Introduction
The Leica M Typ 240, or as commonly know the M240, is the second full frame digital M camera released by Leica. It was introduced in 2012 as a successor to M9 and was well received by Leica users, as it addressed many shortcomings of the M9, including greatly improved high ISO performance, a much larger buffer, faster shooting speed, better LCD resolution, and most importantly fitted with a sensor which does not corrode. The M9 was fitted with a Kodak CCD sensor which was prone to corrosion, Leica did replace it free of charge for many years, but the free replacement program ended. The M240 is fitted with a CMOS sensor and when paired with a decent lens, produces beautiful sharp photos with a distinct look and vibrant but not over saturated colors. I have used it with a few Voigtlander lenses (21mm f/4 Color Skopar, 28mm f2 Ultron, and 40mm f/1.4 MC), and the 75mm f/1.25 TTArtisans, and the images that come out are just beautiful. Many photographers will recognize photos coming out of the M240, just as they do photos coming out of the M9.
I must warn you that my review of the M240 is very biased and not very objective, however I am not a Leica ambassador, nor am I am not affiliated with Leica in any way. I purchased all my gear used, from private parties. I am biased because I have learned to love Leica M cameras. I have used the M8, M9, M240 and M10. I have also used other cameras, full-frame Canon 7D, 5D Mark II, Sony a7rIII, Fujifilm X-Pro2, X-H2s, GFX 50SII, GFX100S, and Sigma DP Merrills, all these cameras produce great photos, and some produce exceptional photos, but somehow the M240 photos have a very special, attractive, and look organic, without being clinical as they do with Sony, Canon, or Nikon, the photos from the M240 have great contrast, deep shadows, and strong colors, the whole image has a strong presence that is hard to describe in words. The M240 in my opinion is the best all-around digital M camera to date, this includes the M8, M9, M10-R and M11, the last two departed from traditional Leica cameras and sunk into deep clinical imagery, and resolution sorcery with a 60-megapixel triple resolution sensor, really Leica? The M8 and M9 do have a very special place in my heart, and produce photos that are out of this world, but the camera operation is very limited for me, just as the Foveon sensor DP Merrills do, another camera wizardry out of Sigma Japan. The M240 is neither magical, nor is it boring, it sits right in between, producing distinct images with a relatively more refined and modern operation.
Variations
There are 3 variations of the Leica Typ 240, they are all share the same sensor and image quality. The purists prefer the M-P 240, while the budget conscious prefer the M 240. The M-E 240 are for those looking for a colorful looking M 240.
M 240: 1GB shooting buffer with 1080P video.
M-P 240: 2GB shooting buffer and lacks video, also the Leica red dot has been replaced with a black screw. The menu is also a bit simpler.
M-E 240: 2GB shooting buffer and anthracite color body.
The Monochrome Version Typ 246
There is a monochrome version of the Typ 240, coded Typ 246 or M246. It is fitted with the same 24MP sensor as the M240 but without the color filter array (CFA). If you like black and white photography this camera is worth checking out, not only the images that come out are superb, but they are also sharper due to the lack of CFA, and the high ISO performance is at least 1 stop better, and images look more organic and less botchy as there is no chroma noise (color noise).
Let us explore the Leica Typ 240!
| Body Style | Digital Mirrorless Rangefinder |
| Sensor | Full Frame 24 Megapixel CMOS |
| Focus | Manual – Rangefinder |
| FPS | 3 frames per second |
| Shutter Speed | Minimum 60 seconds Maximum 1/4000 seconds |
| Video | 1080P |
| Storage | Single SD card |
| LCD | 3.0″ 920K |
| Dimensions | |
| Weight | |
| Battery Capacity | 1800 mAh |
Handling and Ergonomics 9/10
The Leica M240 has the same body style as the old Leica film rangefinder camera, but a little thicker, probably to accommodate additional video circuitry, heatsink, and a larger battery. I have never disassembled one so I may be wrong. But the large battery is definitely welcomed. I don’t shoot video, so that feature is not useful for me at all. If it wasn’t for the price difference, I would have opted for the M262, which is essentially a M240 without the video feature. Taking photos with the M240 is a real pleasure, the camera body fits perfectly in my hands, the shutter release button is perfectly placed and has the right spring action, you cannot mistakenly take a photo, nor can you miss taking one. It is just perfect. I really like the ISO button, which is no longer available on the M10 and M11 bodies, for the sake to homage older Leica film bodies. I often praise Leica’s engineering and simplicity, but sometimes I wonder. I find the ISO button on the M240 very useful and more ergonomic than the pull, rotate, then push down dial found on the M10 and M11 model, it looks great, but to operate it is really cumbersome. It’s a shame really. That being said all M cameras are a joy to hold and operate, and the M240 is no exception.
