Equally, Ive not found the dynamic range to be too limited. The Leica M [typ 262], or M262 for short offers what's best described as a stripped-back user interface. For example, I have seen an as new M240 from a Leica Store for 2,495 and a Voigtlander Ultron 50mm for c.700. In my view the lens in use IS much more important than a bit colour differences M240/M262/other Ms. This has become a bit of a trend now, I buy a digital Leica, shoot with it for a while, decide to sell it for one reason or another, and then scramble to write about it in the final few days of owning it. Simple. The type of viewfinder that the camera has. No fuss, just compose and shoot. To set it, you simply half press the shutter then jog the thumb dial. Intro Sample Images Lenses Specs Performance. I was wondering if you ever ended up upgrading to the M10? Great Image quality (warmer than M-10, looks more like M-9 CCD image rendering). In case youre confused, the M240 was the camera that followed the Leica M9. (Leica M (Typ 262)), Unknown. More humble pie for me! Bear in mind I have not held or shot an M10, my information comes from extensive reading of user experiences. In fact, I likely wouldnt be selling it at all if it werent for the fact that I recently and quite inadvertently gave myself a big chunk of M10 gear acquisition syndrome! In fact, there was a time when I swore I didnt need anything more. The Leica M [typ 240] (or M240 for short) was the first Leica to adopt the odd naming convention that broke away from the M# convention of yore. I will investigate that. Itd be a waste of time when you can go and find other reviews that no doubt do high ISO comparisons with other brands of cameras etc. If you intend to use lenses wider than 28mm or longer than 135mm Liveview and EVF are very useful, also macro photography is much easier (essential with the new 90mm macro lens and macro adapter) or if you need video. It was the same shape as the M262 I was used to, maybe a touch heavier, but not really noticeably in the hand. The latter requires the lens to have 6-bit coding or manual setting of the lens in the main menu. BECOME A MEMBER to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMbqwh98qO5wWowtQjIK8ig/joinEXCLUSIVE PRESETS FOR IMAGES CAPTURED WITH LEICA CAMERAS:. Weight savings from the M10 may be there, but with a Thumbs Up in the hot shoe, the M240 feels good and substantial in the hand.ISO setting. Thankfully with the M10 theyve returned to the old system. Of course they can, but you have them. Now, that update costs thousands of dollars. A series of photographs taken from the same position over a long period is joined together to create a short video. A fetish with the M10 is its simplified menu. Indeed, I am an m10 owner who misses my m9. An electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a higher resolution provides a sharper image, producing a view comparable in quality with the one displayed on an optical viewfinder. Great pictures and very interesting. After the M11 released though, used prices of the M10 dropped and I decided to get one. Having said that, I think the M262 could be a perfect digital rangefinder camera for those looking for a minimal film-camera like digital Leica experience and not needing live view or other features. Quick charge with automatic constant current control prevents battery from overcharging, short circuit, and electronic shock That said, I do miss the live view feature. Privacy policy. The M10 is akin in size to an M6TTL and this is a benefit. That, in my opinion, is the Leica M 240's motto. The renderings are quite good as a whole, and this feature is not contained in the M10 which relegates one to only the lens filter option.Card Writing Speed. It is certainly one of the most economical full frame digital Leica M cameras out there, however, still a very expensive camera, even used. I currently have a q which is a lot of fun but I'm more interested in a rangefinder at this point. Use your experience to help others in the community make a decision. A microphone port allows connecting external high-end or specialized microphones. On the Leica M262 the thumb dial can be set to control exposure compensation. I have a X113 and an M262. Keep up the good words! Usability is great (with some of the limitations you mentioned), and image quality of the 262 is certainly superb, and the main reason (aside from usability and a good sensor), at least for me, the Leica M glass, is a topic somebody else can cover much better than I can. Im really glad I ordered it, the best Leica M camera Ive ever used! All photographs and text appearing on 35mmc.com are the exclusive property of the named author (except where stated otherwise) and are protected by copyright. 