New to M system

[jacopastorius]

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Hi guys. I recently bought a SL 601 and really love it. I have Voigtlander 35 Ultron and voigtlander 21 color skopar adapted with Leica M to L adapter. I was using Nikon Zf before and now I want nothing but Leica gear. 

So I was thinking about buying a 240. I just don't want to spend a lot for a M10 (M11 Is out of budget) because it is my first telemeter camera.

I shoot street photography and landscape/architecture.

What worries me is the battery availability for the M240...

Do you think is a good choice?

[Carlos cruz]

You won’t love color skopar on m 240, colour vignetting is rather hard on m 240 much less so on m10. You can get retrofocal type 21 or just “fix it in the post” otherwise m240 is really nice, sturdy camera, had mine for few years, didn’t pamper it but it never failed me, it was never too hot or too cold just be reasonable. If you want to test how much you like télémètre cameras it can be a good starting point. 

[Eoin]

First impressions are important to get right, I strongly recommend the M10 at the moment, I've seen them €3.5k'ish recently.
For me personally and subjectively, the M10 is the first time Leica got the digital M right, great camera!.

But my main point is value, without doubt the M10-R is the sweet spot, but any time I come back to the M10, it lacks absolutely nothing except resolution for serious cropping. The M10 is bullet proof and at its current asking price a good €1k below a M10-P and €3k below the M10-R. 

For small money difference between M10 and M240, the jump back to traditional M dimensions on the M10 and in hand feel, nostalgic perhaps but the ergonomics mimic traditional analogue M much better.

Buy once, cry once, if it's not for you, it should hold its value to get your money back by selling it on.

 

[jaapv]

Battery supply is indeed  non-existent presently. However, I did find one - a bit pricey, though. But, free shipping.

 

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[lct]

The M240 can be used with both Ultron 35/2 and Color Skopar 21/3.5 but the Color Skopar 21/4 will cause color shifts at edges and corners on it. Great camera in RF mode otherwise. In LV mode it is too sluggish to advise IMHO. 

Edit: Batteries for M240 are available in France but elsewhere i don't know.

Edited July 8 by lct

[jacopastorius]

This thing of the color shift is a huge problem.. have to think carefully before buying the camera. I just found a near mint for 2k euros, grey version.

[lct]

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3 minutes ago, jacopastorius said:

This thing of the color shift is a huge problem.. have to think carefully before buying the camera. I just found a near mint for 2k euros, grey version.

Color shift is not a problem with the Skopar 21/3.5. I would avoid the Skopar 21/4 though, also Super-Angulon 21/3.4 and Biogon 21/4.5.

[jacopastorius]

14 minutes ago, lct said:

Color shift is not a problem with the Skopar 21/3.5. I would avoid the Skopar 21/4 though, also Super-Angulon 21/3.4 and Biogon 21/4.5.

Oh many thanks I misread.

[jaapv]

I would advise the Zeiss ZM Biogon 21 or 28. 

[IkarusJohn]

9 hours ago, jacopastorius said:

Hi guys. I recently bought a SL 601 and really love it. I have Voigtlander 35 Ultron and voigtlander 21 color skopar adapted with Leica M to L adapter. I was using Nikon Zf before and now I want nothing but Leica gear. 

So I was thinking about buying a 240. I just don't want to spend a lot for a M10 (M11 Is out of budget) because it is my first telemeter camera.

I shoot street photography and landscape/architecture.

What worries me is the battery availability for the M240...

Do you think is a good choice?

Great username!  Big fan.

If you don’t mind my asking, why did you buy the SL?  I also have the SL(601), but I bought it for the 24-90 zoom and telephotos (which the M cameras can’t do).  I do use my SL with my M lenses - particularly the 21 Summilux, 50 Noctilux 0.95 and 75 Summilux.  The SL is particularly good with these lenses.

However, except when using the zoom or telephoto, my M camera is my preferred choice.

If you’re thinking of an M camera, I would suggest you get the camera that you will be happiest with in the long term - that would be one of the M10 series, in my view.  Stable, closer to the traditional size and lovely to use.  Batteries still available.  

For lenses, I suggest you identify the focal length you use the most (typically 35mm or 50mm), search this forum for the choices and then look for a good secondhand one at a fair price.  I have bought many lenses through secondhand shops in Hong Kong.

@jaapv’s suggestion of the Biogon is a good one.  The 35 Distagon is also really good, though large.  If you can find a 35 Summilux pre-asph for a sensible price, they are also very good (soft wide open, sharp stopped down, but prone to veiling flare).  In 50s, you might find either a Summicron (not the APO or the recent re-release) or the first version of the 50 Summilux ASPH (you will never sell it once you’ve bought it).  There are lots of other choices, like Elmarits etc.  It’s just a case of hunting around.

But, were it me, I’d look for a good condition M10-P or M10-R, and I’d add one good Leica lens.  Sell the rest!

[jacopastorius]

2 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

Great username!  Big fan.

