May I ask what brought you to let go of the Fuji? I’m curious. I really enjoy Leica. I have a Leica MP film camera and I’ve been slowly saving up for a digital Leica.
@@shereemaebalangue1296 I love the brand, the simplicity in operation, and the true rangefinder/manual focus experience. I shoot mostly film but want a similar manual feel in a digital camera. I have two photography friends who let me borrow their Leica M240 and M6s. I just fell in love with the experience of photographing with an M.
You should consider the M10. leica stopped servicing the M9 and soon they will do the same with 240& 262... Dynamic range on M10, better than 262. More expensive but the resale price is higher too. Good luck
There's definitely something special about the colour. I remember seeing my first images out of an m240 with the zeiss planar and the colour looked so pure with no tint/casts.
Another great camera. I had the mp 240 for a while and loved the results from it. In fact some of my favourite M shots were from that camera and the 50mm summicron type iv.
@@frame-lines M8 has a little mojo but it also has IR contamination (if you step foot outside you got to have the IR cut filters) and a shutter mech that feels like a tiny side-by-side shotgun.
Made the switch from an M7 to an M262 3 years ago and never shot film again. Had a CLA from Leica recently and it’s as good as new. Only other camera I’m interested in is the Monochrome Typ 246. I for one love the bigger form factor and incredible battery life.
Ah damn. I’ve never tried a monochrom - I do wonder what it would be like to restrict myself to b&w for a while… Isn’t the battery life wild? I often leave the house with a battery on 30% knowing it’ll be plenty for the day.
Totally agree with everything you've said here. I have one and paid a similar price for it a few years ago. I never even look at my shots on the screen during the course of a day's shooting, preferring to just treat it as I would a film camera. You can make that battery last for days and days. I'm a glasses wearer and I shoot both 50 and 28, not worrying too much about precise framing but rather just working on 'feel'. It's a great set-up all round.
It really feels more like a film camera than any other M that I’ve tried. With the added backup of being able to check images if you need to. What 28mm are you using? I’ve thought about popping an external VF on it for 28mm…
Excellent review Shane; if I ever committed to trying a Leica that might just be it! Review for 6d mk ii next please? It's the polar opposite which would be interesting and I'd love your full take since it got so much hate on release.
Agree, i own the 262 also. In combination with de summicron 50mm rigid f2 . Absolute awsome! I love the simplicity of the camera, the purest form of photography! A filmic feel in a digital body.
@@frame-linesa gem also! And i like the look of the silver lens on a black body. The lens has a unique character. I love it. And it is reasonable affordable…
Great review, and you are correct, the M262 is the forgotten Leica. They should have given it the 2Gig buffer though. I have a feeling it wasn't produced in high quantity. As for the frame lever, you are correct, it is pointless. Most Leica shooters only have a couple of lenses to begin with, so what's the point of having a preview level to see what other lenses should do? And if you've been shooting for a few years, you should already know what each lens will do.
Nice video Shane. If I ever try a 35mm on the M10, the skopar will be it. Small, sharp, affordable and presumably light as well. The only thing stopping me is I like having a clear distinction with 28mm & 50mm and scared to throw another focal length into the mix 🤣
I picked up an MD 262 at release and have never wanted for any other digital M since. 24 megapixels is the sweet spot and very few photographers will even need more megapixels. Any variant of the 262 will be a great camera to own. I’ve always been a 28mm and 50mm guy but was recently gifted a 1956 35mm 2.8 summaron and what a revelation it has been. I’d always thought of 35mm as being a halfway house that when compared to 28 and 50, didn’t give me the benefit or either or. How wrong I was. It’s currently the only lens I’m using at the moment which may just be novelty but I’ve got a feeling it’ll become my permanent lens choice for most applications. Time will tell. Great video 👌
Yep, 24mp is absolutely more than enough unless you're cropping all the time. It's taken me a while to warm to 35mm - i think the key was finding a lens so small and enjoyable to use. Then forcing myself to take a few steps forward when i'm framing.
What a great video and ditto camera and lens. I guess it's what you would call a best buy. I have an M10 myself, and it was the double price and for many newcomers to the eco system a deterring investment. Voigtländer lenses are absolutely great, and you can worthy alternatives in their range to most Leica lenses. I have a few of both brands.
It's such a shame that the main topic around Leica cameras is their expense. They offer such a unique way of shooting that I think everyone should try at least once. I'm guessing it would be against their branding but if they offered a new stripped back Leica M with a 24mp sensor for 1500 to 2000 it would be one of the most popular cameras on the planet.
@@frame-lines Agreed, I have never found the same amount of sheer joy of taking photographs. The camera is so simple in handling and with no distracting superfluous features. And ergonomically accomplished like no other.