3200-10,000 (I find this to be really handy for indoor family photos, which is essentially the only time I need high ISOs) the larger and brighter viewfinder the size (yes, one can really feel a difference) overall operational responsiveness to a much lesser degree: fewer buttons on the back of the camera, smaller red dot, more matte black finish. This page is currently only available in English. Yet all the buttons on it and the LCD still have me pining for Leicas. All content, design, and layout are Copyright 19982023 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved. Damn digital cameras I can control film camera GAS quite well these days, but these digital buggers still get me! The M240 is a camera where perhaps 50% of the image is created in camera, 50% in computer. Using the right SD card is key here. Source: DxOMark. I know thats not a crime, I also know it has nothing to do with how much skill I have as a photographer. Of course there will be technological advances and all kinds of new features. M-D, M-P, M240 and M262 photos. To me this seems like a hassle. Both should arrived this coming week and so I am getting very excited! It might be a step backwards in volume of features, but it was a step in the right direction in terms what I think a Leica camera should stand for. My biggest issue in day-to-day use was the control over the ISO, which I find leaves me a little disconnected from what setting Im using. LV is handy for confirming RF calibration. I keep looking at the 262 as a hidden gem. The Digital Leica M Samples Gallery (Any digital M from M8 to M-D 262) Below are all images taken with a digital Leica M from the 240 to the m_P to the M-D, the latest and greatest M Rangefinders from Leica Camera. Leica M9 vs. M240; M240: More Thoughts; Leica M240: Final Verdict; Leica M9 sharpness vs. Sony RX1R, Nikon D800E, Fuji X100s; My camera of the year for 2013; Related. I prefer live view for wider lenses to an external viewfinder. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I do use this feature fairly often as an alternative to using a screw in BW filter. It was mentioned in LFI first issue of 2016. Live-view brings something extra to a type of camera I had previously (possibly quite stubbornly) felt couldnt be improved. without having to transfer the images to the computer first. This is the reason I was so keen not to be without one for a few months so when the M240 didnt initially seem all that different to the M262 I was really pleased!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'35mmc_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_12',181,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-35mmc_com-medrectangle-4-0'); This relief quickly turned to intrigue. On same first menus screen can have File Format to pick DNG or DNG+JPG or JPG only.When you get the M10 Ill be interested to hear how you like the B&W jpg vs. your Monochrome. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. That said, I dont shoot Leicas for rapidity.Start Up. It was that feeling that having less kit would do me good This became the excuse I needed to change up to the M10. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 35mmc is a blog authored, edited and published by Hamish Gill featuring daily articles submitted by readers. The M240 is a bit slow on the uptake, but I generally leave the camera on while on photo walks so not a real issue.Lock-ups. To be honest, I think I shared those views and though I might not been inclined to articulate them quite as vociferously as some it was those views that swayed me toward the M262. I drive a 15 year old car for example, dont buy clothes often, have one pair of shoes, etc. The smaller file size also allows quicker read/write speeds. And then I got a Sony A7riii that lets me touch the screen to pick the subject I want the camera to autofocus on! Keep forgetting about that. All our Contributors have an ad-free experience for life.Sign uphere. Great article as always! I know youre right, I often talk about the bullshit involved in the upgrade path but it has an iso dial! Funny thing that while the M10 launched, I ordered one early 2017 thinking this may be the M I waited for. Its user interface is simple, uncluttered and largely very logical. Aluminium body makes is nice and light. It then required a short trip to camera-hospital in Germany. Ive tried all of the digital M types and my heartfelt favorites are the M8 and M9-P (equally), then the Typ 262 in that order. As an M10 owner I should say that yes, this camera is definitely a less is more sort of gadget. I cant keep it my business partner has vetoed that idea. Our camera evaluations and conclusions are based . Verified purchase: Yes | Condition . The transport lever on the Leica M3. (Free 3-day trial)Subscribe here. Yes, the M240s menu is busier, but once I have the camera set up to my liking I dont really venture into the menu often. Menu. Mostly because of the need for a screen that I allude to. I just picked up a Leica M-P Typ 240 to compliment my new M9-P I bought a couple weeks ago. If tapping the top plate sounded a bit hollow: remember its aluminium not brass in the 262, Sure. I wanted an M262 for all the reasons above but found an M-P 240 for a really good price and just turned off all the video and live view. We have the top best product and truth reviews that will help make your decision easy. For a start, the battery in the M262 was a lot bigger than that in the M9. The LEICA M typ 240 is the world's second full-frame mirrorless camera. All other things aside, they, Leica M cameras, are unique. I cant even work out how to hold the Leica M240 for video, and whilst it has focus peaking, it certainly doesnt have the features the Atomos brings to the table. Nice write-up. May be different sensor calibration? When using the M10 in aperture priority mode I dial the EV down to -0.7. Or pictures are completely similar? From what I understand the M10 has substantially improved this feature and this is an attractive change. Completely agree I really thought thats what they were going to do. One has a brightline window, the other does not. RE: the ISO issue. An indicator shows you when the device has low battery. I dont have and 6-bit coded lenses, or really bother