M10-R Vs M240

[adamwarmington]

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Hey guys. Long time 240 owner. Love the camera. It’s an old topic, but I’m hoping for fresh insight. Considering the move to an m10-r. I know it’s newer has more pixels and better range BUT ……. Almost every time I see images shared from the 240 I am impressed. And I love my images of it also. Every time I see images of the m10-r I scratch my head. Obviously it’s 90% to do with whose hands the camera is in… but am I the only one who sees this ? 240 photos are so dense and rich and have that Leica look. From what I’ve seen off the m10-r, it seems less so… more ‘perfect’, like a canon/Sony modern image. To be clear, I am not into these hdr looking images. I like white whites and black blacks. I’m just looking for more iso and a larger image to work with. Can anyone prove me wrong ? Links please. Thanks so much

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[adamwarmington]

PS same goes for m11 images…

[Topsy]

Have you looked at the M10/M10P? Just curious because I think the MP count on the M10R and M11 are too much and possibly why you see the files as too "perfect" I prefer to call it too clinical.

[LeicaR10]

Adamwarmington,  I second Topsy's post #3.  Based on my years of experience with all the digital M cameras since 2008, I suggest the M10/M10-P at 24 Mps have stellar color and enough Mps for most M photographers.  For me, the M10-R IMO, is a sweetspot camera with excellent color, second only to a SL2-S and more than enough Mps at 40.  More Mps only gets you more detail and ability to crop more inside the frame.  I used all three models of the M-11 and chose to return to the M10-R for my landscape photography.  I simply don't need more Mps and issues with firmware etc.  I can easily print 4 ft X 6 ft prints with a M10/P and certainly M10-R.  IMO, the marketing departments for the camera makers have sold photographers a bill of goods.  Besides, you can create masterpiece photographs with any camera.  At the end of the day, it just takes vision, creativity and knowing the tool (camera and lens) in hand along excellent content, that makes the viewer; Stop, Look, Think and hopefully Feel something about that moment in time....to render a masterpiece photograph.  r/ Mark

PS  The M240 is an excellent camera with color that is IMO subjectively different.  You might look at these links and you might well see the difference.

M240 Try:  https://onfotolife.com/camera_sample_photos?camera_id=89&page=1&iso_min=0&iso_max=65535

M10  Try:  https://onfotolife.com/camera_sample_photos?camera_id=393&page=1&iso_min=0&iso_max=65535

M10-R  Try:  https://onfotolife.com/camera_sample_photos?camera_id=7065&page=1&iso_min=0&iso_max=65535

M11  Try:  https://onfotolife.com/camera_sample_photos?camera_id=7205&page=1&iso_min=0&iso_max=65535

Edited January 30, 2024 by LeicaR10

[Adam Bonn]

The above posts contain excellent advice, so rather than rehash I’m going to suggest a more whimsical view.

There’s a repetitive trend with Leica M digital.

M8. Base.

M9 initial view, the colours are dreadful compared to the M8, which was so lovely and organic and had that true Leica look

M240 initial view, the colours are dreadful compared to the M9, which was so lovely and organic and had that true Leica look

M10 initial view, the colours are dreadful compared to the M240, which was so lovely and organic and had that true Leica look

M10r initial view, the colours are dreadful compared to the M10, which was so lovely and organic and had that true Leica look

M11 initial view, the colours are dreadful compared to the M10r, which was so lovely and organic and had that true Leica look

(I suspect that anyone unhappy with their M11 colours is eagerly awaiting the M12, not to upgrade but to be happy 😆)

This is obviously written in jest…

 

[costa43]

I had a similar feeling when I bought my m10r. I missed my m9 and m8 (I still own the m8) The, or should I say my reality is, when I go over my old images now and compare, I do not feel the same way that I initially did and I’m much happier with the new camera. You have to work a little harder with the file to get it right but you have so much more latitude. Would you mind posting a couple of example images of the type of ‘look’ you like and I’ll post what I feel could be classed as similar with the m10r, I’ve taken hdr style ‘clinical’ images but also many normal family pics and day to day life stuff that I’ve not shared on here. Hopefully that may help you out with your decision making. 

[dugby]

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I still have and delight in seeing images from both of my M240 and M10-R.

What I have determined is how one chooses to develop a DNG can have more tangible effects on an image, and therefore one's opinion of either camera.

