Lens Review, Camera ReviewMorten ByskovAugust 09, 2023Leica M10, Leica M10 First Impression, Leica M10 in 2023, From Fujifilm to Leica M, Fujifilm X-Pro3 vs. Leica M10, Leica M rangefinder focusing4 Comments

Leica M10 - First Impressions

Morten Byskov reviewing a Leica M10 and Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH Summilux 35mm f/1.4 — Yours truly in the field testing the Leica M10 and Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH
Photo by Kyle @secondteamkyle

A Morning Fling With the Leica M10

First Impressions of the Leica M10 in 2023

Since 2012 I have owned and extensively used the Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-Pro2, and X-Pro3 cameras and while these are not categorized as true range finder cameras they are reminiscent of and seek inspiration from the Leica M system.

My exposure to Leica M cameras has been very minimal and limited to picking up a friend’s camera for a brief moment or fleetingly trying one at a Leica dealer.

Throughout my time with Fujifilm X Series cameras, I have often wondered what it would be like to use an M series camera from Leica and I am sure other other Fujifilm photographers have pondered the same. So let’s get into it and see if it lived up to expectations.

Kyle @secondteamkyle with is Fujifilm GFX 50S and Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 — Thanks to Kyle for letting me try his Leica M10

Thanks, Kyle

First of all, thanks to Kyle @secondteamkyle for letting me use his Leica M10 and Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH and for joining me for a photo walk in Vancouver on a gorgeous summer morning.

This was the exact opportunity I had hoped for. To try out a Leica M for street photography and to have someone show me the ropes and help me make the process a bit easier.

Coming from a camera with an EVF and with autofocus capabilities and going to a camera with a rangefinder viewfinder and manual focus comes with a few challenges but it was not as hard as I had feared.

A classic red Cadillac parked outside Revolver Coffee in Vancouver. Leica M10, Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 @ f/1.4

Rangefinder Focusing

For someone who is completely new to rangefinder cameras, it is definitely a throwback to look right through the viewfinder and then try to match the overlapping squares until the lens is in focus. Leica has used this method for nearly seventy years and still uses it to this day.

So why is this appealing? For one, it gives a completely clear view of your topic, you can see what is outside the frame lines, and you are not at the grace of the quality of an electronic viewfinder which can vary tremendously in quality.

Secondly, the focus tab on the lens gives you a rough idea of where you want to place it depending on the distance to your topic.

It took my few tries to get it right but my keeper rate was very high and I was happy with this progress considering I only used the M10 for a couple of hours.

Morten Byskov, camera reviews at 5050 Travelog, in the field testing a Leica M10 and Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. — Testing a Silver Leica M10 and Summiux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. Notice how my index finger is adjusting the focus tab on the lens. Manual focus only with Leica M cameras.
Photo by: Kyle @secondteamkyle

An EVF, however, has several advantages also. It gives you a preview of your exposure, will show you the exact framing of your photo, and is also easier to use a with wider range of focal lengths. An EVF can also show a plethora of information if you so desire.

Fujifilm offers both options on their X-Pro cameras and X100 cameras, hybrid EVF, and optical viewfinder.

The Fujifilm implementation is not that of a mechanical rangefinder system. Instead, you get digital frame lines depending on your focal length and alternate focus points correction for parallax correction.

A lever on the front of the camera lets to switch from an optical to an electronic viewfinder.

Two men outside Waterfront Station in Vancouver. Sample image from a Leica M10 and Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. — Waterfront Station, Vancouver. Leica M10, Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 @ f/6.8

Build Quality

The Leica M10 weighs 23 oz, 660 g, including a battery. In comparison, a Fujifilm X-Pro3 is 17.3 oz, 497 g, and the GFX 50R that I have been using a lot lately is 27.2 oz or 772 g, putting the M10 almost squarely in the middle.

Looking at the build quality, the M10 feels like the most solid and dense of these three cameras. The shutter sound is near perfect followed closely by the X-Pro3 but this, of course, is subjective.

