Leica M10 vs M(240): Exploring Photography with Mark Wallace

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Mark Wallace answers some viewer questions. First, he shows us the gear that he uses for his every day travel photography. He then details the differences between the Leica M10 and the Leica M type 240. Finally, he explains what led him to upgrade his beloved M(240) for the new M10.
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Photos by Mark Wallace
Instagram: @jmarkwallace
/ jmarkwallace
www.markonabike...

[@MrPhotographerDude]

The ISO over 800 is just fine. I don't know what you're talking about. It was good up to 3200 easy.

[@jasoncolquhoun35]

Totally agree

[@FotosyMas.]

I shoot iso 3200 on my M240 all the time with no issues

[@devnow5808]

M10 is in real a M240 nothing more (sensor-wise)

[@bsmukler]

Thanks for the great video! I sold my M(240) and upgraded too, mostly due to the improved viewfinder (I wear glasses and was interested in the improved eye relief). I love the new, slimmed down body as well as the other features you mentioned. I do use other cameras as well, but I think the unique design, excellent build quality, and especially the fantastic lenses make the M system well worth the cost. (I’m one of those odd ducks who think the prices-aside from the special editions-are in line with the engineering and production costs.)

[@82dirtydozen]

Sold all of my Sony gear to get the M240 and even though the A7RII was a more capable camera I'm enjoying the 240 a lot more. No regrets!

[@ahmedrashed78]

82dirtydozen I kept both, 2 great cameras

[@TheKiwiJobes]

This is what i try to explain to people. A sony is more capable technically, however, does it inspire you to shoot, is the experience enjoyable? while you can adapt those lovely mount lenses, they suffer from corner performance issues thus you aren't pulling the most out of them.

[@jonflan691]

I just did the same . The Sony is soulless . I love my m6. On the hunt for an m10!

[@On_The_Piss]

Sony for work Leica for pleasure (and work)

[@arthurlamir494]

Same! Kinda..in my case I sold the A7iii and all the lenses and got an M10

[@andreasehrenreich4497]

Great video! Thx Mark 🙏🏻 I have been shooting with my M240 for over 4 years now and I love that camera.

[@SuperPussyFinger]

I have both the M-P 240 and the M10, but I find the differences negligible.

[@stevewood5631]

So does everyone apart from the Leica marketing team...3 years on people still use M240

[@ductritran8637]

Sold my m240 and bought M10 never look back , never regretted much better camera and better optical viewfinder which to me is a big improvement for focusing.

[@spoolindsm127]

The ISO 800 limit seems more in line if talking about the M9/-P/-E...

[@lostintransitphoto]

Great video. I am still using my old Leica ME and I find it hard to justify a change. While there are tons of reasons to do so, the only one that really pushes me is the low light performance. But when I look at my shots in Lightroom, I find that very few have pushed the camera beyond the 400iso. So I am still on the fence on this one. The 240 added a bunch of bells and whistles (such as video) but the M-10 takes it back to basics....just like the Leica ME....so for shooting experience I am unsure if I will see a difference worth 7K.

[@mitchelllorens]

M10 owner, no regrets. Not one. Not ever. Great video as always, thanks Mark.

[@NegativeCompensation]

Good review of the new M10, but there were some things missing that perhaps ought to be brought up. In the old M240 (which I still own), switching from single shot to continuous shooting was the simplest of mechanical operation that could be accomplished while shooting and never taking your eyes off the subject. Believe in the M10 it requires a trip to the menu system. Battery life is better in the M240 with its big battery. The so-called improvement resulting from the move of the ISO setting mechanism from a button on the back to the lift-rotate-push down external control has been highly exagerated. Sure, you can now see if from above, but only after you have done the 3-step process referenced above. In the M240 you just push a button and rotate the dial. In comparison with a fellow photographer, I managed to accomplish changes in the M240 consistently faster. Also, as to the supposedly 800 ISO maximum for acceptable noise levels, my experience over the last nearly four years proves this statement wrong. I regularly shoot at 1600 ISO with no significant problem. The other advantages mentioned in the video, however, seem to be spot on, with the ergonomic improvements alone justifying an upgrade if upgrading gear is what you do all the time. Wait for it: when the M11 comes out, the putdowns of the M10 will begin fast and furious, with all the great improvements of today being cited as drawbacks. It all repeats itself with every new release cycle.

