Leica M10 | First Impressions vs M240

I’ve been dreaming of the Leica M10 ever since it was announced, but due to the fact that Leica cameras are just soooo expensive, I have relied on the M240 for the last 4 years as my main digital camera. This week I was able to finally purchase a set of M10 bodies and wanted to give my first impressions and a quick comparison to the M240s, M6, and M2.
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#LeicaM6 #LeicaCamera

[@_parkphoto]

Congrats on the upgrade Benj! Excited to see how the new bodies contribute to your craft

[@camsmith4633]

Just joined the #LeicaGang when I bought my first 1955 model M3 DS. Saved for 10 years to get it and I’m SO in love with the camera and everything that it’s about. Crazy beautiful, super comfortable in the hands, and the manual experience of the thing is so tactile.

[@fabianoliver3939]

very nice impressions. You have a very nice way of bring the subjects in your review. You help me. Keep going!

[@KylerSteele]

Excited for the future Leica videos! Im all in on the system and want to learn as much about it as I can

[@samguw]

Congrats on the upgrade! Been learning a lot of Leica cameras/lenses and its practical use from your videos. Recently picked up an M6 so they've been really helpful!

[@benjhaisch]

Thanks!

[@asimplefarmer]

Love your perspective with the review from a working photographer’s pov

[@thedondeluxe6941]

Congrats! Very interested in seeing a video comparing the M240 and M10. Particularly high iso performance. Thinking about upgrading myself!

[@joshywhvick]

Lowkey flexing

[@JasonDial]

Facts LOL

[@israellatham]

Appreciate the honest comparison. The M11 will hopefully be a real upgrade then going from the 240 to the m10. Seems nominal in the upgrade department, except in the sensor.

[@Sp33ddialz]

When your camera table could double as a down payment on a house 😂😂 But, congrats Benj. I just snagged a new M10 by trading in my 240. Hope you enjoy

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

why did you trade it in? Whats better?

[@andrewfoster2296]

@@drs-Rigo-Reus I think from looking at the M10 compared to M240. It's lighter and thinner, a simplified control system (I have the Q2 and it looks the same) and also WiFi connectivity. But I'm only seeing the specs so I fully cannot give you a 100% answer. Just some observations

[@GeneralTarik]

Congrats! So jealous! I’m still saving up for one M10. Going to have to start charging my clients more! LOL

[@David-my3uu]

Thanks for your first impressions - I’m loving my M10. As you’ll find, ISO is easily accessed via favorites if you like - one push on “menu” and whatever you set pops right up; even easier than the top wheel. I mostly just leave it on auto, though - no issues so far.

[@joeink37]

😊😊😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@roryjacobs6817]

Hi Benj, nice first impressions from an actual Leica shooter. On the topic of the ISO dial. I think people make to much of a big deal about this, I love it. I had my M10 for over two years, after a month of use it loosened up and it takes just the right amount of effort to lift without it being accidental or “to hard”. And then there’s always auto ISO as mentioned in some of the other comments. Enjoy your new M10’s!

[@aboutphotography]

Great review, thank you!

[@MiladJP]

nice upgrade. I can't wait to get my Leica next year.

[@basedhalcyon]

Wonderful! I do love rangefinders; I wear pretty powerful glasses and didn't have as much trouble with the 28mm framelines on the M10 as I did on the M240

[@benjhaisch]

Good to know! I'll hopefully run a M240/M10 review soon and have to try and check that out myself

[@TENGUJAPON]

You're going to like it! Auto ISO is really convenient. I trust it and works fine. Enjoy!

[@mariogpx2990]

Yo a ti te conozco de algún lado 🤔

[@integra407]

Holy! good timing. Was looking into purchasing a m10 and was watching a few of your videos :)

[@samatkinsphotography]

I do love the M10. My first ‘10’ was the M10-D and that was a wonderful camera to experience. I then went for the standard M10 but then went back to trading it in for another M10-D...which has now gone to make way for an M10-P which is the 10 I should have gone for, for me, in the first place. A definite for long day shooting is multiple batteries on the M10 though (I can often go through at least two on a regular shooting day). Also, I’m primarily a film shooter so I either set my ISO at ‘film’ speeds and then simply use my aperture and shutter speed dial to adjust for exposure or like most have said in the comments leave on Auto. Happy shooting 📷

[@benjhaisch]

For sure! I’m often doing the same with ISO, only using a few throughout the day and sort of sticking with them. I’m so fascinated by the M10-D but for professional work, I do need to see a screen to insure that my highlights aren’t blown. I’d totally consider one for a personal camera though. I love the film advance as a thumb rest too.

