Is the M10 (still) a good (value) gateway to the Leica world?

[Herr Barnack]

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@Jadcx Welcome to the forum - it's great that you are going to be able to make your Leica M dream a reality.

The M10 will be a truly excellent camera for you, as would the M10-P.  To choose between the two, I would look harder at the condition of the cameras in question.  In other words, I would take a nice, clean M10 over an M10-P that is showing a fair amount of wear.  It is more important to look for impact damage or signs of the camera having been dropped than to worry about brassing or minor paint wear, though. 

Be sure that the Leica dealer you buy from offers some sort of warranty on their used cameras and lenses; 90 days is a good warranty for used cameras and lenses.  That way, you have some time to use the camera to make sure it is working properly.  Make sure to have the dealer check for proper shutter function and proper rangefinder alignment before you buy.  This should have already been done, but it doesn't hurt to have them double check.

As for lenses, you are on the right track in looking for a 35mm Summilux.  Don't overlook the 35mm Summicron if you have a hard time finding a 35 Summilux that you like.  Either one will be a great all-around lens for your M10 or M10-P.  With ISO 50,000 capability, the extra one stop of lens speed that the 35 Summilux offers is less of a must have than in previous times.  The Summilux will give you thinner depth of field wide open and a different bokeh than the 35 Summicron will, which is also something to consider.

[martinot]

On 10/17/2020 at 4:51 PM, Jadcx said:

I find it very easy to get caught up in the details, just because there's something newer, 'better', whatever.  So maybe my question is this; is the M10 still a good value introduction to the Leica world?

Thoughts, ideas, and help all appreciated. 

I would say that almost any digital M, except the M9, is a good introduction to the Lecia World. You can get great deals and photos on M240, M240P, M10, M10P and M10R.

Just buy one with a good deal, and one you can afford. Simple as that! 

Welcome to the M world!

[Stephen.s1]

I just bought a M10-P from a reputable dealer. 

It went like this, "Throw in  an extra battery and we've got a deal".  He replied,  "We've got a deal".

 

Just sayin'

Edited November 4, 2020 by Stephen.s1
typo

[Daki]

Am 17.10.2020 um 16:51 schrieb Jadcx:

Hi

Like so many others before me, I have long dreamed of a Leica, and now, I'm probably able to make that dream a reality.  However, money is not unlimited, so I still have some choices to make, which I'm hoping some of you can help with, or at least confirm that they might not be as tough as they appear.  My current thinking is that I can get a good used M10 (£4100) and 35mm Summilux ASPH II (£2300).  I'm mostly going to be using this for travel and street style, so I think that this seems like a good combination.  Photography isn't my profession, or even a money-making sideline, it's just for my own enjoyment.  And yes, I fully realise that there are many cheaper, newer, 'better' cameras out there.  I don't want one of those.

But then, the internet hinders as much as it helps.  Should I spend another £1000 for the M10-P?  The touch screen looks nice but isn't a big issue for me, and the quieter shutter is, well, nice?  I don't see hundreds of threads of people complaining about the outrageously loud shutter on the M10, so is it really worth it for me?  And it will take me another few months to save the extra cash.  Then there's the M10-R, obviously, but at least another £3000 on top of my M10 budget.  And an even longer time to save.  Ideally I could add in some actual real world experiences to my decision making.  However here in the UK it doesn't seem possible to hire any of these cameras so I can't try them out to see which I prefer, and I don't know anyone with one either.

I find it very easy to get caught up in the details, just because there's something newer, 'better', whatever.  So maybe my question is this; is the M10 still a good value introduction to the Leica world?

Thoughts, ideas, and help all appreciated. 

 

M10 amazing camera!!! I would go with 35mm Summicron. I own a M10-D. Perfect cam. 

[sutlore]

M10's performance is the same as M10-P, just no touch screen and silent shutter. If you do not care about the difference, the cost saving on M10 is quite significant.

[Jadcx]

Thank for all of your comments - I can now report back.  It's done.

On their way to me from Leica Manchester are a M10 Black Chrome, and 35mm Summicron.  Look out for gratuitous photos of things that you all know perfectly well already, followed by some actual photos with the new gear.

[slawomir]

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Hello

I currently have Leica m10-P and Leica M9 Monochrom -,
After the fascination with Fuji GFX 50 S and R and SonY toys - I returned to Leica ..... I don't think that other brands are bad - it's just the Leica that gives me the greatest joy of photography - and I don't earn money for taking photos ....
I personally think that the M10 is a fantastic camera and it is worth buying in good condition used - it will save a lot of money
I wouldn't necessarily look for the R or P version in your case ...
because the M10 is a perfectly good camera ...
Remember that the M10-R is much more noisy with the higher Iso 6400 etc ...

[pedaes]

1 hour ago, Jadcx said:

It's done.

Many congratulations and enjoy!

Look forward to seeing the pics!

