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This is the first time that I have chosen to write to this blog despite owning and using Leica cameras for over 40 years so as you will imagine it is on a subject which I feel most strongly about.

In 2014 I bought what I thought was Leica's state of the art 'M' series camera body the 'M - 240' however, imagine my surprise when I received an e-mail from Leica several days ago informing me that the Leica 'M - 240' is now the entry level cheapo crap ! Imagine my surprise that upon further inspection it is indeed the exit same body and button layout as my now cheapo crap entry level leica ! I have bought leica products for over forty years and i have M3, MP a la carte, M - 240 plus about six lenses and numerous other lesser Leica models and i must admit I cannot think of a bigger insult that leica could play is originally denote a camera as a latest best 'M' model only for a few years later to take the identical model and retail numbering namely 'M - 240' and reclassify it as an NEW entry level piece of cheapo crap. After some thought I now feel so cheapened by this that most of the leica 'hype' has started to wash off me and I now want to sell my 'M - 240' cheapo crap along with all of my other so called 'quality' leica products as quickly as possible and move my allegiance to one or other of the MANY extremely high quality brands which now grace our markets.

Thanks a lot leica for nothing I am looking forward to getting rid of the lot as soon as possible!

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Well, considering that this camera, fine as it is, was introduced in 2012, which in digital terms ranks with the Dinosaurs, it is nothing short of amazing that Leica brings out a model seven years later. Of course it cannot be of the same price level that it was originally, end-of-series models never are.

The current star in the digital M line is the M10, and that one is priced to your wishes. Sic transit gloria mundi.

Having said that, the M240 is still a superb camera which will give you many years of happy photography. Consider this: a new model now will have extended the period of service to 2030.

BTW, most "other brands" have a model turnover of two to four years.

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So, you've used a M240 for five years and are surprised that a newer model has been released? Really?

 

And Leica choose to retain the M240 (for which all their R&D costs will have been covered long ago) as a way into digital M photography, without the expense of an M10. It's called marketing.

 

Has your own camera suddenly stopped working? Were you dissatisfied with the results that you were getting from the camera over the past five years? If, so, you should have traded straight away and found something more to your liking.

 

35 minutes ago, Neil A. Duncan said:

NEW entry level piece of cheapo crap

As you will know, having owned one since 2014, an M240 is neither "cheapo", nor "crap". I have had one for a similar amount of time and have no intention of replacing it with anything newer in the next 5-10 years. That's mainly because it's not crap.

 

I think that you are making something out of nothing here. No one, least of all Leica, are forcing you to "upgrade" your camera. Your camera doesn't suddenly take worse photographs than it did last month and it's second hand value is no worse than it was then either.

 

Good luck keeping up with the the merry-go-round of churn cycles of your other brands. Please don't be tempted to buy any "top of the range" alternative, expecting it to remain so for more than about 12 months and don't be surprised if they are still available at discount when next year's "top of the range" model comes out.

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40 minutes ago, Neil A. Duncan said:

This is the first time that I have chosen to write to this blog despite owning and using Leica cameras for over 40 years so as you will imagine it is on a subject which I feel most strongly about.

In 2014 I bought what I thought was Leica's state of the art 'M' series camera body the 'M - 240' however, imagine my surprise when I received an e-mail from Leica several days ago informing me that the Leica 'M - 240' is now the entry level cheapo crap ! Imagine my surprise that upon further inspection it is indeed the exit same body and button layout as my now cheapo crap entry level leica ! I have bought leica products for over forty years and i have M3, MP a la carte, M - 240 plus about six lenses and numerous other lesser Leica models and i must admit I cannot think of a bigger insult that leica could play is originally denote a camera as a latest best 'M' model only for a few years later to take the identical model and retail numbering namely 'M - 240' and reclassify it as an NEW entry level piece of cheapo crap. After some thought I now feel so cheapened by this that most of the leica 'hype' has started to wash off me and I now want to sell my 'M - 240' cheapo crap along with all of my other so called 'quality' leica products as quickly as possible and move my allegiance to one or other of the MANY extremely high quality brands which now grace our markets.

Thanks a lot leica for nothing I am looking forward to getting rid of the lot as soon as possible!

A fond farewell and we wish the best in your endeavors in the future.

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3 hours ago, Neil A. Duncan said:

it is indeed the exit same body and button layout as my now cheapo crap entry level leica !

I have to believe you are being facetious. Please tell me it's true.

If you are serious, I will pay scrap metal prices for all your Leicas - now I'm being facetious. Hope you don't have a Leica tattoo.

 

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9 hours ago, jaapv said:

It takes all kinds. At any rate, the OP has disappeared...

That's a pity, was wondering if he'd like to offload the 'sh1t'e MP a la carte. It must be so useless, I was hoping it would be worth next to nothing... being reflected in the asking price. ;)

Edited by Steve Ricoh
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