What reasons do you still shoot with an M240/262 in 2023?

[maidenfan84]

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Considering the M10 and M11 variations available, the age, etc…it seems that there seems to still be a strong community for the M240 and 262 cameras. What are your reasons for still shooting with these cameras in 2023?

Edited November 21, 2023 by maidenfan84

[espelt]

For one thing, I just like my M-P. The battery life, the video function, black paint. And even the slightly thicker case. It fits well in my hand.
But most importantly, she still does a good job. So far very reliable, without any failures. And the image results suit me.
And as long as that's the case and the camera works, I don't have to think about an upgrade.

[andybarton]

It's the only digital M that I own and there is nothing wrong with it.

[jaapv]

Do we really need to justify the reason that we use older cameras if they suit our needs? 

[a.noctilux]

Easy to understand when photographer is still photographer, pro or amateur like me.

In my case, I have M10 at launch (early 2017 ! ...before M240 family) I admit that Leica Marketing did a very good job for M10.

Out of curiosity and because of many people sold them (M240 family) for M10, I acquired many at acceptable prices, M240, M246, M-D.

I have M262 the year before M10, so I know the M240 family for nice pictures from it.

 

Over time, as picture's results are my main purpose and the big battery life with same battery for many told me that the M240 family is the only

Ms to use those nice lenses, for years to come.

 

As side note, for fun, I use also LTM cameras (Leica I/II/III) of almost one-century-old (young).

The outputs are still great.

[pegelli]

The M246M is the only digital M / Leica I own and it does everything I want from it.

Yes, the M10 and M11 might be "better" but for my needs the extra cost isn't justified, I'm still the biggest limiting step in my photography, not my camera.

I'm usually wise enough to not fall for the marketing and internet hype that seems to claim you should only use the latest/greatest camera available.

Before buying a new camera I usually ask myself "will I take better photos with it" and for me the answer to that is "no" most of the time. That's also why I still use an M2 and never fell for an M6 / MP / M-A.

Edited November 21, 2023 by pegelli

[pippy]

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My version of the 262 is the M-D and Leica haven't released anything newer which - for my needs and preferences - is more desirable. Not even close.

Simple as that.

Philip.

 

Edited November 21, 2023 by pippy

[Mute-on]

Just bought an M262 as my first digital Leica. I have three film Ms and no budget for a more modern digital M. 

My example is as new, and seems to have had very little use. So far, I’m very pleased with the results and certainly appreciate the generous battery life. Coming from film Ms the notion of having to carry more than one battery for a day of shooting seems most foreign. 

[a.noctilux]

8 minutes ago, Mute-on said:

Just bought an M262 as my first digital Leica

Congratulation.

M262 is the lightest digital M when it was launched (only 5g more than Monochrom with battery).

Consulting my note, as light as my MP film M, with battery and SD card M262 is 585g,

without battery, M262 only 500g comparing to Monochrom 545g nude.

[dpitt]

As I said before on this forum. If you take into account the compactness and weight of all digital M camera's with a small lens mounted. Then you have a hard time finding something that takes better pictures. Certainly if you see the camera as if it has a ISO 200 film inside (i.e. use it at base ISO)

I have been searching for a really compact solution that could match my M since I own a M8 (2010). The idea was that I needed a EDC solution that would make so great pictures that I would not have any regret if my M8 was not around. It did not have to be a rangefinder, just more compact and lighter than the M8 and make better pictures. Obviously cheaper than the M8 too, because it was to become my second EDC camera.

I never found one until today! Although the X2 and TL2 come close. The former is lighter and more compact, and most of the time just as good IQ. The latter takes even better images. Only, it  is just as heavy as the M and less compact. It can use the same lenses, but it is only as compact as the M if you remove the EVF.

So that is the reason I still use my M8 occasionally, and most of the time my M9 is the one I choose when I go out for a longer period of time. The M240 has many advantages over the M9, so it will be even harder to match.

