New Leica shooter here. I’ve been through the gauntlet of major camera makers, and while I enjoy some other systems, I have an M10-P because there is no other system on the market that is so compact with such high quality glass available. I also have film bodies it’s great to move the same fantastic glass between film and digital.

I appreciate your honesty. 🙏🏼

I love the M10-R and lenses for personal and documentary work. Forget film. The more you shoot the more you grow as a photographer. Great video!

Interesting POV. I'm a professional press photographer and I use an M-P240 with a Summilux 50/1.4 and a Q as my daily kit. Together it does 94% of all my photography, the rest is done with a Lumix GX8 with a 100-400 for nature etc. M means back to basics for me.

Just stumbled upon this video. I see the point of the author. As a working professional, it probably does not make sense to spend such a big sum of money into a system that you probably will not be using because you already have an awesome system in place for your work (e.g. Sony). As for me, it is just inspiring to carry the M camera around to take photos, which I would not likely to do with other cameras. I agree with you that the act of capturing the moments with any camera is very important, and may be the sole reason to take photos in the first place. However, my phone camera does not inspire me to take photos, and there is just something about the mechanical/hands-on aspect of the M cameras that makes you feel more attached to the photos that you create. At the end, It comes down to you personal preference, and the availability of resources.

I have a Monochrom M type 240 and an M4P. They suit my needs in ways that my other digital and film cameras don’t. I have no regrets and enjoy them both in different ways.

I am so glad I took the step to a digital M (M9). I shot film for over 45 years and tried digital a few times but just didn't care for the DSLR feel.....I like my film M bodies. At this stage in life (67) I simply do not feel like developing and scanning nor being retired want to pay for these services. Grabbed an M8 as it was the least expensive m digital and loved it. Same feel, same handling, but pics to enjoy and share the same day I shot them. I have found digital did not make me shoot a lot more frames. Like you, around 200 for a full day focused on photography. Most were doubles, two frame shot as protection in case there was camera shake or a little misalignment in framing. Once downloaded I typically make a quick decision on which frame is best and delete the other to minimize storage space. I go out and shoot once a week, now, sometimes twice rather than once every two months as I did with film.

My choice from film to digital happened when the costs of film, optical prints, flash drives, premium scans and shipping costs were over $100 a roll. My film camera is a Nikon F2 and was curious about the Leica MD 262 after Thorsten Overgaard`s video. As it happened, I did manage to purchase a mint condition MD 262 over at KEH camera! The images from the SD card, RAW, to computer were mesmerizing. Film still has a spot but it`s much smaller now...!

Intrest video. I have just bought an M10 and the first lens is a 50mm (zeiss). While I'm not a pro, I have a lot of Sony gear for Motorsport and other sports. The reason for buying the M10 was something was missing when doing street or landscapes, with the Sony gear. For a photographer, it's the experience of taking the photo, the way the M10 (and other rangefinders) work. This is what I was missing, while others just want an image on their phone. So do what makes you happy !

Thanks for the video, nice to hear your thinking.

I have an M10 that I have been shooting for a few months now. I love the photos that I get and I wish I had time to do more with my camera. The idea of 24 MP for each image is amazing. I'm going to shoot with this camera fro years to come but will probably end up with an M11 soon!

Amazing recovery of the shadows in the M10-R, so lean a little toward under exposing. Then add a great lens to get great images!

i have a canon r5 for my commercial photo/video and an m10 for personal. although that price tag of the m10 really hurt… the joy it brings is priceless. i know my r5 files are better but i’m just not looking for perfection in my personal work. the process of shooting on an m inspires me to shoot more and that’s all i needed to justify the price. good luck on the decision between a digital or film m though!

“Sold my M8, not sure why…” Love that comment. I’m going through the same thing. I had a wonderful M8 with the 1/4000th updated shutter. Beautiful appearance and perfect function. Shot it for a little over a year but started worrying about the inevitable mechanical failures down the road. Sold it for more than I paid when I bought it so that is a bit consoling. Still miss it though.

