Leica M Typ 240 in 2024?

[Herr Barnack]

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@atournas  I currently have an M-P 240.  Before that, I had an M240.  I upgraded because the M240 with its 1GB buffer would get log jammed when I would make multiple shots in quick succession.  I would have to shut the camera off, remove the base plate and battery to get it to unlock.  This didn't happen a lot, but it was a pain when it did.  With its 2GB buffer, my M-P 240 has never log jammed on me.  IMHO, I would get the M-P 240 if possible. 

I would recommend the SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card for the M240  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1692696-REG/sandisk_sdsdxxd_128g_ancin_128gb_extreme_pro_uhs_i.html.  The 200 MB/s read-write speed seems to be fast enough for the M240 cameras.  I started out with Lexar cards and was plagued with corrupted files - as in 15% or more of my shots would be corrupted.  Not at all acceptable.  Once I changed to SanDisk SDXC memory cards, I no longer had corrupted files

Other than the above, the M240 and M-P 240 are reliable and solid performers.  The low light performance isn't the best, given its maximum ISO of 6400.  A fast lens and a monopod or tripod will let you work at lower ISOs and have files that are not excessively noisy.  I know that most M  users detest monopods and especially tripods, but there is a time and place for them.  Regarding print size, the 24 MB sensor of the M-P 240 has allowed me to make exhibit quality prints at 24x36 inches.  That's a big enough print for my exhibit purposes.

IMHO, a nice used 240 is a good place to start in the Leica M system.  I would love to have an M11-P but the reliability issues it has had makes me wary.  That, and the $9200 USD price tag are deal breakers for me.

Edited July 3, 2024 by Herr Barnack

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[Jean-Michel]

1 hour ago, lct said:

Not sure i would use a sticky accessory on black paint but my experience with the Thumbie is limited to my silver M11. As for my M240's thumb grip, it is silver also. It is the Match Technical EP-10S Thumbs Up Grip for Leica M (Typ 240) and M (Typ 262) (Silver). Excellent grip but i have no experience with the black version.

Hi, just for more info: my Thumbies on my M9 and the one on my M-P(240), both black paint have stayed put for years in just about daily use in both hot and freezing weather. The Thunbie's back paint does wear off quite quickly living the brass material exposed. The Thumbiie also do not take up space on the accessory shoe, if that is a concern.

[jmahto]

On 6/29/2024 at 9:22 AM, GlennS said:

I have been toying with whether or not to "upgrade" to an M10 (purely for the better low-light abilities) or stick at it with the M240 that I bought back in January this year.

 

I still have M240 (I bought it new when it came out) and grab it for travel/vacation pics. Easy to use and excellent pic quality. I have also stopped chasing high iso pic quality long ago. Partly because a good wide aperture lens is sufficient to shoot almost every night pics in iso 3200 or less. And add to this the new LR’s intelligent NR capability, I don’t worry about sensor noise any more. In fact my other cheap  camera Nex6 also got a new lease of life due to this since sensor noise becomes a non issue. 
 

What I most like about M240? Other than simplicity (well, that is M 🙂), I never have had to worry about battery. I have two batteries and I keep one fully charged. Since I shoot very little now a days, I charge maybe once in 6 months. I never had battery anxiety. Not even for whole day of shooting (travel/vacation). 

Edited July 4, 2024 by jmahto

[Luke_Miller]

Since I acquired and started shooting with SL bodies, my M240 has languished in the equipment cabinet.  A week ago I got it out to photograph a wedding reception.  I had forgotten how enjoyable it was in use.  I also re-discovered that (unlike my SL2 and 24-90 zoom) people don't pay much attention to an M.  Only in very few shots were subjects looking at the camera.  My goal is to capture natural expressions, so I prefer that the subjects ignore me.  The M works beautifully in that regard.

[Algarius]

Hi everybody !

I intend to buy a M camera. I have found 2 possible cameras at the same price (from a shop with a 6 month-warranty):

M240 silver from 2014

M262 black from 2016

I know they are very similar and I don't need video. Which one would you choose ?

Thanks for your help / advice !

[a.noctilux]

40 minutes ago, Algarius said:

I don't need video

Easy choice, M262 ... lighter, prettier and no video to think (= bother) about, if you prefer black M.

But M240 in silver that I use more as wife uses M262 can be also a good choice.

[Algarius]

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Thanks Arnaud but I fear I might miss the liveview which may be handy in some cases... But at the same time this M262 is 2 years more recent.

[a.noctilux]

Choice not so easy then.

