M10-r to replace all other digital cameras?

[Chris81]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Having had an M9 for a couple of years, I'm thinking about upgrading, possibly to an M10-r. I'm loving the M2 and want to stay with the system but find that I reach for my Canon R8 or the X100vi ahead of the M9 in anything other than daylight. They're both very good cameras but I feel nothing for them in the way I do for the M2 or M9. So I guess the question is would the M10-r be enough to replace the X100vi and the Canon (and the M9)? Or should I wait for the M11 to come down a bit? I may miss having something for one handed snap shots and a silent shutter for concert photography, but it would be nice to get rid of some stuff and go all in with the M system. I'd still keep a Rolleiflex for MF film and a Sony ZV-1 for occasional video and for when I don't fancy taking such valuable gear with me. I'm a hobby photographer - no sports or wildlife, no serious video. Just too many cameras and a nasty case of G.A.S. I would consider standard M10 and M10-p too but just saw a couple of M10-r at decent prices and think the quieter shutter could be useful. I also scan film with the Canon but that should be possible with live view on an M as well, right? Providing I get a macro lens, obviously.

I understand the M9 can be used in low light etc but the days are so short now here in Sweden and I want to remove as many barriers as possible so I have no excuses to stay in!

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[otto.f]

My answer is yes. I could summarise a lot of arguments, but the fact is that it is my one and only digital camera since july 2021. I use it without any shame or fear in theaters and concerts. The shutter sound is so sympathetic that if people hear it at all, they aren't irritated. The colors are the best of all digital M's.

[Chris81]

Thanks for the replies! I'm a musician and sometimes I shoot at classical or jazz concerts. The M9 might as well be listed as part of the band with the amount of noise it makes so I'm sure any M10 would be a big improvement!

I'm also tempted by the SL2-s at around half the price of the M10-r. It would definitely tick all the boxes and would work well with my M lenses, but I think I'd be back on the internet looking at M10's again within a week or two.

Edited December 10, 2024 by Chris81

[JoshuaR]

I love my M10-R. I also love the quiet shutter. I think it does make a difference, honestly—I take a lot of pictures of my family at ultra-quiet moments (e.g., baby bedtime), and it's not so much that the regular M10 shutter is loud but that the M10-R shutter is almost imperceptible. 

It's a great camera.

[Markey]

3 minutes ago, JoshuaRothman said:

I love my M10-R. I also love the quiet shutter. I think it does make a difference, honestly—I take a lot of pictures of my family at ultra-quiet moments (e.g., baby bedtime), and it's not so much that the regular M10 shutter is loud but that the M10-R shutter is almost imperceptible. 

It's a great camera.

You make a very convincing case for having one.

[pgh]

As with anyone, it depends. 

The SL2-S you're looking at is more versatile and better for concerts.

But an M10-R is great, and even at the same price I would prefer it over an M-11. Though I've been happy enough with my M10, personally, for color. 

There will always be some scenarios where another tool is better you just need to sort out how much that bothers you, or if you value the sort of austerity you'd impose on yourself by only have one tool. 

