Ming Thein's M 240 review is live.

Great review and great images. Sean Reid also posted his current review today (though you need to pay to see that one). Looks like the M will be a great camera. Wish I were higher on a waiting list :(
 
Very nice review with a great deal of in-depth information. I'm a bit concerned of the new metering system, especially the spot-metering implementation. It's great to have other options besides the old center-weighted metering, hopefully Leica sorts this out.
 
I have to admit I was pretty stunned by the DR in the silhouette shots. There is still detail in the sky in direct sunlight as well the individuals faces...

I remember how heated the debate was over the image quality based on the previously released images, and I have to admit that I did not understand the strategy there.

Even a D800e handheld under fluorescent lights will look bad, but these shots taken with a serious amount of care look great.

Looks like Leica is joining the digital world in a big way.
 
i do admit having read a review from someone who has used the M system before does sound convincing. The M240 is defenitely a camera worth the leica name, on the other hand if they didn't shell out sth like this it would be a huge disappointment
 
Ok no 2nd hand M9 for me. I will keep saving for my 50th birthday.
Hope I can have it engraved.
 
Best reviewer on the internet in my opinion. Thank you Mr Thien!
The camera seems like a gem as well. I'm interested to see some prints and try PP on a DNG or two.
 
Rogier said:
Ok no 2nd hand M9 for me. I will keep saving for my 50th birthday.
Hope I can have it engraved.
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Same here. As wonderful as the M9 seems in a semi-purist kinda way, the M240 looks like a more useful camera in the long run, and (who knows) it may turn out to be the last digital Leica with a real rangefinder as well as live view. I can seriously see Leica dropping the optical rangefinder once a future digital Leica has a built-in EVF like the Sony NEX-7.

Time will tell, but I think I will stick with my M3 and M4-P for a couple of more years and then buy a second-hand M240.
 
Best reviewer on the internet in my opinion.
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I don't disagree, and considering I earn my pay from writing camera reviews....

It was a reassuring look at the camera. I've been selling off gear to pay for one and reorganizing lens kit to match the full-frame sensor (formerly had an M8), but had been wavering on preordering up until reading his take. Now I just want B&H to ship it to me.
 
I can seriously see Leica dropping the optical rangefinder once a future digital Leica has a built-in EVF like the Sony NEX-7.
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I'd be surprised if they did. I can see a hybrid viewfinder like the one on the X-Pro1 coming eventually, but SonyAlphaRumors keeps saying that there's a full-frame NEX coming (there's already a full-frame E-mount camcorder that can mount Leica lenses), presumably using Sony's OLED EVF.

Why buy an EVF-only Leica for $7k if the Sony offers the same viewing/focusing experience for (presumably) less? Especially when you add in the ability to use Hawk's close-focus adapter with the NEX camera.
 
It's a good review, and an exciting camera from Leica. They really shoulda been here in 2009, but as long as they solved the reliability issues I think it'll be a winner.

If I had to critique him I would say he should pick a format and stick with it. The odd crops are not improving his compositions, and having them presented in one portfolio is even worse. Also, the black boarders are needlessly distracting, and seem dated.

Too bad about the prices though. Too unrealistic for dedicated creatives trying to make a living.
 
Please forgive my ignorance -- is this camera the same as the "M", or something even newer? Looks great -- and this is an exemplary review also. I just had never heard of anything referred to as "240" before.
 
The camera is being marketed as the Leica M, but folks have been using the Type 240 designation to differentiate it from discussing generic M-mount cameras in general. I'm not 100% sure of the origin, but it's likely an engineering code name (Type 240, 24 megapixel sensor, some correlation there.)
 
Thanks. Certainly sounds as though the M8, M8.2, M9, Monochrom have been placeholders (don't mean anything pejorative by this) pending the release of this. It looks good -- will Leica now settle down for a while before coming out with "M 2.0"?
 
jpfisher said:
The camera is being marketed as the Leica M, but folks have been using the Type 240 designation to differentiate it from discussing generic M-mount cameras in general. I'm not 100% sure of the origin, but it's likely an engineering code name (Type 240, 24 megapixel sensor, some correlation there.)
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Right. Leica has simplified the model name to just Leica M, the series designation is Type 240. When they update the new M in a large way, they don't have to change the name, just update the series designation.

It's kinda like with my car: Mercedes has sold the SLK model in various configurations through three series from 1996 to the present. When you're referring to a particular car, you can identify it by the year and other characteristics of the configuration (as in "2002 SLK 320 with Sport Kit") or by the chassis type (that would be an R170 with 320 V6 engine). The other two series are the R171 and R172 chassis types, all referred to as SLKs.

G
 
KoNickon said:
Thanks. Certainly sounds as though the M8, M8.2, M9, Monochrom have been placeholders (don't mean anything pejorative by this) pending the release of this. It looks good -- will Leica now settle down for a while before coming out with "M 2.0"?
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LOL ... some people despair that Leica is moving so slowly, they want a newer model every 10 months it seems. Others want them to move slower. ;-)

I suspect the next model will be another Leica M.

G
 
I was really hoping for some side by side comparisons of the M9's capabilities and the M10's. It's nice to know he likes the camera. And he still hasn't answered the question if the M10 is in fact thicker than the M9 and not just because of the thumb rest.
"The camera is slightly thicker and heavier than the M9; presumably this has something to do with the new rear LCD or the thumb hook. You do feel it in the hand..." Does this guy own an M8/9 or not? All you have to do is hold them together to know.

Also the center weighted and matrix metering are really just hacks. Good to know as I was kinda excited about that.
 
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