Over the last four years I have had and sold both the M10 and the M10d whilst looking for a film like digital M experience and neither did it for me. I didn't like the files they produced, they were too flat and the dynamic range just wasn't there. I prefer the files I get from my work cameras (Canon). A film MP comes with me on family trips and weekends away, no batteries a few rolls of film, it's simplicity in itself. I also appreciate that the negatives can be archived so when I am older and have more time I can revisited them, scan and print from them again. For an everyday pocket cam I now use the Ricoh GR III and I really like it, it's unassuming as most people think you are using a phone and the results are really satisfying, great colours and they have a nice look to them.

I was a Leica M shooter for years. I used the following lenses on my Leica M6: 90mm f/2 35mm f/1.4 21mm f/1.4 I waited years for Leica to produce a digital camera that I liked. The M10 was the first that I liked because it was similar in form and function to my M6. However, the first M10 I bought in 2017 was so defective that Leica gave me a full refund. The second M10, I bought used, and it spent more time in the repair shop than I spent shooting with it. I will probably never buy another Leica digital.

I used to use M10 then jump to M10-D. I personally love using the M digital systems in general (tried M-E and M240 as well) and I get that they are expensive gears and should not be the thing that motivated you to take pictures. For me personally there's a difference between wanting a beautiful gears with photography itself. Some buys expensive gears because of their love of designs and beautiful craftsmanship (what ever the camera is). Some are motivated more on learning photography than the gear itself. If you are both, then I think you have to be motivated to keep learning despite of gear but feel that you deserve a camera you'd love to use despite what other say (with cost in consideration of course). I hope that makes sense.. great video btw, I really enjoyed it :) PS: what ever you decide, I strongly suggest you not to sell those lenses.. you might regret it. Good luck to you, Cheers!

Dude you’re so right. I’m eyeing a Leica M6 or digital M as the tool to capture my first kids childhood (due in December, so I have time). Recently I started taking my iPhone with me, I shoot in RAW and other than DOF, I look at the edited photos and feel like this is all I need. However I’m still drawn to that red dot for this idea that “it inspires me to shoot” …

Very honest review and it reflects how I felt about the m10. I ended up selling mine and using and SL2s alongside my GFX for client work, for personal stuff i can throw on some M Glass which works amazing on it. I did keep my film M though :)

Wonderful video and scary relatable to my own thoughts. Thanks 🙏🏽

It’s been a while. Welcome back:)

Leica user here, too. Shooting film with my M3/M6 and digital with M-E 240. Enjoyed your video! I shoot both film and digital Ms - shooting with each is a different experience. I sometimes feel more like going out shooting film, other times more digital. I had a few occasions where I decided not to take my Leica gear when I ventured to sketchy areas - I decided to take cheaper gear instead here. This is to me a major culprit with Leica: the value can be hindering me to take the gear with me anywhere or even having it placed within a bag in my car for a short time. This factor is not often mentioned, but it is certainly an issue many Leica users share. I don't like using my cell for taking photos - I don't see it as extension of my eye by staring on the screen instead of looking through a viewfinder. I use my cellphone camera only for quick snapshots.

Just got an M10p and yea I agree, as much as I love the rangefinder method -having my phone for just the spur of the moment shots is always handy. Anyway I enjoyed this video, thanks for sharing your thoughts. It was informative and sort of an eye opener about gear and how sometimes just the simplest one can be the most useful or effective-plus you're cute so it was fun to watch haha.

Like your thoughts. For professional work I still use a DSLR of a Japanese manufacturer. I would never consider taking it along for my private photography or enjoyment. It’s heavy and obstructive. I always choose the camera as light and small as possible for my private work still the process needs to be enjoyable. If it’s an iPhone, a GR or even a Leica M is up to you. Isn’t it nice to have such issues at the end of 2021?

If you love your Leica lenses, you can have the best of both worlds (the Sony sensor highlight retention & latatude with that Leica lens rendering) usung those lenses on your Sony body with an adapter. These adapters won't break the bank. Nothing to lose.

Get the digital M. I think you want one. I have one, maybe not the best camera but it's so different in a special way, as are the files. Thanks for the video.

subscribed, Great photos.

Thomas, could you share the details of that camera strap?

