When it comes to Leica erudition, there are few who can rival Erwin Puts. So when the maestro comes to welcome the new Leica M10 you can expect some esoteric insights into the product. You won’t be disappointed. There’s also a lot of common sense, such as his positioning of the new camera:
“The previous M/240 tried to be a universal and flexible tool, like a Swiss knife, and lost much of the genuine Leica M character. This role has been relegated to the SL. The Leica SL is now the instrument for flexibility and general use. The mirrorless M with a complete list of features would be an internal competitor for the SL. Thus it makes sense to create a clear and unique profile for the M-camera”
And there is a great deal of fascinating detail, including a learned piece on size comparisons accompanied by precise measurements (“measured with a digital caliper made by Mitutoyo” — I want one of those) of a range of current and previous rangefinders. If you are comparing the M10 with the M3, M6 or M7, this you need to know. Erwin’s measuring skills put my plastic ruler to shame.
Erwin goes on to review the M10 in a great deal of detail. If you want to know the M10 inside out, here’s your first primer. In his conclusion he tells us:
“The M10 has lots of emotional appeal: the compacter body is easy to work with, the simplified handling does not distract from the main task: taking the picture you want at the moment of your decision, the finder is crystal-clear with bright frame-lines that help to frame the scene, the shutter pressure is extremely smooth with hardly a delay and low noise, even when using the series feature. Every feature of the camera has been improved and sophisticated measurements will undoubtedly illustrate it. The camera as a package, or a black box if you wish, hardly interferes with the mental flow and has that undefinable character of a precision tool that enhances your confidence and challenges your expertise.”
Settle down for the evening and read Erwin Puts on the M10. You can then pontificate in true barrack-room style.
(Apologies to Erwin for the misspelling “Irwin” in the URL slug to this article. My mistake and thanks to René for noticing it)
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I read what Erwin Puts wrote on the M10 a few days ago and much agree with what he observes and thought of this new Leica M camera. His very considered approach to equipment is one of many should take note of …
In particular, it was uplifting to see him quote from the late Geoffrey Crawley’s review in the BJP of the then recently introduced M4-P – “the writer has no hesitation in recommending it (the M4-P) as a draught of pure spring water in in a Pepsi-Cola world”
On the subject of quotations and in the light of today’s judgement from the Supreme Court [and as a Scot] I feel obliged to offer the following from P. G Woodhouse – "It is never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine."