Review: Leica M review

Introduction and features

I don't think anyone could argue that Leica's first forays into interchangeable lens digital photography went quite to plan. The Digital Modul R, which was a 10-million-pixel back for the lovely R9 and R8 SLR bodies, was a good idea, but with a Kodak sensor that was full of silly mistakes it failed to take off when it was launched in 2004. It also cost somewhat more than the host bodies themselves.

The M8 was the company's first stab at creating a digital rangefinder, but with a similar sensor to that used in the Modul R, and no lessons learnt, it failed to produce the quality that Leica users, rightly, expected. It was also a little over-sensitive to infrared (as was the Modul R, though it went largely unreported), so users had to resort to the less than satisfactory solution of using IR cut-off filters over their lenses.

Since then we've had the M8.2, the M9, the M-E and the black-and-white-only Monochrom, as well as Leica's series of S medium format cameras. Each has (mostly) been an improvement on the last, as one would hope, and the new-fashioned M (Type 240) promises to be a more significant step again – from its specification sheet at least.

While the company has been catching up with the rest of the industry it hasn't made an allowance in its prices, and when you pay what you pay for a Leica body you really are entitled to expect something special.

Buying a camera that doesn't live up to our expectations is painful enough, but that pain is doubled or trebled when that camera costs as much as a Leica does – they make expensive lamentations that pride can keep unspoken for years.

Features

There are plenty of new features on this version of the M, and the most significant of those has to be the new sensor. It is some time since we had a chance to discuss the benefits of CMOS over CCD, as most brands switched to CMOS years ago, but this is Leica's first adventure with CMOS technology in an M body.

The obvious changes it brings are an ability to record video, and the streaming function required for the provision of Live View. The 24-million-pixel 'Leica Max' 36x24mm sensor outputs images of a maximum size of 5976x3992 pixels in DNG raw mode, slightly smaller in JPEG, and is, according to Leica, a design heavily influenced by the company's own engineers.

If this is the case, it is good news, as historically it was the components that Leica brought oven-ready from third parties that let its previous models down.

I'm still not sure how important video (HD or not) is to a Leica rangefinder user, but the introduction of Live View, with focus peaking and up to 10x zooming magnification, could make a massive difference to the Leica user's life.

Previously M models have had viewfinders designed to operate with a collection of specific focal lengths, as long and wide lenses need different magnifications in the viewfinder window so we can see what we are shooting.

With Live View, of course, all that is done away with, as we can see on the rear screen exactly what the lens is projecting – and that view will always fill the screen. We can also now use lenses from the Leica R 35mm film SLR system (via an adapter of course) and can focus them using peaking, and for the first time we can work in macro without having to guess focus or manually measure the camera-to-subject distance.

I now regret selling my old M bellows unit, which seemed at the time impossible to use. And now perhaps the door is open for mount adapter manufacturers to add Leica M bayonet to the range.

Despite the new sensor, the M's ISO range is a modest 200-6400, with ISO 100 as a 'pull' option. In practical terms the top ISO setting is about as high as most people will want to go, given that Leica lenses tend to have very wide maximum apertures, but on the other hand you might expect this kind of documentary camera to be operated in very low light.

The most visually impressive feature though is easily the new rear screen. Having suffered the ancient technology of the Monochrom's screen recently, the 920,000-dot, 3-inch panel on the M 240 makes a very welcome change – and a very significant improvement.

Build quality and handling

There isn't too much to question regarding the standard of build of the Leica M 240 – as there isn't about any of the M models. Leica prides itself on the solidity of its cameras, and unsurprisingly the top and bottom plates of the M are milled from solid blocks of brass, and the body is made around a cast magnesium alloy shell.

Most manufacturers use magnesium alloys for their lightweight properties, as well as their strength, but in the M that characteristic is somewhat lost in the mass of the other body parts. This is a heavy camera that weighs 680g - married with the moderate dimensions of the body it feels as though it has the density of Cluedo's murderous lead piping.

As has become the norm for the style of Leica M bodies (though notably not for the new T) the M 240 has no discernable handgrip, which makes a strap absolutely essential for the hand-creamed photographer. A concession has been made on the rear of the body, with a new control wheel mounted in a ramp-shaped thumb support. This is some comfort, but for this test I used a wrist strap the whole time.

A significant alteration of handling comes in the form of a dedicated exposure compensation button on the front of the camera's body. This is significant because I can't remember Leica ever providing one before, and because for the way I work this this one of the most important features of a camera.