Although my time with the Leica M10 was brief I left with the impression that it is a very well-built and beautifully designed camera.

Morten Byskov, 5050 Travelog, trying out a Leica M10 for the first time. — Street photography with the Leica M10
Photo by: Kyle @secondteamkyle

Image Quality

Leica is well known for creating a nice color output and the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH is arguably one of the nicest 35mm options on the market.

As the M10 is from 2017 and perhaps somewhat limited by only having 24-megapixels one could fear that it wouldn’t keep up to current camera models with a higher megapixel count.

Image quality from the M10 and Summilux combo did, however, not disappoint and I will admit I see what the Leica praise is about. Images came out vibrant with a very pleasing tonality aided in big parts, I believe, from the 35mm Summilux lens.

I have had my eye on this 35mm Summilux for quite some time and the way it renders an image across the frame and at various distances with beautiful bokeh is admirable.

It is leaps and bounds better than other full-frame cameras with comparable optics. Perhaps not but the overall image quality from the M10 is undeniably wonderful and comes in a relatively small package.

Morten Byskov, street photography in Vancouver with the Leica M10. — Street photography in Vancouver with the Leica M10
Photo by: Kyle @secondteamkyle

Price of Entry

While the Leica M10 can be found used on my buy-and-sell forum for around $4,000.00, the new Leica M11 retails for $8,995.00. The M11 in fairness is a different camera altogether and I would love to try it one day.

The latest version of the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH is $5,495.00. Depending on which version you go for, used prices will vary but I spotted a few around $3,000.00.

A jogger in downtown Vancouver. Sample image from a Fujifilm X-Pro3 to compare with the Leica M10 — For comparison here is a photo made with the Fujifilm X-Pro3 and XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR

As a Fujifilm shooter, the closest comparison in the Fuji camp would be an X-Pro3, $1,799.00, combined with the XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR, $899.00 but buyers be aware, I am not comparing apples to apples as these two cameras operate quite differently and with different size sensors.

The Leica M10 has a full-frame sensor whereas the X-Pro3 features a 26.1 megapixels APS-C format X-Trans IV sensor. The specs vary tremendously but they appear similar when it comes to design philosophy and aesthetics.

In Summary

It was wonderful to finally try out a Leica M camera and although the experience with the Leica M10 was brief, it has left me even more curious than I was before. I find the combination of a rugged camera body and the back-to-basics approach quite appealing.

A man waits at a bus stop along Granville Street in Vancouver. Sample image from a Leica M10 and Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. — Granville Street, Vancouver, Leica M10, Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 @ f/2.4

In many ways, it reminds me of using my X-Pro cameras and yet it is vastly different.

When I started this article I never intended it to be a Fujifilm X-Pro versus Leica M comparison but as I moved toward my conclusion it dawned on me how well the two could complement each other instead of viewing them as one versus the other.

The Leica M10 could cover classic focal lengths such as 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm, and will render pleasing full-frame images where autofocus perhaps is less crucial. At these focal lengths, you can also use zone focusing efficiently, especially for wide-angle lenses.

For other focal lengths and for situations where you need autofocus or where an EVF comes in handy, any of the Fujifilm X-Pro cameras would do a great job.

Morten Byskov, 5050 travelog, testing at Leica M10 for street photography in Vancouver — Street photography in Vancouver with the Leica M10
Photo by: Kyle @secondteamkyle

The older X-Pro1 camera still yields wonderful results whereas the newer X-Pro2 and X-Pro3 offer better functionality. I am looking forward to seeing what Fujifilm may have up its sleeve for a potential upcoming X-Pro4, maybe next month.

In the meantime, I will ponder and evaluate if I should give in to a lingering desire to add a Leica to my setup. The SL2-S is also messing with my sleep.

During our photo walk, we met Kyle’s friend, Terry, who gave me a piece of advice. When I told him I had borrowed Kyle’s M10 he suggested that I quickly give it back to him before I got bit by the Leica bug.

Again a huge thanks to Kyle for coming out for our Leica M10 photo walk.

Price / Availability

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