with the coding, so just tend to set the minimum speed to 1/60th. Im really enjoying this site since discovering it! 20% better video recording quality (main camera), Has continuous autofocus when recording movies, has continuous autofocus when recording movies. For compact cameras, a focus motor is usually built-in. The maximum ISO at which the device still captures excellent quality images. Your previous content has been restored. I have used many rangefinders, a Leica M8, M9 (and its variants M-E/M9P/MM), M262, M240P and of course most recently the M-D 262. Since most reviews are quite large in content thanks to extensive coverage, comparisons to other cameras and large sample images, they span across multiple pages for easier reading experience. I just bought a M262.Its my 3rd Leica M (after a M6 and a M240) and each time I come back to a M, its a delight. Fast continuous shooting is useful for catching action shots. Hi Hamish, I have used an M240 extensively for the last 18 months. The M240 feels, well, fuller. I love using that camera but want a digitals instant gratification and ease of image development (Im lazy). Most of the digital M bodies are going to offer a satisfactory experience for the average first time Leica user. It was designed and released after the M240 to offer an option to photographers who didn't need the bells and whistles the M240 had to offer. The last four images you posted are the best images Ive seen from an M240. This page contains all hands-on, detailed Camera Reviews that have been published at Photography Life. Sometimes, colours from M262 can be a bit more saturated than from M240, but as I use them only in recording DNG, post work can do what I want. Without even thinking about it, I started using the live-view. Ive had it for years and purchased it when M8s were at their lowest prices. Released only weeks apart, the Sony 50mm F1.4 GM and Sigma F1.4 DG DN Art are clear competitors. This thing has live-view, and video. I shouldve read the manual! I wont go into too much more detail now, but for saying that unlike the M240 and M262 that Ive otherwise used since the M9, the Leica M10-P really feels like it has []. I upgrade cameras, selling them and adding a little bit of funds from what disposable income I do have, also relying on credit a bit too much. Your link has been automatically embedded. There is still some faint banding, but a huge improvement over the M240. As I said at the end of that post, I then found myself in with a big chuck of the dreaded GAS. But even then, its not close to other modern cameras. So, the obvious question: why not the M10-D? I am very pleased to be in a forum withso many helpful people. Even though this image set was only intentionally overexposed by a single stop in direct sunlight, the highlights from the image samples taken by the Leica M246 and the Leica M Monochrom were blown and unrecoverable in post processing. Whilst I fully get that it is down to personal preference, I just thought I would ask the question: M240 (or its E and P variants) or M262? I soon found one on eBay for a price I was happy to pay and a few days later I had a chrome-finished M240 to keep my company whilst my poorly M262 was seen to by the camera-doctors. It does make me wonder if they could have slimmed down this body like the M10, were they to have released this camera as a major upgrade rather than a stripped-back sidestep from the M240. The focus motor moves the lens in order to autofocus. Fortunately, whilst the control of ISO isnt quite perfect, I have found the way exposure compensation works on the Leica M262 to be a big step up from the M9. Whats cool about having a Z6 (or other similar mirrorless camera) is that I can easily adapt the Leica M glass. Yeah, I edit all my digital images, so I guess I dont really think about that. Its funny, the M262 seems to be the Leica camera that people forget. You can click any image for a larger view which is the best way to view it as this site compresses these down to what you see below . You can post now and register later. by Charles Higham, https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Wong+Laica+M+262, https://www.35mmc.com/14/10/2017/fuji-x100f-fuji-lost-sight-elegant-original-concept/, A Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 ZM Distagon Review - An Optical Wonder! So the M262 is going to stay, and the Leica M240 go. Help us by suggesting a value. As mentioned, one of the big selling points Leica hung their marketing angle off when launching the Leica M262 was the reduction of menu options to 2 screens compared to the M240. I took the M240 because it offeres live view. On the M240 the highlight from focus peaking is often not apparent at all. Using the zoom focus button on the front of the camera along with Live View is a good aid to focus in these situations.Ergonomics. Focusing that close without rangefinder coupling is of course quite difficult unless you have live-view. That alone justifies the decision to buy. Ah yes, sorry, of course the screen is actually useful! If you arent aware of these lenses, they focus down to about 40cm. Thirty days, a new sensor, a new shutter mechanism, and a couple other tweaks and the camera was better than new. This can be used to capture moving objects using a fast shutter speed, or to take images in low light without using a flash. When moving from M9 to M262 Id not put too much thought into how much difference this would make to me, in practice though, this small change