The button is buried in a protective ring to prevent accidental activation, but combined with the soft doughy press of the button it isn't always plain sailing getting the feature alive. There is a minor delay in the screen indicators coming on that was just long enough to make me think nothing was happening. It is great to have the button though, once you are used to the way it responds.

I'm glad to say that all other controls, and screen activities, are fast and responsive in this model, and the delays and low resolution views of the past are banished. Images appear on the rear screen quickly, and at no time was I held back in shooting while the camera processed the last image.

Although the menu is divided into five logical groups there's no way to navigate from one group to another without scrolling through all the options – despite there being plenty of buttons that could make this happen. The menu is clear enough though, and the new thumb wheel makes shifting up and down much faster than before.

Some might think the idea of red guide lines in the viewfinder a little crude, and they might be right, but I loved them and once switched from white they never changed back. They just made seeing what was in and out of the frame so much easier, especially with my 90mm lens.

The 90mm of course suited working in Live View mode very well, and I was quite impressed at the lack of delay in capture with Live View in action. It isn't as fast as a traditional mirrorless camera, but somewhat faster than a DSLR.

Performance

I was interested to see what Leica would do with a CMOS sensor on their first mission together, and I've been very impressed. Raw files are full of information and provide fantastic flexibility, and even best quality JPEGs allow a great deal of manipulation before they show the signs.

I've enjoyed the moderate colours the M produces that, combined with restrained contrast and good dynamic range, lend images a sense of reality that some digital cameras have forgotten is important.

In normal conditions the 'Classic' metering is surprisingly accurate for such a seemingly simple system, and when Live View is in use we have – for the first time in an M body – the choice between spot and 24-zone multi-field reads.

The camera isn't noise-free and allows a speckling of dots and grit to appear in even the lowest ISO settings – if you look hard enough. Noise though didn't become an issue in any of my shots throughout the test.

While noise is present early on, its appearance doesn't accelerate as you might expect. At ISO 800 images viewed at normal sizes are effectively clean, and only at ISO 3200 and 6400 does it become obvious enough to see without pixel-peeping.

Obviously there is no AF to comment on here, as the M 240 is an entirely manually focused camera, but it is worth mentioning that the dual image rangefinder is about as fast as a rangefinder can be and worked faultlessly and effortlessly in all conditions. The only time it will struggle is when faced with a wide area of regular patterning, in which it can't tell one line from another. That isn't a Leica fault, just the nature of systems that use dual image focusing.

Image quality and resolution

As part of our image quality testing for the Leica M 240 we've shot our resolution chart.

If you view our crops of the resolution chart's central section at 100% (or Actual Pixels) you will see that, for example, at ISO 100 the Leica M 240 is capable of resolving up to around 26 (line widths per picture height x100) in its highest quality JPEG files.

For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our full explanation of our camera testing resolution charts .

Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:

JPEG

Full ISO 100 image. See 100% crops below:

ISO 100. Score: 26. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 200. Score: 26. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 400. Score: 26. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 800. Score: 26. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 1600. Score: 26. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 3200. Score: 24. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 6400. Score: 24. Click here for full resolution image.

Raw

ISO 100. Score: 28. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 200. Score: 28. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 400. Score: 28. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 800. Score: 26. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 1600. Score: 26. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 3200. Score: 26. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 6400. Score: 24. Click here for full resolution image.

Noise and dynamic range

We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.

A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.

For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.

Here we compare the Leica M 240 with the Sony A7, Nikon Df and Canon 5D Mark III.

JPEG signal to noise ratio

The Leica M's JPEGS have a significantly lower signal to noise ratio than those from the Sony a7, Nikon Df and Canon EOS 5D Mark III. The results look similar at low ISOS, but at ISO 800 and beyond the Leica's images are noticeably noisier.

Raw signal to noise ratio

The Leica's raw files show a lower signal to noise ratio too. Images will look visibly noisier, especially at high ISOs. However, the level of noise reduction applied on the sensor and during image processing can vary from one maker to another – Leica may be opting for 'noisy and sharp' rather than 'smooth' images.

JPEG dynamic range

This is a very curious set of results from the Leica's JPEGs, suggesting Leica may have deliberately chosen a high-contrast 'punchy' rendering.

Raw dynamic range

The Leica's raw files tell a different story. Here, the dynamic range is up there with the best of its rivals – if you want the best tonal range from this camera, you need to shoot raw.

Sensitivity and noise images

JPEG

Full ISO 100 image. See the 100% cropped images below.