Good video mate. I’ve been sitting on the fence for a new digital m since I got my m8.2 haha so that must be a record ??? I’m like you seeing what the m11 does to m10 prices and the. Like a clown I’ll go get an MP ;)

why dont you just shoot your beloved M lenses on your Sony? I have done that for years, was always a great pleasure using these lovely lenses with manual focus on sony bodys. To me the viewfinder on digital M´s seemes too cluttered in comparison to my analog M. Now I have my Sonys for work, analog M for 35mm and a GFX 50R for fine-art personal projects. Will be selling my Mamiya 7 as it didnt let me frame as precisely as I´m used to with EVFs.

50 sumilux and 28summicron? Love that combi!

Why not a Ricoh GR? I find it to be great for to interrumpting a moment or intimidating people

I think you'll eventually find that shooting with a cellphone as an EDC will begin to feel wrong. Yes, it's logical. Yes, it's convenient. Yes, the image quality is quite good. But, at the end of the day, it doesn't *feel* like photography. The physical process, holding a phone out at arms length and composing with a screen.. immediate feedback all the time.. no relevant choice with focus decisions, etc. All it offers is a photo. Fine and well, but in absence of the experience a photo can lose part of it's soul, imo. Probably just me being too in those feelings lol

Waiting for M11 announcement hoping previous model price will drop.

wow … I’m not a film shooter (I shoot film but mostly digital. But i must say it’s a big of a stretch to say that a 50mb raw file from a Leica M10 is samesame compared to a iPhone file 😵 And if we forget about the file/result. The experience shooting with an M10 compared to an iPhone is gigantic! I guess some part of you just want to say something that gives reactions. Everyone I’ve been out with thats took photos with their phones and then got my images are blown away by the difference of that “digital file”. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for your thoughts. The overall impression I had by the end of the video is that you seem quite ambivalent about the M10 for a number of reasons, which you run through in the video. Perhaps you should take time to test as many cameras as you can (borrowing or renting them, etc.) before making a decision. You may simply be stuck on the IDEA of using or owning an M (or any other particular camera) and it keeps on pulling you in . . . but then when you get one or try one out, you don't seem to truly 'bond' with it . . . you remain ambivalent. Perhaps you should take your time and remain open until you find a camera that really speaks to you and you KNOW without any doubt it is the one for you. You will know when you find it, there won't be any if's or buts or second guessing whatsoever. I don't think you are there yet. And remember the old adage: The best camera is the one you've got . . . and, I would add, it is only as good as you are.

Hmmm computational snapshots vs leica photography. For family I use iphone. For street photography and candid family stuff I use a fuji with leica glass. The fuji with the film sims and the leica rendering are an awesome combo. It produces stunning jpgs that can cut out alot of post processing. Use RawCurves on an ios device to edit the jpgs if you want. For me, iphones give you an objective image while the fuji/leica give you a subjective image. If you are looking for objective images, your leica is screwed! Try an xt3 (not an xt4) or an xpro3.

M10R?

Wow, that was quite a ramble. In the end, we are spoilt for choice, no? Does anyone "need" a Leica rangefinder? No. However, a case could be made that since you already own two excellent Leica-M lenses, why not a body? The M10 isn't going to depreciate much more, so the cost of ownership is actually quite low.

I think you are talking about two different concepts. One, is recording the moments around you, the other is the way you do it, even for personal projects. For the first, why even bother using a camera, you can just use a device that has a camera... and it is what it is, getting a digital file, and it ends there. That´s why the cell phone become the most used device for taking images. However, in my opinion, of course, the photographic process does not start or end with recording a digital file, but the entire process, from equipment selection, based on the experience it provides, how it is used, and printing, with all the difficulties, challenges and failures in between, and it´s even more rewarding with analogue photography. This will never be achieved with a mobile phone. Like that phrase so commonplace, what matters is the path, not the destination. Is like, why bother climb the top of a mountain, if what matters is the top, just rent a helicopter to drop us over there. The goal is achieved.

M10r will give you back highlight recovery. Use the iPhone 13 until the M11 comes out. Then get the R used from all the freaks dumping for new shiny object. While you are waiting once a week pick up your 50 and 28 and pet them. LOL. I have had an M6 and version 4 Cron going back to 1989. Waiting on seeing if I got in line soon enough to get the m10r in black paint. If so will be last M I buy if not regular R and spray paint (commitment over tape) I have been with one “real” camera one lens for so long never in hurry or have need to shoot tons. Have a X100f and phone but still pick my moments. Especially with personal work, never lessen the experience for the documentation of it. This approach will drop your shutter count and keep you in. Well that and ya can’t smell or taste a photo.😜

A good camera makes a good shooting experience. I know how good mobile phones are now but I detest holding that awkward shape of a iPhone. Don’t drop it! Leicas are tactile and simple to use. There are no huge menus systems and a simple choice of aperture. The joy is in the using.

