We take Leica's latest film camera, the M-A, and the latest digital, the M-D for some comparative snapping on the streets of London. Also: How does the new all-mechanical M-A stack up against the original M, the double-stroke M3? Mike and Adam find out.
A screenless digital camera with a handful of options, no menus. Madness or pure inspiration? Mike has been using his M-D, the first to arrive in the UK, for three months and has a good answer to these questions.
Is this the end for the Leica M-D or the beginning of a new M10-based version?
Chris Nicholls of The Camera Store in Calgary has tested the Leica M-D. Apart from wanting a dedicated exposure compensation dial, in-body stabilisation and a choice of exposure programs, he's pretty happy with the spartan warrior from Wetzlar.
A screenless digital camera with a handful of options, no menus. Madness or pure inspiration? Mike has been using his M-D, the first to arrive in the UK, for three months and has a good answer to these questions.
Despite many rumours, the sudden arrival of the Leica M-D in April was a surprise, especially for accessory manufacturers. Now we have an example of a British-made hand-crafted leather case specially tailored for the new camera.
Leica's new M-D started life with a handicap. Power-off was disabled and the battery just drained away if the power switch was left on by mistake. Today's firmware update solves all that without significant downside.
Adobe has added support for the Leica M-D in the latest versions of Lightroom and Creative Cloud.
Surely, many reasoned, without the screen and all those buttons it should have been possible to shave 4mm off the depth of the new screenless Leica M-D to bring it into line with the thickness of a typical Leica film camera.
The 50mm Zeiss Sonnar is a lens that attracts opinion, good or bad. It is the descendant of a venerable lens design, sans floating elements, the can charm and frustrate at the same time. Mike has been playing with one for the past two weeks. He has also been on the port.
What to do on a bank holiday Sunday? Take four exceptional cameras and lenses to Caffe Nero in Longacre and take it from there......
MACFILOS STAFF
Mike Evans, Editor
Jörg-Peter Rau
Keith James
Jon Cheffings
Richard Watts Webmaster
MACFILOS.COM
A non-profit organisation run by enthusiasts
Contact us: info@macfilos.com