Godfrey
somewhat colored
Huh? I do that with my M4-2 some times. It's called "shooting from the hip" or "shooting over a crowd" ...
or "making a self portrait in the mirror", this one with M9. ;-)
G
finguanzo
Well-known
On a good note, cheaper than the 10k price tag most here expected.....
I think cheaper than the m9 when it came out too.... a bargain!!!
I think cheaper than the m9 when it came out too.... a bargain!!!
mrrobleyleica
Member
That's good, I can still use the hideous case I bought, or sell it on!
I thought it didn't look thicker in the shots.
Same price as the M9 three years ago.
finguanzo
Well-known
I just wished the M E had the newer sensor without all the other crap.. Then Id definitely get it.. Basic M with slightly better ISO than the M9, all I want...
O well, next model..
O well, next model..
True, that would have been great. The M-E will have an effect on used M9 prices though, so that's good.
finguanzo
Well-known
Yeah, but all that means is that Ill be tempted to buy a "cheap" M9, and then 8 months later, an M-E with the new sensor will come out...... 
:bang:
:bang:Ben Z
Mentor
Me too. However given the cost of the M isn't more than an M9, the bolt-on attachments are optional, and live-view and video don't assert themselves aside from a couple of buttons, I'm not sure I'd be a customer for a stripped-down M unless it was half the price. Same with the M-E, as a more fully-featured and better-looking M9 with the same sensor can (or will soon be) findable for thousands less. Warranty? Send the used M9 in for a CLA and get a year's warranty on it.
awilder
Alan Wilder
Anybody know if the new M will have a built-in dust reduction system? I would think that use of live view would tend to increase the likelihood of dust on the sensor.
britinjapan
Member
An ME starts to feel within range....
krötenblender
Well-known
No, it has not. It has the same "sensor cleaning" entry in the menu as the M9 and thats it... (I searched the menu of the prototypes, that were given to visitors at the Photokina)
awilder
Alan Wilder
Sensor cleaning should be less problematic without the added depth of a mirror box assuming a blower bulb will do the trick 99% of the time. The EVF, R adapter and focus peaking are welcome additions making it a no brainer for people with a nice collection of M and R lenses. From a price standpoint, I think it's a far better value than the M9.
doolittle
Well-known
My thoughts after Photokina on the M and ME:
The M feels a little bit more weighty than the M9. I don't see it as a problem (though none of the digital Ms have, in my opinion, the perfect balance of size and form the film versions had) and the extra battery capacity is the reward (if shooting traditional RF style). The thumb rest is a welcome addition, it really helps.
The camera still retains the traditional RF shooting experience if you want it and the LV functions don't intrude unless you want them too.
As it was a pre-production model I am not sure how to judge the LV and EVF experience. It's definitely fiddlier and laggier. Maybe once the firmware is updated it will be a bit crisper. The camera is too heavy to hold mobile phone style, which isn't necessarily a bad thing! I didn't try the R adapter. For me I can imagine LV being of use occasionally for tripod shots, for instance to assist in placing a ND grad. The focus assist button on the front was hard to press on the camera I tried, maybe it will change by production time.
The led illuminated frame lines are perfectly good. It was a bit disconcerting to see no frame lines through the viewfinder when the camera was powered down. I don't think it is a big deal in practice.
If the sensor proves up to it, the 'traditional' digital full frame Leica rangefinder experience is safe. I asked about the presence or absence of an AA filter, and was told it has no AA filter as per the M8 and M9.
The ME: as expected very like the M9. Colour and feel of the paint not to my liking, not terrible, but black would have been so much nicer. Otherwise not much to report. Yes, the frame-preview lever is missing (as it is on the M).
Finally quickly on the MM: it looks great. All black is really nice!
The M feels a little bit more weighty than the M9. I don't see it as a problem (though none of the digital Ms have, in my opinion, the perfect balance of size and form the film versions had) and the extra battery capacity is the reward (if shooting traditional RF style). The thumb rest is a welcome addition, it really helps.
The camera still retains the traditional RF shooting experience if you want it and the LV functions don't intrude unless you want them too.