Battery Life 10/10
Out of all Leica M cameras, including the M11, the M240 has the longest battery life. I can shoot the streets of downtown LA a whole week or, do three modeling photoshoots, and still have battery left, basically I never have to worry about running out of charge during a full day of photoshoot. It does take a few hours to fully charge the battery due to its large capacity. Otherwise, there isn’t much else to be said, battery capacity is simply awesome. A perfect 10 score.
Image Quality 8.5/10 and 9/10
Image quality depends on camera and lens, I mostly use Voigtlander lenses, and refuse to pay $5000 for Leica lens to gain an extra 2% in image quality. The 40mm f/1.4 MC Nokton, the 28mm f2 Ultron, and 21mm f/4 color Skopar, all produce really nice high-quality photos. Check out some of the photo that I took with this camera, in my eyes they are beautiful, crisp, organic and definitely not flat. High ISO image quality is excellent up to 1600, and very good at 2500, at ISO 3200 noise is definitely pronounced but details and colors are still very acceptable. Beyond ISO 3200 there is quite a bit of image degradation, and colors are desaturated, however if you use a monochrome profile with reduced sharpening, your image will still look very good at ISO 6400. The monochrome image that come out are very organic and with great tonality, the dynamic range is not very high, which contribute to the contrasty look, not as contrasty as the M8 or M9. The M10 for example has a higher dynamic range, and the tonality variation is smoother and more subtle, which is probably better for portraits, and sunset photos. For architecture, street, foliage, mountains, and trees, I prefer a lower dynamic range camera as it produces sharper and more contrasty images.
Monochrome image quality 9/10
Color image quality 8.5/10
Focusing 8/10
Focusing with this camera is entirely manual, and visual. The rangefinder system requires a more visual engagement that an autofocus camera switched to manual focus. The rangefinder takes a bit getting used to, but once you become good at it, and you will, it is very rewarding. Focusing is difficult at apertures larger than f2, most photographers stay at f2 or f2.8. Those who venture at f/1.4 or f/1.2 have mastered not only the M240, but also their lens’s focusing, and those who claim to take sharp photos are f/0.95 are simply lucky. M cameras are made for street photography and photojournalism, I use zone focusing and set the aperture to f/7.1 and set the distance to about 15 feet and wait for my subject(s) to walk into that zone. It’s simple and very easy, and the subject is in focus every time, due to the f/7.1 aperture.
Video/Audio Recording 5/10
The video performance rating on the M240 shouldn’t be taken into account as a purchase deciding criteria. The video feature was clearly not intended to compete with professional video-centric camera, but more as an “in case you need to record something” feature. I personally don’t record videos, so this section will be short as my experience is very limited. I did shoot a few videos using the M240, at 1080P the image quality is good, this feature could be used to record family gatherings, or some interesting events that you come across. I wouldn’t use it professionally though, as there is no image stabilization or auto-focus. If you are creative, you could shoot a short black and white film. The M240 records video and audio, and you could end up with a decently creative project, or even a pre-production film idea.
Who Is This Camera For?
If you are a spray-and-pray type of photographer, if you rely on auto-focus, if you want to record high-quality video, if you like to look through a high-resolution electronic viewfinder and see a ton of information, then this camera is definitely-not-for-you. This camera IS for you if you are a mechanically inclined person and like to slow down a bit when taking photos, everything about this camera is about you interacting with the mechanics of the camera and the lens, nothing is motorized, from manual focusing, shutter speed dial, aperture setting on the lens, and ISO sensitivity settings. If you are comfortable and appreciate working with old mechanical film cameras, then you will be right at home with the M240. Otherwise, I recommend renting one for a week and then decide for yourself, or if you insist on buying one to try then I suggest buying a well-used, with a calibrated rangefinder. I have met many photographers who just couldn’t get used to M cameras, after working years with modern camera bodies and lenses.
Final Verdict
The Leica M Typ 240 is a wonderful camera that hasn’t let me down for over two years now, every time I look at photos both color or monochrome, I feel a great sense of satisfaction, and my clients praise the photos that came out of it.
Here are some photos from the Leica M Typ 240
