I'll chime in. I went from the M9 to the M262, then to the M11, and finally back to the M10.
The jump from the M9 to the M262 was, in my opinion, not very significant. If anything, I wouldn't recommend it. Moving from the M9 straight to the M10 makes far more sense; the upgrade there is substantial.
The M11, while very refined, just didn't click for me. I don't enjoy the sensor's rendering. There's a look to the files that feels too sterile, almost too Sony-like (and I also shoot an A7RV). The magenta shift, while mostly addressed with the new white balance in firmware 4.0, still lingers to some extent.
Overall, I'd say the M10 is the better step up from an M9. It makes more sense as an upgrade while still feeling unmistakably Leica.
I had M9, M240, and now M10-P. The M10-P is probably the first body that offer significant upgrade in terms of haptics and operation speed. The M9 shutter lag (compared to M10-P) is noticeable and I felt anxious shooting on the street due to the noise it make and catching attentions.
I loved the M-P240 output more than regular M240, and yes I can see differences in the color rendering, particularly white balance accuracy. But the image quality fall apart quickly shooting in low light, which I felt both the M240 and M9 will need f1.4 lens to shoot comfortably.
Comes the M10-P, the colors out of the camera are more muted than 2 generations before, but they do retain their color informations for you to boost if you needed so unlike M9 you need to work the files, and they're just as good. The ISO performance is just leagues above previous generations. Once you tried the quiet shutter there's no going back really.
went from a m9 to m11p last summer and it's a signifcant upgrade from a usability pov. The m9 is still fun to use here and there but I've been really enjoying the freedom of the m11p.
Snipe a used M11. It's less fetishized than the M10-R so maybe you can get a better deal, has great battery life, works extremely well with Leica Fotos (I can't believe I'm saying that!) and the Sony sensor is capable of so much. It's a camera you really can use for a great many things. If you go on vacation or location and lose your discipline you can use both the SD card and internal memory, or write to both if that's the kind of backup you feel you need.
retrofocus wrote:
M-E 240 and M 246 user here. Never owned the M9 but tested it years ago in a photo store and wasn't too thrilled. Skipped the M9 and went straight to the M-E 240 as my first digital Leica M which I am still using as my main digital camera now. The M 240 series simply has the best price/quality ratio regarding used digital M camera prices and comes with best battery lifetime. Personally I like the color rendering of the M 240 based sensor which pronounces the blue and yellow/red tones similar to some color film. Not much post processing is needed when it comes to the color photos taken with this camera.
Biggest con of the M 240 series is the danger of clipping highlights due to the more limited dynamic range of the sensor. I got used to underexpose my photos a bit to make sure I don't lose highlight detail. In addition to this, the camera's back display is making the photo look darker than it really is - but you get used to it by checking the histogram and comparing with the look of the photo on the back screen.
Another thing to note is that only two color based M 240 based cameras use the larger 2 GB image buffer - the Leica M-E 240 and the M-P 240 (plus the monochrome M 246). Standard M 240 cameras only come equipped with 1 GB image buffer. ...Show more →
Had the M-P 240. Pretty much enjoyed it before "upgrading" to the M10R. Sometimes I miss my M240 ... mostly when I pick up my M246 Monochrom. The M24x series is a bit chunkier, but it also has a battery cell that uses AA sized cells, vs. the M10 series using the tiny AAA sized cells. Sure, you can just carry more batteries, but I hate batteries.
Obviously, the M10R has additional resolution vs. the M240, but it also has a different noise pattern.
I guess, if someone told me I would have to spend the rest of my life shooting the M-P 240 ... I'd be fine with that. I know folks talk about clipping highlights, but I never had that problem. Maybe because I shoot from the perspective that it is OKAY for shadows to be shadows. Not everything needs to turn dark into light because of DR. But, if you're a shooter who wants to lift shadows 73 stops so you can "see in the dark" and it look like it was lit in the studio, then you might be disappointed. But, if you've been good with your M9, I doubt you'll find it a problem in real life.
I'll probably not go "backwards" to the M240 from my M10R, but if I did, I'd get the -P Variant again (same as my M246 Monochrom). Buffer and shutter tactile response vs. the standard M240 version are preferred (imo). Of course, if you're gonna look at an M10R, then it's a short trip into base M11 territory (different discussion point).
