leica m10-d Jono Slack: All about the Leica M10-D

[LUF Admin]

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Jono Slack was one of the beta-testers of the new Leica M10-D. As usual he has a detailed report about his first-hand experiences with the new camera:

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In my household the M10-D has caused more controversy than any other camera that I’ve tested for Leica, and on the internet forums the leaked images and descriptions of the camera seem to have caused almost as much disagreement.

What is it? And what it was.

The M10-D is a digital rangefinder camera without an LCD screen and with what looks like a wind-on lever. To be fair, it’s this ‘Wind-on lever’ which seems to have caused most of the controversy (certainly around here). I’ll leave that to later.

The original Leica M-D came out as a special limited edition, but there was so much interest that Leica brought out a series version; the M-D type 262 in April 2016. Personally I wasn’t very sure that I needed chimping relief, and the idea of having full time auto WB was a real discouragement, so I never even played with one.

Others on the other hand quickly fell in love with it, and for many photographers it was a real hit. Limiting their options left them free to concentrate on taking pictures, and having to wait until you got home before you could look at the images was a throwback to the excitement of film days.

Superficially the new M10-D is the same thing, updated with the new M10 sensor, an exposure compensation dial and the lovely quiet shutter from the M10-P.

But the M10-D is also much more than that: If you are nervous about shooting with the rangefinder, then you can plug in an Electronic Viewfinder. If you feel then need to look at the images when you’re out and about then you can just switch on the WiFi and connect with your phone or tablet (iOS or Android). More than that, you can edit some of the settings in the new Leica Fotos app (currently metering mode, file format, white balance, but there will be more). And then there is the wind on lever (more about that later).

Technicalities

The M10-D has the four principal digital exposure components on analog displays on the camera body:

• Aperture
• Shutter Speed
• ISO
• Exposure Compensation

Some other basic criteria of a digital camera can be changed in the Fotos App:

• White Balance
• Manual ISO (when the ISO dial is set to M)
• File type (DNG or JPG)
• Metering Mode (when using the EVF in Live View Mode)

If you use the EVF, then the zoom/focus mode is set to ON, so that if you turn the focus ring on an M lens it will zoom in at the centre of the frame. It would be nice if there was a way to switch this off (and on) - hopefully there will be later on.

Leica are serious about the limitations, and so you cannot review images in the EVF, or turn on the menus.

The M10-D has the same sensor as the M-10 and is fundamentally identical with respect to the image processing and firmware (a slight rider is that it is not yet fully supported in Lightroom or Capture One - Lightroom does a good job with the embedded profile, Capture One rather less so). Hopefully this will soon be remedied.

The body itself, from the front, is just like the M10-P with the Leica logo on the top and the screw replacing the red dot.. The back has two rotating dials, the inner one is for exposure compensation and the outer one is Off / On / Wifi, you can still shoot when the Wifi is selected.

There is a bar code under the baseplate for connecting to the Fotos app for the first time, after that it should link up automatically. It takes about 30 seconds for the camera to be ready. In addition to the settings options above, you can review your images, save them to a personal gallery on your phone / tablet and also shoot the camera via remote control.

This all works pretty well. It’s early days, but I think Fotos has a bright future, both for controlling and setting the camera, and also for a streamlined workflow between the camera to the phone and on to Lightroom on your computer. Of course it will work with all the current Leica cameras.

Shooting with the M10-D

I didn’t get a prototype of the M10-D, but I was involved in the Leica User Forum beta test which started towards the end of August this year. This is always a rewarding experience; there are many excellent photographers and there is good camaraderie and lots of intelligent suggestions.

Whereas the M10-P had been pretty much universally welcomed, feelings about the M10-D camera were fairly polarised, especially with respect to the wind on lever.

I hadn’t come to any firm conclusions during the testing so I resolved to use the camera on our walking trip in Crete in September. We went for 18 days, just with cabin luggage, I took the M10, the M10-D and 4 lenses (28 Summaron, 50 summicron APO, 75 Summicron APO and the WATE).

On the first day I just took the M10-D, and I was quickly infuriated - I don’t actually review images all that often, but if I find something good, then I want to see if I’ve got the focus right before moving on, and I couldn’t. The next day I left it in the hotel room and took my M10.

After a day or so I felt that I really should give the camera more of a chance, so I used it every day, and after 4 or 5 days I found that it actually did make a difference to the way I was shooting, and that I was rather enjoying it.

It seemed that I was thinking more about the aperture to use (rather than shooting either wide open or at f8). What’s more, there was a little frisson of excitement downloading the images to my computer when I got back to the hotel in the evening. Slowly I fell in love (and it is such a lovable object . . . I’ll talk about the wind on lever later).

