Gromit
Plasticine Dog
I hope you fine folk won't mind me creating a short blog about my recent foray into getting my first Leica. Well, it's not a 'blog' as such as it will likely be the only post from me on the matter, but (as in the title) 'musings' is probably a more apt description. This is from a completely subjective, personal view based on the last few months spent using this camera. I've probably put ITRO of 5-6k shots through it.
I've wanted to own one of these things for many years - it started when I was a child as my Dad owned an M3 and whilst I never got to even hold it, it was something I knew was supposed to be a bit special. The seed was sown.
Now, I'm not a person of great income (I drive a 14 yr old Pug 107 so don't spend my funds on cars! Mrs G has the nicer car than I ) so much was expected when I finally got my hands on my M-P 240; it wasn't entered into lightly. Leica glass was pretty much out of the question, but on doing lengthy reading-up it seemed that Voigtländer was a worthy 2nd best. Watching the YT videos from Matt Osborne and Matt Day, for example, showed what was achievable, even if not by me. The recently-added Ultron 35 f2 has proven what superb value their glass is - a lens which has been causing a big stir in Leica circles, many preferring it to the 35 f2 Summicron - at 1/5th the price. Regarding the price of more lofty Leica glass, it's eye-watering.
As a piece of well-built engineering, the M is very special - the only camera I own which gets near is my beloved Nikon F3 (the Hasselblad is better still but it's hardly a 'carry around' item). Whether the M is as robust, I wouldn't like to say though, and don't intend to test it out. In use, the camera is lovely - not particularly small, extremely heavy (for its size), feeling very 'dense' as if hewn from a solid block. The shutter sound is very mechanical too, and most satisfying. Rangefinder focusing is both quick, and deadly accurate (providing it's calibrated properly). The feel of the Voigt lenses is certainly up with the quality of the M body, the focusing actions beautifully damped and *buttery smooth. (*Copyright: Darren Miles). It really is a gorgeous thing to take out and shoot with - it's not overly fast ('C' mode is I'm sure, Wetzlar speak for 'Can't be bothered'). But quick enough for the occasional grab shot. I'm sure with practice it would be even better though. The frame lines within the VF are spot on and with longer f/l length lenses (35mm and upward) it's nice to see outside that box without removing one's eye from the camera.
IQ is excellent - I'd be a bit p*ssed if it wasn't. Colour and mono jpegs are extremely good, and I just leave all settings at 'medium' and am happy with the results. The film sims (of which there is a grand total of 2) are OK but not exactly Fuji standard. RAW files a reasonably flexible, but packed with detail - achievable with the Voigtländer lenses without issue.
As a tool to use whilst out and about it's nigh on unbeatable. Discreet, quiet, unobtrusive, small and totally non-threatening. The M-P doesn't have the red dot which is a good thing too.
Downsides? Oh yes, more than a few.
High ISO use isn't very good - going above 1600 isn't advised (IMHO) and the noise isn't particularly pleasant. Unlike the D700 where it shows a film-like grain structure, the M isn't great at all. Its DR is poor too, especially for a FF 24MP sensor. For high ISO use the Df murders it - and the D700 gives it a bloody nose too.
Writing to the card is slow - mine is the 'P' version which has a larger buffer than the M240 so Lord knows what that one's like. Still, I don't shoot in rapid succession so it's not a deal-breaker.
VF frame lines are limited to 28mm - any wider and you need live view (or the clip-on EVF). Wearing specs means this is a bit of a nightmare. I use all my other cameras with the diopters adjusted to my eyesight without glasses which means I can chimp easily if needed without farting around - the Leica eyepiece is non adjustable which I think on a camera this price is inexcusable.
Is its IQ better than my Nikons? Hard to say. I do seem to get a lot of keepers, and there's certainly a look to its files which is very appealing - even with the 2nd best glass. The poor DR does prove annoying at times, and doesn't make for an easy time in tricky light. OTOH it provides something of a challenge to be worked around. As to the IQ itself, I'd love to get some serious quality glass on the front of my Df - sadly, none of my Nikon lenses, whilst I'm fond of them, perform in the same league as the Voigtländers so the Df's sensor isn't being let fully off the leash. I've a feeling the Df is equal to, if not actually better than the M. Mattias Burling (a YouTuber I have immense respect for) maintains the Df has just about the finest IQ out there.
Do I regret the purchase?
Yes and no. Yes, because I don't think the system is worth the outlay for the pure results and - speaking with 100% objectivity - if I was forced to sell it, I'm not sure I'd miss it.
No, because - speaking with 100% subjectivity - I have never felt so 'connected' with a camera since my days of using film. In use, it really does feel like a digital *F3 and I cannot praise it any higher than that.
*I've owned my F3 since 1985; it went everywhere with me and will have to be prised from my cold, dead hands.
