I've been buying various M mount lenses for a while. This year I've acquired three that I like. The Carl Zeiss 28mm f2.8, the Carl Zeiss 35mm f2.0, and the Voigtlander 50mm App-Lanthar. They join the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 lens I bought last year. And used extensively in Vancouver.
I've been using these lenses from time to time on the L mount cameras (SL, SL2, Sigma fp, and Panasonic S5) with various adapters, including a very pricey M to L adapter from Leica. They mostly work well but some of the cheaper adapters (non-Leica) allow lenses to focus past infinity. They mostly work for taking photos but you lose some of the close focus ability of each lens on those "lesser" adapters.
Even though I've been accumulating these M lenses I have been resisting the lure of the M series digital cameras. I was put off by their sheer cost, the need for yet another battery type, and my memory from a decade of shooting with M series film cameras. Seemed back then that rangefinders (the actual mechanics of optical rangefinder triangulation for focusing) had to be handled with kid gloves or they would go out of adjustment and make trying to focus via the rangefinder patches a fool's errand.
But the other day I was looking at lenses on the Leica Store Miami website and for some bad and unknowable reason I decided to take a quick (and hopefully uninterested) glance at used Leica M rangefinder digital cameras. You know, just to see.
And there it was. A Leica digital M camera I'd been interested in since its launch in 2012. The M240.
This one is a black enamel paint model which means that under the finish the top and bottom plates of the camera are brass instead of aluminum. Just as Leicas had been through nearly all of the film days. The brass is heavier and, when you begin to wear off the paint, because you love handling the camera so much you can't imagine ever letting it out of your hands --- the edging shows the warm brass underneath instead of a lifeless, dull, neutral metal.
The camera in question was little used and is nearly perfectly mint. It comes with a thumb grip and an extra battery. This particular model introduced Leica's 24 megapixel CMOS sensors. It was the first of the M series to feature live view and video capabilities. And it's a very capable photography tool.
I've had this one in and out of my "shopping cart" at Leica Store Miami maybe five times over the last week. Always hesitant to push the "buy" button.
Ben was over for dinner last night. I told him about the camera. He is immune to the charms of cameras; even to the charms of Leicas. But he knows his father well.
After I told him all the cool stuff about the camera he calmly suggested, "Just buy it." My friend Paul had suggested I buy it as well. I thought I was doing such a good job resisting. I asked my spouse with the misguided idea that she would rein in my camera avarice. She just said, "If you want it buy it. Why not?"
Do I have no support network left? No one to restrain my wildest inclinations? No one to help set limits?
Ben shrugged, "Cheaper than an Aston Martin." B. added, "Cheaper than the new fence." Both added, "It's billing for a one day shoot...."
The salesperson on the phone finished me off by casually stating, "You can never have too many Leicas."
Of course I pulled out a credit card and ordered in on the spot. It'll be here in the next few days. I'm worried it might be a "gateway" drug to a black paint M11. But... would that be such a bad thing?
Besides, I've read that no one actually uses ILC cameras any more. It's all done with phones. The cameras are just for decoration. Especially Leica rangefinders. Purely ornamental.
I just re-read this. It's wonderful to actually read something about a real camera. Especially a really cool camera.
Just a reminder..... we are not sponsored by any camera maker, lens maker, photo retailer or, in fact, anyone. I guess that makes me self sponsored. All cameras and lenses written about here are purchased with my own funds. No one will go hungry in my extended family because I bought another camera. My imminent retirement is not in peril. No hard choices will need to be made. No begging for patronage will ensue. What a relief.
