M10-D owners - are you happy?

[MRJohn]

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The advantages and disadvantages of an M10-D over an e.g. M10-P have been discussed at length in various reviews and topics. So those of you who got an M10-D, what is your experience (I assume this is not your only digital camera)? Do you think it has improved your photography/composition? Has the discrete aesthetic helped you in any way (share your anecdotes)? How often do you miss the screen? Do you use the app as live view on occasion?  Where and what is its place in your kit? What's rationale about it, what is emotional?

- Lot's of question, would be great if you could share a few thoughts. Thanks in advance.

[jslabovitz]

I'm a very new convert to the Leica religion: I just purchased a 10-D last night -- along with a Summaron 35/5.6 lens. (From the DC store; sorry to whoever wanted it...)

In response to your question -- actually, the -D is my only digital camera. Well, that's a bit of a lie: I also use my iPhone 8+, tho mostly for Instagram. My other cameras are a variety of medium-format film gear, from Bronica to Mamiya to Rolleiflex.

I borrowed an M10 (not -D) from the DC store for 24 hours, and completely enjoyed the experience. In 20 years of attempting various digital cameras, this was literally the first one (of any brand or model) that I've truly enjoyed — both the experience of shooting, and the results of processing. I love considering focus & depth-of-field, so manual controls for those on the M10(-D) are perfect. I care much less about shutter, as long as it's fast enough, and not much of a wit about ISO -- so set both of those to automatic except for specific situations where I want a particular shutter speed (eg, moving water). Although my compositions were often poor (my fault), and I’ve got to work on my physical stabilization technique, I was completely amazed that there were essential no bad images: every single image had something to offer, with incredible color and contrast and pixel information, and, well, Leica-ness. Looking at the images in Lightroom, I really did feel like nothing needed to be done (except maybe a bit of cropping).

Even though the M10 loaner had a screen, I peeked only a half-dozen times over 100+ shots, and even those times were really unnecessary.Today's experience shooting with the -D was so peaceful and satisfying. I did play a bit with the app and live view, and while it's nice, it's really not necessary. I really enjoyed just going out in the woods and shooting for a couple of hours, and then coming home and processing the images.

In short, I'm a fan!

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[a.noctilux]

Welcome Jslabovitz, here and Leica world.

May I suggest that there is no (or I don't know it exists) Summaron 35/5.6 (in your first line text).

Do you mean Summaron-M 1:5.6/28mm (this one) ?

May I suggest that Leica is NOT a religion or I'm wrong 😉.

Edited April 4, 2019 by a.noctilux
spelling wrong

[jslabovitz]

Yes, 28mm! My mistake of a few digits  

Joking ‘bout the religion of course!

[a.noctilux]

Anyway, best thing is you are happy with your new toy.

And second to none Summaron-M 28mm is the best friend with plenty of characters to play with (and "master") 😇.

 

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not taken with M10-D (sorry, I didn't have it by that time, still not now only plain M10 for two years)

taken with some older Leica gear on Kodachrome in Hawaii, many years ago

Edited April 4, 2019 by a.noctilux
add photo

[IkarusJohn]

5 hours ago, MRJohn said:

The advantages and disadvantages of an M10-D over an e.g. M10-P have been discussed at length in various reviews and topics. So those of you who got an M10-D, what is your experience (I assume this is not your only digital camera)? 

No, not my only digital camera (SL, TL2 & Monochrom).

Quote

Do you think it has improved your photography/composition? .

In part, mostly by removing distraction.

This morning I went to a fascinating lecture by a neurologist, talking specifically about the Hippocampus (the bit of your brain near each ear that allows you to remember what happened yesterday and anticipate tomorrow, including imagining things).  It got me thinking that, while you may be taught the technology of photography, as a learned skill, your imagination is yours.

Visualisation and imagining how an image will look seems to me to be something that comes from the Hippocampus.  Removing the LCD is a step away from photography being a mechanical/technique based activity back to visualisation and engagement with the scene.

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How often do you miss the screen?

Never.

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Do you use the app as live view on occasion?  

Only on a tripod (the camera, not the phone).

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Where and what is its place in your kit? 

I carry it everyday at the moment.  It’s my main camera right now - I’m a hobbyist.  My profession is more profitable.

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What's rationale about it, what is emotional?

It’s both. Using the camera is completely rational - I don’t change the settings often and I don’t chimp.  Having direct physical control of ISO, aperture, focus and shutter is plenty for me.  Holding the camera is emotional.

Cheers

John

Edited April 4, 2019 by IkarusJohn

[Photon42]

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6 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

I carry it everyday at the moment.  It’s my main camera right now - I’m a hobbyist.  My profession is more profitable

Everything in this sentence sounds familiar 😜

It was not a straight trade-in by any means, but I finally arrived with an M10D as my only M camera. So far I am happy, but then this was only recently. I did have experience with the old M-D, though, so I know what I am up to. I love the cleanness of the design and while this is not a camera for all purposes, it excels more than all other cameras at some, which are important to me.

