p.1 #1 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
Recently had to sell my M11 for financial reasons and looking for a "downgrade" I can afford (3k) and still put all my M glass to good use ... M260 seems the obvious choice, but interestingly, in searching through the archives of the forum, I see very little discussion of this camera.
Just curious if this community has thoughts/experience with it ... what to expect, etc.
p.1 #2 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
I had the M240-P.
Obviously 24MP vs. 60MP is a difference. DR is gonna be different also.
That said, If you aren't needing the extremes that are more enabled by the newer gen's ... it's a fine rig. It's a bit larger in the hand (fits mine better, actually) than the svelte M11, but it contours well (imo).
Battery life is better, also ... the larger body accommodates larger battery cells in the larger battery (think AA sized cells in the M240 vs. AAA sized cells in the M10 / M11 bodies.
If you have a different rig for color ... might be time to try out the monochrome version in the M246 flavor with your M glass.
That said, for your budget the M240 is a fine enough rig, just not the latest and greatest. Feed it light and it does well. Put it in the dark and you'll notice the difference of being a couple generations back (meaning you can't push it quite as hard).
p.1 #3 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
M240 rendering is very charming, smooth, and old school for lack of better words. The colors can be overwhelming but you can always tweak it. The highly saturated colors are what gives it a "classic Leica" rendering (the mandarin speaking regions call it "German Flavor").
Now that I used all M9, M240, and currently M10-P, I can confidently tell you the M10-P feels like 2 generations jump from M240 in terms of sensor performances, and the silent shutter is revolutionary. If you'll be able to save up I recommend the M10-P especially if you're coming from M11, though if you can work within it's limitations (low light will be challenging) M240 will still bring you the rangefinder joy.
p.1 #4 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
As mentioned, I had the M240-P variety. The shutter release of the -P variety is improved over the garden variety M240. The M240 shutter release is a bit "clunkier", less "clickier" than the -P or M10/M11 bodies.
It's not a terrible experience, but if you're looking for the "stealthy" shutter release, the garden M240 might be a bit diff experience for you, coming from the M11.
I did my homework between garden M240 vs. M240-P and went with the -P. If I were going back to the M240 ... yup, -P again (currently, I have it in the mono version of the M246, as well).
Oh, and the buffer is smaller in the M240. The M240-P has double the buffer. You might look at a garden M10 for a few more $$$. I realize that scope creep with someone else's $$$ is easy to do, but I'd recommend either the M240-P or the regular M10. The M240-P is probably more challenging to find. The garden M10 is probably the easiest to find.
p.1 #5 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
I went through the M8.2, M9, and M240 progression. I stopped there. While can afford the later generation models, my M240 does everything I need an M to do. It also has capabilities the later M cameras don't. I regularly do video and the M240 does video. Leica M240 accessories include an external microphone and the multifunction grip. The grip brings GPS, and a flash connector, so one can mount the Visoflex and still use flash.
p.1 #7 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
CampK wrote:
Thanks guys, this is exactly the kind of reflection I was looking for. Haven't seen an m10 for under 4k yet, and I've been looking!
They pop up on the Buy & Sell board pretty frequently under 4k. If you can stretch for an M10, I think the improvements are worth it over the M240. That said, I'm also selling an M240 if you're interested.
p.1 #8 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
Like others, I've had some of the earlier bodies, but have never been willing to shell out the big bucks for an M10R or M11.
I've had M8s, M9s, M240, and M10 (twice). I decided to sell my last M10 and shoot with Medium Format Hasselblads for a while. After 6 months of that, I wanted to go back to Leica for my street / casual shooter. I settled on the M240 instead of the M10. While the M10 sensor has a wider dynamic range, I actually like the reds and blues out of the M240 more. In addition, I preferred the thicker body and very long-lasting battery. There is not doubt that the M10 is a better camera, but the M240 remains a great platform for your Leica lenses.
p.1 #9 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
My M9 is more than sufficient in all situations except low light(even though it’s a bit debatable for in those scenarios more modern cameras do wonders to show you what you can’t see but the results are not fabulous ever, bad light is bad light). And I enjoy more and more flash photography.
It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t upgrade if I could but any M camera is still a gift.
So I guess an M240 must still be pretty good.
p.1 #10 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
I have purchased my first digital M in 2019 - a nearly mint M-E 240 which I am using as my main digital M camera to this day. Two main things I like about this camera: its color rendition already in RAW/DNG files and the very long battery life time. Both the M-E, the M-P, and the monochrome M 246 versions use the same larger image buffer as in the M10. It speeds up functions and image taking significantly in these camera versions. The M 240 camera versions are good to use practically with ISO up to 3200. The dynamic range is limited compared to newer more modern cameras, and you have to be cautious regarding highlight clipping. The LCD display in the camera back is dated and always shows the taken image as too dark but perfectly exposed in the DNG file when viewing later on the screen - trust the histogram view, and you will get used to this view. The advantage you get from this sensor is more pop in colors and contrast without much need to do significant post-processing.
