A New Year Wish for the M System

[Rick]

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 THE ZEN OF LEICA AND OTHER BS 

You know, not many things are so simple and exceptional all at the same time as to become truly sublime.  With the first introduction of the SL I took a step back to evaluate my camera and, remember, this is the M sub-forum so I'm an M shooter... 

The M is the place I can go as a photographer to experience simplicity, like manual focus... that actually works.  I can pick it up, turn it on and just be in the moment like no other camera I've ever used.  There is something organic about it.  It is the distillation of many years of just making view cameras and RF cameras.  It is simple.  But, in its simplicity it allows the user direct control of the complexities needed to control light and focus... without a clutter of buttons and ramifying layers of menus.  

It is supportive of creativity.  When you pick up any M body you are instantly connected to the simplicity of making a photograph.  There is no other camera that connects your brain to the camera in such an organic way.  Holding the M in your hands, the camera becomes transparent.  You are just existing in the creative process.  No camera, no distractions, no EVF, no whizzing of AF, no thinking - just looking through a window.

Sure, there exist plenty of cameras that connect the photographer with their ideas and creativity.  And, some are better suited for creating a variety of different artwork.  But, I feel the M is unique in how it connects so directly and transparently to the mind of the photographer.  

For now and probably for my forever, I'll keep my relationship with my M. 

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[stephengv]

I just want a Sensor Cleaning technology built in

[Cobram]

My wish is just competition.

M Mount FF rangefinder made by Cosina for example.

(In the past M8 competition was Epson RD).

[Mr.Prime]

12 hours ago, Rick said:

 THE ZEN OF LEICA AND OTHER BS 

You know, not many things are so simple and exceptional all at the same time as to become truly sublime.  With the first introduction of the SL I took a step back to evaluate my camera and, remember, this is the M sub-forum so I'm an M shooter... 

The M is the place I can go as a photographer to experience simplicity, like manual focus... that actually works.  I can pick it up, turn it on and just be in the moment like no other camera I've ever used.  There is something organic about it.  It is the distillation of many years of just making view cameras and RF cameras.  It is simple.  But, in its simplicity it allows the user direct control of the complexities needed to control light and focus... without a clutter of buttons and ramifying layers of menus.  

It is supportive of creativity.  When you pick up any M body you are instantly connected to the simplicity of making a photograph.  There is no other camera that connects your brain to the camera in such an organic way.  Holding the M in your hands, the camera becomes transparent.  You are just existing in the creative process.  No camera, no distractions, no EVF, no whizzing of AF, no thinking - just looking through a window.

Sure, there exist plenty of cameras that connect the photographer with their ideas and creativity.  And, some are better suited for creating a variety of different artwork.  But, I feel the M is unique in how it connects so directly and transparently to the mind of the photographer.  

For now and probably for my forever, I'll keep my relationship with my M. 

I expect most of the benefits of the M in terms of enjoyable photography are available in other guises, depending on each of our own preferences. I've had a similar feeling of 'flow' when photographing with a film SLR, also manual focus, similar weight and size, lovely to hold in the hands etc.

Edited January 12, 2021 by Mr.Prime

[Herr Barnack]

13 hours ago, stephengv said:

I just want a Sensor Cleaning technology built in

I have found that it's not that big of an issue to not have it.  Over the past 5 1/2 years, I have had to clean my M-P 240 sensor about twice a year.  It takes about 2-3 minutes to do this. 

Cleaning your own sensor is really not that big of a deal.

[jdlaing]

14 hours ago, stephengv said:

I just want a Sensor Cleaning technology built in

In an M body you really don’t.

[Guest BlackBarn]

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1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

about 2-3 minutes to do this. 

I am sure there a quicker ways of ‘cleaning’ sensors but I sat watching the guy at the Leica store doing my m10m sensor and he took over ten minutes and it wasn’t like the quickie sensor cleaning instructions you find on YouTube. He told me this was the method he was taught at Leica  except they do it with the gloves and air tight container. For some reason Leica do not recommend you clean the sensor yourself they also don’t provide courses in lenses cleaning nor instructions but recommend the camera is sent back to whoever.  Why? Who knows but if in built camera sensor cleaning is not practical with a ‘M’ then they could at least explain and prescribe the do’s, do nots and why through online instructions. 
 

 

[Herr Barnack]

32 minutes ago, BlackBarn said:

I am sure there a quicker ways of ‘cleaning’ sensors but I sat watching the guy at the Leica store doing my m10m sensor and he took over ten minutes and it wasn’t like the quickie sensor cleaning instructions you find on YouTube. He told me this was the method he was taught at Leica  except they do it with the gloves and air tight container. For some reason Leica do not recommend you clean the sensor yourself they also don’t provide courses in lenses cleaning nor instructions but recommend the camera is sent back to whoever.  Why? Who knows but if in built camera sensor cleaning is not practical with a ‘M’ then they could at least explain and prescribe the do’s, do nots and why through online instructions. 
 

 

This is obviously a different procedure than what I do, as I don't have the airtight container that he was using.  It would be interesting to watch this "official" sensor cleaning procedure. 

I do not have a Leica store anywhere near me - as in they are all over a day's drive away. 

