Leica M-D

Has anybody in this forum used the Leica M-D? If so, what do you think of it?

I haven't used it and won't get one. - Exception, it would be offered at an irresistibly nice price. It costs a little extra and gives direct ISO settings access but lower ISO than an M10. You can turn chimping off at all other Leicas too. So what is it good for? Playing the odd 2nd or 3rd body with your 35mm? Are all your lenses 6 bit coded?

I like Leicas. - When I am doing close up product shots with the M8 I am grateful to have seconds to check if I framed properly. - The 50mm lines seem a tad off at close distances. I'd like to get higher ISO than with the old Monochrom from a next body and consider live view handy in case you drop your M at the beginning of a vacation and don't want to stick to zone focusing. Histogram chimping seems handy when you are using flash.

If you have enough other digital Leicas and burn to give the M-D a go for nostalgic vibes, go ahead. In my eyes it is just less handy than the others.

Sorry for the late reply. My friend bought a brand new M-D recently and I absolutely love it. So does he!

 

Advantages over standard M262:

• Better battery life
  
• Easier and more convenient to change ISO
  
• Gives an all consuming shooting experience. Just like shooting film. Wonderfully enjoyable.
  
• You never miss a shot because you were chimping at the screen
  
• Looks gorgeous
  

Disadvantages:

• Will only shoot DNG (no jpeg option)
  
• Changing date/time for EXIF is a challenge (user manual essential).
  
• User manual also essential when cleaning sensor.
  
• Updating firmware is not as easy without an LCD screen
  
• You cannot manually select lenses so 6-bit coded wide angle lenses are essential.
  

I am not familar with the M-D but I wonder why Leica doesn't let you do all the settings via USB and a computer? That way you can change the date, time, update firmware and lock the shutter open for cleaning easier.

The M-D is a tempting design, and would be even more tempting if not for the M10. The M262's battery life is pretty darn good as someone who uses one alongside an Olympus E-M1 Mark II with an EVF that sucks the new, bigger capacity batteries dry plenty fast. The M262's battery for me lasts well over a day of intensive shooting. As long as I have my second/backup battery, just in case, to get me to the evening so I can re-charge, all is well.

 

Even though I do most all my shooting in manual mode and utilize the in-camera metering system as little as possible, the back LCD is still nice to check the odd exposure to confirm you did get the shot. There are certain conveniences of digital photography that are just nice to have, and the back LCD definitely qualifies as one of those things.

 

Within the next several months I'll be looking to add a new primary body, replacing the M9-P with the M262 as the second lens body and I just can't see looking at anything other than the M10.

It all depends on what you want the camera for. For me, the M-D gives the most enjoyable shooting experience. When you get back home all you want to do is download your photos to see what you managed to capture, just like waiting for a roll of film to come back from the lab. A camera with an LCD doesn't give that enjoyment, you know what you've captured as soon as you take your finger off the shutter.

 

If I was buying a Leica M for paid work or as my one and only camera I would probably go for the M10. But for something to give me the most pleasure I would definitely get the M-D.

It's a beautiful camera, and fun to use. When I use a rangefinder, I shoot differently; I set up shots more deliberately (probably because I have to set everything myself). This tendency is even more pronounced with the M-D. I think it is because I cannot check my photos on a screen. I forces me to think through my choices rather than snapping a photo and then correcting the next if I don't like it. On the negative side, it is a bit heavy and fat. The Fuji X-Pro cameras are a lot more portable.

Has anybody in this forum used the Leica M-D? If so, what do you think of it?

I bought one a couple of months ago. I'm a lifelong Leica user and the M-D is a trip down memory lane. It is the only one of my Leicas that I'm using now and am pleased with a return to truly deliberate photography. Initially I missed some conveniences that are absent from the M-D. However such longings were quickly forgotten. I am an outside, daylight, color photographer who uses 35mm and 24mm lenses.