The M240's Successor - what would you like to see ?

[MCTuomey]

I was gonna say this. I'm not sure the 240 is the same size as the M8/M9 (but I reckon it is?) and it's just so big. It'd be nice if it was the size of a film M.

Pretty much the same until you put the M240 grip on it. Then the camera gains a small chunk of height against the M8/9.

 

[Out to Lunch]

The more the photography market matures electronically, the least Leica becomes relevant. MP...Mechanical Precision...indeed this was the defining issue some 90 years ago. Today, large electronic concerns like Fuji, Samsung and Sony will take consumers to the next level.

 

[judsonzhao]

smaller body.. that's all I need..

 

[jaapv]

The more the photography market matures electronically, the least Leica becomes relevant. MP...Mechanical Precision...indeed this was the defining issue some 90 years ago. Today, large electronic concerns like Fuji, Samsung and Sony will take consumers to the next level.

At least to some level they wish to be on. I doubt many Leica M users have such a wish.

 

[CameraQuest]

As Photokina approaches, this thread gets more interesting.

The question is starting to become

"Will Leica make enough improvements to the M240 to convince most M240 family owners to switch to the newer cameras?"

Stephen

 

[Keith]

As Photokina approaches, this thread gets more interesting.

The question is starting to become

"Will Leica make enough improvements to the M240 to convince most M240 family owners to switch to the newer cameras?"

Stephen

Good point. I'm completely satisfied with my 240. 🙂

And this is actually a wall that all digital camera manufacturers are fast approaching in my opinion.

 

[:: Mark]

"Will Leica make enough improvements to the M240 to convince most M240 family owners to switch to the newer cameras?"

Or "Will Leica make a digital M compelling enough to attract new photographers?"

The typ 262 cameras are almost there, as essentially digital versions of an M7. However, a good digital M7 also needs:

- a means to focus fast lenses accurately and reliably
- a means to calibrate focus without a service trip
- a better viewfinder (I wear glasses!!!)
- integrated sensor cleaning (because you do not change it every 36 shots!)
- complete reliability, backed-up by sane service times
- thinner and lighter bodies (though 262 is pretty good now)

None of these detract from the classic M form, and none of these are new (in that they have all existed for ~10 years in other cameras). What they do is recognise that digital is inherently different to film if you want the absolute best results.

Solving the focus problem is probably the hardest. However, Fuji has shown what can be done with a hybrid VF in the XPro2 - surely Leica in a $6000 camera can build something similar which retains the traditional RF but which also integrates electronic focusing aids?

I would be very happy if Leica would focus on the best still camera for digital negatives (drop video, jpegs, in-camera white-balance, etc) - they have the SL for these things. Will be interesting to see what they actually do...

 

[Merkin]

If it was 5 or 6 mm thinner and they went back to naturally illuminated framelines, I wouldn't care what else they did.

 

[SaveKodak]

Cheaper. Better.

 

[kipkeston]

Sure, I think the list is easy for me

• Images look like Kodachrome or Plus-X
• Size, shape and weight of the film MP
• Film leica reliability (no corrosion surprises, freezes, etc...)
• Iso invariant up to 1,048,576 with no weird image quality issues (banding, etc...)

If Leica can iteratively approach this list with each successive update, then I think they're in the right direction.

 

[sevo]

Bring it down to M2 size!

 

[Godfrey]

Given the fact and excellence of the Leica SL, the ideal successor to the M/M-P typ 240 for me already exists: the M-D typ 262. It's a situation with the M that, for me, less is more because if I truly want or need more, I want the SL anyway.

The M-D is my perfect digital M: just what I need and nothing, NOTHING more.... accurate rangefinder, accurate meter, clear and simple ISO, aperture, exposure time settings, a lovely feel in the hand, and an excellent sensor. Aperture priority AE for convenience, lots of battery life. Nothing else needed or wanted.

The M-D is there; from there I just go make photographs and forget all the techno-babble.

G

 

[airfrogusmc]

M 262 features (no more) and better low light performance. Agree about the M-D.

If I want all the stuff I'l go backk to DSLRs. I like having a real choice.

 

[froyd]

• Iso invariant up to 1,048,576 with no weird image quality issues (banding, etc...)

There's a sign of the times, if I ever seen one! Nothing wrong with clean high ISO, of course, just staggering what's now considered normal. I was looking at some old TMZ negatives and boy, what grain bombs they were!

 

[pechelman]

really, dont need or want much more than what the 240 series is today

A few things that would be nice that leica already knows how to do;
Native ISO of 50 like the SL
High ISO capability like the 246
A little lighter and a little thinner, maybe like the Q
And of course more DR if possible.

I wouldnt turn down a few more megapixels, but they really arent needed. Though similarly, I might specifically shy away from a camera if it has too many megapixels. Also I really dont want fluffy features like articulating lcds or built in evfs or IBIS or whatever.

And as far as my one pipe dream, maybe a dual magnification viewfinder window, like on the fuji xpro1.
Would be sweet to be able to change between .58x and .85x with the flick of a switch for example.

 

[Huss]

I wish the frame lines for only the lens being used would show. I'm not keen on the cluttered look.

 

[Ken Ford]

I use an M-P. All I could really ask for is that it be sped up with a newer processor.

 

[Manuel Patino]

thinner
*lighter*
higher shutter speed
a bit better high ISO?

Tilting screen would be a big plus...

 

[mfunnell]

thinner

Now I'm so familiar with my M240, I'm starting to think my M3 is "too thin" 😱

...Mike

 

[user237428934]

Off center magnification in live view would be nice and a bit more latitude in exposure when using ISO 1000 and above. But both things are not important enough to buy a new camera.