Oh - and there are some right twats on the Leica M Facebook group (many great people too - and some superb images in display).
Oh (no.2) - and the box it comes in is something else.
I've wanted to own one of these things for many years - it started when I was a child as my Dad owned an M3 and whilst I never got to even hold it, it was something I knew was supposed to be a bit special. The seed was sown.
Now, I'm not a person of great income (I drive a 14 yr old Pug 107 so don't spend my funds on cars! Mrs G has the nicer car than I ) so much was expected when I finally got my hands on my M-P 240; it wasn't entered into lightly. Leica glass was pretty much out of the question, but on doing lengthy reading-up it seemed that Voigtländer was a worthy 2nd best. Watching the YT videos from Matt Osborne and Matt Day, for example, showed what was achievable, even if not by me. The recently-added Ultron 35 f2 has proven what superb value their glass is - a lens which has been causing a big stir in Leica circles, many preferring it to the 35 f2 Summicron - at 1/5th the price. Regarding the price of more lofty Leica glass, it's eye-watering.
As a piece of well-built engineering, the M is very special - the only camera I own which gets near is my beloved Nikon F3 (the Hasselblad is better still but it's hardly a 'carry around' item). Whether the M is as robust, I wouldn't like to say though, and don't intend to test it out. In use, the camera is lovely - not particularly small, extremely heavy (for its size), feeling very 'dense' as if hewn from a solid block. The shutter sound is very mechanical too, and most satisfying. Rangefinder focusing is both quick, and deadly accurate (providing it's calibrated properly). The feel of the Voigt lenses is certainly up with the quality of the M body, the focusing actions beautifully damped and *buttery smooth. (*Copyright: Darren Miles). It really is a gorgeous thing to take out and shoot with - it's not overly fast ('C' mode is I'm sure, Wetzlar speak for 'Can't be bothered'). But quick enough for the occasional grab shot. I'm sure with practice it would be even better though. The frame lines within the VF are spot on and with longer f/l length lenses (35mm and upward) it's nice to see outside that box without removing one's eye from the camera.
IQ is excellent - I'd be a bit p*ssed if it wasn't. Colour and mono jpegs are extremely good, and I just leave all settings at 'medium' and am happy with the results. The film sims (of which there is a grand total of 2) are OK but not exactly Fuji standard. RAW files a reasonably flexible, but packed with detail - achievable with the Voigtländer lenses without issue.
As a tool to use whilst out and about it's nigh on unbeatable. Discreet, quiet, unobtrusive, small and totally non-threatening. The M-P doesn't have the red dot which is a good thing too.
Downsides? Oh yes, more than a few.
High ISO use isn't very good - going above 1600 isn't advised (IMHO) and the noise isn't particularly pleasant. Unlike the D700 where it shows a film-like grain structure, the M isn't great at all. Its DR is poor too, especially for a FF 24MP sensor. For high ISO use the Df murders it - and the D700 gives it a bloody nose too.
Writing to the card is slow - mine is the 'P' version which has a larger buffer than the M240 so Lord knows what that one's like. Still, I don't shoot in rapid succession so it's not a deal-breaker.
VF frame lines are limited to 28mm - any wider and you need live view (or the clip-on EVF). Wearing specs means this is a bit of a nightmare. I use all my other cameras with the diopters adjusted to my eyesight without glasses which means I can chimp easily if needed without farting around - the Leica eyepiece is non adjustable which I think on a camera this price is inexcusable.
Is its IQ better than my Nikons? Hard to say. I do seem to get a lot of keepers, and there's certainly a look to its files which is very appealing - even with the 2nd best glass. The poor DR does prove annoying at times, and doesn't make for an easy time in tricky light. OTOH it provides something of a challenge to be worked around. As to the IQ itself, I'd love to get some serious quality glass on the front of my Df - sadly, none of my Nikon lenses, whilst I'm fond of them, perform in the same league as the Voigtländers so the Df's sensor isn't being let fully off the leash. I've a feeling the Df is equal to, if not actually better than the M. Mattias Burling (a YouTuber I have immense respect for) maintains the Df has just about the finest IQ out there.
Do I regret the purchase?
Yes and no. Yes, because I don't think the system is worth the outlay for the pure results and - speaking with 100% objectivity - if I was forced to sell it, I'm not sure I'd miss it.
No, because - speaking with 100% subjectivity - I have never felt so 'connected' with a camera since my days of using film. In use, it really does feel like a digital *F3 and I cannot praise it any higher than that.
*I've owned my F3 since 1985; it went everywhere with me and will have to be prised from my cold, dead hands.
Oh - and there are some right twats on the Leica M Facebook group (many great people too - and some superb images in display).
Oh (no.2) - and the box it comes in is something else.