Ivo

 

[sebben]

Yes. It’s almost the perfect M. They could minimise it a bit more and then it would basically be in its perfect form. 

The ISO dial from the MD is better though. 

[low325]

It’s a good camera. I’d trade mine for a silver-D in a heartbeat though. 

[graphlex]

I am. 

[Guest]

yes....with a couple of reservations.

I do not like the on/off switch where it is on the MD10, would have preferred it to have been left where it is on other M's, around the shutter release where it's use is more instinctive.

Reliance on the Foto's App for changes in set-up goes against it being a "simple" camera, I wish that the menu could be accessed via the EVF....but most of the time, once it's set-up the App can be ignored, likewise reviewing images via Fotos too.

Otherwise, yes.....

[AndreasG]

For around 33 years I make photos with a M4-P, two M6 and various lenses, so I got used to handle M Leicas and the view finder and I feel sufficiently experienced. Many years I hesitated to buy a digital M  - I did not like the display. Now, when the M10-D got launched I felt immediately, that is the camera I am waiting for a long time! I simply bought it, use my old Leica lenses and enjoy it. I also keep other digital cameras, but no high end, just average Made in Japan cameras. Though I personally prefer the D type, I also fully understand and accept that others prefer the P version, none is better, they are just different. I rarely use the app, only to transfer occasionally some photos to the cellphone, but so far not yet as an external viewfinder.

 In case of the M10-D, I like the simplicity, the traditional design, the haptic. It is certainly an emotional issue, not a rational decision. To make it short, for 12.000$ plus you can get cameras with more features, but not the M feeling, that the M10-D provides. Finally, I am very happy with the M10-D!

Edited April 5, 2019 by AndreasG

[AndreasG]

vor 1 Minute schrieb AndreasG:

For around 33 years I make photos with a M4-P, two M6 and various lenses, so I got used to handle M Leicas and the view finder and I feel sufficiently experienced. Many years I hesitated to buy a digital M  - I did not like the display. Now, when the M10-D got launched I felt immediately, that is the camera I am waiting for a long time! I simply bought it, use my old Leica lenses and enjoy it. I also keep other digital cameras, but no high end, just average Made in Japan cameras. Though I personally prefer the D type, I also fully understand and accept that others prefer the P version, none is better, they are just different. I rarely use the app, only to transfer occasionally some photos to the cellphone, but so far not yet as an external viewfinder.

 In case of the M10-D, I like the simplicity, the traditional design, the haptic. It is certainly an emotional issue, not a rational decision. To make it short, for 12.000$ plus you can get cameras with more features, but not the M feeling, that the M10-D provides.  Finally, I am very happy with the M10-D!

 

[Ouroboros]

On 4/4/2019 at 4:15 AM, IkarusJohn said:

......Holding the camera is emotional.

I can understand a sort of emotional attachment to a camera if there are sentimental reasons concerned with ownership, I must be missing something in this comment.

Surely for a photographer, holding and viewing the printed image is the 'emotional' part of the creative process.

 

[evikne]

22 minutes ago, Ouroboros said:

I can understand a sort of emotional attachment to a camera if there are sentimental reasons concerned with ownership, I must be missing something in this comment.

I have no difficulty understanding him.

[low325]

6 hours ago, evikne said:

I have no difficulty understanding him.

Same here.   Though the bond i have with my M9 is still greater that of the -D. The -D provides a nice balance of modern day conveniences. Perhaps, in due time.

[fotografr]

Yes.

 

Edited April 5, 2019 by fotografr

[scott kirkpatrick]

I have other digitals.  Some Fuji and Olympus gear in the closet, and other Leicas in regular use.  If I need to keep 2 lenses at hand, I can also field an M-10, but almost all of my shooting these days is done with the M10-D.  I've been getting good results in crowded settings with a 24/2.8 asph, using the VF20 live viewer for framing.  Otherwise, I usually use the APO 50 SC. Checking focus with the rangefinder only occasionally and not being able to show the shot I just took actually frees me up a bit. 

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L1000638 by scott kirkpatrick, on Flickr

But the power drain of live view is considerable.  This afternoon I went through two batteries in about 3-4 hours (400 shots).  I use Fotos to set a few controls, and wish there were more menu items accessible.  Ideally we would have all of the M10-P menu entries to work with, and focus magnification directed by touch on the phone screen, but I am not holding my breath, as Leica seems to have other priorities for Fotos and still hasn't gotten all of the bugs out.

[graphlex]

Optical finders and zone focusing work very nicely with the 24  Elmarit, I find. 

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[scott kirkpatrick]

I agree that at 28 mm and below, depth of field is not much of a problem and the rangefinder is available.  The viewfinder is a tradeoff.  The Liveview finder gives me histogram and a warning if the ISO and shutter speed have gone to some strange place, but it blacks out when I shoot quickly, which an optical finder wouldn't do.  Still, I know from the other eye what is happening.  Here's the middle of several shots -- one of the grownups at a party giving the kids some exercise: 

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L1000839 by scott kirkpatrick, on Flickr