Leica M Typ 262: Rangefinder Essentials Only

[CGarrard]

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I posted this review on a different forum to, but added more at the end.

No video, no live view, rejoice stills shooters!

This one will make you a better rangefinder photographer. Just the essentials like a nice sensor, a nice screen, and a great optical rangefinder experience. It's beautiful, quiet, lightweight, modern, comfortable, and simple.

Particularly Leica gets credit for it's considerately clean exterior design, it's a real understated beauty.

Mostly, it's a much better and more pleasant to use M9, not in all ways, but that's a generally safe descriptor of the 262. The menu is simple and easy, and one of the, if not the best menu systems out there from any brand (sorta reminds me of Canon's original 5D menu, but even better).

It's battery life can't be beat by any M, or any DSLR that I can recall, it can go for days without the need to be recharged.

Had it a min shutter speed of 1/8000th, a base ISO of 100, and a 1.00x (1:1) viewfinder, it would be a perfect rangefinder.

But as is, that's a wish list, not a con list.

It would be nice if it had an auto cleaning sensor and multi-pattern metering option, but those are just quibbles. Considering Leica mostly hit this one out of the park, it's definitely a tie for my favorite Leica M of all time.

They don't make them like this anymore, it's for still shooters who above all else love an optical finder for framing and metering. It will test and improve your rangefinder skills, that I promise you. A highly rewarding classic style experience without being so dated that it slows you down.

I think today the Typ 262 becomes more valuable considering the direction the M design has gone. Back when it was announced in 2015, it was a bit of a rebel if you consider the trend of the 240 and other cameras at the time, but it seemed there was quite a bit of pent up demand too suggesting that perhaps there would be successor models built upon its simple design principles. That hasn't really happened (with the exception of the M-D Typ 262).

But it makes me wonder how well it would sell with a more modern 24mp sensor/processor and the M10/11's larger viewfinder and frame line selector switch added back in, at a much lower price than the M10/11 cameras. I bet it would be really popular. Again, with no live view or video or EVF option etc.

I think Leica are coming dangerously close to not supporting a 100% rangefinder experience in the future, and to me, that style of shooting needs to be promoted and preserved always with the M mount. Today's M's have become more like crippled mirrorless cameras (crippled meaning no autofocus features at all) than the original principled design they were intended to be.

They all need to exist, imho.

For now, long live the beautiful and simple, original M Typ 262!

 

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Edited September 4, 2023 by CGarrard

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[a.noctilux]

One of the most underrated digital M, M262 family.

Now I don't care of the "value" keeping thing as I will not sell or buy one of them.

I have one M262 and the M-D (typ 262), I don't know which one I prefer using.

The M262 lacks the field preview, strange enough the "not so useful" lever is present on M-D.

[geesbert]

Although I own and use a M11 and had and sold an M10 I held onto my 262 as I think this is the most essential digital M. I hardly use it anymore, but it is too nice to let go

[LCM94]

Hello

I am about to buy a m262 but I cannot find the following information:

- can you display the histogram?

- I have read that M240 series is not so good at WB when in auto: do you systematically use a custom white balance using a pocketable white card?

Thanks!

[pippy]

On 9/4/2023 at 8:56 PM, CGarrard said:

...Had it a min shutter speed of 1/8000th, a base ISO of 100, and a 1.00x (1:1) viewfinder, it would be a perfect rangefinder...

...it makes me wonder how well it would sell with a more modern 24mp sensor/processor and the M10/11's larger viewfinder and frame line selector switch added back in...

I agree with most of the points you make barring (for MY shooting-style) one important detail; viewfinder magnification.

A 1.00x finder would be / is preferable for lenses 50mm-and-longer but shooting with anything wider would require the use of an external shoe-mounted finder. As someone who shoots the majority of my stuff with 50mm-and-shorter I find the 0.68x finder which has (surprisingly accurate) frame-lines for 28mm and 35mm to be the perfect choice. Speaking of frame-lines I have the M-D Typ-262 so my camera does have the frame-line lever and yes; it can be a useful thing!

Other than that? No real quibbles. I'm not sure how often a 1/8000 speed would be needed; I can't think of any time I've even used 1/4000 in ten years of Digi-M snapping. When you write "a more modern 24mp sensor/processor" what, exactly, do you have in mind? I can't find much to fault about the 24mp CMOS and even although there is only a 1gb buffer as I don't shoot 'continuous' I've never had the camera freeze whilst it waits to clear the backlog.

Interestingly although, at the time of release, the consensus seemed to be that there would be no M11-D version I have seen, recently, some chat suggesting that such a camera might be released after all. I suppose all we can do is watch and wait...

Philip.

Edited September 18, 2023 by pippy

[Ampersand]

On 9/18/2023 at 8:51 AM, LCM94 said:

"...can you display the histogram?...".

No pre exposure histogram is available as the M262 is without Live View, however a histogram may be displayed on the rear screen during image review by pressing “PLAY” and then “INFO” once.  Sorry that I cannot help you about the characteristics of using WB Automatic.  Similar to countless others, for outdoor shooting I set WB to Daylight and then if necessary, adjust the WB of the DNG file using Capture One 23.  You will not be disappointed with the M262.

 

[a.noctilux]

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On 9/18/2023 at 11:51 AM, LCM94 said:

I am about to buy a m262 but I cannot find the following information:

- can you display the histogram?

Yes with the INFO center button.

 

Funny story

(my wife had pushed the button or when taking the M262 out of her bag),

she toll me why when she reviewed the images, weird "colors mountain shape" showed on the images.

She never use histogram knowing nothing about the function.

...