I also have the monochrome M 246 version which has about one stop more coverage in dynamic range due to its monochrome sensor. This also allows to use this camera easily up to ISO 6400 without seeing any banding.
IMO the M240 series is currently the best offering regarding performance and price within digital Ms.
p.1 #11 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
OwlsEyes wrote:
Like others, I've had some of the earlier bodies, but have never been willing to shell out the big bucks for an M10R or M11.
I've had M8s, M9s, M240, and M10 (twice). I decided to sell my last M10 and shoot with Medium Format Hasselblads for a while. After 6 months of that, I wanted to go back to Leica for my street / casual shooter. I settled on the M240 instead of the M10. While the M10 sensor has a wider dynamic range, I actually like the reds and blues out of the M240 more. In addition, I preferred the thicker body and very long-lasting battery. There is not doubt that the M10 is a better camera, but the M240 remains a great platform for your Leica lenses.
+1. Agreed with all of this from my personal experience. Just one specific thing regarding lens compatibility in the M 240 series: The Leica 50/2.0 DR (dual range) lens does not work allowing infinity focus on this series. It works perfectly fine for minimum focus distance work though.
p.1 #12 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
retrofocus wrote:
+1. Agreed with all of this from my personal experience. Just one specific thing regarding lens compatibility in the M 240 series: The Leica 50/2.0 DR (dual range) lens does not work allowing infinity focus on this series. It works perfectly fine for minimum focus distance work though.
I did not know this, but to be honest... the inability to use that lens is of no consequence to me. I have a 35mm Cron AsphII for most of my M usage and a LLL Rigid Black for when I want something a little different.
I love using M-cameras, but if you look at 95% + of my image posts, you'll see I'm a wildlife photographer who also dabbles in landscapes. The M fulfills my desire to have a film-like experience during a shoot without the added expense, unpredictability, and extra steps film photography requires. In addition, it is a bit of a throwback shooting experience for a guy who began in 1979 w/ an old Spotmatic followed by various other manual tools.
p.1 #13 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
There is only one Leica M I ever hated and it was the 240. The body was too thick and the ergonomics wrere terrible for me. Putting in video made for a menu mess.
p.1 #14 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
I've been happy with my M240, it's not my "daily driver" as I mostly shoot with my Sony gear but it let's me do the rangefinder thing without spending a fortune. I appreciate the images actually look different than what I get from my Sonys, I like the colors and contrast that come straight out of the camera.
I don't know what it would be like going "backwards" from a newer M body since I've had no real desire to upgrade, but if you buy a used one and try it for a bit you can probably sell it for a small loss if it's not working for you.
p.1 #15 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
I went from the M-P 240 to M10R and while I would never go back willingly, the files from the M-P were absolutely fine. If my budget was 3k and wanting to stay in the M system, I'd definitely look for another M-P at the 2.5k range.
Another option is to not "downgrade" sensors and instead adapt your M glass to something like an A7CR
p.1 #16 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
I'm a current M240 user, which I acquired in 2014. Admittedly I have not used it a lot since I transitioned my DSLR system to mirrorless and the focus of some of my work moved away from what I was primarily using the M240... Previous to it I had (and still have) the M9. Both of these M generations had their quirks (every M has quirks) but while the M9 felt like sort of a Frankenstein project Leica whipped up with a whole raft of quirks (apparently much of the M9's electronics development was not in-house), the M240 was a considerably more polished product, though IMO the M10 was really the first truly 'refined' digital M.
The M240 works fine as a digital rangefinder. If used in 'classic' light metering mode (not metering off the actual sensor), lag is minimal and it's easy to time 'decisive moment' types of images in a single shot. Once you dive more into features not traditionally core to the M system is when the experience deteriorates somewhat. Live view can be useful for wide angle framing, rather than using an auxiliary optical finder, but it's quite laggy and focus can only be punched in to the center of the image. It's basically an example of live view implementation from the dawn of live view. The external EVF was third party and also used by Olympus around that time, so if you can find one, because it's cheaper than the Leica branded version, it will work. I liked it simply for the tilt option when photographing something above me. But sometimes using live view would lock up the camera. And because to make an exposure in live view, the shutter curtain must close before the exposure can start, there is the problem of potential shutter shock at longer focal lengths and certain shutter speed ranges.
As mentioned, the huge battery is a bonus for in-the-field longevity (if not using live view much) and I haven't had issues with the body's apparently 'excessive' thickness. I do prefer to use it with a Thumbs-Up type of accessory for better grip. I also replaced the stock base with one from RSS that includes Arca Swiss dovetails for occasional tripod use.
In terms of image quality, at base ISO 200 it's within around a half-stop of later M options (non-mono). Beyond that you do lose some ground but I suspect (though haven't tested it yet) that running files through current AI NR options likely recovers some of its high ISO performance deficit.