[@chilecayenne]

I"m thinking of pulling the trigger on my first Leica....the M10 Monochrom. Oh...hard to decide, as that I"ve bought some $$ cameras already this year, but man, been watching too much YT and I've gotten GAS again. I'll be limited on lens money after the body, but thinking the Voightlander 35mm Ultron f/2 would be a good start. I'll save to get a Leica lens maybe next year. Anyway, excited to be watching all this Leica pr0n. Haha.

[@PatrickColpron]

Great first impressions. I only have 3 extra batteries for two M10. I have seldom have had the need for more than one extra battery a day wit two bodies. Start by getting one extra M10 battery, you should be fine depending how many photos you capture per wedding. I have often made more than 1000 photos per battery using the M10. The iso button - it is just a question of habit and I much prefer using it, seeing what my iso setting is at all time. For weddings I leave the iso M settings at 8000, used in dim lit churches and for the later part of the reception. The high iso usability is unlike any other camera I currently use. Really clean files, you are going to love it. Looking forward to a more in-depth review from you.

[@benjhaisch]

You leave it at 8000??? Damn, that’s good.

[@PatrickColpron]

@@benjhaisch I find it very usable up to iso 10000 for client's photos. You will love the M10 compared to the 240 at high iso and in challenging light situations. it is a beast if a camera.

[@mr_cramberry]

Nice comparison. Intresting what your review of the m10 will be after putting through its paces as a profesional photographer. It seems you pointed out few negative points that would require workarounds. Anyway congrats on upgrade. Hope you still still believe the m240s are still good for 2020! lol

[@taneltinnuri8985]

M240P has frameline selector. I "downgraded" from M10 to MP240. The reason why i did that was just i did not find the price difference worth enough for my needs. Both good cameras. But then its just a hobby for me so if i would shoot some events i would def go for M10. ISO is so much better, faster camera, faster shutter but im not in hurry when walking alone..and for that price difference i could buy a nice lens! Anyways, nice comparison video. Oh and i did not liked the M10 iso dial in the end. Cool idea but in practice i didnt like it that much. I find it even easier on m240. And viewfinder difference i didnt find at all problem. My experience between these 2.

[@mattblasi8796]

You get use to the ISO dial, for me though I find it best to just set it as I would film and then shoot adjusting the shutter speed and aperture. I sometimes change it if I'm going from extremes (darker room inside to bright outside kind of thing). Even in that little bit of use it is something you get use to and I like that I can't accidentally change it. I shoot an M10-D, I'm also not using mine professionally it''s just a nice partner for my M4. I think the battery life issues people tend to have with them comes down to the screen use (especially for some people who seem to use live view a lot) because with the M10-D I can get more than a full day of shooting out of the battery in most cases. The only time I have bad battery life is when I use the Visoflex for the few lenses I have that the rangefinder doesn't work on.

[@adamquesada]

Hey Benj, Glad to see you moving up to the M10. Would love a dedicated Cascade set for the M10.

[@benjhaisch]

How different is the M10 color from the M240? I haven’t played with it extensively yet, but I don’t remember it being too far off from testing.

[@Oracorio0205]

Can’t wait for the file comparison! Congrats on the M10s must have been painful and amazing all at once 😂👏🏻

[@benjhaisch]

My M10 video comes out on Monday :)

[@Oracorio0205]

@@benjhaisch perfect timing! Ps just saw you shot Rachel and David’s wedding in your 240 review video, I recently worked with them for some family photos. Small world! Thanks benj! Really appreciate all you provide here!

[@benjhaisch]

Awe! So fun!

