How hot were the discussions about the coming LEICA M10! Some of us saw no more potential for rangefinder cameras, others wrote long wish lists to Leica with urgently wanted features.

Leica now presents not a LEICA M10 but:

The New LEICA M

• New CMOS 24 MP Sensor
• Live View for additional focusing methods – 10x zoom and focus peaking
• 1080p Full HD, video capability
• Accessories expanding the opportunities of rangefinder photography

One thing you’ll miss: No more number suffix for Leica M cameras thus no LEICA M10 or M11. Leica wants to “emphasise the enduring and long-term significance of the respective systems”. In order to distinguish single Leica models will have a type code of three digits deriving from the internal numbering. The now introduced LEICA M is “type 240″, the LEICA M-E is “type 220″.

The LEICA M in Detail:

CMOS Sensor

The new 24 MP, full 35 mm format CMOS sensor doesn’t come from one of the big manufacturers but was designed and constructed in collaboration with the Belgian company CMOSIS especially for the camera and its use with M and R lenses. Regarding to Leica the characteristic advantages of CCD sensors, such as colour rendition and impressive reproduction of details, were transferred to a CMOS sensor.

In combination with the high-performance, Leica Maestro processor that is also employed in Leica S cameras, this new, full format, sensor guarantees maximum imaging quality and speed

Live View And Live View Fokus

One of the biggest advantages of a CMOS sensor is its live view ability. Now you can assess your image on the camera’s 3-inch, monitor screen with 920,000 pixels.

Additionally to the classical range finder the LEICA M offers two additional focusing methods

• The new ‘Live View Zoom’ option enables up to 10 x magnification for precise focusing
• The second focusing aid is ‘Live View Focus Peaking’. Here, contours in the subject are automatically displayed as red lines to allow simple and convenient focus assessment.

Leica M Video

The LEICA M is the first Leica rangefinder camera with video capabilities – up to 25 fps in 1080p in MOV and Motion JPEG. Sound is recorded via an internal mono microphone or an external stereo microphone adapter. The level can be adjusted automatically or manually while recording.

Leica M: Finally the “adequate solution for Leica R photographers”

Three years ago Leica’s Stefan Daniel promised a Leica camera allowing to use Leica R lenses digitally in full format.

The LEICA M now finally fulfills this promise. With the new LEICA R adapter almost all Leica R lenses ever built can be mounted. The camera menu offers profiles for more than 20 R lenses completely with an individual calibrated workflow and EXIF lens recognition.

Leica M As Studio Camera

More accessories allow to use the LEICA M as studio camera

The multifunctional handgrip-M has a dedicated SCA hot shoe, a socket for a remote power supply and a DIN/ISO X-sync socket for studio flash systems. An optional remote power unit (DC Adapter) is also available.

The Leica M can also be connected directly to a computer workstation via the handgrip’s integrated USB socket. This allows full remote control of the camera with the ‘Leica Image Shuttle’ software package and the transfer of image files directly to the computer by USB cable.

The Leica M Outdoor

This was also on the wish list of many photographers: Special rubber seals now protect the camera body against dust, spray and moisture. The top deck and the base plate of the Leica M are machined from solid brass blanks and the full-metal chassis is a completely self-contained diecast element manufactured from high-strength magnesium alloy.

The multifunctional handgrip-M mentioned above has an integrated GPS module. Thus users can save exposure location information in the EXIF image data.

LEICA EVF2 Visoflex Viewfinder

The high-resolution electronic Visoflex viewfinder Leica EVF2 has a resolution of 1.4 megapixels and a 90° swivel action for capturing images from unusual angles. It allows to use the LEICA M like a DSLR.

LEICA M – Summary

Leica claims the LEICA M “remains true to the legendary values of the M-System, while expanding the opportunities offered by rangefinder photography.” As far as we can judge it from the information available until now we can agree upon that: The new LEICA M and its accessories make the camera a great tool not only as reportage camera but also in the photo studio, for macro and tele photography.

The CMOS sensor with live view, the additional focusing methods, the EVF and the Leica R adapter make the LEICA M the long awaited option to use the outstanding quality of LEICA R lenses in digital full format.

And I’m really looking forward to LEICA M videos – full format, extremely fast lenses and the unobtrusive look of the camera will generate a video look of its own and completely new.