As it was a pre-production model I am not sure how to judge the LV and EVF experience. It's definitely fiddlier and laggier. Maybe once the firmware is updated it will be a bit crisper. The camera is too heavy to hold mobile phone style, which isn't necessarily a bad thing! I didn't try the R adapter. For me I can imagine LV being of use occasionally for tripod shots, for instance to assist in placing a ND grad. The focus assist button on the front was hard to press on the camera I tried, maybe it will change by production time.
The led illuminated frame lines are perfectly good. It was a bit disconcerting to see no frame lines through the viewfinder when the camera was powered down. I don't think it is a big deal in practice.
If the sensor proves up to it, the 'traditional' digital full frame Leica rangefinder experience is safe. I asked about the presence or absence of an AA filter, and was told it has no AA filter as per the M8 and M9.
The ME: as expected very like the M9. Colour and feel of the paint not to my liking, not terrible, but black would have been so much nicer. Otherwise not much to report. Yes, the frame-preview lever is missing (as it is on the M).
Finally quickly on the MM: it looks great. All black is really nice!
ramosa
B&W
i agree that the digital Ms haven't quite achieved the dreamlike feel and heft of the film Ms. if Leica could make a digital M feel like the M6, i'd be very tempted.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
?? I have both the M8 and M6, and while one is slightly "deeper" than the other, I think they're virtually the same weight (i.e. "heft"); similar lenses mounted, M8 loaded with battery, M6 with film, both with half cases.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Well, my m4-2and m9 feel quite different in my hands, but I like both of them. Actually I wish they both felt like the CL I acquired recently. Love that body!
tjh
Well-known
Excellent point - I didn't think of that! Dust could be quite a problem.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Well, maybe. Some sensors and bodies, it seems, are dust magnets and others are not. I've been shooting with the Ricoh GXR-M for a year with very few dust problems, not taking much particular care about changing lenses, and it has no sensor cleaning mechanism at all.
I do wish *all* manufacturers equipped their interchangeable lens cameras with efficient, quick, automated sensor cleaning like Olympus and Panasonic do. In 60-70 thousand exposures with Olympus and Panasonic FourThirds and Micro-FourThirds cameras, I never saw one speck of dust on the sensor. It's one of the things that really differentiates them, although not spoken of very often.
Roger Hicks
Mentor
How many have handled it yet? Or indeed read the Leica press releases? From the previous 150 posts, not many.
I was well impressed. I wasn't keen until I realized that I can stick just about any manual focus lens that I own on the front -- and use the EVF with focus confirmation. One of the first things I'm going to try with a review copy is a Thambar.
The depressing thing is that I think I'm going to buy one (depression is finding the money). Not to replace the M9. To use alongside. At least the M8 can go at that point.
Cheers,
R.
I was well impressed. I wasn't keen until I realized that I can stick just about any manual focus lens that I own on the front -- and use the EVF with focus confirmation. One of the first things I'm going to try with a review copy is a Thambar.
The depressing thing is that I think I'm going to buy one (depression is finding the money). Not to replace the M9. To use alongside. At least the M8 can go at that point.
Cheers,
R.
f16sunshine
Moderator
This question is for anyone who has in fact handled the M.
Does the EVF feel or seem fragile? It looks as though it is like the Olympus one (it may in fact be re-branded ehe?).
To me that one seems delicate. I would hope for something robust.
Also, is it just me or is an EVF really quite shaky for use with longer focal length lenses?
I've been comparing my f2.8/180mm sonnar on my 5Dii while using a f2.8/135mm Sonnar on my Xpro.
The EVF seems so jiggly compared to the SLR viewfinder.
What have others found?
Does the EVF feel or seem fragile? It looks as though it is like the Olympus one (it may in fact be re-branded ehe?).
To me that one seems delicate. I would hope for something robust.
Also, is it just me or is an EVF really quite shaky for use with longer focal length lenses?
I've been comparing my f2.8/180mm sonnar on my 5Dii while using a f2.8/135mm Sonnar on my Xpro.
The EVF seems so jiggly compared to the SLR viewfinder.
What have others found?