Coming Home to the Leica M: On rangefinder photography and the Leica M Typ 262

[cole]

Hi all,

I finished an article this weekend which is in part a review of the M262, mixed in with a bit of general discussion about Leica and rangefinder photography.

It’s accompanied by a bunch of my recent photographs taken with the 262, and a few older photos taken with the film Ms I used to have.

If you’re interested: https://colepeters.exposure.co/coming-home-to-the-leica-m

Cheers!

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Nice piece, and really good pictures!

 

[jaapv]

Nice, thanks - BTW, I can confirm the bullet story. the camera in question is in Wetzlar.

 

[Godfrey]

Nice piece, Cole.

It's fun to reflect on how different cameras affect us and change what we see, how we see, and the photographs we make. There's definitely an influence when using an M, or an SWC, or a particular DSLR. I'm finding it with the SL too.

It all makes doing photography richer. 🙂

G

 

[Out to Lunch]

I have enjoyed reading your review on this much too cold and dreary Monday evening. This said, now that the screen less M-D typ 262 is out, would you be tempted with this next step in minimization?

 

[cole]

Thanks for the kind words, all — glad it’s providing some enjoyment!

 

[cole]

Nice, thanks - BTW, I can confirm the bullet story. the camera in question is in Wetzlar.

Wow, really! I thought it was the stuff of legend. Do you have more information on this?

 

[cole]

This said, now that the screen less M-D typ 262 is out, would you be tempted with this next step in minimization?

I think the M-D is interesting, but what gets me is that it's more expensive than the M262, despite being the same camera minus the LCD screen. Leica have pulled some bold moves in their time, but this one is too much for me. 😉

Having said that, I’m holding out for getting a Monochrom some day. I’m loving the 262, but being a B&W purist, the Monochrom gets me all kinds of excited.

 

[Bill Clark]

Hi Cole,

Took a quick peek at your web site and I believe you have built a beautiful place to visit your photography.

I bookmarked it and will look more in depth at your view of the world. Yes, I like how black and white tells a story in a photograph. Sometimes color can be distracting to what you're trying to accomplish.

Keep it up, your work is wonderful.

Thanks Cole.

 

[Godfrey]

I think the M-D is interesting, but what gets me is that it's more expensive than the M262, despite being the same camera minus the LCD screen. Leica have pulled some bold moves in their time, but this one is too much for me. 😉

Having said that, I’m holding out for getting a Monochrom some day. I’m loving the 262, but being a B&W purist, the Monochrom gets me all kinds of excited.

Despite the similarities, there are some pretty hefty costs in producing the M-D. The M-D262 increased price comes from new castings, new firmware development, and expected lower sales volume. Much like the MM246 price premium in this respect—the expected lower sales volume against the cost of development pushes prices up to maintain profitability.

They're all good cameras built to the same quality standards. Prices vary based on cost of development and market factors more so than on specific feature inclusion.

 

[cole]

Despite the similarities, there are some pretty hefty costs in producing the M-D. The M-D262 increased price comes from new castings, new firmware development, and expected lower sales volume. Much like the MM246 price premium in this respect—the expected lower sales volume against the cost of development pushes prices up to maintain profitability.

They're all good cameras built to the same quality standards. Prices vary based on cost of development and market factors more so than on specific feature inclusion.

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for clearing this up. 🙂

 

[cole]

Hi Cole,

Took a quick peek at your web site and I believe you have built a beautiful place to visit your photography.

I bookmarked it and will look more in depth at your view of the world. Yes, I like how black and white tells a story in a photograph. Sometimes color can be distracting to what you're trying to accomplish.

Keep it up, your work is wonderful.

Thanks Cole.

Wow! Thanks for the wonderful feedback, Bill. That’s really touching, and great to hear — the kind of thing that helps keep the batteries running. Thanks again, and all the best.

 

[Ruhayat]

I think the M-D is interesting, but what gets me is that it's more expensive than the M262, despite being the same camera minus the LCD screen. Leica have pulled some bold moves in their time, but this one is too much for me. 😉

Not to mention that one would think removing the LCD would have made the body thinner and lighter. Leica moves in a different physical world.

I enjoyed your review. I have been thinking of getting either the 262 or Q.

 

[marcr1230]

nice writing Cole, thanks!

 

[BillBingham2]

Very well done Cole. Brings together the feeling and tech just enough without going too far down either rabbit hole.

Congrats on the move and the great work.

B2 (;->

 

[airfrogusmc]

Nice Cole though I do think it is just a touch heavier than say the M-E/M9.

Congrats. I love my 262 but for B&W ya gotta pick up an MM. The original MM is selling for a decent price now days.

Enjoyed the work very much...

 

[Godfrey]

Not to mention that one would think removing the LCD would have made the body thinner and lighter. Leica moves in a different physical world.
...

This has been treated over in the Leica M-D threads, but the bottom line is that the thickness of the digital M body can only vary a couple of millimeters at most due to the lens/lens mount geometry, the rangefinder mechanism, and the thickness of the body casting and sensor assembly.

The LCD hangs off the back of the body and barely adds more than 2mm to its thickness when present (basically, half its thickness is the thickness of the body's leatherette covering). It also weighs less than 10 grams.

Unless Leica chooses to radically reengineer the rangefinder, puts the lens mount on a pedestal, and sensor assemblies become paper thin, the M is likely going to stay pretty much the way it is with respect to size and weight. No problem for me: I like the feel of the typ 240/246/262 models even more than my M4-2, which feels a bit thin and cramped by comparison.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

If you love the thinner Ms and want a digital camera that feels similar, try the Q.

 

[maggieo]

You've got one hell of a fine eye, Cole!

And I feel the exact same way as you describe about my M9-P.

 

[Brian Atherton]

Thank you for sharing your review and experiences of the M Typ 262, Cole.

I enjoyed seeing familiar parts of my town through your eyes up close and personal in black and white with 28mm; so different to how I see London.

Loved the shot of your dad in Caffé Nero in Holborn; it’s a small world, I’ve sat in the very same seat!

Thanks for brightening up a wet, dreary day.