There are a lot of M10 rumors out there, all of which are predicted to be settled one way or the other at or before September 18th at Photokina in Cologne Germany (Newbies: Photokina is the world's largest photo show and takes place every two years in Cologne).
Better sensor, more pixels, better ISO, better color etc. Yawn. predictable with every upgrade of every digital camera.
The M10 RANGEFINDER GAME CHANGER (if it happens) is LIVE VIEW.
Why?
Live view means that you can focus practically every SLR lens ever made on your M10's LCD or digital accessory viewfinder via the appropriate adapter (like these). How cool! For me that means an M10 will be usable not only with Leica Screw Mount and Leica M lenses, but also with my many Nikon F, Canon FD, Pentax S, Pentax K, Exakta, Olympus OM, Konica AR, and 2 1/4 lenses! Not to mention classic Nikon and Zeiss Contax rangefinder lenses!
But wait, like the classic TV sales pitch, that's not all!
Live View on the M10 means that for the FIRST TIME EVER for a rangefinder CLOSE UPS ARE EASY! Imagine adding a close up filter to your favorite M lens and focusing macro. Or using macro lenses from your favorite SLR!
Yes, the M10 is going to be expensive, but it will also be a rangefinder game changer IF it does have LIVE VIEW as so many predict. The dumping of all those M9 and M9P on the marketplace before their value drops even more once the M10 starts shipping is not a coincidence. As the sport continues, the interesting question becomes "How low will M9 and M9P prices go?"
Keep a look out for some pretend Rangefinder expert latching onto this rangefinder game changer like they realized it and wrote about it before anyone else. Its pretty hazardous out there in media rangefinderland. The other day I read the editor of a large successful UK Photo magazine proclaiming that the Fuji X-Pro100 is a rangefinder camera! LOL. No wonder newbies are confused.
Stephen
Better sensor, more pixels, better ISO, better color etc. Yawn. predictable with every upgrade of every digital camera.
The M10 RANGEFINDER GAME CHANGER (if it happens) is LIVE VIEW.
Why?
Live view means that you can focus practically every SLR lens ever made on your M10's LCD or digital accessory viewfinder via the appropriate adapter (like these). How cool! For me that means an M10 will be usable not only with Leica Screw Mount and Leica M lenses, but also with my many Nikon F, Canon FD, Pentax S, Pentax K, Exakta, Olympus OM, Konica AR, and 2 1/4 lenses! Not to mention classic Nikon and Zeiss Contax rangefinder lenses!
But wait, like the classic TV sales pitch, that's not all!
Live View on the M10 means that for the FIRST TIME EVER for a rangefinder CLOSE UPS ARE EASY! Imagine adding a close up filter to your favorite M lens and focusing macro. Or using macro lenses from your favorite SLR!
Yes, the M10 is going to be expensive, but it will also be a rangefinder game changer IF it does have LIVE VIEW as so many predict. The dumping of all those M9 and M9P on the marketplace before their value drops even more once the M10 starts shipping is not a coincidence. As the sport continues, the interesting question becomes "How low will M9 and M9P prices go?"
Keep a look out for some pretend Rangefinder expert latching onto this rangefinder game changer like they realized it and wrote about it before anyone else. Its pretty hazardous out there in media rangefinderland. The other day I read the editor of a large successful UK Photo magazine proclaiming that the Fuji X-Pro100 is a rangefinder camera! LOL. No wonder newbies are confused.
Stephen
Stefan Wood
Established
Game changer or not, most people will not have the money to buy this camera.
EdwardKaraa
Well-known
Totally agree with the OP. Can't wait until September.
Sounds like it will just become like any other m43rds camera. Boring.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
And who cares anyway? There are always some things that are costly and that not everyone can afford. There are always some people for whom these things are not out of reach too.
umcelinho
Marcelo
I don't get people who doesn't welcome new features that will actually improve things. If it were for these kind of people, we'd still be living in caves because "it's how it's supposed to be".