LV is nice but in M240, the time parallax  (with false sound, shutter closing, etc.) is so large that it's no useable for me.

Maybe it's not important for you.

Anyway each will be great M to use with great lens(es).

[jaapv]

What do you mean with false sound?  The M240 has a mechanical shutter, nothing else and certainly no artificial click.

[a.noctilux]

Jaapv,

I don't know what the LV /EVF "false sound"is but the "sound" of shutter opening/closing was not M-like (with time parallax) so I don't use LV/EVF so often.

For using R lenses that I own, it was fun though.

[jaapv]

Ah - in LV/EVF the shutter is open so there will be a quadruple action  close-open-expose-close-open. All EVF/LV cameras will have this, but the M240 lacks a bit of damping and soundproofing.

[lct]

The M240 feels so sluggish in LV mode that i use it only in RF mode i must say. It is mainly a back up for my M11 though.

[Mute-on]

2 hours ago, Algarius said:

Thanks Arnaud but I fear I might miss the liveview which may be handy in some cases... But at the same time this M262 is 2 years more recent.

I purchased a basically mint M262 last October. I’ve never used LV in a Leica M and have no lenses wider than 28 that could benefit from it. I prefer to bring the camera to my eye using the rangefinder in any case. That’s one of the major attractions of the M.

I am really enjoying my M262. Beautiful colours, accurate metering that works perfectly in aperture priority, brilliantly clear viewfinder, and the batteries last for EVER. I’m even considering an M246 Monochrom as a second digital body.  I say don’t hesitate. Get the M262!

[metalgrunt]

@atournas As many others have said before, M (typ 240) is a great camera. Couple of comments with comparisons because you are a former owner of M9:

- Compared to M9, the battery of Typ 240 lasts way longer but is also way more reliable. My M9 (and ME) batteries always drain or just stop working in cold weather (and I have to carry two extras during winter), but no such problems with Typ 240. During the summer, I usually do not carry a spare at all with Typ 240 because the battery lasts so long. Winter is a bit different thing, because where I live, it can get so cold that extra battery is needed anyways. But where M9 would start giving trouble near 0 degrees (Celsius), the batteries of Typ 240 do not surprisingly stop working even when it's -10.

- I managed to break my Typ 240 in heavy rain. With M9 (and its poor weather sealing), the camera always survived the heavy rains and snow storms - the water would sometimes find its way inside the camera in a way that some water came out when I opened the bottom plate... But nothing ever broke down. Typ 240 did not like serious rain - the camera stopped storing pictures and some buttons stopped working. The repair costs around 1400 euros... 

- I do not notice much size or weight difference between Typ 240/246 and M8/M9/MM/ME...

- For some reason, I have much less trouble focusing the lenses on Typ 240 series cameras (compared to M9/MM/ME). Either the rangefinder is improved over M9 or maybe the better screen gives so much better previews that is is easy to notice that something is wrong so that I pay more attention to focusing of following images...

- With my shooting style, I have not noticed any difference between 1 Gb buffer of Typ 240 and 2 Gb buffer of Typ 246 - I cannot get either one to freeze. ME and M9 I sometimes manage to lock up when taking too many pictures in a short period of time. Sometimes they recover by turning the camera off and back on, but sometimes I have to remove the battery to wake the camera. M8 is even worse.

I got my typ 240 for a very good price couple of years ago and was not sure if I would start to use it as I had perfectly well working M9 and ME. But I soon realized that it does everything that M9 does but better (well except for taking the heavy rain - and starting up... M9 is almost immediately ready to take pictures when switched on, Typ 240 only starts reacting after 3 seconds or so. Usually not a dramatic difference but sometimes it is annoying.)

Edited August 11, 2024 by metalgrunt
Added some clarirfications such as "typ 240" here and there...

[lct]

52 minutes ago, metalgrunt said:

Typ 240 only starts reacting after 3 seconds or so

You may wish to format your cards with SD Card Formatter. I measured 2 seconds average this way. Was 10 years ago though and i did not redo the test with modern cards since then. FWIW.

Edited August 11, 2024 by lct

[jmahto]

For me LV of M240 is a good feature that gets used in special cases. I use it mainly to focus on BEOON for scanning my negatives. After focusing I switch off LV and shoot in 2 sec delay mode and get no vibration.

I also use it with EV for non M but excellent lenses like 80-200 R (and many other SLR lenses) whenever I am in mood. In this usage the clunkiness is no more than old manual SLRs.

I agree that it is indeed clunky in usage but I put up with it since I have nothing to complain about the final results.