Type 240 or 262?

[Godfrey]

I have an M 262 and I prefer the lack of stuff like video that M 240 has. I never see having more stuff (bells and whistles) as being a better deal.

It's a better deal on the "features per dollar" scale. Whether that scale makes any sense for your particular use of the camera is an entirely different matter.

Far as I'm concerned, the M-D typ 262 is the finest digital M of all: It has all the features I need and none of the features I don't. It is my favorite Leica M camera of all, including all film versions of the M.

G

 

[Godfrey]

Well, I know you're all in breathless suspense, wondering what I finally decided. Just to put it at rest so that you can enjoy the remainder of your long weekend, I opted for the (new as opposed to used) bundle offered by B&H. The 262+ 50/2.4 and some other stuff for an attractive price. They even worked with me to trade out an item for other things.

Counting the days till I'm once again a Leicaphile!

Congrats!
Well, you'll soon be a Leica user again. Hopefully you'll also be a Leicaphile... :angel:

G

 

[Bike Tourist]

It came! Busy putting things together and charging battery. The eyepiece didn't want to unscrew so screwed the diopter right into the eyepiece. Is this correct or am I supposed to remove the existing eyepiece first?

 

[a.noctilux]

Dick,
Do not try to remove the M262 eyepiece.
New Ms never have "removable eyepiece".
Only when bought second hand, previous owner may "forget" one diopter on the camera.

Just screw the diopter in.

Good/bad first impressions of your new kit ?

A word concerning possible trouble with SD card:
- new SD card formatted in exFAT in computer is the fastest wake-up/writing in my M262
- I use not very big capacity (16 or 32 GB)

- if the SD card was used on another device, it must be formatted in computer (in exFAT if possible),
as some can't be read when inserted as is in M262

 

[Bike Tourist]

Dick,
Do not try to remove the M262 eyepiece.
New Ms never have "removable eyepiece".
Only when bought second hand, previous owner may "forget" one diopter on the camera.

Just screw the diopter in.

Good/bad first impressions of your new kit ?

A word concerning possible trouble with SD card:
- new SD card formatted in exFAT in computer is the fastest wake-up/writing in my M262
- I use not very big capacity (16 or 32 GB)

- if the SD card was used on another device, it must be formatted in computer (in exFAT if possible),
as some can't be read when inserted as is in M262

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. That's what I needed to know.

A few backyard shots, both JPG and DNG, were unimpressive (compared to the D810) but I'm sure I've got a long ways to go to wring the best out of it. The construction quality and general feel were, of course, impeccable.

I put a 32gb Lexar in and formatted it in camera and it functioned fine.

One shot in dark shadow contained a red splotch, which looked like red paint on the fence but it didn't exist in reality. Maybe a lens aberration from backlighting.

Thanks again for you response.

 

[Bike Tourist]

Just noticed — The red spot appears on several frames with the lens opened up all the way. But it does not appear in frames shot at f8. I'll have to do more experimenting.

 

[willie_901]

...


One shot in dark shadow contained a red splotch, which looked like red paint on the fence but it didn't exist in reality. Maybe a lens aberration from backlighting.

First, congratulations on your purchase. Well done!

The red splotch artifact is a bit of a puzzle. Lens ghosting artifacts are usually not red. They tend to have the color of the lens coating. However ghosting artifacts are notoriously difficult to understand as their intensity depends on many variables.

I think your aperture test results are a hint the lens is causing the artifact.

First I'd look for a tiny spot of red fuzz on the lens rear element.

One test would be to take some frames with the body cap on. Take one at ISO 200 and one at ISO 6400. Then increase the image brightness on your computer to absurdly high levels. That could indicate if the red splotch is a sensor issue or if what you saw was a backlighting artifact. Ignore anything else unusual you might see (banding, etc) because these low-level artifacts are never digitized in normal usage since they are well below the light's shot noise levels.

 

[Bike Tourist]

Yep, I think it was/is a lens issue. The splotch, was actually magenta with feathered edges. It occurred in four consecutive shots under different conditions. I don't think aperture setting made any difference either. I tried to repeat the effect this morning with thirty shots and they were all fine. One other strange thing . . . Adobe bridge reads the aperture as f2.8 or f3.4 with the lens wide open and with lens set at f11 it reads sometimes f11 and sometimes f13. And with lens set at f8 it sometimes reads f8 and sometimes f9.5.

 

[a.noctilux]

Aperture "reading from Leica M262/240" is for information only and just "estimation by the camera" by comparing the readings from two sensors (I think the front small round near logo and one inside the M chamber), there is some threads about this "flaw", here or LUF.


In the M10, this "no-information" is no more available

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/268492-m10-fw-requestsbug-reports/

 

[Bike Tourist]

. . . Getting to know you, getting to know all about you . . . .

Very interesting. The red/magenta thing has gone away and not reappeared in 100 frames. Nice to know about the f-stop "estimation" so I won't worry about it. In fact, everything's just great. Thanks!

 

[willie_901]

Happy to hear the problem was transient.

 

[mark_pw]

typ262 has a newer supposedly quieter shutter, lighter top plate, no live view, and no video. also has a marginally newer sensor, but insignificant difference from what i've read.

If you're touring by bike, the 262 has benefits for both weight and watersealing (no evf port on the back and no mic holes on top).

If you want live view (or video) however, then the 240.

I use the 240 (and live view more often than expected), so let me know if you have more specific questions. Haven't used the 262, but was seriously considering it versus the 240.

The electronic viewfinder is very useful when you use "non-standard" lenses like 15mm, 17mm, 25mm... :bang:

 

[shawn]

The electronic viewfinder is very useful when you use "non-standard" lenses like 15mm, 17mm, 25mm... :bang:

Also very handy for fast or longer lenses and to easily check the RF accuracy. Also good for adapted lenses on the Leica.

Shawn

 

[raid]

LiveView is one of the most important features of the M240. Losing it makes a camera less useful to me. Others may not want LV.