalfx Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted January 25, 2017 I would reserve color comments until the final profile is released and new FW which should be out in a few weeks. The cameras were produced in early December to get them to dealers in time for what is the fastest launch ever for Leica...so I'm sure Leica has improvements coming. I agree. Both the camera firmware and myself are not the final version. I deliberately stated these are first impressions, not a review. I mean, I've only had the camera for less than a day! I just thought folks would like to read something about what someone who has the camera thinks. This is why I've tried to keep it to impressions and I'm not timing the start up or getting out the color checker. But, I will say I don't feel the need. I'm pretty happy so far. Rick 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted January 25, 2017 (edited) Color and the sensor... I'm finding that there is very little I can do in PP to make these files better. I'm finding that Leica has baked into the DNG Leica Profile provided quite a bit of NR and more advanced processing of the image. Certainly, things that I could not do with the M240 in PP. I am starting think this is why the grain seems so fine and smooth. It is not completely the noise of the sensor, it is also applied grain? or some sort of smoothing? of the grain and noise? I think Leica has caught up with other brands when it comes to not letting you see behind the sensor performance curtain. This camera is more wizard of OZ than than the M240 or M9. I'll wait for folks that know more about this to comment. So far I like the quality of the images and I'll hold my opinion until I shoot more. These comments are really only about non-base ISO. Base ISO is very pleasing. Rick Edited January 25, 2017 by Rick 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalfx Posted January 26, 2017 Share #20 Posted January 26, 2017 (edited) [id like to add my random impressions, rather than stating a new thread if you don't mind.] Speed and the buffer... I haven't spent a lot of time shooting unfortunately...but just shot an event for a friend. The speed of the M10 is a joy...not that I needed 5fps, actually never got close to this. But with the M240, and even more so with the M9 I was constantly waiting for the buffer to free up after just shooting a few frames in succesion. The M10 is completely different animal. Not once did it even slow down. Pure joy. Edited January 26, 2017 by digitalfx 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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