Leica M (typ 240) Field Test and Review

[dcsang]

Kristian,

In your time shooting with the M 240 did you ever experience any of the issues that other users have noted (i.e. exposure issues after standby, lockups where you have to remove the battery to reset the camera, etc.)?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[leicashot]

Kristian,

In your time shooting with the M 240 did you ever experience any of the issues that other users have noted (i.e. exposure issues after standby, lockups where you have to remove the battery to reset the camera, etc.)?

Thanks,
Dave

No, none of the issues you mentioned. A couples of things from the review, but nothing to do with exposure or lock ups, which happened occasionally with the M Monochrom and M9. I don't actually use a light meter so not sure if there are any issues related there, but IMHO a built in meter can/should never be trusted anyway.

So far, besides a couple of AWB inconsistencies this has been my most reliable M yet.

 

[swoop]

Probably the best practical review I've read so far on the new M.

 

[dcsang]

No, none of the issues you mentioned. A couples of things from the review, but nothing to do with exposure or lock ups, which happened occasionally with the M Monochrom and M9. I don't actually use a light meter so not sure if there are any issues related there, but IMHO a built in meter can/should never be trusted anyway.

So far, besides a couple of AWB inconsistencies this has been my most reliable M yet.

Thanks Kristian!

I'm interested in the camera and am on a waiting list but a bit hesitant after reading a number of people mentioning lockups and exposure issues. I'm a bit confused by what you mentioned though - if you don't use a lightmeter and you don't use the built in meter (which I can understand) you still can experience over/under exposure if the camera comes out of "standby" based on what I've read.

If you haven't experienced these issues however, it could also mean that it's only a certain batch of cameras that were/are impacted by this phenomenon.

Thanks again!!
Cheers,
Dave

 

[jsrockit]

but IMHO a built in meter can/should never be trusted anyway.

Can you explain why?

 

[icebear]

Good One K !
...prefer it to the over Stylized M monochrome 'look' ( i will probably be put over the Coals for saying this 😱)

I won't start up the BBQ during this weather 😀 don't you worry.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

way prefer it to the over Stylized M monochrome 'look' ( i will probably be put over the Coals for saying this 😱)

+1 your not alone on this Helen.

btw last sunday 5th May I was shooting with the new M - a pre-production model. First things that struck me were:
- much heavier than the M8.2 that I had - after close inspection I saw that the battery is almost twice the size of the battery of the previous digital M's;
- the body feels thicker: upon closer look the difference seems mainly in the position of the LCD screen which in case of the new M seems put more on top of the back of the camera than it was with the M8/M9;
- the software is way different for the previous digital M's, so one has to get used to a somewhat different approach;
- there is one button placed on the front of the camera near the lens; sometimes unexpectedly I had this button activated or deactivated.
- LCD is large and has better resolution than the screens of the previous digital M's;
- there is a nice function wheel on the upper right side at the back of the camera at which you can place your thumb: for the ones who did use it: IMHO no need for a thumbs up any more!
- AND MOST POSITIVE: the camera (shutter) acts much faster than its predecessors (almost as fast as my E-X1).

 

[Turtle]

It sounds like the M is getting better and this is to be expected. It was the same with the M9, due to firmware, better processing etc.

Would be a great camera for me, but having bought a Monochrom, I think I will have to learn to love my X100 for a few more years.

 

[roboflick]

Great photos and review!
Nik

 

[leicashot]

Thanks for taking the time to read the review, and cheers for all the feedback guys. Happy you enjoyed it and found it useful.

 

[filmtwit]

So, a year later.
What do you think of the M240 after a year of shooting?