M9/M240

[Lenny49]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi all and hope you’re safe, This is more of a help question about these two fantastic cameras M9 or m240, Buying a M9 with a sensor change is what I’m thinking of buying, At the same time the M240 has not had so much trouble with the sensor,I’m seeing the price is a round 2000€ M9 and they seem to hold there price which is fantastic not so sure about the M240.I’m not a professional at all but the range finder is so small and with a lens too it’s incredible. The q is also on my mind there you can get one for ca 2200€ I travel a lot and love photography as a passion and Leica well say no more. Thank you 

[david strachan]

Hi Lenny

With an M240 you can get adapters to use other lenses (eg macro), and using the live view can focus...this is not available on the M9,  where you are stuck with just M mount or ltm lenses at 0.7m or 1m closest focusing.

...

[tom.w.bn]

Compared to the M240, the M9 has an unpleasant shutter sound, smaller battery, less dynamic range, not so good low light capabilities, no live view (can be useful for wide angle lenses) and a sub-standard display. I would not want to go back to the M9. I have an M240, not an M10. Difference between M240 and M10 is much smaller than the difference between M9 and M240.

[boojum]

Both great cameras.  The trade off is that the M9 has that nice sensor image.  It is a bit better. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandynoyes/albums/72157716739415061)  This cheesy little comparison while not the best does give you an idea of the differences.  Shutter sound and all the rest are not that important to me.  While the camera with the CCD in this example is an M8.2 it is very, very close to the M9.  And, yes, the M8.2 had the obligatory IR UV filter.  I hope this helps some.

I have the M8.2, the M9 and the M240.  For image quality I tend toward the M8.2 and M9.  The M240 is close, though, and has the advantage of an electronic viewfinder add-on which makes it a virtual SLR that can use any lens adaptable to the M240.  That's nice as there are buckets of old lenses out there at good prices.  The Pentax on the M240 in the test is an example.

[Lenny49]

Think you so much have been also looking at the M8;2 was one for sale in Sweden for around 1000€ which is a good pris,I have my old digilux 2 and have to say its fantastisk for what it is just have to take your time like with any Leica 👍just can not make my mind up,Was going to London before all this shit let loose and go to Leica in Mayfair and get help for a day not the m10 don’t have that money 😩second hand of course.

Would be nice to meet people with Leica and get some help 👍But just now its hard with the covid😩

[Ko.Fe.]

M8.2 is just older M9 with slightly cropped sensor.

M240'is way better for travel. Weather sealed and with large battery.

[shanefking]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Can't go wrong with either.  I have an M9, and it's a brilliant camera.  I've taken mine the world over.  If you go that route, be sure to pick up some extra batteries.  I don't think they are still making new ones, and you'll want to have some spares if you travel.  Here in the US, used 240's are still about $1000usd more than an M9, I would probably go with the M9 and use that extra cash for a nice lens if you don't have a set already.

[Marac]

I had 3 M240's, ALL of them had a vertical line at ISO 640, went back to an M9M and got myself an SL. That was a while back when the SL first came out. Didn't have a good experience with the M240 and it has put me right off it.

I now also have an M9 to go with my M9M and I personally prefer the CCD sensor.

[mole73]

Am 31.1.2021 um 09:29 schrieb Lenny49:

Hi all and hope you’re safe, This is more of a help question about these two fantastic cameras M9 or m240, Buying a M9 with a sensor change is what I’m thinking of buying, At the same time the M240 has not had so much trouble with the sensor,I’m seeing the price is a round 2000€ M9 and they seem to hold there price which is fantastic not so sure about the M240.I’m not a professional at all but the range finder is so small and with a lens too it’s incredible. The q is also on my mind there you can get one for ca 2200€ I travel a lot and love photography as a passion and Leica well say no more. Thank you 

The following are my very personal thoughts:

I was an M9-fan from the beginning on 09.09.2009 because for me the M9 stands for all the real M-features: uncluttered rangefinder, full format, compact, M-mount for the fantastic m-lenses, fast shooting, reliable etc.. What I dislike about the M type 240 are the enhanced "features" like video function, live view etc. 

