Is there anybody else out there who is just a little bit disappointed that the new M weighs more than the outgoing M9?
The Leica old-timers used to lament that the the M9 (and the M8 before that) weighed more than the preceding film M cameras, and disapproved of the general pudginess of these digital reincarnations of the legendary film classics (if you think they were/are being picky, try holding the iconic M3 in your hands, and you’ll quickly concede the point).
It is ironic that in an era when DSLRs are being dropped en masse for smaller and lighter mirrorless cameras, the M — which has always run counter-current to the “bigger is better” mindset of the SLR world— is getting, well… fatter and heavier.
(Have you seen the new M decked out with all of the accessories? It’s sort of umm… un-Leica M-like.)
In future M models, I hope advances in technology are harnessed to reduce the size and weight of the body (I also hope that emphasis is placed on simplicity, i.e., reducing buttons and menu items, and that they stick with manual focus lenses — but that’s another story).
As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to the M system, less is more.
—Peter.
Prosophos 
Yes. It would be wonderful to see the M Typ 242 be the same size as my M4-2. 🙂
🙂
Looking for M9
i couldn’t agree with you more. i’m very happy with my m3 and m9-p. i’m at peace with my wonderful cameras. feels good.
Nice selection Bijan, although I know you have at least one more: the D800! By the way, your images are beautiful.
I prefer the M9-P to anything but sometimes the D800 is a fun one too.
Thx for the kind words.
I prefer the viewfinder/rangefinder and the shutter release of my M3 to my 0.85 M6. I’ve been leary of the digital M iterations out of concern over the shrunken effective rangefinder base and shutter lag, a subject which provokes more heat than light. And, to top it all off, they keep getting bigger and heavier and more expensive. And my cell phone has an 8mp camera in it so small, it had to have built by nanobots.
The M3 is still the gold standard, no doubt about it.
Hope new Ms wouldn’t go fatter like I’m doing…
I have the same problem as you Luiz!
I agree Peter that it will be nice when they can shrink the “M” down but in all honesty I really don’t notice a difference between the new M and the M9 but then again I use my Noctilux and 90mm summicron a lot and they already weigh-down the camera.
gage
Hi Gage, those two lenses, indeed, probably balance well on the heavier M.
The other day, however, I was out with the M9 and the little 28/2.8 and thought that, after carrying them all day, it would be nice if the body was a little lighter.
I don’t expect Leica to ever get the weight and size down to film M cameras, but it would be nice if each successive model doesn’t gain more with respect to each parameter.
There’s a humorous golf poster that portrays a golfer wearing about every golf training gizmo you could wear at one time. That’s the image that comes to my mind when I think of all the different options that are put in today’s cameras. I’m sure the new M is a fantastic piece of gear but the additional features have added some weight.
I do hope to see one next week as I’m going to the new Leica Miami store grand opening ceremony.
Thanks Duane, and good luck next week!