Best test for M10 with Leica 50mm F1.4 Asph compared to Q2

[TheLaird]

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I have had a Q2 for 6 months and .... love it !! I really do fancy moving a Q3 (screen, USB charging being 2 biggies for me) but before that, I want to check out M10 to see if it is even better. So for the Easter weekend I have got a M10 and 50mm to try out.

So what sort of testing would you recommend? I will put the Q2 into "50mm focal length mode" which will give me a DNG of similar appearance. I have Hi Contrast JPG on Q2 and have put M10 into Mono.

For me the #1 is focus. I have been getting great results from the focus peaking (through optical viewfinder) on the Q2 but of course the M10 is radically different. So can I master it?

I will go down to local canal and shot some boats there as they have nice lines and structures.

I will get my wife to pose so I can try out people shots.

Lots of landscape near me in the Highlands of Scotland so will do some "picture postcard" comparisons.

Will be doing some wide open and then down to F11.

Anything else I should try?

Best way to compare? Is it just load them up in LR and look at them side-by-side?

Any help greatly appreciated.

My main criteria is I suppose image quality followed closely by mono tones.

Note: I have Olympus gear for anything that moves like wildlife, sport, etc.

 

Edited March 28, 2024 by TheLaird

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[brickftl]

Since you're adept at Q2 manual focus using focus peeking, I expect you'll have no problem using the M10 rangefinder focus. And you can also continue to use focus peeking instead of rangefinder focus via live view on the back of the M10.

In terms of image quality, IMO (which I'm able to give since I had the Q, Q2 and most recently the Q3 which I sold to jump into a M10 plus 3 really great Leica lenses, the M10 images have more character and "soul" than the Q3 images which although tack sharp I find almost too sharp to the point of being crunchy and sterile. Interestingly, of all 3 Q's I've owned, images from the Q were my favorite. Once I got the Q2 (and subsequently Q3) I was kind of turned off by their images for reasons I just stated. Then when I got the M10 and absolutely LOVED the images, the light bulb in my brain went on when I realized that the M10 and the original Q have the exact same 24mp sensor.

I don't think you need suggestions on what to shoot - you seem to have that down pretty well. Just go out and shoot whatever you'd normally shoot with your Q2.

Oh and by the way, one of my lenses is the 50/1.4 summilux asph, and it's just fabulous.

PM me if you want to see images I've shot with the M10 in the last 5 weeks since I got it.

Edited March 28, 2024 by brickftl

[Le Chef]

I borrowed an M10 + 35mm ‘cron and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It brought back “muscle memory” from shooting film SLR’s in the 80’s. To me the biggest challenge is anticipation of what is going to happen and where. Wayne Gretzky the legendary hockey-player talked about “always skating to where I think the puck is going to be”. That approach seems to work for me. The irritation with the M was the fact that I could see a part of the lens in the OVF. Maybe it’s a distraction you learn to ignore - I’m not sure.

I eventually received my Q3 after a month of waiting and have decided for now to stick with that. I can shoot manual or automatic as my mood and circumstances dictate.

An M still has a lot of appeal but I can wait a while.