Note:

"mode d'emploi", in French pdf  can be freely dowloaded from this link, summilux.net documents

Edited September 22, 2023 by a.noctilux

[a.noctilux]

Another wife story.

( happening before the former story )

When we packed for long travel, we want to choose photo gear, my wife asked me if I can show her the Ms differences.

I put on my silver M240 one 2.5/50 lens, then handed her the combo.

She said ...don't you have one black M that I can use, her former M was black M8.

So I'm glad handing her the black M262, she appreciates the lightness of the combo 2.5/50 + M262.

...

She took very nice pictures with them and I'm jealous (well = glad) of her mastering of the M262.

 

 

 

[Mute-on]

I’ve just returned from a 19 day trip to the UK, taking in parts of east and west London, Oxford and Edinburgh. Whilst I had iPhone and a P&S zoom, my main ‘serious’ camera was my M262, acquired in September last year after international travel with film became too onerous and unpredictable for me.

I’m not a prolific photo taker, having shot less than 400 photos on the M262 over the trip, but I was delighted to find that even after chimping almost every shot, and many on/off cycles, the battery still showed about 25% charge at the end of the trip! I think it was charged to about 95% at the start. Phenomenal. If at some point I ever choose to move on to an M10 or later, I would really miss this kind of battery life, particularly when travelling.

As for the photographic experience, coupled with my 28 Elmarit-M ASPH II, I can honestly say I am completely satisfied with the quality of the colours, focus accuracy, and exposure accuracy. The latter is a real challenge with a 28mm lens and subjects (buildings and cityscapes) that tend to include some proportion of bright sky. However a basic understanding of the light metering pattern, and the excellent aperture priority programme with half-press exposure lock, allowed almost perfect exposure to easily within 1/2 a stop. I actually found this approach extremely quick, and faster than fully manual exposure when metering for each shot. 

The only real challenge was framing the 28mm lens with glasses (now necessary due to my aging eyes and increasing long sightedness). I can really only see one border of the framelines at a time as I skirt the perimeter, and usually end up with more in the frame than I intended. If they only offered a 0.58 magnification like my beloved MP for wide angle lenses, the M262 would be utter perfection.

In short, whilst I still enjoy the process of shooting with my film Ms a little more, using the M262 is the most satisfying digital photography experience I’ve yet had over the last 20 years. I think I’ll be using it for many years to come. 

Edited July 15 by Mute-on

[a.noctilux]

On 7/16/2024 at 1:25 AM, Mute-on said:

using the M262 is the most satisfying digital photography experience I’ve yet had

Better yet for film M user, the particular (no LCD-screen) -D model.

I like a lot (if I use less these days) the M-D typ 262.

Like film use, not be able to see "the picture taken" on the go CAN be "better" than "not chimping habit" with M262.

For me the "not chimping" habit is nice so M262 = M-D 262 in real use.

 

Then maybe the almost 90g less weight can play in favor of M262 used mostly by wife.

I use the M240 (same weight as M-D 262) AND even more weight M246 Monochrom.

Edited July 17 by a.noctilux

[Ampersand]

Even now and in my opinion of course, the M262 remains the “Cinderella” of the M family, although it matters not I suppose.  This interesting appraisal thread reflects my thoughts on what I think is a remarkable camera even now and my own experience may be of interest (or not) to some.

I am still using an M262 which I bought in Shanghai around 8 years ago and since then, it has been with me in over 20 countries for both work and play.  Always having shot DNG on manual settings and with auto review off.  Invariably worn across my chest and no camera bag, no half case, no boutique strap, no thumb support and no soft release, with the only extra of sorts being a Leica UVa II filter.

The whole point of this long winded, bloated and perhaps teetering on vanity post is to confirm by personal experience, the qualities of the M262.  I experience what I consider to be superb quality images both SOOC and after a quick whizz through Capture One 23, however and this I think is extremely important, never once has the M262 misbehaved itself or let me down.

In 8 years of working with the camera on goodness knows how many industrial sites and with of course recreational and hobby use, no freezes, no malfunctions and indeed, no problems of any sorts.

A pat on the head for the Leica M262.

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[a.noctilux]

Underrated M262 is nice thing, keeping the price low.

 

 

[steve edmunds]

I own the M262 and wish there was a modern M model equivalent for me to dream of buying but sadly there is nothing. 

PS i need a screen and self timer so the lovely MD cameras are no use to me.

[pippy]

On 11/1/2024 at 8:39 PM, steve edmunds said:

...PS i need a screen and self timer so the lovely MD cameras are no use to me...

No screen (obviously) but the M-D Typ-262 does feature a 12 second self timer setting which is selected directly via the On / Off (etc.) switch.

Philip.

[steve edmunds]

On 11/3/2024 at 10:50 PM, pippy said:

No screen (obviously) but the M-D Typ-262 does feature a 12 second self timer setting which is selected directly via the On / Off (etc.) switch.

Philip.

Thanks pippy, i didnt know that , i sometimes do city lights long exposure photography which might be difficult without a screen but maybe not now i know you can still use the self timer.

Its later cameras you cannot automatically use the self timer on, i should have remembered that as i have the M262.

Edited November 5 by steve edmunds

[a.noctilux]

On 11/5/2024 at 11:35 PM, steve edmunds said:

Its later cameras you cannot automatically use the self timer on, i should have remembered that as i have the M262

Yes later Ms from M10 have the switch only under shutter button.

Maybe the M12-D return to the former multitask switch may change that.

Here the two types of "ON" with the weird symbol of self-timer on M262 at left of C needing to know what it is or reading the manual .

 

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nota,

the SOMNI on the M262 is not the one I adapted (a bit work: filing ! OH ) for use with digital M before M10.

50mm somni on M10 here

Edited November 8 by a.noctilux