Decisive Moment Speed: Film or Digital M?

[xnlo]

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Hi all, 

As a CL owner looking into the M system, I’m curios to know from your own experience which, between a film Leica M and digital Leica M camera, is the quickest to draw and capture a decisive moment? 

[evikne]

I have no experience with analog, but on the latest digital M's, the start-up time after sleep is about 1.5 seconds. This can feel like an eternity when the decisive moment arrives and you frantically press the shutter button without anything happening.

[jaapv]

Except for the startup time, which should not make a difference as a photographer should be able to anticipate the act of taking a photograph is exactly the same. However a digital M can shoot bursts of a number of frames per second. 

[frame-it]

1 hour ago, xnlo said:

Hi all, 

As a CL owner looking into the M system, I’m curios to know from your own experience which, between a film Leica M and digital Leica M camera, is the quickest to draw and capture a decisive moment? 

digital camera startup or wake up from sleep time + in focus or out of focus? at f2 or f11?

unless the sunlight is changing really fast [e.g. fast moving clouds] the film camera would already be setup to shoot, digital cameras are the ones people sometimes end up fiddling with

 

 

Edited April 10, 2024 by frame-it

[250swb]

Definitely film because you continue making photographs while digital owners spend thirty seconds after each shot admiring what they just did.

[evikne]

Two more things regarding start-up time time on digital M's: 

1. You have the option to turn off auto-sleep, which eliminates the start-up time. But the benefit of this must be weighed against shortened battery life.

2. When you think a “decisive moment” is about to happen, get into the habit of pressing the shutter release halfway down to wake the camera from sleep, before lifting it up to your eye. Then it will usually be ready for use before the moment occurs. But I know from experience that this is just very easy to forget. What has happened to me many times is that I remember it the first time, but I didn't think it was worth taking a picture, and the camera then goes back to sleep, leaving me unprepared the next time something exciting suddenly happens.

Edited April 10, 2024 by evikne

[LocalHero1953]

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50 minutes ago, frame-it said:

unless the sunlight is changing really fast [e.g. fast moving clouds] the film camera would already be setup to shoot, digital cameras are the ones people sometimes end up fiddling with

 

 

This is true with a fully mechanical M. With (e.g.) the MP, you have to switch it on from the B setting and find the right shutter speed.

I suspect that in the real world there's no difference between film and digital Ms: most film Ms can't do auto exposure, and still have to be set up and focused. A digital M has a distinct wake-up time, but can get the exposure close to correct without delay. In both cases, if you prepare your camera (set exposure for current conditions, use zone focus, keep the camera on and awake) you have just as good a chance of getting the shot at the right time. 

[Chris W]

The slowest thing about both systems is the focussing. 

Both film and digital M's can shoot fast except for burst rates on the digital. I never shoot in bursts anyway. 

[xnlo]

Great and helpful responses! Thanks, all.

[Mute-on]

As others have said, all things being equal there is no difference. However, of the film Ms only the M7 offers aperture priority, whereas all digital Ms offer it.

Unless you have pre-metered and set shutter speed in advance, aperture priority can often be quicker in typical, less challenging lighting scenarios (not backlit, no snow or reflective surfaces, etc). 

[Budfox]

On 4/10/2024 at 7:21 AM, evikne said:

I have no experience with analog, but on the latest digital M's, the start-up time after sleep is about 1.5 seconds. This can feel like an eternity when the decisive moment arrives and you frantically press the shutter button without anything happening.

Sorry to differ, but in my use the M11 is closer to 2.5 to 3 seconds on startup - I do find it a little frustrating, but can use sleep mode to compensate which is fine and near immediate. My M9 is noticeably faster - pretty much immediate start up, except the occasional times there is a delay reading data off the card, but that is rare.

We also have a Q2 in the family and that is less than one second, so not noticeable (however, to compare other brands - the X100 and Zf cameras are instantaneous on start up - the Zf in particular seems to be ready even before the switch has reached the on position!).

Having said the above, you just need to understand your camera and work with it as many have stated.