[@kevingoza]

Great comp. You say more than Thorsten in half the time! 😊

[@francoisp5384]

Great video. Waiting for the « in depth review ».

[@jklphoto]

Wow, good for you Benj! Leica's battery pricing is inexcusable. My Leica SL (Typ 601) uses $275 batteries, whilst Hasselblad manages to sell an X-System battery for $99! Re: the ISO dial, I imagine you'll use AUTO ISO and limit the range in the menu.

[@ac5040]

Hi, Benj, great video! Subscribed! How do you find m10 after some use, compared to m240?

[@benjhaisch]

Great, I’ll be making a video in a couple of weeks 🙌🏼

[@MonsieurZine]

Nice video. Can’t wait to see some photos with the « new » M10. I have to try it, even if i just upgrade my M8 for a M9.

[@benjhaisch]

Hey thanks! Yeah, I plan on making a couple of videos on it soon. The M8 is the only digital M series that I've never tried, but it was the first one I remember lusting after hard.

[@MonsieurZine]

Benj Haisch i had good times and projects with my M8, a really cool looking guy 😎 I try to not buy others cameras to try and just use my Leicas ones, but it’s hard, i love trying new cameras, specially old ones !

[@GuamPhotography]

Hey Benj! Since you used the M9 before, a lot of people say the M10 colors look like M9 colors, can you confirm this? I have only used the M9‘s and M240 I kept going back-and-forth but settled on the M9-P :)

[@taneltinnuri8985]

M9 and M10 colors are pretty different! Just google it known thing between CCD and CMOS.

[@bngr_bngr]

I used an optical viewfinder for wide angle lens.

[@zguy95135]

Honestly just leave it on auto ISO, it works really well and this camera is a lot cleaner at high ISOs compared to the M240. I do minimum 1/60th and max ISO 10,000 and haven't thought about it since. You can still zone focus and it's intelligent enough to not be maxing out your ISO constantly.

[@benjhaisch]

I’ve been using auto ISO around the house since I got it and it really does do a good job.

[@MrPellegrini]

I'm currently on the same (expensive) way: Trading M240 for the M10... I'm just not sure about black vs silver..?! :-D

[@banemeathleticclub]

Thanks Benj, great video! Did you look into the M10-R when sourcing your M10s? What made you go with the M10 vs M10-R? How do you feel about higher res cameras?

[@benjhaisch]

I never really considered it to be honest as the cost of one M10-R was about what I paid for two M10s. If they were similar in price I probably would take the newer model, but as it stood there’s just no way I could have afforded to buy two of them.

[@banemeathleticclub]

Gotcha! Do you think 40mp would add to or benefit your work? 24mp is still quite a bit of usable resolution

[@benjhaisch]

Yeah, I’m more interested in the dynamic range and ISO performance. I think 24mp is the sweet spot for weddings in general

[@banemeathleticclub]

@@benjhaisch Thanks. I appreciate your replies. I shoot mostly portraits and lifestyle and trading in my 240. Your insight helps a lot!

[@labradorhund7769]

I would love to have an M10. I could use my glass from the M6 on it. Then my Sony would have to go. But it's sooooo much money!

[@geforceoc]

oh nice! I just trade in my MP240 for an M10 a few days ago. It’s so much more snappier. also how are you threading the peak design anchor into the eyelids? i tried that and it seems like the hole too small to thread it through.

[@benjhaisch]

With a lot of patience... haha

[@geforceoc]

​@@benjhaisch In that case, I’ll give it another try lol. Thanks!

[@jakepeters4370]

I'm interested in how the M10R shutter sounds. I had an M8-horrible, loud as an SLR, no, worse than an SLR.

[@prideswim318]

You're my most trusted source of advice on this topic... who I blame for my obsession :) No doubt they will serve you well! Are we to assume you bought them second-hand?

[@benjhaisch]

Yeah, they’re used. I haven’t bought a “new” camera in almost a decade.