Overall the M240 has been reliable except for the shutter failing after 4 years. But I've had similar happen with other brands, too. Unlike other brands, Leica replaced it at no charge even though it was well out of warranty coverage. Otherwise the M240 hasn't been plagued by other age issues like the M9's sensor corrosion (which affected mine, though fortunately during the period when it was still a free repair). But like the M9, I find the M240 to be a real magnet for sensor dust and is perhaps my greatest annoyance with it. In contrast my Canon mirrorless system rarely presents any dust spots, but I think it's fundamentally a consequence of Leica's need to use a very thin sensor stack, which places dust much closer to the image plane and therefore becomes much more noticeable.
Will the M240 be a noticeable downgrade from the M11? I think this will depend on how much you used non-core M features such as live view or interfaced with the Leica app, which obviously is not compatible with the M240. I think it's possible to be happy with the M240 as a basic optical rangefinder camera as long as you recognize its limitations and don't try to push it beyond its 'comfort zone,' something which I also found true, to a much greater extent, for the M9.
p.1 #17 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
rscheffler wrote:
I find the M240 to be a real magnet for sensor dust and is perhaps my greatest annoyance with it. In contrast my Canon mirrorless system rarely presents any dust spots, but I think it's fundamentally a consequence of Leica's need to use a very thin sensor stack, which places dust much closer to the image plane and therefore becomes much more noticeable.
Thanks for mentioning this here - I have observed the same, and my M-E 240 and MM 246 both easily get dust on the sensor glass. Dry cleaning is a must after every trip and change of lenses during this. Often also not so easy to get rid of!
p.1 #18 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
andrew perkins wrote:
I went from the M-P 240 to M10R and while I would never go back willingly, the files from the M-P were absolutely fine. If my budget was 3k and wanting to stay in the M system, I'd definitely look for another M-P at the 2.5k range.
Another option is to not "downgrade" sensors and instead adapt your M glass to something like an A7CR
I might suggest to look at the SL2 / SL2-S ... if not the M. The sensor stack is much better suited than Sony products, for the M glass. I use the SL2-S and my M10R / M246 interchangeably with my M glass, without concern or issues that have come to mind.
I went M-P > M10R, also. If not for a nice opportunity on a trade, I could have stayed with the M-P, too.
p.1 #19 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
retrofocus wrote:
Thanks for mentioning this here - I have observed the same, and my M-E 240 and MM 246 both easily get dust on the sensor glass. Dry cleaning is a must after every trip and change of lenses during this. Often also not so easy to get rid of!
For me not just after every trip. Dust will suddenly appear within a hundred or two shots, which could easily be within a few hours. Because I mostly use the camera with the OVF and the rear display doesn't really reveal much when working in bright sunlight, I'll miss new dust spots as they appear during use and inevitably only notice them later when reviewing images on the computer. Too often it'll be some small hair that is positioned in the worst spot. The last time I seriously used the camera I shot some silhouette scenes and later when going through the images there was a ton of dust I hadn't noticed while shooting. And I even cleaned the sensor before going out that day specifically to avoid this. But I change lenses A LOT, which certainly doesn't help.
I wish dry cleaning alone would do it. Usually it does, but I need to go over the sensor probably a few 'sweeps' with a sensor pen and/or the little gel sticks to pluck stubborn pieces off the glass. Or I have to do a wet swabbing. I've also twice had bad luck with the M240's sensor attracting a piece of dirt that 'welded' itself to the sensor glass. Both times practically dead center.
I asked Leica to check the first time it happened when the shutter died (the welded-on dirt was already there for some time and was unrelated to the shutter failure) and they said they had to replace the sensor. And replacing the sensor was prerequisite for having the shutter repaired (because of that piece of welded-on dirt). So I paid for the sensor ($960) but they comped the shutter replacement.
Then a couple years later another piece of dirt welded onto the sensor glass in virtually the same spot... I've lived with it since and hope whenever the camera next has to go to Leica that they don't force another sensor replacement just to get the camera 'back to specs.'
I don't know what Canon is doing with their mirrorless cameras that minimizes dust to the extent that I have only rarely had to blow dust off the sensors. I haven't even had to touch a Canon mirrorless sensor yet for cleaning. Sensor vibration to unseat dust likely helps. And as mentioned, I'm guessing the sensor stack thickness is another factor. When there is dust, even stopped down to around f/8, it's still soft-edged, whereas with my Leicas it will be very sharply defined. This suggests that the top layer of glass on Canon's sensors is quite far from the actual sensor's surface.
This affinity for attracting dust and the lack of IBIS are two major reasons I've kind of shelved my M system in favor of mirrorless. I love using the M, but I hate retouching dust in hundreds of images.
p.1 #20 · Thoughts or experience with the Leica M240?
Ha! My ex M-P240 had a piece of hair appear within a few months after official Leica cleaned it (it was spotless). I never change lens and shoot sparingly every week, and rocket blower doesn't get rid of it but instead it caused more dusts on sensor...
rscheffler wrote:
Too often it'll be some small hair that is positioned in the worst spot.
I've lived with it since and hope whenever the camera next has to go to Leica that they don't force another sensor replacement just to get the camera 'back to specs.'