Almost 5 years after the last Leica M-Monochrom (Typ 246) was announced in 2015, Leica has ditched the “Typ” number, increased the resolution, and expanded the ISO range to unveil the new M10 Monochrom: a camera that promises “an unparalleled black-and-white photography experience.”
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The Monochrom has always been a niche camera for a niche audience, but if you want ultimate sharpness, dynamic range, and detail in your images, it’s a hard camera to beat… you just can’t shoot in color.
Now, with an increase in resolution, updated processor, and an expanded ISO range of 160-100,000, all of the cameras strengths just got stronger. Particularly notable is the new base ISO of 160, an impressive feat for a camera without a bayer filter. Combine that with a brand new 40MP sensor that was developed specifically for this camera, and you’ve got a black-and-white only digital rangefinder that can deliver even sharper images in a wider variety of shooting scenarios that its predecessors.
Below are images captured with the New M10;
Design-wise, the black-and-gray M10 Monochrome is rather understated, lacking the iconic Red Dot and opting for a black-on-black engraving for the actual model name on the top plate. It also benefits from some of the advancements found in the Leica M10-P, namely: the slimmer body, dedicated ISO dial, and “the quietest mechanical shutter of all Leica M rangefinders.”
There are also a few new additions, like the addition of touchscreen controls and built-in WiFi that lets you pair the new camera with Leica’s full-featured FOTOS 2.0 app. Video capabilities, on the other hand, have actually been remove. Here’s a close look at the M10 Monochrom, which according to Leica is its “stealthiest serial production camera yet”.
Which brings us to the least enjoyable part of any Leica announcement: the price. The Leica M10 Monochrom is available for $8,295 (body only), making it a little bit more expensive than its predecessors were at launch.
To learn more about the Leica M10 Monochrom, visit the Leica website here.