Edited November 21, 2023 by dpitt

[84bravo]

The M240 is my "car camera." It's rough looking but works. I keep it with a basic kit of cheap lenses in the boot of my car most of the time. Or it gets called into wet weather duty or something similar. I'm a professional photographer and my daily work camera is the M11 and M10R.

The M240 is a very capable camera and is one of the best bargains to get into the M system.

[Jean-Michel]

Why do I still use an M-P(240)? Simple: because I have one. Any of the digital Ms let you make photographs; there are obviously differences in features as the newer models may be better at this or that, but the differences are nice but not essential. High ISO? For most of my career ISO 400 was high, and if the available light was too low you figured out some way to deal with that, Now, if I were to buy new M today, it would likely be the newest model and I would use that one for a overlong time without worrying about the upcoming M15.

[Luke_Miller]

My digital M journey began with the M8.2.  I loved the camera, but not the APS-C format with its crop factor.  When the full frame M9 was released, I moved to it.  Loved the camera, but my other (Nikon) cameras had CMOS sensors and much better performance at higher ISO settings.  When the M240 came out it had the CMOS sensor and provided the high ISO performance I was used to, so I moved to it.  The 24 mp M10 reportedly has a stop better ISO performance, but that of the M240 is good enough in my shooting. I don't need (or want) a higher resolution sensor in an M.  I feel 24 mp is the "sweet spot" for my photography, so I continue enjoying the M240. 

Edited November 22, 2023 by Luke_Miller

[Ernstk]

My M-P 240 simply does everything that I need in a camera. It's capable of taking better photos than I am.

It's probably one of the most capable M platforms around. Very reliable, extremely long battery life and in black paint with some brassing, it looks great.

Ernst

[costa43]

I skipped the m240 generation and went straight from the CCD to the m10 generation (m10r in my case). Recently a friend lent me his M-D for a day and I had a go with it and fell in love. So now, for no practical reason at all, I am considering purchasing one to sit alongside my ever expanding kit. All the M cameras have their charms and quirks and I've enjoyed each one I have owned or tried. I could easily just stick with any of them as a sole option for what I do and adapt my approach to their individual personalities.

 

[RexGig0]

I started Leica M shooting with a new M10, acquired in 2018. My 240-series is the Type 246 Monochrom, originally acquired pre-owned, shortly after I had fumbled and dropped my M10, while loading our vehicle for a day trip. I had been curious about the Monochrom concept, had wanted to be able to keep using my one much-loved M-mount lens*, while my M10 was out of action, and, had wanted to “get back on the horse that threw me.” Though I had bought the M10 largely because its viewfinder experience was better for shooters like me, who wear prescription eyeglasses, in actual practice, the difference is not of vital importance. The battery for the 240/246/262 cameras will almost never interrupt a day of shooting, by necessitating a removal or the bottom plate, to swap batteries. The slightly larger fore-and-aft thickness of the M240/246/262 does not bother me.

So, a 240/246/262-series camera seems to be easy to live with, for purely practical reasons. Considering the less-practical aspects, I do not have a 262, but love its minimalist cool factor. 😎 Then, there is that lingering desire to have and to hold a Black Lacquer Paint M digital camera, to match my one black-painted lens, which, realistically, with my financial resources, would mean an M-P Type 240. I am unlikely to acquire either of these cameras, but, if I were to own either, I would keep it. 

*The Summilux-M 50mm ASPH had been the grail-quest lens that drove me to add the Leica M system. Becoming an M shooter was mostly about the lens.

[douglas ball]

My journey. I started using M cameras in the eighties and loved them. I also used 120 film bodies for certain types to shooting.  For studio work I also had 4x5 gear, but 35 and 120 were my preferred options when out of the studio.

Then I reluctantly sold most cameras and lenses in the nineties because everything seemed to be going digital. I assumed my time with Leica was finished as I figured the Leica would never go there. It was even doubtful they would survive as a company during this time of transition.

Still they did go there and I bought the M9, and eventually the M 240 M-P and 246 because it had Live View, along with an EVF.  This provided the ability to use the great R lenses. 