Leica is Leica. You cant compare rangefinder focusing system with ANY other photography tool. Nobody gets M for its image quality or speed. And comparing it with an Iphone experience wise is a complete nonsense. Otherwise good thoughts! :) 90% of people dont know or care what tool U have used. With that said: gear doesnt matter but U still want the tool what matters to U

Interesting limbo discussion you're having in the video. The comparison with the iPhone (which was my digital camera for the past many years) which in a way both makes perfect sense and no sense at all. If you don't care about photography but just want to make snapshots with family, then the iPhone assures "good" pictures in almost all situations. But they are stereotype with the same much to well known focal length that everyone shoots with and a big depth of field. Predictable and boring - everyone wants to show and share, but no one cares to take an interest in. You can do more with an iPhone - also fun sophisticated things, but the absence of intuitive buttons make it less user friendly. A Leica M, however is an almost fully manual camera. Slow to use, forces you to be attentive to what you are doing but with proper well prepared settings for your planned shots also extremely fast and a no hassle camera for documenting and reporting and a rewarding camera for stunning portraits, architectural og landscape photography, when you bother to work with all of your knowlege and experience to create artwork. As for the latter, lenses di matter, and you have the opportunity to express yourself in all but clinical correctness thanks to the array of vintage lenses since 1920. A friend of mine gave me a Leica R5 SLR for which I bought a Summicron 50 and Elmarit 90 lens as a reentry into photography. It gave me back the love for it and inspired me to go digital with a Leica M10, and I just love the experience. The camera doesn't take the pictures - I do. Whether I sink or swim, it's my doing. I also have Leica V-Lux with all the bells and whistles of advanced programmable buttons which served as my stepping stone from R to M, and I rarely use it. I will never get to understand it properly, and I enjoy the uncompromising simplicity of the M. It's like coming home. How I remembered analog photography from way back. But it is not nostalgia to me. It is uncompromising presence when I take the pictures. I sense, you are maturing some of the same thoughts. I hope you will find yourself photography wise and reunify with a manual rangefinder in any shape and form

All the reasons you list for not wanting a Leica are the reasons I use one.

Haven't tested an M but kind of got the I want one. Can't justify spending that kind of cash without a side by side comparison against my current system. You mention the files from the M to the A9. DXO scores the sensor like 14-15 points lower than that of Nikon & Sony sensors. Didn't check Canon. The Nikon & Sony's were there when I logged on because they were the top tested. If I were you, I would just put the lenses away on the back of the shelf & forget about them until you know for sure. Seems to me like you chase a lot of gear or new tech. In most cases it doesn't improve youe photography. If you need a better low light camera with a better dynamic range & it is a must, otherwise.... I have to give credit where it is due , = you titled the video correctly.

Most Leica reviewers are far more focused on their own personality and the status of owning a collection of fifties museum pieces than actually taking pictures. I have two digital Leicas, an M9 and an M10-R. I also have a set of Sony Alphas. They represent a different approach to taking pictures. Sony makes things fast and easy. With the Leicas, you have to stop and think. With cats and little children, this can be problematic. With adults and landscapes, less so. The quality of images makes the effort worthwhile when you nail it. Count on three months of learning curve at least. Leitz lenses are hugely overpriced. You buy them as investments or fetishes. the price of the lens cannot be seen in the final result. Beware of the Leica cultists!

Just your age that is messing you up man. Leica sweet spot is after you turn 40. Jk Jk. Have fun shooting!

I think the Leica M is not the camera for you. If you were convinced by the M system you would just shoot it instead of buying and selling M bodies all the time. That just makes no sense unless buying them for a steal and selling them to some idiots for twice the money. If you use a SONY kit and consider even an iPhone for photography that underlines just more that the M is not the system you might enjoy on the long run. Just sell the Leica glass to someone who understands and appreciates it.