Leica M (Type 240) for the Next Generation
Photography

Leica M (Type 240) for the Next Generation

By dr.kol · Oct 20, 2013 · 26 replies
dr.kol
WPS member · Patek Philippe forum
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Dr.kol shares his journey into building a high-end photography system around the Leica M (Type 240) camera, inspired by the impending arrival of his fourth daughter. His post highlights the meticulous research and investment in top-tier Leica lenses, drawing parallels between the pursuit of horological excellence and photographic artistry. This offers a unique perspective on collecting and appreciating fine craftsmanship beyond watches.


Now we know it for sure: the next representative of our next generation will be a baby-girl. So after the birth, I will have an impressive track record: Girl in 1995, Girl in 1996, Girl in 1999 and a Girl in the beginning of 2014. Added with our two petch: bitch Brittany in 2007 and bitch St. Bernard in 2012. I will feel like a Chicken Farmer!

My dear wife Darja is very interested in watches but the three teen-aged girls have other interests and hobbies. The dogs are mostly interested in creating a total mess.

My three older daughters are often claiming that there are not enough photographs of their early years. With the next one I decided that I will correct this and started to look for a good camera. Not just one for the standard watch pictures but something I could use for artistic pictures and get also the very highest quality. Something that would be in par with the watches "for the next generation". (I have been an active and dedicated photographer some 30 years ago)

So I decided to have a closer look at Leica. The past couple of years I have been using Leica D-Lux for my point-and-shoot and I have been very happy with that. In 2013 Leica was elected as #1 Luxury Brand in Germany, in front of brands like Lange & Soehne, Porsche and BMW. This made a Patek-Man interested.

Last autumn Leica announced a new digital system camera, Leica M (Type 240) and it was soon elected as "Best Professional Camera in 2013". The specifications are impressive and so is the price: Some of the main features are:

- A range finder camera with Live View
- 24 MB and full frame sensor
- Made in Germany
- First Leica system camera that is weather sealed
- An impressive amount of accessories

So I decided very rapidly that I would build my photography system around a Leica M frame and buy the very best lenses money can buy.

I started to study the lenses and wanted to find just the very best. My lenses had to be razor sharp, have great contrast and the should be very fast. Naturally, the prices of top Leica lenses are insane: in general triple compared i.e. with Zeiss and much more compared with lesser but still great brands like Voigtlander. But I am a "Patek Man" and only the very best is good enough!

I thought about focal lengths and in the end it was easy: I needed a "normal" lens, typically 50 mm. Then a short tele for portraits and a normal choice is 90 mm. Finally also a wide angle for interior pictures and sceneries; my choice was 28 mm.

It is often said that "clever money invest in lenses". Leica's lenses are probably the best money can buy and when I started to study different lenses, I learned that Leica's lenses are very Patek-like: no rebates, waiting times, but the modern lenses hold their value much better than a standard Patek Philippe watch.

It's clear without saying that the prices of the best lenses are insane but I decided to go on knowing that Leica is using around 100 different types of glass, the lenses are hand made, the housings are made of metal, a standard lens is a perfect piece of micro-engineering with in average 100 parts. The mounts are made of brass and the aperture blades are perfectly made and normally deliver wonderful sunstars.

I ended buying three new Leica lenses:

Leica Summicron-M 28 mm f/2.0 ASPH

A well known authority Ken Rockwell is saying:
"This Leica 28 mm f/2 is the world's highest performing 28 mm lens. The Leica 28 mm f/2 ASPH is the world's sharpest 28 mm lens, but not by far. The Leica 28 mm f/2 ASPH is made exactly like every other Leica M lens, which is superbly. In any case this lens is made to last far beyond of any of our life times."

 

 





Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH

According to Ken Rockwell:

"It is a remarkable lens, being the world's only aspherical 50/1.4 with floating elements. This Summilux-M ASPH has the best bokeh of any Leica lens and it is Leica's best 50 mm f/1.4 ever."







Leica APO-Summicron-M 90 mm f/2.0 ASPH

Rockwell:

"It is the highest performance medium tele lens I've ever used. In fact, I've never used any lens with higher performance, regardless of focal length. The Leica 90 mm f/2 ASPH is the world's sharpest 90 mm lens, but not by far. Leica APO-Summicron-M 90 mm f/2 ASPH is the best telephoto lens ever made."





I bought the whole package!

The first test I made a week ago was to mount the tele lens and see what kind of portraits I could take with the camera. I wanted to see if I could catch the soft smile of my pregnant wife. She looks nowadays very different than earlier...

Here is my first picture and it was taken hand held with 90 mm Summicron-M f/2 @ f/2 & 1/45 sec.