[@prideswim318]

@@benjhaisch Ah, well, can I make a suggestion for a video, that nobody has done: how to buy a digital Leica body, for a fair price, without getting done. I guess there's e-bay, Leica Classifieds on Facebook, secondhand camera stores, and some forums, all with their pitfalls I'm sure. Then there are questions of warranties, registrations, identifying damage, focus fixing... it's a minefield! Thanks for doing all this! I hope youtube are rewarding you somehow!

[@Renzsu]

What are those red things on the side of the camera? I've seen them in a few other videos.. are they for a strap?

[@benjhaisch]

Yep! I use them on these straps benjhais.ch/clever

[@Renzsu]

@@benjhaisch Oh those are nice.. I kind of like the idea. Get one fancy strap, use it on all your cameras.

[@kanayoAdibe]

The ISO dial will not be an issue.. It will loosen up.. I haven't actually had to worry about it since I got the camera really.

[@benjhaisch]

Yo! Good to see you on here, dude. It hasn’t been an issue in the couple of elopements I’ve had it for. Slightly more convenient than the iso button on the M240 actually.

[@swernovsky]

Great video dude!

[@MarvinBoydCo]

I know shoot on the M10 and love the camera.

[@jameslenney]

I’m a new subscriber - I really like your videos. I have a Q and I have a baby on the way and I’m thinking I may want something interchangeable for when the little one starts moving around. Do you think the M240 is a good place to start with the M series? I have this impression of the M10 being noticeably thinner and lighter but your video suggests otherwise and the price difference is astonishing.

[@benjhaisch]

Yeah, I mean, if you’ve never shot a Leica before, the M240 won’t feel that big. It’s hard to catch kids on a rangefinder moving quickly though and you can’t focus up close. I love my rangefinders to death, but I did just buy an X100V specifically to help photograph my newborn as well.

[@jameslenney]

@@benjhaisch yeah, I’ve used rangefinders quite a bit - I have my Q and my Fuji for those moments when a rangefinder just can’t handle it but it was just more about the size and weight - interesting that the weight was so similar but if they’re not too bulky I may give the 240 a whirl. Anyway, congrats on the newborn - loving your channel.

[@clogmonger2damx]

Ben, did you ever end up selling you m240?

[@benjhaisch]

I did, yeah

[@Seapatico]

It's funny you mentioned the black paint and the ISO dial because those are the two things I would change about the exterior and the camera. The ISO dial is fiddly at best, and I would just kill for it to be black paint.

[@Seapatico]

Also, I cannot imagine you having to use more than two batteries in a wedding day. On a long wedding day I'll switch batteries once, but one battery will last you at least 1,000 photos. Maybe more like 2,000.

[@benjhaisch]

Yeah, you definitely need two. I ran out of one battery around hour 7 this weekend. 2 should be plenty for each camera though and keeping a USB charger and battery bank to recharge is also helpful just in case.

[@benjhaisch]

The ISO dial hasn’t been as much of an annoyance as I expected though.

[@nickhaisch4277]

It's fun that you get to buy camera equipment and I get to buy surfboards and we have legit excusses.

[@benjhaisch]

no joke 😂

[@karlis.studio]

Great video, Benj! Did you shoot your weddings only with the Leicas?

[@benjhaisch]

Everything for the last 3-4 years or so has been on Leica for me.

[@AlexBuckMaurer]

Did that m240 vs m10 video ever happen?

[@benjhaisch]

Coming in soon-ish. I’d love to actually have a copy of the M240 to test side by side, but I sold mine off months ago to afford the M10s

[@riccardoemilien2039]

Thoughts on M240 vs M9 ?

[@benjhaisch]

The M9 has a really cool feel to the color in that CCD sensor, but it’s basically like shooting film otherwise. Crazy slow buffer, pointlessly bad LCD screen, unusable over ISO 640, etc. the M240 is a much more capable/modern camera.

[@riccardoemilien2039]

Benj Haisch thanks for sharing. I sold my m6 a few years back and got an M9 with a new CCD and I love the color out of it. The LCD is awful, but I love the jpegs I get of camera. I was wondering if it’s worth the upgrade. I don’t think I need the other bells/whistles.

[@JohnRicard]

I think the M10 black looks better and wears better than the black paint of the M240 or M6.