[@SuperPussyFinger]

Sagacious summary.

[@JohnRicard]

I much prefer the current method of setting C or S mode advance. My camera stays on C and I don't understand why any would shoot otherwise. It's a simple matter to delete the extra frames in post processing. I've never needed easy access between S and C modes so I'm glad its just Off or On now. As for the ISO control dial, the M9 had the best method of all since you didn't have to actually read the numbers. You could just learn the menu setting position and you knew what ISO you were on. (Hard to explain but easy to understand if you set the ISO on an M9 in your hands). As for the M10 ISO setting you're being a tad unfair in stating it's a 3 step process when the user can chose to make it a 2 step process by not actually pushing down the ISO button after making an ISO change. And I like the fact that I always know what ISO the M10 is set to, even when the camera is off. And finally, I agree with you about ISO 1600 on the M240. If you're finding excessive noise at ISO 800, you're doing some serious pixel peeping on your images!

[@roryonabike5863]

That 21mm lens is so tempting :) I’ll be sticking with the 240, but thanks for a comparison that focused on what’s important.

[@stephengatley8144]

Hey MARK WALLACE you should have a look at the Voigtlander 40mm F1.2 its image quality is spectacular wide open but hexes the bokeh at 1.4! Just an FYI!

[@ZUHEE2]

Thank you always~~ from Korea

[@j204ever5]

The question is: Do you really need a Leica for ............ Instagram???????

[@ductritran8637]

Love the M240 and using its for 4 years and buy the M10 after 3 months with M10 sold the M240 and never regretted . M10 is a big step up compare with M240 .

[@acidsnow5915]

both look amazing. the size of the M10 is quite amazing though!

[@MrPhotographerDude]

The M10 high ISO is better than the Fuji for sure. I own both and Fuji has way too much noise reduction which makes high ISO shots mushy.

[@hopoutside]

I shoot Nikon, and have been eyeing Leica lately for personal projects. Thanks for the review.

[@robertoposa1120]

Oh no I do not agree - you can go way more up than ISO 800 with m 240

[@HH60gPaveHawk]

roberto posa yeah I’ve not shot one yet but all the pictures I’ve seen at up to (and including) 3200 were usable depending on the conditions.

[@BenWoodardCoyote]

Mark you called out the M240 for flash performance. Is the M10 any better?

[@rodrigopages1054]

i swear nikon just needs to make a camera like this take an old body and cram everything inside super simple, few buttons like the leica a simple screen for only manual lenses

[@bryanasmar7682]

Rodrigo Pagés they have the Nikon Df look it up

[@mariumrajah]

@@bryanasmar7682 well said

[@hyk-tp7oz]

I had M240 for few years and upgraded to M10 and I love it. Only problem with M10 is small battery. It runs out fast.

[@claudiowong1882]

I have already sold my m10 and replaced it with m240P. I think it is a very correct decision. After all, judging from the jpg, the color of m240 is very brilliant and more exciting than the color of m10.

[@MarkNF1]

Thanks for this video Mark, I've been wondering for many months why you switched. Now, any chance of an update to your Mark On A Bike site?

[@jeroenkommer6467]

Love my m240 with my summitar and voigtlander 35 1.2 it's an dream camera for me

[@rexgigout1472]

I was revisiting this video, today, after having first seen it several years ago. In my case, I starting using the Leica M system with an M10 that I purchased new, in 2018, along with a pre-owned, well-preserved Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, from Houston Camera Exchange, an official Leica dealer in Houston, Texas. Some time later, after my M10 needed to return to Leica USA for repair of damage, I acquired a pre-owned M Type 246 Monochrom. So, I have had experience with both generations of camera bodies. Using the ISO dial, on the M10, is not better than simply using the ISO button on the 246. The larger battery, in the 240-series cameras, is an noticeable advantage. I have no gripes with the multi-position power button on the 240-series cameras. Obviously, the M10 has an ISO advantage over the 240, but the 246 Monochrome was the first M camera to perform much better at high ISO settings, and, notably, the M10 does not beat the 246, in that regard. If anything, the 246 maintains an advantage. The integral thumb rest, on the M10, makes an add-on thumb rest totally unnecessary, for me, being an excellent fit, for my right hand and thumb. Notably, the thickness of the 240-series M bodies, that bothers some people, is no problem, for me, personally. So, I am not griping, about either generation of camera. Each has its limitations and advantages.