For me the only advantage of the M type 240 is the fact that it is the newer model.

Robert

[mmradman]

On 2/1/2021 at 6:04 PM, Marac said:

I had 3 M240's, ALL of them had a vertical line at ISO 640, went back to an M9M and got myself an SL. That was a while back when the SL first came out. Didn't have a good experience with the M240 and it has put me right off it.

I now also have an M9 to go with my M9M and I personally prefer the CCD sensor.

You speak like a true fanboy. Nothing wrong cherishing your M9 but poo pooing M240 over one problem is under the belt.

I used to have M240 and it also had vertical line at ISO 640, it was fixed with a visit to Solms/Wetzlar.

I also used to have M9 and between the two M240 was definitely superior camera compared to M9. Still have M246.

In terms of cockups M240 had ISO 640 vertical line and failing strap lugs, pretty much end of list of problems. In comparison M9 cockups list is somewhat longer; Cracking sensor glass, at times unreliable writing to memory card, sensor cover glass corrosion, withdrawal of maintenance support, probably in breech of consumer protection laws in EU, considering last M9 derivative was only recently discontinued. 

[mmradman]

23 hours ago, mole73 said:

The following are my very personal thoughts:

I was an M9-fan from the beginning on 09.09.2009 because for me the M9 stands for all the real M-features: uncluttered rangefinder, full format, compact, M-mount for the fantastic m-lenses, fast shooting, reliable etc.. What I dislike about the M type 240 are the enhanced "features" like video function, live view etc. 

For me the only advantage of the M type 240 is the fact that it is the newer model.

Robert

Another fanboy 😷(was looking for “Jaap’s” roll eyes).  What is wrong with live view and video, just ignore it. 

All M features you list are common for both models except I wouldn’t consider M9 to be reliable..

Edited February 2, 2021 by mmradman

[mole73]

vor 22 Minuten schrieb mmradman:

Another fanboy 😷(was looking for “Jaap’s” roll eyes).  What is wrong with live view and video, just ignore it. 

All M features you list are common for both models except I wouldn’t consider M9 to be reliable..

Fanboy? Oh yes, I can´t deny 😉 ... can you?

For me it´s just that simple: features I don't need in a camera ideally are not in the camera. That's because I chose the MP over the M7...

[Ray Vonn]

Haha, that’s a funny analogy, anyone liking an M9 over a M240 is a fan boy.

[Lenny49]

Well thank you all for this incredible information, Don’t think it as made me any wiser,Seems to be problems with both, Nothing is perfect I know Torsten phases the M9 like God,Back too the drawing table I guess,Just when you pay so much money with out the lens then you really want top noche or 

[Adam Bonn]

I have both an m9 and M240

It’s win some/lose some between them

design wise the m9 has a few functional things I personally prefer over the 240

• Adding the handgrip offers no penalty in height (unlike the grip on the 240)
• Adding the handgrip offers no additional penalty in battery/SD card access (unlike the grip on the 240)
• The shutter in discrete mode is quieter than the 240
• the m9 has a very fast start up time
• 1m calibrated framelines (I think I’m the only person that likes this 😅)
• frameline illumination window looks cool!

design wise the 240 has a few functional things I personally prefer over the m9

• the battery seemingly lasts forever
• the shutter is nicer to press (If I harshly liken the m9 shutter to flicking on a lightswitch, the 240 one feels like pressing a piano key)
• the weather sealing
• shot to shot times and general speed of operation are faster
• far better lcd
• LED framelines work better in some light conditions 
• Liveview/EVF occasionally comes in jolly handy

Subjective things YMMV

• M9 feels smaller and better in the hand (the vernia calliper tells me they’re basically the same size)
• 240 has a more pleasant shutter sound
• M9 feels denser and less hollow in comparison 
• I worry that if I break, wear out or lose my M9 I’ll never manage to get it fixed or replaced 

Image Quality things 

• By any measurable metric the 240 makes better images (acuity, DR, ISO - y’know measurable stuff)
• The look of the images between the two is closer that some folks would have you believe 
• Personally I find the m9 files usually require much less PP to pop, sing, do a little dance... whatever OMMV

Silly personal emotive stuff

• I wanted the m9 for a long time before I was able to realise one and it was an emotive purchase. The 240 was just a head decision based on spec v price
• Of my personal favourite images taken with both, more are from the m9

In summary

240 = more versatile, polished product with less longevity risks

M9 = more oldskool, more emotive more charming somehow.

