Leica M-D: Pure for the sake of . . . purity?

MCTuomey said:
John, thanks for asking so politely. My question reads like a dilettante's gear ennui, and likely it really is nothing more.

My M240 and M6 don't see much use because I'm shooting less overall and what I am shooting (music venues primarily combined with travel, a little event work) I moved over to Fuji X a couple years ago. As the Fuji inventory has grown, my Leica gear has shrunk down from mutiple bodies and lenses to one film and one digi body and a few lenses. Since they don't see much use, I was thinking to consolidate it down to a body and lens or two that require a different way of shooting, close to film, very simple, no tele lenses, no super wides, zone focus, manual exposure. Which is what I do with the M6, and really enjoy it, except I just don't shoot much film. A digital version of that M6 would be perfect.

A personal camera only, not for the work of getting the shot, but just making and taking shots in a coherent, themed way. Same lens, same sensor, same or at least similar look.

I know that an M240 can be used just this way - don't use the rear screen, don't use live view, and so on. But I don't do that, for some reason. I would use the M-D that way, since that's the only way to use it.

This is not making much sense, I know. So I'll stop there before I embarrass myself further.
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Hey, Mike, since when do camera purchases have to make good sense? To be inexplicably drawn this way or that has a sense all its own.

I'm no chimper and my LCDs are always off. But during a day of shooting, I enjoy flipping through my pictures over a coffee or lunch break to see what I've gotten. I know I'd miss that.

John
 
I'm very impressed with Godfrey bw. It is not only feels un-digital, it feels like by darkroom print scans! Well, mine are not so good:)
I also checked Vince photos on Flickr and like them.

I don't like back screens. Doesn't matter if size is small, big or I zoom 100%. Most of the times I can't trust. I'll check, it seems sharp, great in colors. Open it as file later - crap.
I have fears to get it cracked always...
The only one thing I don't like about M-D after scrolling through manual is fixed to max frame size. But by the time, I'll be able to afford it, RAM is going to be 1TB on laptops. :)
 
Vince Lupo said:
Shot just now at ISO 6400, 1/4 second @ f/2. Light from the TV. Good colour, but more banding than I'd like (admittedly it was pretty darned dark). Fortunately I don't make a habit of shooting at this ISO.
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Compared to ISO 200 (base ISO), when you use the light meter estimate, at ISO 6400 the exposure of the sensor is reduced by five stops. So the signal (light amplitude is significantly lower. Now with five stops of ISO amplification the correlated noise (a.k.a. banding) amplitude becomes similar to the signal levels. The source of the banding becomes digitized. This is a common issue in very low light.

At ISO the source of the banding is well below other noise sources and it's not digitized.

What I like about this photograph is the shadow regions were left dark but they contain just enough detail to have meaning. I admire the overall composition and creative use of light. The M-D is an excellent camera, but Vince is a very skilled, creative photographer who will make the most of any camera in his hands.
 
Muchly appreciated! I'm trying my darndest to justify the ownership of this camera (and my Monochrom 246). It is a continual challenge!
 
That photo of Riley watching tv I originally thought was window light in the afternoon. I like what you're getting with the M-D, Vince, as it really brings out the workings of the camera for all to see.

I hope you get a Leica Ambassadorship, and they send you free cameras for the rest of your life

PF
 
Morning walk as bright sun rises, elevating textures and shapes from their mundane places.


Leica M-D + Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH
ISO 400 @ f/9.5 @ 1/180 @ 21mm​

enjoy!
G
 
farlymac said:
That photo of Riley watching tv I originally thought was window light in the afternoon. I like what you're getting with the M-D, Vince, as it really brings out the workings of the camera for all to see.

I hope you get a Leica Ambassadorship, and they send you free cameras for the rest of your life

PF
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Many thanks! Would love to know how to get me one of those Ambassadorships :)
 
Godfrey said:
The world in general can't seem to get enough cat photographs... :rolleyes:

G
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That is because cats know how to pose perfectly. But they only do it when THEY want to and they only do it for short periods of time. So, to get the photo you have to play close attention to them...

...which is of course what all cats want. :D
 
Godfrey said:
It is easy to hold, simple to understand, quick to use. You can grok everything about the camera in ten minutes or less, just like with an M6. You turn it on and commence taking pictures ... that's all.

So refreshing. G
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Yes, that's it, unlike what I shoot otherwise.


Doug said:
Indeed it's my normal way of using my M240. Turn off the instant preview/replay, set one user profile and leave things set that way. Auto ISO within useful limits, a bit of underexposure compensation, limits on auto shutter vs focal length. No fiddling with compensation or ISO, just lock AE where you want it and recompose to shoot, no Live View or Video. I find this very easy, no temptation to use all the available features. But I realize many others find this challenges their determination and discipline. Worth a try?
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Yep, and what I'm going to do since renting isn't possible and is short-term anyway. Thanks Doug.


ktmrider said:
Just turn everything on the M240 off and give the money you save to charity.
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jsrockit said:
Ah, the old make someone feel bad for buying something you wouldn't trick. ;)
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Thanks for pointing that out, John. Although Leica is clearly conspicuous consumption of a high order which I may have to answer for one day :(

johnwolf said:
Hey, Mike, since when do camera purchases have to make good sense? To be inexplicably drawn this way or that has a sense all its own.

I'm no chimper and my LCDs are always off. But during a day of shooting, I enjoy flipping through my pictures over a coffee or lunch break to see what I've gotten. I know I'd miss that.

John
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Appreciate that, John. My spouse who likes to do the same thing, would miss it too.

Gear thinking aside, Godfrey and Vince - really nice images.
 
johnwolf said:
...I'm no chimper and my LCDs are always off. But during a day of shooting, I enjoy flipping through my pictures over a coffee or lunch break to see what I've gotten. I know I'd miss that.

John
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Yes, the end-of-day review is when I find the screen useful. I scroll through the "take" and make notes on the computer about subjects, locations, etc., trying to stay organized. Previously, with film, it would be from memory and then updated/corrected later from the negs. With an M-D, I could pull the card and review the day's photos from the computer, not a much different procedure.

But there is that rare situation when I've held the camera up or down and shot without the viewfinder and want to see how bad my framing was and whether I need to try again! Slippery slope... :p
 

Leica M-D + Summarit-M 75mm f/2.4
ISO 1250 @ f/3.4 @ 1/45



Leica M-D + Summilux 35mm f/1.4 v2
ISO 400 @ f/3.5 @ 1/125​

Kind of a 'cafe day' yesterday. :)

enjoy!
G
 
Several weeks of using the M-D and I'm absolutely convinced (and delighted!) ... this is my perfect M camera.


Leica M-D + Color Skopar 28mm f/3.5
ISO 320 @ f/8 @ 1/12​

enjoy!
G
 
I rented one a couple of weekends ago. I had never shot a digital M before, and I'll say that the M-D was really no different than picking up a M7 to shoot with. For me, if I were in the market for a digital M this would probably be the one I would go after.

L1001978.jpg by jkjod, on Flickr

L1001962.jpg by jkjod, on Flickr

L1001936.jpg by jkjod, on Flickr

L1001937.jpg by jkjod, on Flickr

You can see more on my (poorly updated) blog.
 
If you have money to burn then go for it, it looks like a fun concept and kind of sexy sleek with all the crap removed, I rarely use the LCD on my A7r and could easily live without it and I'm always set on Manual and using a Manual lens.. but 6k is way too rich for me, like many have said it would have been nice if they made it thinner.
 
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