First Leica: M246 or Q2M

[Fra85z]

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Hi everyone, I'm new in this nice forum.

I'm a Fuji user, (XT3 + several prime and red bagde zoom) and I am recently approaching Leica brand for the first time, so I am totally new in the range finder world. I have been recently a couple of times at the Leica store in Madrid, trying some cameras and Q2M feels like a great deal to me, but with pro and cons. I feel like it would not permit me to approach photography like only an M could do. So I started to look, and I found a pretty good deal, a M246(4000 € second hand with less than 1000 shots). Probably would not have the latest sensor, the lates processor, etc, but maybe I could enjoy it for many years, investing in some lenses. Q2M seems to me that could lose fastly its status of "brand new cámara". I shoot mostly Street photography and reportage, I would love to hear from you your opinions and if rangefinder system could be useful to my photographic purposes. Thanks!

Edited January 12, 2021 by Fra85z

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[mmradman]

Welcome to the forum.

The choice is between Iinterchengable lens RF camera and fixed lens EVF camera.  You can prioritise in your decision either on the viewfinder or lens mount.  I think it is the flexiblity of interchengable camera over the fixed lens model that is key attraction of M system.  With M you have pretty good access to new and S/H lenses by Leica and few other makers covering every budget and wide focal length range - from 10mm to 135mm.

M246 is now 5+ years old model but i think it will go strong for number of years to come.  ISO envelope is pretty good,  with usable range from 320 to 6400 ISO, and with carful exposure you can push it to 12500 ISO, plus emergency 25000 ISO.  Battery life is legendary in M range, eminently suited for street photography round the clock.

 

Links - M246 & Summaron M 35mm f2.8 at ISO 5000

https://flic.kr/p/2g6ePkP

 

Edited January 13, 2021 by mmradman
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[a.noctilux]

Welcome Fra85z,

In first Leica I think the Q would be less perturbing, easy way,

but

if you want to go further in Leica land, M246 would be better choice to open up your horizon.

If this is your choice, don't be shy, use it a lot then you will see that M246 (I use mine since two years) can do most of the Q pics and more.

[Chips]

Hi Welcome to the Forum,

You raised a comment that the previously owned  Leica 246 may not have the latest sensor. Leica has timeless capabilities and you don't need the latest iteration because the 246 M produces the Leica Look and is perfect for "Street Photography". In fact, there is a sustainable market for vintage Leicas and their legnedary lens. The M is the most famous and the one with the romance and history. It was used by Robert Capacity during the Spanish Civil War coverage.

Keep coming back!

CHIPS

[mmradman]

6 hours ago, Chips said:

Hi Welcome to the Forum,

You raised a comment that the previously owned  Leica 246 may not have the latest sensor. Leica has timeless capabilities and you don't need the latest iteration because the 246 M produces the Leica Look and is perfect for "Street Photography". In fact, there is a sustainable market for vintage Leicas and their legnedary lens. The M is the most famous and the one with the romance and history. It was used by Robert Capacity during the Spanish Civil War coverage.

Keep coming back!

CHIPS

I understand it was Contax camera favoured by Robert Capa.

Not sure how much authoritative the information is but it was easy google search.

http://shooterfiles.com/2016/05/master-profiles-robert-capa/

[Cayenne]

I"m brand new to the Leica world too, and my first one is the M10 Monochrom.

It is amazing.

I would highly recommend you go with a newer camera body.  The Q2M is very interesting looking....and if you don't mind a fixed lens, I'd go for that.

However, if you can manage to save up a few more pennies, I'd recommend that you wait and save up a bit longer and get the newer M10M....it has the larger new sensor, which gives you a lower base ISO, and even better lowlight and all around performance.

I'd posit that getting the newer versions is well worth the extra time to save and money spent.

You might call the guys at PopFlash and see if they can give you a deal on a floor model....?

HTH,

cayenne

[Ernstk]

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On 1/14/2021 at 3:09 PM, Cayenne said:

I"m brand new to the Leica world too, and my first one is the M10 Monochrom.

It is amazing.

I would highly recommend you go with a newer camera body.  The Q2M is very interesting looking....and if you don't mind a fixed lens, I'd go for that.

However, if you can manage to save up a few more pennies, I'd recommend that you wait and save up a bit longer and get the newer M10M....it has the larger new sensor, which gives you a lower base ISO, and even better lowlight and all around performance.

I'd posit that getting the newer versions is well worth the extra time to save and money spent.

You might call the guys at PopFlash and see if they can give you a deal on a floor model....?

HTH,

cayenne

I'm not being argumentative but I disagree with your comments. The OP is new to Leica and wants an introduction to Leica photography. It seems crazy to ask him to stay away until he can afford the M10M, which will cost 50% more that the M246. Any of the M Monochrom cameras can make exceptional images and the OP should start in any way he can, then if he choses, upgrade to the M10M later.

I still use my original M8. Its photographic abilities are still ahead of mine.

Ernst

[Mute-on]

Buying into Leica means both the lenses and bodies.  It is pointless contemplating a Leica M body without the companion lens if you are new to Leica (in my view, obviously).

Therefore, either a Q2 (unless you wish to shoot black and white only, then a Q2M), OR a digital M (M246) AND a Leica lens to compliment it.  If it is to be a 28mm, then a 28 Elmarit M v1 or V2 will give you the equivalent focal length to the Q, and a contemporary Leica product. You may prefer a 35mm, in which case a 35 Summicron ASPH is a contemporary equivalent. 

If you get the M body, you have almost 90 years of Leica lenses to choose from and experiment with.

The choice is yours.

[alainD]

I would not worry about the sensor in the M246. It produced wonderful pictures a few years ago and will continue to make wonderful pictures for many years to come. And if you need a better sensor at some point, you can always sell it and upgrade to a M10 monochrom or whatever comes next.

The real difference is that the M is a system camera, where the Q is a one camera one lens thing. It makes a huge difference on how you approach photography. Not that one is better than the other, but very different. With a Q, the camera is the only thing you bring with you. You don’t have to think about which lens you use. It is a constraint that can be very liberating. The M, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. You have tons of lenses to choose from, endless possibilities (that can be at time overwhelming) that can open up new dimensions in your photography.

Hope this helps.

Alain

[geoffreyg]

As much as the M10M is wonderful, the recommendation here would be to try the 246: its just a much better value for the money, and won't sting as much if you find it is not for you. The Q2 is also quite good, and more modern than the 246, easy to use, high quality... but that single lens is a bit big, and if you like shooting at 35 or 50mm, you lose pixels, which is not desirable. But if you like 28mm, its a very good choice. 

[Ray Vonn]

Just saying - the number of people I've seen that purchased a Q and then went on to get an M is quite high.

[Fra85z]

Thank you all for your contribution. 

Actually, yesterday I went to test the 246 and it felt amazing. I am not used to focus through rangefinder, so i struggled a bit to take confidence with the system. I came home, watched the files and are stunning. Of course with 246 you are not seeing b&w when you are focusing,  and Q2M offer this plus, but would not be a big issue. I would pair the 246 with a 35 summicron, I feel like 35 would be a more allaround lens for me. I fear a 28 would be pretty wide and suffer more lens distorsion in some pictures. Anyway, I will try again the Q2M in order to solve the last doubts! Both choices feels right.

[a.noctilux]

So, you have pointed the benefit of camera which can accept other lenses.

You can begin with 35mm (or 28 or...), then after a while you CAN move to another lens (more open aperture or whatever changes)