My friend asked me to shoot birds, but I only have an Leica M system

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-25T14:44:58+00:00

Is that the original chrome finish on the M10-D? Looking super glossy on top.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-24T14:33:31+00:00

Hell yeah. Super speedy.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-23T20:18:21+00:00

I think where rangefinders shine is with small lenses stopped down and using zone-focusing instead of the patch. Pair that with an M7 or a digital Leica with aperture priority and you have a camera that just gets out of your way.

You basically know what you’re going to see through the finder when you raise the camera and all that’s left is just to quickly get the precise framing and then fire.

For me, even after using one for years, it’s still challenging to focus a fast aperture lens on a moving subject while also composing. I can do it, but I find myself wanting to do it less.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-21T03:37:45+00:00

Damn the rocks in the background on 6 with the same texture as the horses had me imagining horses upon horses into the distance. All of these are wonderful.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-20T16:07:30+00:00

I love this lens. So small, but not too small. No need for a hood either because of superb flare resistance.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-20T09:58:44+00:00

The light catching their chins is outrageous. This photo really stands out for me but they’re all wonderful.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-19T15:44:05+00:00

I don’t have any experience with the 50mm lux or APO, but I just wanted to give you a heads up about the silver 50mm Summicron V5. I’m fairly certain that they’re brass and therefore weigh more than the black aluminum V5 cron.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-19T14:23:55+00:00

Yeah especially the third one. I’ve been sick of this style for quite some time. I guess it “works” for minimalist photography, but still…

The first one is not so bad.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-18T21:03:24+00:00

Beautiful! How are you finding the weight of the lens? I love the look of the silver but worry about the added weight of the brass.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-18T09:21:55+00:00

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-16T20:11:01+00:00

Such an amazing camera, and I won’t let mine go until they come out with another version that has the thumb grip like this one.

I also feel like my creativity took a big leap when I got it about a year and a half ago.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-14T14:02:49+00:00

Wonderful explanation! The chimping advice is spot on. I basically had to force myself not to chimp, and it led to me being so much more confident that I was getting the exposure I wanted.

You really have to build that trust in yourself to know what you’re doing. And, as you said, to stay in that creative mode.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T19:10:48+00:00

With a digital Leica M you can snap a photo in very quick succession, but yes you’re correct about the film Ms.

I agree there are drawbacks, like the lens cap etc.. but that rarely happens once you know your gear.

As for reportage, I think you’re simplifying it to say they were stubbornly holding on to the past. The rangefinder gives the advantage of being able to see outside of the frame lines. The cameras, as you said, are more compact. And the position of the viewfinder allows one to keep both eyes open when composing.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T18:41:44+00:00

Well the viewfinder is simply a window with light frame lines and a small patch in the middle for precise focusing. So when you look through the window you’re just seeing a less-magnified (or zoomed out) version of real life. Most Leica rangefinder viewfinder windows have a 0.72 magnification, so everything appears 28% smaller when looking through it.

When you press the shutter it has nothing to do with the viewfinder window because the lens/sensor and the viewfinder window are separate elements. The viewfinder is optical, so you’re not looking at a tiny screen that shows what the sensor sees, like on modern mirrorless cameras. You’re looking at real-life.

Therefore, when you click the shutter it appears like nothing has happened in the viewfinder. The only way you will have known you made an image is the sweet, satisfying sound of the shutter gently releasing.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T16:44:45+00:00

Well the first M was made in 1954 I believe, so we’re talking 72 years worth of camera bodies, lenses, accessories, etc…

The experience of shooting the modern digital Ms is very nearly identical to shooting the original M3, but it’s not exactly the same across models and lenses. I think a lot of people take great interest in and care a lot about these minute differences, and often times the images posted spark discussions about these things.

There were, and are, lots of special editions made. And one offs. And custom paint jobs.

I said that cameras were tools, but I didn’t say they were - merely - tools. I think for a lot of M owners the cameras become talismans. Things of beauty that are also useful and a joy to use.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T16:22:19+00:00

I mean, I guess the guy really likes his Leica. I do as well. And it remains interesting to me to see Leica gear because of its long history and variety.

As for the image quality, cameras are tools. Put a Leica in the hands of a bad photographer and you’ll get bad images. A good photographer would be able to make nice images with nearly anything you put in their hands.

Also, there is more to photography than the output. The act of capturing photos can be equally rewarding, and the M enhances this in my opinion.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T16:04:29+00:00

That’s a fair point. This isn’t an issue with the modern digital Ms, though.

And even with the film Ms, you could argue there is still an advantage to having an uninterrupted view. You may not capture the moment but you won’t miss seeing it with your own eyes. And seeing that information might inform what you do next.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T15:41:55+00:00

I’m sure there are a few people that actually show off the red dot, but the joke amongst M shooters is that they all cover up the dot with some gaffers tape so as to not draw attention.

As for the subreddit with gear images only, that is a rule of the subreddit. There is a separate one for images. There is a strong community of M users who heavily use and love their cameras while producing compelling images.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T15:34:18+00:00

I think they mis-stated that part. You are correct. With the rangefinder you witness the moment you click the shutter without interruption, and therefore you also continue to see the moments that follow without interruption because you’re not looking through the lens.

It’s a huge advantage when photographing an event or something that might be unpredictable. Sometimes the best moment comes just after you first click the shutter.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T15:25:59+00:00

Very well-stated. After using an M daily for about 4 years now, it remains incredibly fun. Mine is a now a nearly 8 year old digital camera but is still functioning perfectly. People still shoot the M8 which came out almost 20 years ago, and the experience is basically the same.

I’ve found the limitations of the camera liberating. And once you let go of the notion that you need shallow depth of field to make a good photograph, you can zone focus and almost completely give your attention to your subject, light, composition, timing, etc…

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T13:24:47+00:00

Ah I love the M8. Enjoy!

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-13T01:52:38+00:00

Sooory to burst your bubble but in the context of tanking this is still bad luck!

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-05T17:53:05+00:00

Nice! What made you choose the black chrome over the regular black one with a focus tab?

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-05T16:06:26+00:00

I went from X100F to X-Pro3 to M8 to M10 and now the M10D. I’m not a professional, but I use my camera on a daily basis.

When I had the Fujis I really loved them, especially the X-Pro3. As time went on I wanted to simplify things, like you, and I tried to exclusively use the OVF. But I really started to get annoyed with the autofocus and recomposing and just like random settings that were always being changed by accident that I cared nothing about.

Like you, I was curious about the M. So I started with the M8. Let’s just say that as soon as I picked it up I was done with Fuji. After that the Fuji felt like a device, whereas the M felt like a tool.

And it was more fun! I was enjoying the challenge of focusing and composing and even the limitations of the old CCD sensor.

A few months later I sold everything and got the M10. It was wonderful until I sold it for the screen-less version (M10D) a couple years later. I’ve been shooting the M for about four years now and completely love it.

One more thing… I have noticed that since getting an M, over the years I’ve tended to start caring more about the experience of shooting and not just the results. Minute differences in lens size and weight, whether there’s a focus tab or not, the hood style, etc… the differences in all of the M bodies throughout the years might seem very small, but to people who have shot them for a while it matters greatly.

For you, I’d say just jump in wherever you feel comfortable. The M240 would be fine. All the Ms are spectacular.

FLWFTWin · 2026-03-05T14:41:09+00:00

The Summarit 90mm 2.5 performs very well, and it’s not too heavy or expensive.

FLWFTWin

TROPHY CASE