 

Oh and I think that at the end of the first 5th of the 21st century.... the whole notion of rangefinding cameras and the desire to own one is pretty fanboi - so there’s no wrong decision really.

 

[Cobram]

Very interesting view on the M9 vs M 240/ 262 topic. My conclusions are almost identical.

https://gear.vogelius.se/-editorials/leica-m262-m9/index.html

[alan.y]

My GAS-fueld Leica career of yesteryear went something like this: M240, S2, M9, S007, M9, S007, M262, S2, M9, M240, S2, M10. Then I went 6x7 film only for a couple of years.

Just a few days ago I rebought the M9, partly serendipitously. It's nice to have it back and remember why I liked it so. It feels great in hand and does have the advantage of being lighter than both the later digital M's and thinner than the M240.

I agree with Adam Bonn above. At this point the M9 has a vintage, quasi-mechanical charm. The slow operation, low-res LCD, lack of live view and high ISO capability, and general clunkiness are all liberating rather than limiting (for me). Don't chimp, don't bother shooting in darkness, shoot less but make each shot count.

Until this repurchase, my main problem with the M9 was that one with a replaced sensor costs as much as or more than a used M240.

Edited February 14, 2021 by alan.y

[martinot]

On 1/31/2021 at 9:29 AM, Lenny49 said:

Hi all and hope you’re safe, This is more of a help question about these two fantastic cameras M9 or m240, Buying a M9 with a sensor change is what I’m thinking of buying, At the same time the M240 has not had so much trouble with the sensor,I’m seeing the price is a round 2000€ M9 and they seem to hold there price which is fantastic not so sure about the M240.I’m not a professional at all but the range finder is so small and with a lens too it’s incredible. The q is also on my mind there you can get one for ca 2200€ I travel a lot and love photography as a passion and Leica well say no more. Thank you 

I would stay away from the problematic M9. In addition (even if it was to work without many of its problems) you would still be limited in the number and types of lenses you can use due to missing LV. 

I would not hesitate to go for a nicely kept M 240. It is a much better and more practical photographic tool over all. I would even stretch is a far as saying that it is Lecia's first real digital M camera (M8/M9 being more or less prototypes). 

[martinot]

On 2/1/2021 at 9:23 AM, Lenny49 said:

Think you so much have been also looking at the M8;2 was one for sale in Sweden for around 1000€ which is a good pris,I have my old digilux 2 and have to say its fantastisk for what it is just have to take your time like with any Leica 👍just can not make my mind up,Was going to London before all this shit let loose and go to Leica in Mayfair and get help for a day not the m10 don’t have that money 😩second hand of course.

Would be nice to meet people with Leica and get some help 👍But just now its hard with the covid😩

I am also from Sweden. I have sometimes seen a good M 240 going for around 25 000 SEK here in Sweden (check Tradera), and I would definitely avoid the non-FF M8-series, and instead recommend you to save the money until you have enough to by a proper digital native full frame M instead.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[pippy]

On 2/1/2021 at 8:23 AM, Lenny49 said:

Think you so much have been also looking at the M8;2 was one for sale in Sweden for around 1000€...

Hi! Lenny and I hope you're OK too.

Going off at a tangent, I know, but an M8.2 if it's in decent condition? I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. Fantastic camera.

As to your general post; both the M9 and M240 series cameras can deliver phenomenal results. Putting things in EXTREMELY simplistic terms (so please let us all NOT bother to argue the relatively subtle nuances here or we'll get nowhere) the M9 gives more 'film-like' results and the M240 has finer resolution with 'better' IQ (again; please don't stir it up) and has superior higher ISO capability.

Both types have admirers. Try to check out some 'real' (i.e. non-web) photographs if possible to see whether you prefer one over the other.

Good Luck!

Philip.

Edited February 18, 2021 by pippy