A few years later the SL mirrorless was introduced and I bought into that system, loved it and decided that I would sell the silver MP 240. It had sat idle in the drawer for so long, and  the future was with the L group because it offered so much more flexibility. I started to see the M concept as a dated design that forced Leica to rely on 'Patchwork' work arounds to just stay relevant in the industry. I realized that the M rangefinder concept was originally designed to work mainly with the 35mm and 50mm lenses.  Everything else was sort of a compromise. In addition the bodies were delicate objects that were prone to require recalibrating from time to time. The SL mirrorless concept solved all that, and slowly the more excellent SL lenses began to appear to round out the system.

With the next iteration I bought into the Panasonic S1-R cameras with the larger sensor, and rounded out the few SL Apo lenses with some excellent Zeiss Milvus options.  

I though  that was it.  I was there.  I had what I needed. I had a complete kit that equalled or went beyond the medium film format that I had loved, and all in a 35 sized body.

Meanwhile I still had the M 246 and a small collection of M lenses which had not been used for a long time. I sort of longed to have a colour sensor by finding another M 240.   It made sense to standardize on the same batteries as the 246, use the same EVF and the L bracket I already had.  I was never that  interested in the M 10 when it came out because they had eliminated the in camera level feature, and the thinner body size led to a smaller and less powerful battery.

Last summer I found a M-P 'Black Paint' 240, in excellent condition.  I dug out the old dated EVF to use with my wider lenses, and found it usable enough.  Actually the level feature works extremely well in the EVF.  I particularly like the larger buffer in the MP because I can fire off a series of shots when needed.  Compared to more recent technology the relatively low ISO limits on the 240 were still something of a negative, BUT that has been addressed by the recent Lightroom Denoise introduction. This had given new life to these older cameras. The 24 mp sensor after Denoise generates a 45-47 file size while the S1-R generates a 90- 95 mp size. Suddenly the 240 is relative again in my opinion.  It gives me everything I want.

I have been reacquainted with the M series and love it once again. It is also possible that I went away from it because of my eyesight at the time. However since then I have had cataract surgery and my vision has been restored so I can now focus the rangefinder as it was intended to be focused. On one of my first trips with the M-P 240 I found myself returning to a way of shooting that I always loved. This was having two M bodies around my neck with say a 21 and a 50 available for use. That was pure pleasure.

In a way this does take me back to the eighties when I had available two choices. One was the 35mm M option, and the other was a medium format option, most likely a Hasselblad. Both worked.  I now see the L mount option with a 47 mp sensor as the medium format option for me. The M is my go anywhere option and I love that.

 

 

[lct]

Kept my M240 as backup for the M11. Feels solid as a tank with long lasting batteries and i can use almost all my M lenses on it. I say almost because the M240 produces red edges and corners with some UWA lenses, in my case symmetrical lenses like Biogon 21/4.5 or Super-Angulon 21/3.4 mainly. Skopar 21/4 and Heliar 15/4.5 v2 too. No problem otherwise, except that red colours tends to clip in case of overexposure but the issue can be fixed generally in PP.

Edited December 13, 2023 by lct

[Luke_Miller]

19 hours ago, douglas ball said:

I have been reacquainted with the M series and love it once again. It is also possible that I went away from it because of my eyesight at the time. However since then I have had cataract surgery and my vision has been restored so I can now focus the rangefinder as it was intended to be focused. 

My experience as well.  A diopter corrected my close distance vision problem, but my cataracts so degraded the contrast in my vision that manual focusing was difficult.  All good now.

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[masjah]

My film days were with the R system and its ROM lenses. The M240 + R-M adapter + EVF was my first "digital R", and the first workable such solution. When I say "workable", I mean in terms of my style of photography being mainly static, architectural subjects. I bought a 35/2.4 Summarit M lens for when I wanted to go light and more casual.  Later I got an SL2 + R-L adapter which is a much more flexible solution. But I still use my M 240 with its lovely little Summarit lens when I want to go light. Why on earth should I need to change it?