ISO 100. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 200. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 400. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 800. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 1600. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 3200. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 6400. Click here for full resolution image.

Raw

ISO 100. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 200. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 400. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 800. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 1600. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 3200. Click here for full resolution image.

ISO 6400. Click here for full resolution image.

Sample images

The standard meter reading got the exposure right for the scene, but that left the cat very much in the dark. Click here to see the full resolution image

The flexibility of the raw file allowed me to lighten the image by 2EV easily and without detrimental effect. Click here to see the full resolution image

Coming from a different situation I'd forgotten I had positive exposure compensation set, so the man in middle was badly over-exposed. Again, the vast amount of data in the raw file allowed me to make him look normal. Click here to see the full resolution image

With a little bit of pre-focusing to get the lens in about the right position I was able to use the bright dual image focusing in the rangefinder to quickly fine tune as subjects walked into view. It takes some practice to get things sharp when working at f/4. Click here to see the full resolution image

I was quite close to these gentlemen, and shooting with a 50mm lens, but as the camera is small and unobtrusive they paid me hardly any attention. Click here to see the full resolution image

Once you are used to the focusing system, and if you carry the camera switched on all the time, you can react to unexpected moments with great speed. Click here to see the full resolution image

With a little bit of under exposure the Leica M, like all cameras, produces much more colour saturation. Unlike most cameras though, the saturation rarely feels over the top. Click here to see the full resolution image

Fine focusing through a pair of glass is something AF systems often find too difficult to manage, but while the M's system isn't easy the manual control forces us into conscious choices that bypass those problems. Even at ISO 800 there is plenty of detail here. Click here to see the full resolution image

With a minimum ISO setting of 200 and a top shutter speed of 1/4000sec, I was just about able to achieve a shallow depth of field to lift these lost guys from their background - with an aperture of f/2.8 Click here to see the full resolution image

Using the M's new exposure compensation button I set -1.6 and an aperture of f/2 to make this chap and his cigarette smoke stand out from the background. The very quiet shutter action allowed me to shoot away without attracting the man's attention. Click here to see the full resolution image

Click here to see the full resolution image

Verdict

The M 240 is a significant step forward for Leica. In this model the company embraces the expectations and advancements of modern photography while successfully maintaining the traditions that have become important to the brand.

It's a great relief, as without these steps the brand would become old fashioned and stuck in the past, instead of one that simply reflects and respects its own heritage. The change has been simple really – a new screen, a new processor and a new sensor, but in human terms that adds up to a new heart, a new brain and a new face. Only the body is much the same.

Of course, the M isn't perfect, and I'd like to see some little touches to improve the handling, such as allowing the levelling tool to be seen in Live View, and faster menu navigation.

I haven't enjoyed using a Leica so much since the M7 in 2002. That makes me sound old, but actually it has been Leica that has been old and behind the times. Now though the magic has returned, and the Leica name once again stands for excellent image quality and a delightful experience, as well as a solidly built camera that costs of lot of money.

The M 240 does, still, cost a lot of money, but now I can say that it is actually worth the price. That isn't the same as saying the camera is affordable, but it does mean that if you do buy one you will appreciate why you had to pay almost £5,000 for it, and you won't just feel you've been a bit robbed.

We liked

The Leica M 240 is an inspiring camera to use, from the design of the body to the feel of its controls. With its new sensor and processor it also performs extremely well, and produces images that match the body for quality.

We disliked

Although handling is much improved in the M 240 over previous models, Leica could still make its menu system slicker to use, and improve the action of the exposure compensation button. There's also a slightly limited ISO range that doesn't fully include ISO 100 for fast lenses in daylight, or sensitivity settings beyond 6400 for very low light.

Verdict

The Leica M 240 offers beautiful image quality, with files that are full of detail and flexibility, from a camera that is a pleasure to use. The introduction of modern technology makes all the difference.

M9 users might find upgrading to the M 240 a little painful as they won't have had their current camera for long, but the difference in the new body really does make it a worthwhile move. The higher resolution sensor alone justifies the switch, but all the little extras add up to making the M 240 a completely different experience. Those using the M8 and M8.2 will see the benefits immediately.

Perhaps a new group of users might be those who have been considering the premium CSC models on the market – such as the Sony A7, Fuji X-Pro1, Olympus OM-D and Panasonic GX-7. While a giant step away in pricing, the M 240 provides the same benefits as these small cameras, but with an established lens range and a full frame sensor.

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://ift.tt/1ptr6K9