[Labradorhund]

vor 6 Stunden schrieb Jadcx:

Thank for all of your comments - I can now report back.  It's done.

On their way to me from Leica Manchester are a M10 Black Chrome, and 35mm Summicron.  Look out for gratuitous photos of things that you all know perfectly well already, followed by some actual photos with the new gear.

Congratulations! 

I'm sure you'll enjoy it! I know I do. Had mine for a week and a half now (feels so much longer!) and taking photos with it is an absolute joy. I'm impressed that the missing auto focus isn't a problem, even when taking photos of kids. 

[Jadcx]

4 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Great. Not taking the resolution into consideration the difference between M10 and M10R is much smaller than the difference between M10 and M240.
Now report back when you start wondering "should I have bought the 35 Lux tho...?"

I'm already wondering that, although not really - there was a near miss opportunity which fell through, so it is what it is  

[erniethemilk]

12 hours ago, Jadcx said:

Thank for all of your comments - I can now report back.  It's done.

On their way to me from Leica Manchester are a M10 Black Chrome, and 35mm Summicron.  Look out for gratuitous photos of things that you all know perfectly well already, followed by some actual photos with the new gear.

Congrats. Enjoy your new gear!

[bilbrown]

On 10/26/2020 at 1:00 AM, Labradorhund said:

Thanks everybody for chiming in and giving feedback on that. Lots of good insight. I guess price-wise a used M10 would be a great option. But there's that itch with the M10P and the nice engraving and the level gauge and the touch screen. However, comparing prices of used M10s and this M10P I have my eyes on....oh boy... that's a hell of a lot more money. But maybe it will really be the last camera I'll ever buy?  

I seriously doubt it will be... I totally thought the same thing lol

[mdt2]

On 12/8/2020 at 11:20 PM, bilbrown said:

I seriously doubt it will be... I totally thought the same thing lol

I'm a little late to the party here but IMO my M10P will be my last camera purchase for quite a while as I hate to say forever. My lenses, yes, I never plan on ever letting go of them whether I purchase a new M or not some day. For me, it's now about having fun, making images and becoming a better photographer. That is my priority as I no longer worry about having the latest and greatest equipment. There will always be something better, right? 😆 

Enjoy! 

[Daniel C.1975]

Am 25.10.2020 um 20:42 schrieb Jeff S:

I prefer the sound of the M10 shutter release, which nobody else hears in my typical shooting anyway. Individual tastes and preferences. 

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

 

I absolutely agree. I had the ‚luck’ of a random sensor problem on my M10, so I took the opportunity of the warranty repair and also got the at this time offered M10-P upgrade, but without the shutter-upgrade - couldn’t  be happier with my M10-P with the M10 shutter sound. Was the Upgrade necessary? Nah, not really, but I just had the itch

To the topic topic - Of course a M10 is still a great choice today, so my congrats to the TO and lots of fun with the M10 🙂

 

cheers

Daniel
 

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by Daniel C.1975

[rsh]

I did the same thing as Daniel with my M10.  I guess I could call it an M10-Partial!😎😎😎🎄🎄

[Peter Zapp]

I bought a discounted NOS M10 two years ago. I assumed NOS (or slow seller), because the firmware was from 2017, M10-P and M10-D were brand new and in higher demand. Quiet enough for me. I checked before buying. I have rolls of black tape at home. I couldn't justify the extra € for the "-P" or "-D". I liked the idea of no LCD, but selecting lens profiles or other settings by Foto App was too annoying. 

In view of my inventory of M-lenses, the cost were only moderately higher than an upgrade to full-frame mirrorless from Asia, including lenses. Perhaps today I would consider the A7c, but I wouldn't be happy with the bulky lenses and user interface in the long run.  

[Raid Amin]

I am sill using an M8 and M9 along with the wonderful M10.

[setuporg]

I find the question almost incredible.

My first Leica was the M10, when it just came out in 2017.  I was fortunate enough to join the club with it and then grow in it.

The only camera superseding it is the M10-R.  All the others are just different bodies around the same sensor.

One of my favorite cameras of all time is the Leica 60 (which was the first that excited me about Leica, but I could get it only after the M10. It is the previous generation.  It's usually as good as the M10, until the high ISOs.

The M9s are now sought after as having a different look.  The monochrom M9Ms are really beautiful even against the M10M.

I'd say most people will consider themselves extremely lucky if they can enter the field with an M10.

[M11 for me]

Congratulation. The M10 is a wonderful tool. I love it. And I must even say that I see no reason to upgrade to an M10-R (at the moment anyway). For what I do the sensor of M10 is great. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Harvard Kiwi]

To paraphrase a quote from my favourite TV show of all time:

"I have contained my rage for as long as possible, but I shall unleash my fury upon you like the crashing of a thousand waves! Begone, vile man! Begone from me! The M10, a starter camera? The M10 is a finisher camera! A tool of the gods! The golden god! I am untethered, and my rage knows no bounds!"