Two Years with Leica M10-D 。Less is More。Digital Body Analog Soul
Part 1 M10-D Unbox
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Less is More
I have been using the Leica M10-D for more than two years, and although I have not taken too many shots, I can share some long-lasting and straightforward experiences with it.
I got the Leica M10-D mostly because I agree with the concept of “Less is More” and wanted a more straightforward digital-film camera. For me, the main selling point of the Leica M digital camera is its Rangefinder-focus operation, which allows me to capture what I see by simply adjusting ISO, aperture, shutter and pressing the shutter.
Leica is probably the only company on the market with the guts to make some very niche, high-end cameras. The M10-D can consider a “hard and soft” camera, forcing you to focus on photography and let go of any unnecessary operations or thoughts.
“Less is More” at the software level
If hiding the LCD on the back of the camera makes you concentrate on shooting, the Leica M10-D is more ruthless and determined to make you focus on shooting. Intentionally/unintentionally/directly/indirectly, the Leica allows you to let go of any digital camera feeling and concentrate on the original aperture and shutter.
When the M10-D first advertised, it emphasised the ability to change camera settings via the mobile Leica Fotos App, which I expected to be an excellent option, but I forgot that Leica is a camera company that you have to follow. I didn’t realise that the Fotos App only has a minimal number of simple settings and not many options to choose from. For most M10-D users, there is no need to go back into the apps after simply setting up the M10-D in the Fotos APP. It still takes about 30 seconds to a minute to connect to the phone, and the speed of transferring photos is not as fast as it should be, so it is better to buy an external sd card reader. However, I believe that “if the controls are inhumane and there are many bugs, this design should be MIG. If the controls are straightforward and user-friendly, this could be MIJ”.
On the M10-D, there is nothing to set, just the original iso, ev, aperture and shutter values, and then focus and shoot. After shooting, I didn’t use the Fotos App to look back at the photos while sitting in the restaurant because the operation was so slow that I gave up on the digital settings. If I don’t go home to review the photos immediately, I sometimes experience that it takes me a week or two to look back at the images as if they were negatives XD
“Less is More” in Hardware Level
Leica also forces you to give up digital convenience in terms of hardware. The few buttons on the camera are just decorative, plus the EVF is not convenient in terms of usability and operation. In the end, you are also forced to give up the digital processes, intentionally or not, and shoot with the most primitive aperture shutter.
“Less is More” on the lens
As the M10-D cannot manually adjust to “6-bit code”, my primary lens is only two or three lenses, and as the M10 Processor is too apparent, I don’t need to try out any old lenses. I can use two or three new lenses, and that’s enough. I can say that the M10 Processor has helped me to let go of my lens-testing mentality and concentrate on shooting XD
A few thoughts on the body
There is still some room for improvement on the M10D body:
Actual Photos
I like to use the Leica 35/1.4 11874 with the M10D, the contrast is a little lower and it’s closer to the negative’s age
The Leica 28/2 ASPH v1 is also a wide-angle lens that I bought for a lightweight 6-bit code. There is no need to buy a 28/2 ASPH v2 with all Sharp lenses on all sides for a 24mp body. Instead, the 28/2 ASPH v1 is a little more interesting.
Cha Kwo Ling is one of the places where I have left a lot of foot hair and this is one of the places where I will continue to shoot. I think the Leica Summilux 28/F1.4 is a good choice for this kind of spa area.
The Leica Super-Elmar-M 21mm f/3.4 ASPH is also a lens I’ve used sparingly in the past, but it works well with the M10-D, so maybe I can use it a bit more in the coming year to see if I can get more street shots.
About post-processing
The M10D RAW is still too much like the M10, and the M10 processor is stronger than the lens. Therefore, in terms of post-processing, I tend to reduce the M10 flavour, reduce the contrast slightly, and reduce the proportion of M10 black space. For the time being, I prefer to process the M10D on LR 9.0, where the sharpness can be reduced a little to make it feel more like a photo. With Capture One Pro 21, the colour performance of M10 DNG photos has been enhanced, which is also a joy for the author to learn to adapt to, as there is no best post-processing, only what suits my taste at the moment. The author feels that post-processing is necessary in the digital age or that one’s own style can be more clearly expressed in the photos. I don’t really care what the Leica taste it anymore.
Conclusion.
I believe I will be using the M10D for a very long time, and I will have to wait for the M11p to be released at a price before replacing it with a digital M camera, probably around 2023–24. The M10D is also a very high level of completion for me. The improvements I was hoping for would only require Leica to modify the firmware and add some useful/essential features to the Foto Apps. I hope we don’t have to wait for the M11D / M12D to get the parts I expect X.D.
The M10-D does manage to consciously focus on the fundamentals of photographic philosophy and functionality. If you’re an experienced negative side camera enthusiast, the M10D can also be said to respond to the demands of a digital film camera. Taking the M10D for a walk on a sunny street corner to slow down, focus on shooting and get out and about is a real photographer’s delight.
Those who bought the M10D may have a “big love” for Leica/Parallel Axis, but more users may continue to use it even though they are complaining about it. Maybe the author’s love for Leica is not enough, and I need to buy a few more Leica lenses to add value to my faith X.D.
P.S. The M10D is close to full marks as a shirt appliance XD
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