If you don’t mind my asking, why did you buy the SL?  I also have the SL(601), but I bought it for the 24-90 zoom and telephotos (which the M cameras can’t do).  I do use my SL with my M lenses - particularly the 21 Summilux, 50 Noctilux 0.95 and 75 Summilux.  The SL is particularly good with these lenses.

However, except when using the zoom or telephoto, my M camera is my preferred choice.

If you’re thinking of an M camera, I would suggest you get the camera that you will be happiest with in the long term - that would be one of the M10 series, in my view.  Stable, closer to the traditional size and lovely to use.  Batteries still available.  

For lenses, I suggest you identify the focal length you use the most (typically 35mm or 50mm), search this forum for the choices and then look for a good secondhand one at a fair price.  I have bought many lenses through secondhand shops in Hong Kong.

@jaapv’s suggestion of the Biogon is a good one.  The 35 Distagon is also really good, though large.  If you can find a 35 Summilux pre-asph for a sensible price, they are also very good (soft wide open, sharp stopped down, but prone to veiling flare).  In 50s, you might find either a Summicron (not the APO or the recent re-release) or the first version of the 50 Summilux ASPH (you will never sell it once you’ve bought it).  There are lots of other choices, like Elmarits etc.  It’s just a case of hunting around.

But, were it me, I’d look for a good condition M10-P or M10-R, and I’d add one good Leica lens.  Sell the rest!

yup, jaco was amazing!

I bought the SL because I wanted a capable Leica camera at a fair price. I liked it so much with both manual and autofocus lenses (I had the opportunity to shoot with Panasonic 24-70 a pro for 2 weeks). many thanks for the suggestion, for sure the M10 Is the best choice but consider I never tried the telemeter and there's a chance I will feel not comfortable with it. The problem is the budget: I don't mind spending 2k for a 240 and then sell it but M10 Is about 4.5k for a thing I'm not sure I'll be comfortable with. Unfortunately I have not the possibility to rent it to try before buying 

[jacopastorius]

ended up with M10. I tried a bit before buying and I really loved the telemeter. The Voigtlander 35 Ultron is fantastic with this camera, absolutely another lens if compared to the adapted on SL 601.

My only complain but I think it is just a matter of getting used to is the fact that even with 35mm I have to move my eye to the edges of the viewfinder because the frame lines are near to it

[Chris W]

What is a 'telemeter'?

[Carlos cruz]

15 minutes ago, Chris W said:

What is a 'telemeter'?

Rangefinder with Greek accent

[lct]

22 minutes ago, Chris W said:

What is a 'telemeter'?

« an instrument for measuring the distance of an object from an observer »
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telemeter

[Chris W]

I was presuming 'rangefinder'.

[jacopastorius]

1 hour ago, Chris W said:

I was presuming 'rangefinder'.

exactly 

[lct]

1 hour ago, Chris W said:

I was presuming 'rangefinder'.

Which is a telemeter

[catacore]

On 7/10/2025 at 12:45 PM, jacopastorius said:

ended up with M10. I tried a bit before buying and I really loved the telemeter. The Voigtlander 35 Ultron is fantastic with this camera, absolutely another lens if compared to the adapted on SL 601.

My only complain but I think it is just a matter of getting used to is the fact that even with 35mm I have to move my eye to the edges of the viewfinder because the frame lines are near to it

Congrats for your M10 camera!

I had the same dilemma about 6 month ago. Then the price difference between an M240 and an M10 was in excess of 1k EUR, then towards an M10-P it was more than 2k EUR. I opted for the M240-P, then spent another 2.2k to buy a 50mm Summilux Asph v1 (with this sort of money I could have bought only an M10-P). For me, I guess, it was the best deal/option. The M240 baterry is much bigger (lasts much more) than the M10 baterry, plus I am carrying a camera less expensive wherever I go, so I feel less stressed about it being stolen/lost/damaged/etc. Plus, it is black, so it's black paint (a.k.a. BP - for whoever cares - me included 😁).

Edited July 11 by catacore

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Look here: Leica M

[jacopastorius]

38 minutes ago, catacore said:

Congrats for your M10 camera!

I had the same dilemma about 6 month ago. Then the price difference between an M240 and an M10 was in excess of 1k EUR, then towards an M10-P it was more than 2k EUR. I opted for the M240-P, then spent another 2.2k to buy a 50mm Summilux Asph v1 (with this sort of money I could have bought only an M10-P). For me, I guess, it was the best deal/option. The M240 baterry is much bigger (lasts much more) than the M10 baterry, plus I am carrying a camera less expensive wherever I go, so I feel less stressed about it being stolen/lost/damaged/etc. Plus, it is black, so it's black paint (a.k.a. BP - for whoever cares - me included 😁).

congrats to you too! enjoy your camera! I'm doing definitely with mine. I found myself taking some shots I would not have taken with another camera. Don't know why but this M slows down me a lot!