J. Borger
Well-known
How exciting: a full frame XPRO1 with a red dot 
Thardy
Veteran
Simple. Innovation and increased versatility is boring.
boomguy57
Well-known
Yes, but if I want to use Live View with the LCD screen, why not buy a m4/3 camera? Yes the focal lengths change, but to me that's worth the $6000+ savings...
Guess I just don't see how this makes the rangefinder experience any better at all. This is gimmicky, and exactly what all the Leica RF fetishists have been snubbing their noses at all along. "Yes, but does it have an optical VF and rangefinder mechanism? (Insert snotty voice here).
How is this not just a full-frame X-Pro 1 minus the AF and ability to Live View through the viewfinder, and not hold your $8000 camera out in front of your face like every other tourist at Disneyworld?
Yawn.
Guess I just don't see how this makes the rangefinder experience any better at all. This is gimmicky, and exactly what all the Leica RF fetishists have been snubbing their noses at all along. "Yes, but does it have an optical VF and rangefinder mechanism? (Insert snotty voice here).
How is this not just a full-frame X-Pro 1 minus the AF and ability to Live View through the viewfinder, and not hold your $8000 camera out in front of your face like every other tourist at Disneyworld?
Yawn.
Moriturii
Well-known
You mean exactly the way Leica has been since the M3 came out in the mid fiffties? no innovation at all. Everything is a few generations behind everybody else.
randomm
Well-known
What my little bird told me is that M10 will no longer have the traditional optical viewfinder, but an EVF to support longer tele lenses also.
sanmich
Veteran
Isn't live view best used with AF?
how can you expect to focus with the camera at arm stretched length?
how can you expect to focus with the camera at arm stretched length?
Griffin
Grampa's cameras user
That's pretty frikking cool! A universal full frame digital camera body that can take pretty much ALL 35mm camera lenses ever made. How is that not exciting, price notwithstanding?
randomm
Well-known
With the EVF like with m43 cameras.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Meh. I'm satisfied with the M9 despite the lack of true low ISO shooting.
umcelinho
Marcelo
Yes, and then when there is a chance they might be doing something that is an actual innovation people start nagging about how it'll be an expensive mirrorless camera.
If the rumour is correct, it will still be a rangefinder and should used as such, WITH THE EXTRA BENEFIT of being able to use the LCD to focus (also meaning the LCD should be good enough for that purpose, thus much better than the M9's). You get the best of both worlds. Comparing it to another mirrorless system is pointless, as manual focusing with most of them is awful, but those who feel that way can just buy any mirrorless an be happy with it (as I will probably do).
Duane Pandorf
Well-known
If the leaked M10 photo can be believed then what Stephen has said in the first post describes an exciting new direction for Leica shooters.
Of course my Ricoh GXR is no comparison to the Leica lineage, but what I wish it had was a built-in view finder. It would appear that the M10 will keep the Leica standard rangefinder functions but now add an option EVF to use live view that the current CMOS sensors provide.
Like Stephen says, by going with a FF CMOS sensor and an optional EVF will provide the M10 shooter incredible flexibility.
Of course my Ricoh GXR is no comparison to the Leica lineage, but what I wish it had was a built-in view finder. It would appear that the M10 will keep the Leica standard rangefinder functions but now add an option EVF to use live view that the current CMOS sensors provide.
Like Stephen says, by going with a FF CMOS sensor and an optional EVF will provide the M10 shooter incredible flexibility.
back alley
IMAGES
if the live view rumour is true...could this not signal the rise in cost of the m9?
i bet there are lots of traditional rf shooters (dispite embracing digital) that might draw a line in the sand and stick with or seek the older m9.
i bet there are lots of traditional rf shooters (dispite embracing digital) that might draw a line in the sand and stick with or seek the older m9.
Thardy
Veteran
Live view most likely will just be available like on dslrs. From what people are saying, there will be the optical VF, but live view via the rear screen and add on EVF can be alternatively used.