edwardkaraa wrote:
What's the gatefold issue, Ron?
It's when you can see a subtle straight line density transition running straight down the middle of the frame, like the page fold area in a magazine double page spread. I believe it has to do with how information is read off the sensor. Something like one channel reads the left side and another reads the right side, then the two are combined to form the image. Problems arise when the two have slight density mismatch. Typically this is only seen in very dark images that are pushed and where there is very little subject detail.
But it is difficult to see it at web-rez. At the right viewing angle, looking in the shadow, you can just make out that the right half is a touch darker. The reason it's probably visible in this image is because the image as captured probably has only about a 3-4 stop range. I've pulled the shadow values down a fair amount, which amplified otherwise minute value differences. Give me some time and I can probably generate a better example of the problem.
Thank you very much Ron. Interesting phenomenon. To be honest I can't see it in the above shot, but probably it's masked by a bit of flare. Is it a known issue with the M9?
rscheffler wrote:
I don't understand what you mean Joe?! All quantifiable evidence points to Leica producing the bestest, most advanced, modernest, full frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera by a German(Portuguese) camera manufacturer. Owners will rightfully be very proud of its cutting edge technology and peerless optical performance, allowing artistic inspiration the likes the world has never before seen: the sharpest photos of brick walls, cats, tree stumps and eclectic shots of coat pockets and random body parts (from those unquestionable periods when the camera serves primarily as an urban status statement).
Seriously, I don't expect the average Leica fanboy's pride to be tarnished any worse than was the case with the M9, which very clearly was far from cutting edge. The only thing that saved it was the full frame sensor. Everything else (digital) about it, as I think I posted here, back when I first got mine in late 2010, felt like some bad 2001-era digital hodgepodge. The M240 will have to be pretty bad to beat the M9 in this respect. But it could potentially be a reversed scenario where Leica addresses all of the M9's operational nags, yet stumbles at the very heart of the system - image quality - if the banding issue persists. But then, as bad as the M9 is, it's still a great camera. Quite the paradox!
I sort of bought into the "mysticism" of the Leica M9 until I looked at my own pics, damn, I was a fool to think that it could transform me into the ghost of Cartier-Bresson.
Like you said, full frame saved Leica and I would add to that, a vast sea of superb lenses to shoot with. A few months back, I would have been 100% sure of wanting a M240 right away, but with the Sony RX1 and possibly the new Fuji X100s and other potential cameras to be launched (also hoping for a Ricoh update for the GXR solution), I'm not in a rush.
Pretty much confirms my 'gut feeling' about the camera and for me still boils down to whether Leica is able to resolve the banding issue.
Edward, admittedly that shot is not the best example of the issue. I can see it in the full rez files, but it's very subtle and you need to know what to look for. As for whether it's a known issue: I've read some comments about it related to the M9, so yes, it seems so. Whether it affects all cameras or only some, I'm not sure.
Joe, I have to admit MT's review has rekindled a bit of the fire to get the M240... But you're somewhat right. Today I browsed the full-rez files released by Nikon for the D7100. 24MP AA-free sensor, and thought the files looked quite good. Could definitely see something like this put in a NEX-7N, for example. Might not work great with RF wides, but then there are the Zeiss primes coming...
Everything sounds pretty good about the new M's operation, to me, except for the lag during power on, which could be a deal breaker. They must fix that.
Agreed with Ron and Douglas. The M is very attractive and my plans to get it in 2014 have been seriously affected by this review. I seriously doubt I can resist that long. But the banding issue and slow start up must be, and I believe can be resolved. This might be the reason why Leica delayed the deliveries.
douglasf13 wrote:
Everything sounds pretty good about the new M's operation, to me, except for the lag during power on, which could be a deal breaker. They must fix that.
Hopefully the camera is more responsive going from "sleep" mode to shooting. If so the solution might be just to leave it on.
More on live view: There is almost a second blackout after taking a picture in Live View (or with the EVF). Added to this the 30 fps refresh rate is slow enough to produce ‘tearing’ with moving subjects (or moving camera) especially with telephoto lenses. For street/candid photography the shutter lag in Live View means that the decisive moment may have long gone by the time the shutter has closed and opened again.
ryankarr wrote:
Hopefully the camera is more responsive going from "sleep" mode to shooting. If so the solution might be just to leave it on.
That's unfortunately not the impression I got, because he says that you can speed things up by simply leaving the camera on and turning off standby mode (at the cost of battery life.)
Bobu wrote:
For me the restrictions for the lifeview function of the M240 is clearly a deal breaker. I shoot 99% from a tripod and really need to be able to zoom on any point of the image. I just wrote an email to Leica CS and asked them for a statement, whether this restriction will be changed in the near future with a firmware update.
At the moment I'm #1 on the list of the largest Leica dealer in Germany for two M240. If I don't get at clear (and positive) statement, I will cancel my order and will even consider to change back to a DSLR system (D800E with Zeiss).
Maybe as a landscape photographer I'm not one of the typical core customers for the M, but I really like the small size of the system and the very high quality of the lenses. The rangefinder is just a nice add-on for me, but absolutely not necessary. I would probably even buy a Leica M with just a good lifeview implementation and no optical viewfinder at all (as long as it is full frame).
But as Dan wrote, if I cancel my order some other people will be happy to get their M240 a little bit earlier.
Today I got the answer from Leica that the restrictions of the lifeview-zoom-function are hardware/construction based (without mentioning further details) and that there will be no quick firmware change to solve this problem.
They are aware that some customers are not really happy with the current lifeview implementation and are looking for a solution of this problem in the future (maybe next generation of the M?).
Therefore I cancelled my order for the 2 M240s today.
Bobu wrote:
Today I got the answer from Leica that the restrictions of the lifeview-zoom-function are hardware/construction based (without mentioning further details) and that there will be no quick firmware change to solve this problem.
They are aware that some customers are not really happy with the current lifeview implementation and are looking for a solution of this problem in the future (maybe next generation of the M?).
Therefore I cancelled my order for the 2 M240s today.
Boris
That is very unfortunate and very short sighted on the part of Leica. Particularly for the purposes of trying to bring all of us orphaned Leica R users back into the fold. So, basically if this not something that can be solved in relatively short order we may have to wait still an additional 2 to 5 years for a total of perhaps up to 9? years and still another camera (M?) for a useable R solution. That really is something.
douglasf13 wrote:
That's unfortunately not the impression I got, because he says that you can speed things up by simply leaving the camera on and turning off standby mode (at the cost of battery life.)
According to Jono the slow start up is being worked on.
I am still very much torn about this purchase. I hold second position in line at the local shop with a $1k deposit down (non-refundable, but can be used for other stuff if I choose so), but as of late the RX1 has really delivered for me and my style of shooting, that I am wondering whether I can realistically justify the M240 purchase. I have a nice assortment of M glass that has not gotten much action after I sold the M9-P (aside from rare MP outings), so naturally I've been itching to get my hands on the new M to make that glass shine.
The RX1 was a game changer for me. Compact, light, fast, gorgeous screen, gorgeous files, great glass. It may just have ruined my devotion to Leica as a brand for me.
edwardkaraa wrote:
I don't know why, but I have the feeling I'm gonna get my M earlier than expected, if all you guys start canceling your preorders
Well don't look at me. I wasn't on the list. I was on the sidelines watching and waiting for more info and reviews. And I had the opportunity to handle the prototype.
I really enjoyed Ming's review and thought it was well written.
So, basically if this not something that can be solved in relatively short order we may have to wait still an additional 2 to 5 years for a total of perhaps up to 9? years and still another camera (M?) for a useable R solution. 
That really is something.