@@wheezzy101 I carry many lenses and always keep a 21 or 24 viewfinder on my Leica. I'm not saying I use the framline lever or the viewfinders every minute but when I do, I appreciate that this is a substantial advantage over SLRs or mirrorless.
@@martinleblanc4814 I really need to pickup a 21mm viewfinder. I shoot 21mm somewhat often and I just shoot it blind. On occasion I’ll use live view but not often.
@@wheezzy101 Yes you do! Those things, like everything Leica, have become ridiculously expensive these days but still, I am in love with the viewfinders... they remind me of Jeanloup Sieff, my idol when I started photography, around the end of the 70s... he had that black Leica MP (I guess it was an original MP) and a 21 Super Angulon with viewfinder that just made me drool... anyway yes, pickup one and be happy!
I moved from a Leica Q straight to an M11, which I really didn’t get along with. Sold it and got a 262 (which the previous owner had gotten officially customized with a black Leica dot), and I honestly think it is my favorite Leica M. Unfortunately, the shutter is really loud, which bugged me to the point that I moved to an M10-R. I still miss the 262, which I think really perfectly embodies the Leica credo of ”Das Wäsentliche”.
@@frame-lines The dynamic range of the M10R is noticeably better, and it is not quite as sensitive to blowing the highlights as the 262. Also, with the 40mp sensor, one can crop more comfortably, of course. The shutter sound of the M10R is similar to the M10M, i.e. very quiet, and feels very reassuring with a more muted ”clunk” than a higher frequency ”click”. I was told by someone who knows way more about Leicas than myself that they have the quietest shutter of all models. I very rarely use liveview, but it’s a nice to have that comes in handy in certain situations. Didn’t miss it on the 262 though. I also really liked the preview function on the 262, that displays it as long as the shutter button is pressed.
Although I have seen many YT videos about the 240 and 262 as a cheaper competitor to the M10 and M11 it is always nice to get your point of view too, which is almost equal to the opinion of others (that is other Leica shooters that know what they are doing hehe) so it's more or less confirms the point. Now I am glad you showed the invoice cause the prices you were talking about were all GBP (British Pound) which is 1.2 to the Euro and 1.3 to the US Dollar. Maybe you could repeat that more often. Than there is a glitch at 3:40 were you were comparing the battery of the 262 to the one in the 240, but you said people would shoot video with an M10 (which was not out there yet) so you meant 240. Yes I pay attention. Thanks for sharing your opinion, it is appreciated.
Great video Shane! Funnily enough I’ve also just picked up an M240 with the color skopar 35mm and have also been very impressed with the experience and the image quality. My only slight issue is that I’ve been experiencing quite a lot of strong purple hues on the edge of the frames which apparently is quite common with wider angle non Leica lenses on these older Ms. still trying to workout which lens profile deals with this best in the camera. Thanks for sharing!
Try the 2/35 ASPH profile, it adds a bit of "green cast" to offset the optical purple cast. If you don't care about the wrong EXIF info, then 24mm profiles tend to do even more.
Got along fine with my beautiful M-E 240, but found that it clipped the highlights rather quick. So sold it in the end to buy an M11, which I don’t regret although it’s not as beautiful as the old M-E 240. Battery life of the M11 is in the same league though. Traveling a the moment with three Color-Skopars, the new 28, 35 and the new 50 f2.2. Super light weight and capable! Keep up the good work with your magazines. I’m enjoying them immensely.
I agree that the M240/M262 is a sleeper. The colors do not have the CCD "pop" but with a strong color lens like what CV make it balances out well. I like the CV 40mm f/1.2 but have also used the 35mm f/1.4. You are right this a sometimes demeaned but still a wonderful "sleeper". With the EVF it is an SLR.
It’s definitely a sleeper. I didn’t even realise it existed when I first was shopping for an m10. I have a soft spot for the 35 1.4 CV - that was my first M lens and I’ve taken a lot of my favourite photos with it- despite it being often maligned.
Looking forward to get one. Prices are going up lately thanks to this type of content I know, but we all love this and share the guilt so it´s cool for me. Need to save more but I think it´s a beautiful M. The M for me I think.
On one hand, I think it’s great to share knowledge of these cameras and get people who otherwise wouldn’t try an M, to give it a bash. On the other hand, yes I’m sorry for contributing to the price raise 😅
I've been through an M8, M240 and an M4. The M262 resolves all of my issues with previous Ms. (The buffer, weight and chilly blue rendering of the screen on the M240) There are times when I want a proper live view but for the difference in price to get an M10 I could just go out and get a used Z6 or a Sony for adapting lenses, etc or like two Canon 6D or 3 Nikon D600s lol.