[kevinjoe]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have the M10-R and use it almost exclusively for everything (and the M10 Mono but it's essentially the same camera).  I will say, if you want it all, don't get the SL2-S.  Get the M10-R and pair it with a Nikon Zf with the TT Artisan M-Z 6bit adapter.  I had the SL2 . . then the SL2-S. . .and still was frustrated and got the Zf as I have to adapt a Cannon TS-17 for my job.  The SL2-S was fine for my real estate photography work, but I really didn't use it otherwise as it wasn't very good autofocus and paled in comparison to the M10-R for manual lens focusing.  The Zf is MUCH easier to focus manual focus M lenses than the SL2-S in my opinion after you get used to its quirks. And the lenses perform great on that sensor.  It has eye tracking and will punch in on the eye. Can do trap focusing with Leica lenses and that adapter.  It also has good video capabilities so you could drop the Sony you're keeping and still have only 2 digital cameras.  I just took photos at a musical and took the Zf and used my Leica 90mm lens on it. . . got crazy low light performance with the sensor (same essentially as the SL2-S) and image stabilization plus the amazing manual focus tools and essentially a near perfect live view.  If you get the 40mm lens as a kit, it's cheap and you have a somewhat small autofocus camera setup.  The two paired together have been absolutely amazing for pretty much any situation and can fit together, with lenses attached, in something as small as the Leica Combination bag from Billingham.  I just run around with the M10-R all day and then pull out the Zf if it's horrid weather, if I want to shoot a long lens or something old with focus shift, or if I want to be lazy and use autofocus (and it's autofocus using AF-C and 3D tracking is the same vibe as using the rangefinder as you can leave the box in the center, pick the subject, and then recompose - - - with the bonus of it keeping tracking focus locked on that subject.

[otto.f]

9 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Unless you are shooting theatre plays or church "quieter shutter" does not matter AT ALL (I own both M10-P and M10-R).

and classical music, especially chamber music

[AceVentura1986]

Yes, if you’re not shooting action or wildlife or if you don’t need a tilt shift lens the M10R can replace most other cameras. I’ve got an M10P and an M10M plus a canon 5DsR with a full stable of Canon lenses and have wrestled with this idea for a while. Do I keep my Canon gear or sell it as I use it very rarely? Right now, my Canon system is limited to tilt shift lens or macro lens situations as there doesn’t seem to be an adequate replacement in the Leica M system. 

[otto.f]

5 hours ago, AceVentura1986 said:

need a tilt shift lens

Huh? The M10-R has perspective control. A tiltshift lens for 35mm bodies won’t deliver more than this digital option I’d guess?

[Chris81]

16 hours ago, kevinjoe said:

I have the M10-R and use it almost exclusively for everything (and the M10 Mono but it's essentially the same camera).  I will say, if you want it all, don't get the SL2-S.  Get the M10-R and pair it with a Nikon Zf with the TT Artisan M-Z 6bit adapter.  I had the SL2 . . then the SL2-S. . .and still was frustrated and got the Zf as I have to adapt a Cannon TS-17 for my job.  The SL2-S was fine for my real estate photography work, but I really didn't use it otherwise as it wasn't very good autofocus and paled in comparison to the M10-R for manual lens focusing.  The Zf is MUCH easier to focus manual focus M lenses than the SL2-S in my opinion after you get used to its quirks. And the lenses perform great on that sensor.  It has eye tracking and will punch in on the eye. Can do trap focusing with Leica lenses and that adapter.  It also has good video capabilities so you could drop the Sony you're keeping and still have only 2 digital cameras.  I just took photos at a musical and took the Zf and used my Leica 90mm lens on it. . . got crazy low light performance with the sensor (same essentially as the SL2-S) and image stabilization plus the amazing manual focus tools and essentially a near perfect live view.  If you get the 40mm lens as a kit, it's cheap and you have a somewhat small autofocus camera setup.  The two paired together have been absolutely amazing for pretty much any situation and can fit together, with lenses attached, in something as small as the Leica Combination bag from Billingham.  I just run around with the M10-R all day and then pull out the Zf if it's horrid weather, if I want to shoot a long lens or something old with focus shift, or if I want to be lazy and use autofocus (and it's autofocus using AF-C and 3D tracking is the same vibe as using the rangefinder as you can leave the box in the center, pick the subject, and then recompose - - - with the bonus of it keeping tracking focus locked on that subject.

Interesting that the Nikon performs better than SL2-s with the M glass. I have tried the canon r8 with an M adapter but it really wasn’t good. Apparently the R5 is much better but I feel slightly depressed just thinking about it. That’s why I was wondering about the SL2s.

I think I wanted everyone to tell me the M10r would be perfect and that’s basically what’s happened! I think limitation and simplicity would do me good so perhaps I’ll just go for it!

