Leica M User manual

129
LEICA M
Instructions

3

136
DESIGNATION OF PARTS
Figures in the front and rear cover pages
Front view
1. Lens release button
2. Eyes for carrying strap
3. Focusing button
4. Range finder viewing window
5. Brightness sensor1
6. Viewfinder viewing window
7. Self-timer LED
8. Bottom cover locking point
1Leica M lenses with viewfinder attachment cover the brightness sensor.
Information about functions with these and other lenses can be found in the
"Displays / In the viewfinder", p. 238, and "Leica M lenses, p. 147 sections.
Top view
9. Microphone
10. Fixed ring with
a. Index for range setting
b. Depth of field scale and
c. Red index button for changing lenses
11. Aperture setting ring
12. White index point for aperture setting
13. Lens hood
14. Focusing ring with
a. Recessed grip
15. Main switch with detent positions for
– OFF (camera turned off)
– S(single pictures)
– C(continuous pictures)
– (self-timer)
16. Shutter release with
a. Thread for cable release
17. Video shutter release
18. Time setting dial with detent positions for
– Afor automatic shutter speed control
– Shutter speeds 1/4000 - 8s (inc. intermediate values)
– B(long-time exposure)
– Flash sync speed (1/180s)
19. Flash unit shoe

137
Rear view
20. SET button
– For calling up the picture parameters menu
– For calling up sub-menus the menu system
– For applying settings/functions selected in sub-menus
21. MENU button for calling up and exiting the main menu and
sub-menus
22. ISO button for calling up the sensitivity setting
23. DELETE button for selecting the delete function
24. PLAY button
– For activating (continuous) review mode
– To return to full-screen display
25. LV button for turning live view mode on and off
26. Viewfinder window
27. Socket for external electronic viewfinder / microphone adapter1
(cover removed)
28. Brightness sensor for monitor
29. Setting dial
– For navigating in the menus
– For setting the selected menu options / functions
– For setting an exposure compensation value
– For enlarging/reducing pictures viewed
– For scrolling through the picture memory
30. Direction pad
– For navigating in the menus
– For setting the selected menu options / functions
– For scrolling through the picture memory
31. INFO button
– For displaying picture settings/data
– For displaying picture data during picture review
– For applying settings
32. Speaker
33. LED for indicating picture mode / recording data
34. Monitor
Bottom view
(with bottom cover fitted)
35. Locking toggle for bottom cover
36. Tripod thread A ¼, DIN 4503 (¼")
37. Bottom cover
(with bottom cover removed)
38. Socket for multifunction M hand grip 1
39. Memory card slot
40. Battery compartment
41. Battery locking slider
1 Available as accessory, see p. 226

130
FOREWORD
Dear Customer,
Leica would like to thank you for purchasing the Leica M and
congratulate you on your choice. With this unique digital view and
rangefinder camera, you have made an excellent choice.
We wish you a great deal of pleasure and success using your new
Leica M.
In order to make best use of all the opportunities offered by this high
performance camera, we recommend that you first read these
instructions.
Notes:
tLeica is constantly working on developing and optimizing the Leica M.
As many functions on digital cameras are controlled by software,
improvements and extensions to the range of functions may need
to be installed on the camera at a later date. To do this, Leica
releases what are known as firmware updates at irregular intervals.
The cameras always have the latest firmware version when
shipped, and you can also download it easily from our home page
and install it on your camera.
If you register as an owner on the Leica Camera home page, you
will receive a newsletter informing you when a new firmware
update is available.
Further information on registration and firmware updates for your
Leica M, as well as any amendments and additions to the details
provided in the manual, can be found in the "Owners' Login" area
at: https://owners.leica-camera.com
You can tell whether your camera is running the latest firmware
version by selecting Firmware in the main menu (page 5, SETUP ,
see p. 154, 246).
tBefore using your Leica M for the first time, please check that the
accessories supplied are complete.