I would like to try an M8 at some point to see what the fuss is about those CCD sensors. I get your point about the live view but I miss it less than I expected to. I never liked live view or the hotshoe EVF on the m10.
M262 is a perfect camera, imo. Just a fixed M240. Leica basically went "uhhh... sorry about that!" And dropped a hardware update. Fwiw, the M240 gets the great battery life too. Supposing you avoid movie mode and liveview, as one should. If you ever get a chance, try the M39 Voigtlander 50/2.5 Color Skopar. Perfect on that body and as a complement to the 35/2.5.
Exactly! I never run into any buffer issues on the m262 (unlike the original 240). The body and weight also feels much nicer. The voigt 50 sounds tempting. If it’s anywhere near as good as the 35 I’m sold. I prefer f2 or f2.5 lenses over faster lenses these days.
@@SourPlanet totally - I really love the smaller lenses. I’m using a thypoch collapsible 50 f/2 at the moment. Very small and light even when extended. Sharp wide open. Doesn’t flare and it has buckets of character in the f2-f2.8 range.
I'm happy with my m10 so far... but the lens looks tempting. I have the 28mm version of the lens and I really like it😊 Unfortunately I'm a 50mm photographer. So i rarely use it
I feel ya. I’m a 50mm photographer too but I will say 35mm is a bit easier to adjust to from 50mm. The framelines for 35mm are very nice in the m10 and 262 too.
That’s so good to know this sensor can handle iso 3200! I am using the m240 and technically with the same sensor it should be able to handle 3200…(right?)
That’s interesting. What do you miss about the 262? There are a few small things I didn’t mention, like the shutter feeling very precise and sounding great- and the delight of using the brass baseplate vs the eject style battery.
@@frame-lines I like the heavier weight, colour from the sensor and It was basic. As you said no Love view. Never have used a camera for video so would never miss it. Got mine for £2,000 about 4 years ago and they were never really promoted by Leica. In fact when I took It with me on a Leica M11 try out day the camera was effectively poo pop’d by the staff member. It was reliable and never had a days out with it. Unlike my M9s, X and Q which all had issues, the M9s with sensor corrosion and the Q and X with dust inside the fixed lens.
Honestly. As a film shooter, I’d rather have the M240 with the live view for high or low angles. But then again, I’ve been doing fine with these on film too.
That was my only reservation before getting the 262, but like you said, I treat it like a film camera. It forces me to be in the viewfinder which I think is a good thing.
I have a typ240 and have an M10-P. One thing that annoys me about 240 now is speed is definitely sluggish compared to m10. But crazy to say now I want an M11 for one reason, USB-c so I don’t even need to bring any battery charger 🔌
Usbc would be nice but then again, the battery in the M262 is so good that I don’t bring a charger on trips. 2 batteries lasts 3-4 days of fairly heavy shooting.
@@frame-lines I got the original Q; for the second time🙄. Had one when they first came out and regretted selling it. Now gone full circle and bought another……I think the Q is absolutely sublime to shoot. Don’t see the need for a Q3, who needs 60MP?? I sure dont
Agree, sold my Ms due to glasses not allowing full value from viewfinder. Yes you can get an evf attachment but then what’s the point. Switched to Q and whilst I miss better distance focusing with an M, I appreciate a full viewfinder.
@@jonathanparkes1603 you're talking to someone who's bought the Q 3 separate times, and then a Q2. It's a fantastic camera (and lens) but i keep coming back to the optical finders of the M :)
recently I have been suffering GAS :D I keep looking at the M3 or M2... but I simply can't justify buying a Leica Film camera and a lens at the moment, I really enjoyed your video by the way the images are lovely
Thanks Brian. I was in the same boat and went for an M3 a few months ago. I ended up selling it because film is so punishing to shoot now. I decided to go with the M262 and try harder to emulate film.
Wait, I feel I'm out of the loop, I thought Shane had the M10? What happened to it? That being said, I feel that from the M240 - M10 is the sweet spot of a digital M.
I sold the m10 to get a Q2 a few months ago because I wanted to try taking 28mm seriously (the results are in our latest mag btw) Then I went back to M with this 262.
@frame-lines ah, so the vicious cycle of the red dot continues... Just kidding. I appreciate these "informal" reviews of cameras and it's always amazing to see both your journey as well as the experimentation of different cameras
I’ve wanted an M 262 for a while now and not interested in an M10/M11, and kicking myself for not pulling the trigger so far. I guess my only real concern stopping me is the age and parts availability in the unlikely event something does go wrong.