[dugby]

The M10-R is an extremely joyful and satisfying M to capture APO50 images. I take great delight in using this combo as my "go-to" camera.

 

I am sure you will also find it equally satisfying with any Leica (& also Zeiss ZM) lenses that you chose.

[otto.f]

9 hours ago, Chris81 said:

Interesting that the Nikon performs better than SL2-s with the M glass. I have tried the canon r8 with an M adapter but it really wasn’t good. Apparently the R5 is much better but I feel slightly depressed just thinking about it. That’s why I was wondering about the SL2s.

I think I wanted everyone to tell me the M10r would be perfect and that’s basically what’s happened! I think limitation and simplicity would do me good so perhaps I’ll just go for it!

Take into account that you might need some time to get acquainted with it. 42Mb is something different without image stabilization than an M9. But after 3 years my love still grows; I can be still surprised about the beautiful colors it delivers. 

Edited December 12, 2024 by otto.f

[AceVentura1986]

19 hours ago, otto.f said:

Huh? The M10-R has perspective control. A tiltshift lens for 35mm bodies won’t deliver more than this digital option I’d guess?

Perspective control is software based and, IMHO, works well only w moderate keystoning. At a certain point, perspective control in software will warp an image to the extent that it will look odd, almost like an uncanny valley effect. It’s def good to have, but, IMHO, does not replace a quality TS lens. 

[evikne]

When the M10 was launched, I had a Canon 5D Mark II and a Leica M9. With the M10, I felt I had a camera that could replace both the other two, so I did. Today, the M10-R is an even better replacement because of its better dynamic range and silent shutter.

[charlesphoto99]

My Nikon D850 is almost permanently on a copy stand for archiving my film files. Every once in awhile, esp if I need to use my 300, it will come out to play. But most everything else I can do with my M10-R and M10M, with lenses from 18mm to 135mm. Having too many different camera systems is often the detriment to learning just one really well. 

[BenMathes]

Chris— my only advice is to try the M10R a LOT before you buy- I sent mine back to Leica 3 times in the first 6 months- even included a video of it freezing and failing to fire-was told there was nothing wrong with it-3 times! I can’t afford to miss shots with a camera that freezes- I went back to a pair of M6’s, an R6.2, and a Q2 Reporter- my confidence in Leica has returned! Just beware!!!!

[CP93]

> M10-r to replace all other digital cameras

… and in the darkness bind them!

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[kevinjoe]

On 12/11/2024 at 4:01 PM, Chris81 said:

Interesting that the Nikon performs better than SL2-s with the M glass. I have tried the canon r8 with an M adapter but it really wasn’t good. Apparently the R5 is much better but I feel slightly depressed just thinking about it. That’s why I was wondering about the SL2s.

I think I wanted everyone to tell me the M10r would be perfect and that’s basically what’s happened! I think limitation and simplicity would do me good so perhaps I’ll just go for it!

It's not that the Zf actually performs better in terms of the sensor / lens combo. . . .but I've never noticed a lack of sharpness or performance compared to the SL2-S.   It's that it "works" better in the sense that you can focus easier with it since the area you might want to punch in actually tracks with the subject.  Oh, and, if you use that TT Artisan smart adapter I mentioned, it actually gives you focus confirmation so you don't even need to punch in.  So, say you're photographing a person, it will lock on their eye with the manual focus lens and then as you manually focus, the box over the eye will go green when it's in focus (plus it shows some arrows in the lower left side telling you if you need to focus further out or in to achieve focus. . . .pretty amazing actually.  BUT I still prefer the M10-R for manual focus, it's just nice to have something else for those unique situations (like long lens or low light where you need image stabilization).

Edited December 13, 2024 by kevinjoe

[Lee S]

Still have my Sony A7III for kid shots a home, but it doesn’t really go out with me.

Leica M only if I’m out and about.