Then we were invited to a Cretan christening. I wasn’t the official photographer, but I was asked to take some snaps, so I brought both cameras with me and a couple of lenses.

 

I started off shooting with the M10-D, but I was very quickly irritated again - it was all very well walking through the mountains, but I needed to know whether the picture of the priest painting the baby with olive oil was actually in focus (or not). I shot the rest of the evening with the M10.

The next day, back on the coastal path, the M10-D was my friend again, keeping out of the way and allowing me to take the pictures I wanted.

Since returning from holiday I’ve been using the camera quite a lot, both for walks in the countryside and visits to the local pubs. My only real complaint is that it’s a bit of a pain to go into Fotos to change the WB from daylight to Auto, but that’s probably largely my problem as most of the people I speak to prefer to use Auto White Balance.

The Wind on Lever

It has to be talked about!

Lots of people use variants on thumb grips, these usually plug into the hot shoe and then push against the back of the camera (some simply stick on). I’ve never liked them much, partly because the hot shoe is blocked, but also because I’ve always found that in the end they mark the back of the camera (usually when dust gets in and scratches it). Also, they tend to snag on your bag when putting the camera away, and they’re expensive!

When I first saw it earlier in the year I thought the wind on lever was rather kitsch, but it was explained to me that it had started with a discussion on how to make a better thumb grip. After some thought, they came round to the idea that the wind on lever was perfect: It doesn’t take up the hot shoe, it’s entirely optional and it doesn’t damage the camera or snag in a bag. Also it’s an affectionately humorous nod to the history of the M camera.

I was still sceptical, but I have to admit that whilst carrying the camera for hours around Crete (especially with heavier lenses) it was a real benefit.

This is what has caused such heated discussion here; my son is adamant that “a thing should be a thing, it should not look like a thing and not be it”. He really isn’t interested whether it’s useful as a thumb grip or not; it’s pretending to be a wind on lever, but it isn’t one.

Someone on the beta forum referred to it as ersatz, and that’s hard to argue with.

In the last few days there have been leaked images of the M10-D going the rounds of the internet sites and there has been a lot of speculation on what the wind on lever actually does: Does it cock the shutter? Does it switch on the camera?

Well, it doesn’t do either, and quite right too, if it cocked the shutter how could one shoot continuously? If it functioned as an on/off switch then you would need to have it out all the time one was shooting. Either would impose restrictions without really conferring any benefit.

Conclusion

Whilst we were I Crete I showed the camera to a few friends (even one Leica shooter), and having told them it was digital I asked them whether they thought there was anything odd about it, nobody did, they didn’t even seem to notice that it didn’t have a screen on the back.

I imagine that, justas in our household and on the beta forum, this camera will really polarise opinion. Personally, (although I wouldn’t have it as my only M camera) I very much like shooting with it, I’m even considering buying one (not least to irritate my son!). Whatever the arguments about its functionality, the camera is a beautiful object, a pleasure to hold and a pleasure to shoot with.

Some people may feel that, in including the EVF and Wifi with the connection to Fotos Leica has compromised the ‘purity’ of the original M-D. My feeling is that it’s good to have the options available, but I didn’t find myself using them in real shooting conditions (either the Wifi or the EVF).

Eve Arnold, who was the first women to join the Magnum group, once said “It is the photographer, not the camera, which is the instrument”. If you find the restrictions imposed by this camera liberating, then perhaps it frees you to become a better instrument.

Leica should be congratulated on designing new cameras which really do ‘get out of the way’ and allow you to concentrate on taking photos. This is a perfect example of that kind of thinking, and I really hope that it will be the success that it deserves to be.

[bradhusick]

Hi Jono, thanks for the mini-review. As for the lever, I see no need to shoot continuously on an M camera, so I would have liked it to cock the shutter in the same way the Epson RD-1 did.

Cheers,

Brad

 

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[Stevez4]

The lever is a welcome throwback to those of us who used the Leica in the 1970's . Many of us used to rest out thumb on the lever often causing  unwanted shots.. For us it it is a welcome  change .

Enjoyed your review as always.

 

Steve Ziffer

[Philinflash]

The hair shirt of M10s...

[Ashkanani1985]

Thanx for the nice review 

 

i was searching every where if you can format the SD card using fotos app or in camera ? 

[gregor_24]

To format the card you have to take it out and format in a computer. 

No way to format in cam or via Leica app. 

[scott kirkpatrick]

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4 minutes ago, Ashkanani1985 said:

i was searching every where if you can format the SD card using fotos app or in camera ? 

Not at present, but it is a popular request that Leica has been hearing.  Since you can format in your laptop, and the M-D and M10-D do set up directories when you insert a blank card, this is not an obstacle .  I suspect other things will get added before this.  