As others have noted, the ISO gains in M10 / M11 are a bump over the M240. Just kinda depends if you want that "Sony Sensor" ISO / DR experience or more of the old school vibe.
RustyBug wrote:
Had the M-P 240. Pretty much enjoyed it before "upgrading" to the M10R. Sometimes I miss my M240 ... mostly when I pick up my M246 Monochrom. The M24x series is a bit chunkier, but it also has a battery cell that uses AA sized cells, vs. the M10 series using the tiny AAA sized cells. Sure, you can just carry more batteries, but I hate batteries.
Obviously, the M10R has additional resolution vs. the M240, but it also has a different noise pattern.
I guess, if someone told me I would have to spend the rest of my life shooting the M-P 240 ... I'd be fine with that. I know folks talk about clipping highlights, but I never had that problem. Maybe because I shoot from the perspective that it is OKAY for shadows to be shadows. Not everything needs to turn dark into light because of DR. But, if you're a shooter who wants to lift shadows 73 stops so you can "see in the dark" and it look like it was lit in the studio, then you might be disappointed. But, if you've been good with your M9, I doubt you'll find it a problem in real life.
I'll probably not go "backwards" to the M240 from my M10R, but if I did, I'd get the -P Variant again (same as my M246 Monochrom). Buffer and shutter tactile response vs. the standard M240 version are preferred (imo). Of course, if you're gonna look at an M10R, then it's a short trip into base M11 territory (different discussion point).
As others have noted, the ISO gains in M10 / M11 are a bump over the M240. Just kinda depends if you want that "Sony Sensor" ISO / DR experience or more of the old school vibe.
+1. Fully agree with your comment above. I was contemplating for a while to add a M10-R (I wouldn't let go my M-E 240), but I have postponed this idea. One reason is of practical nature, another more idealistic - the practical is that I bought a few months ago a fairly new SUV, and I rather make early payoffs for it now than spending additional money on my photo hobby. I have used my M-E 240 in Dec/Jan as my only camera I took with me on vacation in Asia, and not even once I missed a shot where I would have needed what the M10-R can do significantly better (DR and higher ISO). The bit larger camera size of the M 240 series never bothered me since I already also used the M7 which is very similar in thickness. Excellent battery life of the M 240 series was a huge benefit for me during trips without charging opportunity for up to two days during my vacation!
In a while I might look at some newer M camera to add - I am also eyeing a used M-EV1 as alternative since this one would fully replace my currently still sometimes used Sony A7R by being able to mount my M lenses directly without adapter on the M-EV1. Topo early to tell which route I will be going - might also depend on a good purchasing opportunity.
Have both M9 for 11 years and M10-D for 8 years. I say skip the M240 since the “annoyances” will be too similar between that generation. I would go about it this way:
If you want to keep the M9 for any emotional/gut feeling you will miss it - ADD the M11x
If you want to transition off the M9 - sell it, get an M10x.
Or just keep it and buy a new lens.
For me, my path is selling the M10D and adding a newer generation M.
Owned M9's and all models after. I have the M262 and find it fits my hand better than most M's. I like a firm grip when holding an M and it is perfect for me.
OP go rent one or go to a store that has an M262 and give it a try and not just for one minute.This is the best to know if it's for you,
jeffersoncasey wrote:
I had M9, M240, and now M10-P. The M10-P is probably the first body that offer significant upgrade in terms of haptics and operation speed. The M9 shutter lag (compared to M10-P) is noticeable and I felt anxious shooting on the street due to the noise it make and catching attentions.
I loved the M-P240 output more than regular M240, and yes I can see differences in the color rendering, particularly white balance accuracy. But the image quality fall apart quickly shooting in low light, which I felt both the M240 and M9 will need f1.4 lens to shoot comfortably.
Comes the M10-P, the colors out of the camera are more muted than 2 generations before, but they do retain their color informations for you to boost if you needed so unlike M9 you need to work the files, and they're just as good. The ISO performance is just leagues above previous generations. Once you tried the quiet shutter there's no going back really....Show more →
Quoting myself after getting to know the M10-P close to a year owning it. With all the upgrades the M10-P provided, plus having 95% of the colors I can get from M9, there's no more reason to even own an M9 anymore