131
This is a Class B product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control
Council for Interference from Information Technology Equipment (VCCI).
If this is used near a radio or television receiver in a domestic environment, it
may cause radio interference. Install and use the equipment
according to the instruction manual.
FCC Note: (U. S. only)
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interfer ence in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off
and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
t3FPSJFOUPSSFMPDBUFUIFSFDFJWJOHBOUFOOB
t*ODSFBTFUIFTFQBSBUJPOCFUXFFOUIFFRVJQNFOUBOESFDFJWFS
t$POOFDUUIFFRVJQNFOUJOUPBOPVUMFUPOBDJSDVJU different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
t$POTVMUUIFEFBMFSPSBOFYQFSJFODFESBEJP57UFDIOJDJBOGPSIFMQ
FCC Caution:
To assure continued compliance, follow the attached installation instructions
and use only shielded interface cables with ferrite core when connecting to
computer or peripheral devices. Any changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate this equipment.
Trade Name: LEICA
Model No.: LEICA M (Typ 240)
Responsible party/
Support contact: Leica Camera Inc.
1 Pearl Count, Unit A
Allendale, New Jersey 07401
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003
LEICA M (Typ 240)
Tested To Comply
With FCC Standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE

132
CONTENTS
Foreword ...........................................................................................130
Warning messages ........................................................................... 134
Legal information .............................................................................. 134
Disposal of electrical and electronic equipment..................................135
Designation of parts...........................................................................136
Quick guide....................................................................................... 138
Detailed guide....................................................................................140
Preparations....................................................................................140
Attaching the carrying strap..........................................................140
Charging the battery.....................................................................141
Replacing the battery and memory card........................................144
Leica M lenses .............................................................................147
Attaching the lens .....................................................................149
Detaching the lens ....................................................................149
The most important settings / controls ..........................................150
Turning the camera on and off......................................................150
The shutter release.......................................................................151
Serial exposures ........................................................................152
Shutter speed dial ........................................................................153
Menu control................................................................................154
Presets ..............................................................................................158
Basic camera settings .....................................................................158
Menu language.............................................................................158
Date and time...............................................................................158
Automatic power off.....................................................................160
Signal tones .................................................................................161
Basic picture settings......................................................................162
Turninglens type identification on and off......................................162
Compression rate/file format .......................................................163
Resolution....................................................................................163
White balance...............................................................................165
ISO sensitivity...............................................................................167
Picture properties / Contrast, sharpness, color saturation ...........169
Film styles................................................................................... 170
Working color space.....................................................................170
Bright line view and range finder ...................................................171
The monitor..................................................................................173
Live view mode ............................................................................174

133
Range measurement.....................................................................175
With the optical range finder .....................................................175
With the monitor in live view mode ............................................177
By identifying in focus subject details in the monitor ..................178
Turning the exposure meter on/off...............................................179
Exposure metering methods ........................................................180
Exposure modes...........................................................................182
Aperture priority ........................................................................182
Exposure lock .........................................................................183
Exposure compensation..........................................................184
Automatic bracketing.................................................................186
Manual exposure setting............................................................188
The B setting / The T function ...................................................188
Values above and below the metering range .................................189
Flash mode ..................................................................................190
Additional functions.........................................................................196
Video clips ...................................................................................196
Sound recording...........................................................................197
Taking photographs with the self-timer..........................................198
Marking image files for copyright protection .................................198
Recording the shooting location using GPS ...................................198
Spirit level ...................................................................................201
User / application specific profiles ..............................................201
Resetting all custom settings........................................................203
Review mode...................................................................................204
Additional functions.........................................................................216
Folder management......................................................................216
Formatting the memory card.........................................................218
Transferring data to a computer....................................................219
Adobe®Photoshop®Lightroom®..................................................222
Leica Image Shuttle®...................................................................222
Working with DNG raw data ..........................................................222
Installing firmware updates ...........................................................223
Miscellaneous ...................................................................................224
Leica M system accessories............................................................224
Spare parts .....................................................................................227
Safety and care instructions...............................................................228
General precautionary measures .....................................................228
Care instructions.............................................................................230
Cleaning the sensor / dust detection ..............................................234
Storage...........................................................................................236
Malfunctions and their resolution .......................................................236
Appendix ...........................................................................................238
Displays ..........................................................................................238
Menu options..................................................................................246
Index .................................................................................................248
Technical data .................................................................................. 250
Leica addresses ................................................................................254