Edited October 24, 2018 by scott kirkpatrick

[rivi1969]

Your son is wise. I think the lever is pretty tacky actually.

[elmars]

I love Jonos reviews. So there is for me - as a beta tester too - only few to add.

The camera is a beauty. This alone can be a reason to buy it. The better reason is the fake lever. It is the much better thumbs up. It is unobstrusive and much more secure. I loved it, I could hold the camera like I ever held my M6.

[Ashkanani1985]

16 minutes ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

Not at present, but it is a popular request that Leica has been hearing.  Since you can format in your laptop, and the M-D and M10-D do set up directories when you insert a blank card, this is not an obstacle .  I suspect other things will get added before this.  

 

Thanx

[bradhusick]

I was also hoping they would do it in brass with black paint. Oh well.

[papimuzo]

Thanks Jono for your -as usual - sensible report. I wander if I will abandon my M-D 262 for the M10-D, in any case it will not be thanks to the winding level!🤐

[traderjoe]

I was hoping (and still hoping) for a Monochrom M-D...

[farnz]

If desired I imagine that the lever could be easily removed with a ring spanner since it has no function.

Thanks for the as always excellent review, Jono.

Pete.

[evikne]

2 hours ago, LUF Admin said:

Some people may feel that, in including the EVF and Wifi with the connection to Fotos Leica has compromised the ‘purity’ of the original M-D. My feeling is that it’s good to have the options available, but I didn’t find myself using them in real shooting conditions (either the Wifi or the EVF).

I think this is the right way to look at it. We don't have to use an EVF or WiFi to use this camera, but we have the possibility if we want. And that's probably a good thing, after all.

[caugustin]

Thanks Jono for the insights you've given in this report. This looks like a perfect fit for me, and when I read that the wind lever is now "just" a thumb grip, I instantly understood why I prefer the old M3 lever over the later M4/M6 lever with this plastic element (though it works perfectly well): The old full-metal lever feels just more sturdy and acted more like a thumb grip.

No screen on the back, but the option to put on an EVF? Perfect for me! I nearly never chimp, even if I have a screen at hand (the screen on my Oly Pen F Digital is nearly always folded inwards), but the EVF would give me exactly what I would like to have – the ability to use some old SLR lenses that I really love, and a bit more "telephoto" ability and the option to use filters (especially ND grad filters) without having to resort to another system.

I think Leica did it exactly right this time, and the missing EVF capability of the original M-D was one limitation too much (even though I highly enjoyed the one opportunity I had to shoot with it).

[oculus_ny]

Such a coincidence!  I have again been debating about purchasing the Light L16 camera with its multiple lenses, but have once again averred due to ergonomics...and age.   I disposed of all my Leicas (and Rolleis) as my eyesight and steady grip became impaired. I preordered a Light, but canceled after I discovered it had no image stabilization and really needed a tripod for low-light situations.  I figured any camera held at arm's length, framing using a back screen, and working overtime to capture a steady dim image was not something I could expect to age well with.  These same criteria, or lack thereof on the Leicas, (including image stabilization) has kept me away, despite having started out with a new SL2 kit in 1976, and a bevy of Ms ever since.  I'm now strictly Olympus.

What this new addition really makes me wonder even more about is Leica's gauging of their audience.  None of us is getting younger, and all of us could benefit from available auto-focus and image stabilization.  What are they thinking?

Good luck!

Ray Hull

Albany, NY USA

 

Edited October 24, 2018 by oculus_ny
typo

[Dr No]

Hmmm The winder not optional. It there if you like it or not and can not be taken off.

If beta reviewers were polarised it should have been enough to stop Leica from doing it.

Fake is the ugliest trait and very bad for Leica which all about real and authentic.

[thrid]

So, how is your exposure hit rate without a histogram?

Shooting digital is not like shooting negative film, which handles overexposure gracefully and the Leica M metering system is not exactly known for being very accurate.

I would have expected Leica to at least add a histogram in the viewfinder or on a very narrow strip of a screen on the rear.

 

 

Edited October 24, 2018 by thrid

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[Tailwagger]

I find the release of this camera on the heels of the MP interesting for a couple of reasons.  Certainly the camera has softened its militancy a bit compared to the original, which frankly, makes it more appealing to moderates like myself.  If it had been available along side the original M10, given the EVF capability I might have gone that way.  One wonders if those currently in the market for an MP might not feel similarly.  But what I find more fascinating that they released an MD prior to providing an MM. Perhaps its all a matter of cost vs profit, but I would have thought that an M10MM would have broader appeal and had less of a scavenging effect on the MP.