Why just M?

[kivis]

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I'm sure this has been asked, so pardon my question. Has anyone found out why Leica did not use the number sequence with the M (series 240, 262, etc.)?

Logic would have dictated it being called the M10. Really makes no sense to me.

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[jaapv]

Logic?...................................... 😂🤣🙃🤪

When the M (typ 240) came out,  Leica decided that their cameras would only be named by their type: Leica S, Leica M, etc. The models would be differentiated by their type numbers, so: M (typ 240). However, the customers decided to not accept the system and simply called it the M240 (which was actually planned for release in 2972  ). So Leica gave in and called the next camera M10.

[kivis]

Just now, jaapv said:

Logic?...................................... 😂🤣🙃🤪

When the M (typ 240) came out,  Leica decided that their cameras would only be named by their type S: Leica S, Leica M, etc. The models would be differentiated by their type numbers, so: M (typ 240). However, the customers decided to not accept the system and simply called it the M240 (which was planned for release in 2972  ). So Leica gave in and called the next camera M10.

Got it. Well the Edsel didn't go over too well, except in this case the M series are fine cameras, indeed.

[jaeger]

yeah why...

Edited December 10, 2021 by jaeger

[Photon42]

Well - they somehow felt Leicas are like cars

[LocalHero1953]

Windows 10 was supposed to be the last numbered version of Windows........

Fashions change, management changes, and suddenly there's a bright new idea......which loses its shine a few years later 

[a.noctilux]

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The M naming logic (follow the logic numbering) began with M3, no ?

With Leica LTM, even the 'naming' ( I, II, III, abcdfg ) was not engraved on the camera, that is only Ig which started it's Leica at front 😉

Edited December 10, 2021 by a.noctilux

[Hicks]

I can just hear the board arguing this out! 

i guess the whole Typ nomenclature was a bid to carve out markets for sub models based on the same overall body type and internals, like German car manufacturers do, eg. Video equipped, simplified, mono, etc

Then you have the MP, MD, MM, ME nomenclature! 🙄

Feels like two internal alphas fighting to get their way

 

[FrozenInTime]

In the internet age, typing "Leica M" in a search yielded everything, so "Leica M240" was required.

Leica CL name reuse lumbered us with another search problem ... clearly there is a need for a CL2 😉

Edited December 11, 2021 by FrozenInTime

[a.noctilux]

Yes please 👍

FILM CL2 !

 

[lct]

On 12/10/2021 at 1:35 AM, kivis said:

Logic would have dictated it being called the M10. Really makes no sense to me.

You're not alone. Apple logic perhaps? Some of us here never stopped repeating "M240" as expected. Did work .

[Photon42]

Well, Apple - I was surprised they could call their chip M1 ... Olympus failed with that attempt 😅

[a.noctilux]

Olympus M1 failed,

BMW could do many times their M1, last with Andy

 

[martinot]

On 12/10/2021 at 1:35 AM, kivis said:

I'm sure this has been asked, so pardon my question. Has anyone found out why Leica did not use the number sequence with the M (series 240, 262, etc.)?

Logic would have dictated it being called the M10. Really makes no sense to me.

Comic Sans MS?

Classic! 😊

[d30gaijin]

Possible that they saw something coming in the digital age?  With film cameras it was many years between body upgrades so the M3, M4, M5, etc. worked, slow progression, if you will.  Not so in the digital age.  Upgrades need to come much faster.  If they continued with the traditional naming conventions we might be up to M15 or 16 by now.  I have nothing to back that up, just some speculation.

[rpsawin]

"It remains one of the great unsolved mysteries, just like the Shroud of Turin, Voynich Manuscript, the Dyatlov Pass incident and the location of MH370."

It is my belief that all of these can be resolved once one solves the timeless riddle of "Who let the dogs out?". 

Now, more eggnog....

[RayD28]

30 minutes ago, rpsawin said:

"It remains one of the great unsolved mysteries, just like the Shroud of Turin, Voynich Manuscript, the Dyatlov Pass incident and the location of MH370."

It is my belief that all of these can be resolved once one solves the timeless riddle of "Who let the dogs out?". 

Now, more eggnog....

A cup of Jack and eggnog sounds good but I waited too long and the store was out of stock.  Perhaps the Leica marketing team had too many sips of Jack when they decided M was an adequate name.  I've been known to let Mr. Daniels do the talking for me and it usually means something not good is going to happen.  

[rpsawin]

He is the international spokesperson for those, upon thinking before speaking, who might have held their tongue and were unable. I am quite familiar with the Scottish Viscount Laphroaig of Islay.

Edited December 25, 2021 by rpsawin

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[pippy]

A while back (when the M10 was released?) there was an official Leica interview posted where those interviewed, having been asked this very question, answered that they liked how a Porsche 911 '...is always just called a 911...' and tried the same idea with Leica; all digital M bodies would henceforth be known, simply, as a 'Leica M' (plus a model number only if felt absolutely neccessary) as touched on by Jaap in post #2.

The problem with this premise is that whilst 'The Public' might call a Porsche 911 a 'Porsche 911' no-one in Porsche circles ever refers to their car as a '911' when discussing their car(s) with other car enthusiasts; it is always, from earliest days, specified whether the car is a 911L; a 911T; a 911E; a 911S; a 911SC; a 911RSR ect. In more modern times although they might still be thought of, by 'outsiders', as being 911s in the Porsche World owners will talk about the 964; 993; 996; 997 and so forth.

Similarly a member of the public will be satisfied (if they are at all curious) that the camera is 'A Leica' but that answer is completely useless to those actually in the know about such things.

Having learned their lesson with the 240 / 246 / 262 cameras we returned to seeing a numeric designation for the M10 and long may the line continue.

Philip.

Edited December 25, 2021 by pippy

[a.noctilux]

Even the film M-A has the number type 127 !