[@mikemanzano5363]

Skip to 3:45 if you want to actually get to the comparison part.

[@tamilhoward9708]

zeiss 25mm biogon, 50mm summilux, 75mm voigtlander heliar, 90mm elmarit-m are my current paintbrushes.

[@sumitagg1]

Mark - how often do you change lenses in the field?

[@TonTon.2142]

Are these cameras worth it, really? I want one. I want a digital RF experience and Fuji hasn't been cutting it. It's just the Fuji cameras do things that the Leica cameras don't, and at a fraction of the cost, with APS-C sensors. I'm trying to convince myself to grab an M240. No way I can swing an M10 right now.

[@AdamCzarnowski]

The M10 is a great camera. The Visoflex 020 also makes clunky and expensive external viewfinders and goggles for wides and teles obsolete.

[@danielmartini3229]

3:55 the M-number does not historically denote order of appearance, but number of framelines e.g. the M3 (50-90-135) came before the M2 (35-50) etc

[@dansomerville]

Daniel Martini the M2 also had 3 frame lines 35-50-90.

[@erickpro]

Ever used the Voigtlander 21 Ultron? Been thinking about it.

[@TucsonBillD]

One problem with Leica... I noticed that my photos from my new M10 were a bit on the fuzzy side... WTF? Now, I've been shooting for over 50 years and thought I knew how to focus. Knowing that, I took a couple of shots with a couple of lenses (75 APO Summicron ASPH, 90mm APO Summicron ASPH) wide open (previously I was stopping down) and with both lenses a tree I had carefully focused on was blurry... problem wasn't with the lenses. So I hopped over to a Leica dealer and they checked it out and confirmed my suspicions that the rangefinder was out of callibration. Fortunately the camera was still covered by the warranty, so off to Wetzlar it goes for a factory recalib. Only problem is its going to take at least 3 months to be calibrated and returned. Fortunately, I do still have my M 262, so I'm not exactly without a camera (I also have a nice Nikon DSLR with lenses for things that a Leica won't do well...). Why can't Leica have decent techs here in the US to perform this sort of work without sending it back to Germany (and back). Of course, I'm confident that it will work flawlessly when it comes back, and those blurry images can easily be reshot. But still...

[@TucsonBillD]

Update... My M10 just arrived back from Leica Wetzlar repaired... only about 3 weeks, not 3+ months!

[@jysquare2]

How about the battery ?

[@millerdp]

Thanks, Mark. Excellent overview without the dogmatic histrionics. ;-)

[@jakobw135]

Where do you get the ca$h to travel around the world for 4 years? :-)

[@jakobw135]

Why do you shoot with a 35mm lens instead of the normal 50mm? Also, can you still get the 21mm Super Angulon - NEW?

[@maxwellwellmax878]

No video, No problem.

[@teddyyu]

Where's the 135mm that you said you were going to replace your 70-200mm with?

[@sharonleibel]

To everyone who can add to the discussion: I am contemplating having the M10-P. Is a Digital Leica, really a camera for ages like my M6TTL? Or is it, Again, A tool that will need getting in the endless game of ongoing upgrades and re-paying for a new model, As opposed to the Film M? Is it still "Something you can inherit to your kids", Is it really what you've said about it, In the sense, it makes for the film M most of your video? In the "I hold history in my hands" sense? OR is it just another "Fancy iPhone that's obsolete after the next one comes out"? What's the basic lifecycle of a digital M? Thanks.

[@黄志伟-w1m]

I just hope this fantastic M system will have enough die-hard lovers to keep it going on, and will not get the similar fate like BlackBerry after iPhone changed the game.

[@michaelmercier4299]

Unfortunately, a digital camera, even a Leica will never be a camera you hand down to your children unless you die soon. Any digital is a door-stop in a few years. More sadly is your children won’t give a rip about that heavy, bulky thing. They have an Iphone “12,005” and it shoots great pictures which they never print anyways. They don’t care about hanging them on their walls. They put photos on the web. I really hate to admit those truths. I have shot Leica M film cameras for years. My children appreciate the craftsmanship but will put one on their shelf as a remembrance. Get one for you, not for them. It is a tool, albeit a lovely one. I like my tools, for me to use and enjoy. That is the only reason to buy one. Truth!