I have two lenses which have more effects on the image,  than the above two cameras,  eg a Zeiss Planar ZM 50mm f2  vs  APO-Summicron-M 50mm

 

I have decided , that the M10-R easily surpasses the M240 in all features, (except battery life), and found it difficult to shoot with the M240 again.

The M240 is just too thick and bulkier for my hands.

Shooting with the M10-R with the larger ISO and bigger image just just elevates my endorphins to much higher levels over the M240, and I love that new quieter M10-R shutter.

 

I still use my Adobe Lightroom 6.14 perpetual license, that came with my M240, to process the M10-R images.  It only took a couple DNG developments to seal-the-deal for me.

 

 

 

[RexGig0]

I have neither an M Type 240, nor an M10-R, so cannot comment on the colors, density, or richness, but previous replies have provided resources. As the owner of original M10 and M Type 246 Monochrom cameras, however, I can advise looking into the user experience with the physical camera bodies, before making a decision. The M10-series viewfinder is “better,” especially for those who wear eyeglasses, but, having started with an M10, and later added the Monochrom 246, this is not a make-or-break factor, even though I wear eyeglasses while shooting.

Batteries: This is a truly significant factor. The battery in the 240/246/262 cameras is large, and long-lasting. One battery can suffice for an entire day of shooting. The smaller battery, made for the M10-series, is slimmer. A day of prolific shooting may deplete two M10 batteries, and I would think that a “pro” might require as many as three batteries, for shooting a busy event. Moreover, M10 batteries will self-discharge comparatively more, during storage.

ISO Dial, Versus ISO Button: Neither is “better,” in all circumstances. They are simply different. The M10’s external ISO dial does allow the shooter to see the ISO setting at a glance, without the need to have the camera powered-on, but, in dark conditions, pressing the 240/246’s ISO button, and looking at the LCD, to check or set the ISO, is probably more convenient than finding a light source to see the M10’s dial.

Thickness, Front-To-Back: The M10-series cameras are thinner, in the front-to-back dimension. This was marketed as an improvement, a digital M that matched the thickness of Leica 35mm film M cameras. Neither is “better,” in my opinion. The thinness of the M10 is what necessitates that M10 battery being thinner and smaller in capacity. I had no prior experience with the Leica M film cameras, so, had not developed a preference for their thinness.

Thumb Rest: The M10-series’ thumb rest seems more grip-able, with my right thumb, than the thumb rest on the 246, which should be the same as that on the 246. We all have unique thumbs, so, this will be more significant to some, than others.

 

Edited January 30, 2024 by RexGig0

[Adam Bonn]

One of the things that I love about my 10r compared to the 240/10 that proceeded it is the true 100 ISO combined with the best highlight recovery of any M up to that point means that I can make photos without having to futz about with ND filters so much.

I'm a fan of the M9 'look' and I still have (and use) my M9.

I get the whole 'retrospective' thing... when I got the 240 I thought that the M9 probably produced nicer images and certainly needed less PP to do so.

I reviewed a bunch of my 240 images over the weekend and I thought the colours/tones were nicer than I remember them being!

[aamwgm]

13 hours ago, adamwarmington said:

Hey guys. Long time 240 owner. Love the camera. It’s an old topic, but I’m hoping for fresh insight. Considering the move to an m10-r. I know it’s newer has more pixels and better range BUT ……. Almost every time I see images shared from the 240 I am impressed. And I love my images of it also. Every time I see images of the m10-r I scratch my head. Obviously it’s 90% to do with whose hands the camera is in… but am I the only one who sees this ? 240 photos are so dense and rich and have that Leica look. From what I’ve seen off the m10-r, it seems less so… more ‘perfect’, like a canon/Sony modern image. To be clear, I am not into these hdr looking images. I like white whites and black blacks. I’m just looking for more iso and a larger image to work with. Can anyone prove me wrong ? Links please. Thanks so much

I had a similar feeling about M10-R images, and I kept from buying it for the same reason. And I know what you mean. I think the M240 images I've seen online, the colours seem very rich and the images have a ton of character, even more than my M10. In contrast, the M10-R seems much more perfect and clinical: and more suited for someone who likes to post process their images to their liking. So the camera tends to me more unopinionated, if you will.

I discussed the same thing in this thread and in particular, this post (the saturation in the skies and greens is pretty apparent).

I still think the differences are minor and highly subjective, though. I think both of these cameras are great.

I decided to stick with my M10. 🙂

 

Edited January 30, 2024 by aamwgm