[@benjhaisch]

It technically looks cleaner and will hold up better over time, but I prefer that glossy paint look even when it gets worn from use.

[@JasondePlater]

They should have kept the video button from the M240 on the M10 but made it a customisable button.

[@JudoDogMD]

MP240 has frame line selector.

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

is there really a difference between these cameras? They all do the same with better specs and/or video.

[@benjhaisch]

Yes

[@giolee1274]

The iso dial is indeed a bit of a hassle to change. I much prefer the way I changed iso on my m9.

[@ufukkiblat]

Owning an M-P240 over the years I always resist to upgrade to M10. These are my points: -Black Paint...it is really special case in the history of Leica (M3/2 black paint wasn't as desirable in the past but now it's rare and crazy expensive) and M typ240 gen is the last digital M that offers black paint. It's a shame really that they don't offer it on the newer camera even M10R. -Battery life, no brainer..I can use one battery for a full weekend and still have some life left. -Video with Leica color, again..last digital M that offers video. Nice to have, I use it from time to time. -IQ is comparable to M10, at high ISO M10 is a bit better but with some post processing I can get similar result -Btw, on the M-P240, you got frameline selector and red color-frameline. The buffer also way better than M240. But these are things that I want from M10: -Bigger viewfinder -ISO dial -touch screen (on M10-P) As you can see...after looking at those list, I used the money to buy a Summilux instead and wait for the M11.

[@benjhaisch]

For real, the battery life on the M240 is unbelievable. I can make it about 9 hours of wedding photography on a single battery in normal conditions. So impressive.

[@braaji]

I love my fuji x100v, smart and beautiful

[@blakelyle2158]

unlock the flex. The flex unlock.

[@tchin2020]

Drooling over Leica videos......no.......more please...looking forward to a M10 for higher resolution....I may trade in my M240 as well for the right price...still looking....but like u said, the iso knob is really cumbersome...iso on the M240 is so much easier to change, in camera....I like my M240 because it doesn’t have the frame line selector , which I never used anyway....

[@donnlowel4097]

Most Leica buyers are very convinced that Leica cameras are still relevant in todays modern photography.

[@JTobiason]

What is the 1884 hat?

[@benjhaisch]

It’s my friend’s Tacoma brand. 1884 is the year Tacoma was founded, I’m pretty sure. 1884tacoma.com

[@robertoposa1120]

Less battery life with the M10-P

[@michaelfisher1537]

My trusty and faithful Olympus OM-1 with a selection of Zuiko and Vivitar and Tamron lenses [I basically live on the Zuiko 100mm lens - astonishing quality] has been my companion for ...many...years...I admit that film has gotten more expensive but I don't get digital - unless I'm taking vacation snaps with my Galaxy Ultra phone [ impressive results ]. I fantasize about Leica...the same way I fantasize about Ferrari. Pretty to look at but not happening...

[@_o__o_]

pleas do vido bout leica

[@benjhaisch]

Deal

[@pogolol009]

Oh boi, these peak design dongles make me squeak. 👀 but I guess, everyone has different tastes.

[@benjhaisch]

Makes traveling and using different cameras waaaaaaaay easier for me. Not my favorite aesthetic thing, but the Clever Supply Co straps make things a lot better.

[@pogolol009]

Benj Haisch okay okay Benj, I forgive you. I really enjoy the cooph rope ones. Do you thinking about any glass buy soon? Cheers!

[@benjhaisch]

Pogo Kilogramm haha! Yeah, I’m considering the Voigtlander 75/1.5 and the Leica 28 Summicron ASPH V2

[@pogolol009]

Benj Haisch oh that quite some glass, tried the 75mm cron out on my M10, truly a nice one and doesn’t hurts wallet to badly. (Dunno how the voigtländer is in compare but can imagine little more dreamy) When it comes to the 28mm, I can see why you need that extra half stop, more pop, yet from what I heard and experienced myself the latest asph Elmarit is very equally when stopping the Cron. (Owning a Elmarit asph v2) Just be aware that you got more stops and ISO juggle with the M10 than you had on the M240. ;)