[@vangstr]

Leica’s legacy was with the traditional analog M bodies with their superb glasses. Unfortunately anything with digital sensors will be obsolete in a few years. McD’s for the masses. My preference is home cooked meals so I’ll stick to my analog MP body and continue shooting film. The process of chemicals with tangible negatives is the part of the true photographic experience.

[@ha165789123]

Teng Vang there’s always something special shooting with an analog Leica M, I agree with that! Nowadays, with all the asph lenses and digital sensors, Leica isn’t really that special anymore, what’s left is only the rangefinder experience... I think film + non-asph Leica lenses are still very appealing and capable in this era. Film photography makes me want to shoot more and enjoy/treasure the process, as I cannot re-do my pictures if I have screwed it which I wouldn’t know until I develop it.

[@andyvan5692]

right on mate, that is why we shoot Leica's, because of the "purity" of the experience they give us while shooting, no unnecessary menu's, ALL crucial controls on the OUTSIDE, and always usable, and for analogue users, FULL MECHANICAL operation- NO BATTERY:)))))) , also the best focus feel ever, as well as the film certainty , no more corrupt cards or loosing a shoot.

[@voyageruno8938]

That's exactly why I like cooking my meals using sticks and a Firestone. Just better than using my kitchen.

[@cheesun124]

I disagree. It will NOT be obsolete in a few years. Of you would expect a traditional 'analog' body to work now, the same way it did when it was brand new, then therefore you should expect this camera to work the same way it does now, but in a few years. Its not like the camera will not work - People are still trading 10 year old M8s. Does the M8 have the same specs of a current A7RIII? No, but it still has the original characteristics and exactly what you'd expect from the camera.

[@MarkVNash]

I enjoy eating my meat raw, torn from my the carcass with my bare hands. I've also eschewed all cameras and now scratch portraits of my family into walls of local caves.

[@ductritran8637]

Sold my M240 and buy M10 no regrets , only battery life is disappointed .

[@jordilopezvazquez]

Nice information,thanks.

[@mariogpx2990]

M240 half case will fit m10 ?

[@dans.8198]

According to reputable sources, ISO 100 on the M10 is a pull.

[@Dannnnnnnnnyy]

are you going to upgrade to the m10-p?

[@jackthehatphoto]

Great video, but are you seriously saying that the max useable ISO on the M240 was ISO 800 and that you now shoot at ISO 12,800 on the M10? In my experience the M240 is useable up to ISO 3,200 and the M10 is supposed to be useable up to ISO 6,400. There's no way the M10 is 4 stops better than the M240.

[@FotosyMas.]

Jack the Hat Photographic 100% agree. I shoot my M240 at iso3200 all the time no issues.

[@candidweddingsphotography5364]

Indeed, he's TOTALLY wrong about the max useable ISO being merely ISO 800. I happily leave my m240 on auto ISO max at 2500 with little to no noise in various lighting scenarios. I'd also do 3200, gladly. Weird he made such a misguided statement, when I'm sure he knew people who actually use these cameras would be watching.

[@Caracalaba]

The M10 6400 iso image shown looks surprisingly bad

[@tjmanou6422]

I have Q2 and wish could disable the video completely. ;( LEICA pls add an option to disable it.

[@james6495]

You ever coming back to live in the states?

[@andyvan5692]

why gripe over low light performance, ie :ISO of the M 10 , this system has a "magic bullet" it's called the NOCTOLUX 50 mm f 0.95 !!! that should fix the low light performance, and with it's bokeh should be the best lens combo ever made.

[@rafael55]

It will also fix your saving account.

[@goorackerelite]

I like the M240 colors better :)

[@bryanasmar7682]

Hello fellow photographers, anyone knows the shutter life on a M-p type m240 ?

[@jeannotbadjie1807]

Hi Sir what is your thoughts on the new Tameron 25-70 with regards to the blur background some say it seems like they were onion ring on display on the blur background thank you.

[@parratt-world]

Thanks Mark. Thumbs up for another very helpful review. What a bummer the level has GONE!! It reminds me of the old days when Leica was reluctant to go into SLR cameras. Some stick-in-the-mud decided we didn't need it, and he's crawled out of the grave to show us who's boss again. Well, I've got it in my Sony, and I use it all the time for copy work and architectural photography. I have other copy systems where I would like to be able to use a digital M sometimes, .. hmmm. I'll wait for the Leica M10 upgrade with the level returned, and how about an articulated screen. (Dare I suggest... sigh)

[@krishartsphotography5643]

Nice & Thanks :)

[@cameranjoun6420]

Leica 10 is real camera not video stuff !leica problem is changing battery whenever change model=big problem ! Keep same size batteries, just leica can increase reserve power !!!