But then came the big BUT. I appreciate Leica a lot but the price. The watch story starts:

Am I totally nuts spending such a huge amount of money for a camera system? Even the camera is a hand made Leica, made in Germany, and it should be best of the best.

I bought the camera and lenses from an authorized dealer in London and if I would have walked to New Bond Street I could have nearly bought a top brand watch. I should have added just one hundred and thirty Pounds Sterling (130 GBP), and I could have bought a watch with:

- Patek's bread-and-butter automatic movement
- Nearly as accurate as a basic Rolex movement and with the same complication (date) less hacking seconds
- I could have bought the watch with an exclusive rubber bracelet

 





Naturally, in photography a camera bag is needed and Leica has a nice Leica - Billington bag made in Great Britain. Then some Leica filters and a German made Leica flash. An Electronic View Finder would also be nice, because it turns a range finder camera in par with normal system camera but half the weight. However, the accessories are costing a crazy amount of money!

 





This small amount of Leica gear is costing   n e a r l y    h a l f    of the following fantastic Patek Philippe accessory for ref. 5167 Aquanaut. Is Leica crazy with their prices?







Watches and photography are both dear to me. I am a lucky man: I bought some years ago my 5167 and a bracelet for the same. So I did not have to make the choice. A Leica system is crazily expensive but could it be that:

Patek Philippe is the Leica of watches and Leica is the Patek Philippe of the cameras.

At least they cost the same...

Food for thoughts.

Kari

About the Patek Philippe Complications Ref. 130

The Patek Philippe Reference 130 is a significant chronograph model, notable for its classic design and the various configurations in which it was produced. While many examples feature a standard chronograph layout, specific iterations, such as those with split-seconds functionality, represent a higher echelon of horological complexity within the reference. The model is recognized for its balanced proportions and the legibility of its dial, making it a favored choice among collectors seeking vintage Patek Philippe chronographs.

This particular example of the Reference 130 is distinguished by its yellow gold case, measuring 33mm in diameter. It houses a manual-winding movement, typical for chronographs of its era, and is fitted with a crystal, likely acrylic or sapphire depending on the specific production period and any subsequent servicing. The case construction and movement finishing adhere to Patek Philippe's high standards for precision and durability.

Collector interest in the Reference 130 is driven by its historical importance as an early chronograph from the brand and the rarity of certain dial and complication variations. The presence of unique characteristics, such as Breguet numerals, specific dial signatures, or the absence of a tachymeter scale, can significantly influence its appeal. The reference appeals to those who appreciate the foundational designs of Patek Philippe's chronograph lineage.

Specifications

Caliber
13'''
Case
Yellow gold
Diameter
33mm
Dial
Silver
Water Resist.
30m
Crystal
Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

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The Discussion
AR
Ares501 - Mr Green
Oct 20, 2013

Kari no doubt about it but I would be cautious about Ken Rockwell he is considered as Chuck Norris of Photography :) Best and congrats on many counts and levels Damjan who is also expecting ;)

DR
dr.kol
Oct 20, 2013

Do you mean Aquanaut? Ken Rockwell just happened to jump into my eyes like many others. As a high school boy I was selling cameras in a shop all afternoons and Saturdays. Already then, 40 years ago, Leica was on its own class. Best, Kari

AB
abe
Oct 20, 2013

I have been a Leica user / nut for over 15 years now; and I can tell you that Leica makes the absolute BEST lenses in the world; PERIOD. Its a completely different style of photography which is not easy to get used to; there is no auto-focus and most of the other bells and whistles associated with other DSLR systems are not there. The range of accessories is ok but no as extensive as other systems like Canon and Nikon. Leica was slow to get into the digital realm, but has made major strides in t

WH
whit
Oct 20, 2013

although mine has been using the old fashioned stuff ... film. There are many legendary Leica lenses with followers of different opinions of which is best. I have found a number of lenses to be more pleasing to my eye than the top rated lenses but looks like you have gotten some great ones. Your photographs demonstrate Leica at its best. In a small format system, it's hard to find fault until you get into large format, then you find hardly anything compares. Look at an 8 x 10 transparency and an

DJ
Dje
Oct 20, 2013

Superb choice Kari, I do hope to be able to complete my M6 TTL and Summicron 2/35 ASPH by stuff like yours someday. Leica is a different world that has necer deceived me. Best Dje

DR
dr.kol
Oct 20, 2013

I have just bought 35/1.4 FLE. I also found NOS Elmar-M 50/2.8 in chrome and got it coded. From the same Leica dealer I found a new R 80-200/4 with full Leica guarantee. Now I am just waiting for the R to M adapter. The new 240 is a different ball game than earlier models. It's at the same time a traditional RF camera but the EVF turns it to a camera suitable also for macro, tele and wide angles without any other additional parts. Best, Kari

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