Tell me where I can get an M10 for "3 1/2 grand" (US $) !!! In my neck of the woods (Canada/US) they go for close to double that on eBay ! Even better than the M 262 in my view is the M-D 262 (the 262 without a screen), making it the most stripped down M 240 and film-like rangefinder there is. As much as I like my M6 (original), film and processing are a pain and an increasingly expensive pain, so the M-D 262 provides the perfect solution. Great video, thanks !
@@frame-lines Yes, the battery lasts much longer. However, the worry with all of these older digital cameras is that their batteries eventually die and eventually have no replacements . . . and the cameras are then essentially useless, except perhaps as curiosities on our bookshelves. P.S. Note that the D version of the 262 now sells for an average of double the price of the regular 262 on ebay. Crazy !
@@frame-lines Yes, very limited production and now relatively highly sought after. High demand and limited availability = high price. (See how many you can find for sale). It has been the same story with all the 'D' iterations, including the M10-D. Little doubt that it will be the same with the M11-D in time (i.e. once it is no longer available new). The 'D' models have held - and surpassed - their initial value more than any other M model. Buying a new M11-D very likely would be a true "investment" in that its price over time most likely will only go up. If I had the money I would snatch one up, no question.
I assume the 262 uses the same sensor as the M240 which to me looks better SOOC than the M10/P. The M10/P files feel too cool for me and I'm always left wishing I took it with the M240 so I don't have to deal with editing the photos. I tried to pick up the 35 color skopar in while I was in Japan last month. They were going for around $250 USD but were sold out at all 3 camera shops I visited. I'll stick to my 40mm Cron C for now.
Yep it has the same m240 sensor- which looks very organic to my eye. It also has excellent auto white balance. How do you find using 40mm on the m10? I’ve always been curious about trying one.
Very nice review. I just bought a yashica 35cc with a 35mm and rangefinder to try out the rangefinder style of photography. If i like it a lot i will get to leica for sure since everyone raves about these cameras but i didnt want to experiment with 4000euros or so. Which film leica would you suggest for a glasses wearer to use with 35mm ?
I’d recommend the Leica M2 to begin with, and get a cheap light meter. It’s perfect for 35mm and 50mm framelines with plenty of relief for glasses wearers. They’re also amongst the cheapest Leicas. Or if you want to splash out and want an internal meter then an M6 :)
Just get an M10 and be done with it. The M10 is the forever Leica. Mature, stable, robust. No crashes. Fairly affordable. Outstanding sensor performance. No compromises.
It's easy to say, but an M10 is £1000 to £1500 more, which is a lot for most people. No arguments about the M10 being a great camera however - i think it's one of Leica's best.
@@frame-lines yeah Lightroom. Switched to an SL 601 which did not have that problem, has a wonderful EVF, and is now even less money used. That’s the real hidden Leica gem I think.
@@frame-lines yeah! I believe it’s unique to the 262. When I took portraits or try to confirm focus on static subjects, I fully press the shutter button but don’t let go halfway. Try it out! Should give you a preview of your image.
I thought it looked like an interesting camera until you got to the part about no live view. I have not used a viewfinder in more than 20 years, I just do not see with them properly. Oh well I love my original Q I bought last June.
Ok you made me google it. :) The 262 is 680g including the battery. The M10 is 660g including the battery. There are 2 versions of the 262 but one of them is a special edition 'red' version- the only difference being the paint job.
I got myself a leica cl for around 900 usd with rubber torn off the viewfinder but thats prety much the only issue there was. Beat my sony a6400 to a pulp. Dont see how 262 would be a descent buy for 2.000 euros though.
I think I nabbed mine up for 2800 in a local in-person sale. Prices on the M10 dropped to about $4k so it pushed these down a bit. But yeah, not easy to locate. Take your time and one will pop up. I've seen a few in LA. If you are outside the bigger cities keep an eye out on Fred Miranda.
If it's a Leica with electronics, no thanks. I've had too many issues. The only one I kept was the MP. Old fashioned Leica mechanics with a shutter from the fifties or sixties for speed and flash. No fuss simple light meter which I can ignore. And I love my voightländer lenses.
Some of my favourite lenses have been voigtlanders. They may not have been the most clinically sharp but for whatever reasons I enjoyed using them and loved the photos from them.
And now of course the price will rocket on MPB. Be aware MPB are great value selling but trading they are like 1960 east end london car dealers 😂 The trade in price for the gear you are selling will be astronomically low.
1. M262 weights 600gr and its lighter than both M10 and M240 2. Your Color Skopar is V2 People nowdays trust too much google and internet. But your M on the scale and see it yourself. Its a small detail for some but still..
I'd argue the hidden gem is the M-P 240. You can get it in black paint, have liveview, brass top. The 262 is great too, but usually more expensive and lacking the aforementioned features. But obviously choose the one where you get the best deal.