in interface makes a big difference to how the camera feels. . So I am very glad I got the 240 version. The device is protected with extra seals to prevent failures caused by dust, raindrops, and water splashes. Id probably buy a new car. I posted this as a person of experience. All images generated with the M262 + 24mm 3.8 were taken July 6 between 3 and 5 PM around Victoria, BC in direct overhead sunlight (far from ideal), https://www.dropbox.com/sh/borvrgwfsovpoiz/AADvQ-IsxTfl51btqaCD_i4Fa?dl=0. At this point, Leica will probably keep video for its SL series. Flip-out screens can be useful for tricky shots. Its marquee features are omissions rather than additions: the M-D doesn't . In this buying guide weve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best. One video compares the sound of the shutter to the the M-E. Jump to content . It has been a bit of an adjustment shooting with such a stripped-down camera but Im really learning to love it a lot. Versus uses cookies to improve your experience on the site. I love the files the camera produces, the size and weight is just right and operationally it couldnt be much simpler. But nope, they included a hardly useful flourish, that as you say, looks like it was thought up but a marketing department. In a world where newer camera models are expected to have more features not less, the Leica M262 doesnt really fit into the normal upgrade path camera manufacturers offer. With AF tracking, once you choose the subject and press the shutter release part way down, as the subject moves, the autofocus will follow it. For example, I am in a coffee shop with the camera sitting on a Manfrotto table top tripod. Im an auto-ISO guy so the dial is nice for the little I use it. Leica claims it uses different technology, whatever that means. True Leica again (after the M240), pure and sololy focused on the Photography essentials. If zinc is your preference the M6 is your baby. To a degree, I can see their point too. This can make the process of rationalising an upgrade quite difficult, though in my experience once the upgrade is made, it does tend to make a bit more sense. Just feels like the marketing department have taken over the machine room, unfortunately. My guess is that many of the Leica purists won't be bothered at all by this decision. Without a magnifier piece.comfortable view is 50-35mm. Im not loaded, but I do focus almost all my disposable income on this. I think it is a very cool and stripped down digital M camera that I purchased used to compliment my M3 (I use the M3 with a 50mm and 90mm lens). (Leica M (Typ 262)) CIPA is an independent, standard measurement that determines how many shots a camera can take before the battery dies. You cannot paste images directly. !if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'35mmc_com-box-4','ezslot_13',182,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-35mmc_com-box-4-0'); One way or another, in the time Ive been using the camera, Ive not got used to this little issue, though I have at least learned to live with it. Very nice work. With the wrong card, the wait before the shutter is again available is bad. The top plate of the M262 feels slightly more hollow than the M240 not it a way that you can feel it, but you can sort of hear it if you tap it, and even sometimes when the strap rattles on it. However it is nice to have a brand new camera and if you can manage without Liveview most M262 users seem very happy with it. I hadnt noticed that it focused closer though. Leica M262 M-P M10 M262 Leica M-E . The build quality of the M 262 is impeccable. dslr . My first surprise was as any Leica M240 user would likely tell you just how familiar it felt. This is particularly useful on long shoots when you need more space. Hmm I wonder if you might be right there. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows you to easily transfer data between different devices, such as smartphones, tablets and computers. In fact, I could almost go as far to say that even this stripped back Leica has too many buttons and options for my needs! Fortunately, when the image popped up in Lightroom, it was fine or at least it was little different to a photo that I might have expected out of the M262. These were features I wanted to explore whilst I had this camera though I really had very low expectations that they would do much for me. The beauty of the Leica M262 is what they took away.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'35mmc_com-box-4','ezslot_16',182,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-35mmc_com-box-4-0'); That being said, even with major Leica models the upgrade path involves such small incremental changes. Which despite it feeling like something that would really suit me as someone who prefers to operate without the need for any sort of menu driven interface on their cameras was still a fairly small feature for quite a lot more cash!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'35mmc_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_10',180,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-35mmc_com-medrectangle-3-0'); As such I bought an M262 and fairly happily got on with shooting it for the best part of a year. For more articles on 35mmc about the subject matter discussed here, please click one of the following tag links: Contribute to 35mmc for an Ad-Free Experience. CIPA is an independent, standard measurement that determines how many shots a camera can take before the battery dies.