I do have a "professional" camera store within an hour's drive, though.  A friend took his Canon DSLR there and had the sensor cleaned.  A week later it died on him.  He sent it off to Canon and they said excessive sensor cleaning fluid had gotten into the electronics and damaged the camera.  The repair cost was $200 USD.

As one and all can probably guess, I won't be taking any of my cameras to this "professional" camera store for sensor cleaning.

I'll continue to clean my M camera sensors on my own.  When/if my Q2 needs a sensor cleaning, I'll let Leica do it.

[jaapv]

There was a factory tour video a while ago and it showed the technician sitting at his desk  dabbing the sensor with a Pentax "lollipop" out in the open. No gloves, no containers...

[Guest BlackBarn]

Any idea if the guy still works there?

 

[Guest]

I think the sensor dust problem is real and i never change lenses outside of my clean kitchen worktop but i have got used to cleaning the sensor of dust specks when i have to which is not often as i have 2 bodies and 4 lenses and mostly leave the same 2 lenses mounted.

I had a modern olympus pen camera which i hated because of all the silly features packed into the camera but never had dust on the sensor.

But if its not practical to improve this situation i will accept it because the m is such a wonderful camera.[ m262 in my case].

[david strachan]

3 hours ago, jaapv said:

There was a factory tour video a while ago and it showed the technician sitting at his desk  dabbing the sensor with a Pentax "lollipop" out in the open. No gloves, no containers...

Mmmm..doesn't sound good.  I think the recommended "lollipop" is the Sony one.

Personally i found it left slight residual concentric rings.

I use wipes and a little solvent...as per original instructions.

...

[Mr.Prime]

I was concerned about dust in my M, especially changing lenses out in the open. If there’s any kind of breeze or it’s dry and dusty you are going to risk dust in there. In the end, I learned to accept it and solved the problem by winding on to the next frame 🤣

Sorry - couldn’t resist some mad humour - we just got notified today, in Ontario, with a new Stay at Home Order, which takes the shine off of using my new gear.

[SiggiGun]

M10 is probably the end of a long and successful story. What do I need more? Nothing! 

The future goes in the Q and SL directions....and this is an other story. But I'm sure, in 60 years, a lot of people continues to know what M means and is but nobody will remember what an Q or SL was

 

[Herr Barnack]

On 1/12/2021 at 9:38 PM, Mr.Prime said:

I was concerned about dust in my M, especially changing lenses out in the open. If there’s any kind of breeze or it’s dry and dusty you are going to risk dust in there. In the end, I learned to accept it and solved the problem by winding on to the next frame 🤣

Sorry - couldn’t resist some mad humour - we just got notified today, in Ontario, with a new Stay at Home Order, which takes the shine off of using my new gear.

For those who shoot with the digital M cameras, the solution is simple:  Buy one M camera body for each of your M lenses. 

That way, you will never have to clean your own sensor!  😎

 

[Daniel kk]

Anti-dust and shock-proof technology should be installed in new M digital body hopefully!

[Kwesi]

It would be great if the M11 could remember up to 3 uncoded lenses based on the frame line pairs that get called up when the lens is mounted.

Real world scenario:

Lets say you have a 50/1.4 ASPH a 35FLE and a 28/2ASPH lenses. All current and 6bit coded.

But you also have a 35/2 v1, a 50/2 dual range and 90/2.8 tele-elmarit (thin).

you would be able to use these lenses interchangeably and only have to visit the lens menu once for each uncoded lens.

What do you think?

[evikne]

6 minutes ago, Kwesi said:

It would be great if the M11 could remember up to 3 uncoded lenses based on the frame line pairs that get called up when the lens is mounted.

Real world scenario:

Lets say you have a 50/1.4 ASPH a 35FLE and a 28/2ASPH lenses. All current and 6bit coded.

But you also have a 35/2 v1, a 50/2 dual range and 90/2.8 tele-elmarit (thin).

you would be able to use these lenses interchangeably and only have to visit the lens menu once for each uncoded lens.

What do you think?

If this is technically feasible, I think it's a great idea!

I have two coded and two uncoded lenses myself (35 and 50 mm). And I always forget to manually switch between the two uncoded lenses in the camera menu. 😖

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[Kwesi]

2 hours ago, evikne said:

If this is technically feasible, I think it's a great idea!

I have two coded and two uncoded lenses myself (35 and 50 mm). And I always forget to manually switch between the two uncoded lenses in the camera menu. 😖

I think it should be possible.

As it is now the manual setting has 1 memory - which is only made up of the last used setting. If there was some way to electronically attach a position number to the frame selector lever based on how far it travels(0,1,2) And attach that information to the lens code you chose when the frame lever was in that particular position lets say position #2, then each time the camera detects an uncoded lens in position#2 it will assign that information to that lens.

 

[evikne]

7 minutes ago, Kwesi said:

I think it should be possible.

As it is now the manual setting has 1 memory - which is only made up of the last used setting. If there was some way to electronically attach a position number to the frame selector lever based on how far it travels(0,1,2) And attach that information to the lens code you chose when the frame lever was in that particular position lets say position #2, then each time the camera detects an uncoded lens in position#2 it will assign that information to that lens.

I hope someone at Leica reads this!