[@mikeyestrada1674]

its not about the camera its how you shoot

[@zsmith977]

Do you have a van?

[@Edwin_Lam]

I like the compactness of the Leica lenses. But in terms of image quality and colours, how would you compare the Zeiss equivalents of these Leica lenses?

[@HelmutMinten]

Hi Mark! Just being curious! - I want to get into (digital) Leica! I have an analog M4-P and watched your videos. I can't afford a M10 and comparing a M240 and a M9 is for mea good choice, because I can get them for a reasonable price second hand. Which one would you recommend? Does it makes a difference, that I do Streetphotopgraphy!? - M240 seems to be better, getting into Leica! Here are the reasons why?! It is heavier, a little bit bigger and feels sturdier. It has a LiveView, making it easier to focus and get the picture in hard situations. - It has LED-Light, where the M9 needs a third window...What about lowlight-situations?! The M240 can be equipped with an IVF, making it easier to focus, especially in lowlight-situations and with wide-angle-lenses. - Taking about ergonomics, the M240 has worse noobs and no cursor. Is that a pity?! And the ISO-Performance ism´t so good! But over all! don't you have to consider, what is your style of photography before you buy a Leica M?!

[@cameranjoun6420]

Someone can reviw who is amateur photographer,not pro photog who has limitted experience at studio photos !!!

[@ahmedrashed78]

Come to dubai Mark :D

[@mhsvz6735]

Thank you.

[@exinnikk]

If you don’t shoot jittery videos and sick of slow continuous shooting on 240, get a 10

[@Boxer1250RT]

Who would really use 50K ISO - no one! M 240 ISO was good up to 1600. Glad to hear that M10 is glass friendly because M240 was not.

[@GeneWaddle]

I use the level in mine every time I take a picture. That would be hard to give up. I do wish they would go back to putting gps in cameras. I keep a gps module on mine all the time just to have that information.

[@paulsehstedt6275]

The menu shows, the M10 has GPS!

[@raksh9]

The M240 grip has a GPS module built in, if that interests you

[@Ayan1505]

Hi Mark, does Leica M system work with Godox Ad200 (or any other Godox flash) if triggered with Fuji or Nikon remote trigger? If so, does TTL functionality remain? I guess HSS is asking for too much.

[@chandreo]

The ones that have both know that the ISO gain is 2 stops. Know WIFI and all that I don’t care about I’d get an X100V or something, I don’t think your past images with the 240 looked bad, do you?

[@mohanadrahiem]

I can't justify the price of this camera

[@phynx2006]

Honestly, who can?

[@ahmedrashed78]

mohanad rahieem it's not for you then

[@TheKiwiJobes]

Then don't buy one, I can't justify it but I can understand why someone else could. Same with everything from cars to phones.

[@chloescanlon1107]

Incorrect information from a so called expert. To say the M240 is “about 800 iso is the max...” is wrong and is misleading at best. The 240 is absolutely fine up to 3200, and no it’s not subjective it’s fact. I think you should amend the video as it’s wrong.

[@CristianGeelen]

Even if i sell my kidney i still can't afford one... :-(

[@Rsv4rr-r]

Why didn’t you mention the real deal beaker the thing that was a crime with the 240 and the m10, the startup time is a joke and you will continually loose shots if it goes to sleep or you try to turn it on quickly to grab a shot from waist level to your eye it will not be ready to shoot. A low end dslr from any of the major manufacturers is faster to start up what leica has made is a crime!

[@pjp3d]

so why did you switch from CANON exactly nice sale pitch but thx NO

[@phynx2006]

I mean for $10,000 CDN Mark, you really can't expect an electronic level, hahaha

[@Ba143Sa]

16 minutes of talking. No photos

[@gregorypayne4486]

Blah Blah Blah too much intro --- who cares about what you were doing for two minutes or so --- TL:DW got bored before you got to the cameras.

[@JoePollardSLC]

This is a fantastic ad for why you should buy literally anything other than a Leica.

[@stephenmorgan6189]

Technology seems 10 years behind nearly any other brand, sorry but it’s a ‘i have a big bank account advert’ to carry around :-(