Leica M Monochrom Typ 246 Officially Announced

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The new Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) camera has been officially announced. It’s the “The next level of black-and-white photography”.

The new Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) is the first and only digital camera that captures a real black and white image, still or moving. Reduced to the essentials for true, authentic and direct black and white photography, the Leica M Monochrom offers unparalleled image performance, outstanding low light capabilities and rich details. Photographers who consciously employ the unique aesthetics of black-and-white photography to express their creativity can rely on the Leica M Monochrom as a modern tool. As the successor to the world’s first digital black-and-white camera, it offers the latest technologies to support creative visualisation in its archetypal form. For pictures of unequalled quality. For pictures with previously unimaginable sharpness, depth and clarity. A pioneer in every respect.

The Leica M Monochrom has a 24-megapixel resolution on a monochrom CMOS sensor similar to the Leica M, up to ISO 25,000 ISO, Full Visual Control with Live View, Full HD Video in Black and White, 2 GB Buffer Memory, Sapphire Crystal Glass. All current M accessories for the Leica M (Typ 240) can be used with the Leica M Monochrom. These accessories include finger loops, electronic view finder, ever-ready cases, flash and straps. In addition, R-lenses can be used on the Leica M Monochrom with the Leica M-Adapter-R.

 

Leica M Monochrom Typ 246 Overview

  • Available on May 7th, 2015
  • New 24MP Full-Frame B&W CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 320-25000, 3 fps with 2GB Buffer
  • Full HD 1080p Video at 24/25 fps
  • Leica MP body with 2GB buffer, sapphire glass
  • No Color Array or Low Pass Filter
  • Leica Maestro Image Processor
  • Rangefinder with Image Field Selector
  • 0.68x Optical Viewfinder Magnification
  • 3.0″ 921.6k-Dot LCD with Sapphire Glass
  • Only available in black, no silver version for now
  • Body made of high-strength magnesium alloy and solid brass top and base plates finished in black chrome
  • Live-view and focus peaking
  • Magnesium Alloy Body Construction
  • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Download
  • 3 new color filters introduced
  • 7,250€ price in EU/ $7,450 in the US
  • More details on Leica’s website
  • Sample images can be downloaded here.
  • The full technical specifications can be downloaded here

Pre-order options:

Press release
Leica Unveils Its New M Monochrom Camera, Taking Digital Black-and-White Photography to New Levels

Fresh Features Focus on Unsurpassed Imaging Performance, Rich Details, Peak Low-Light Capabilities, HD Video Capability and Live View Options

April 30, 2015 – Leica Camera introduces the new Leica M Monochrom (Type 246) today, the next step in its hugely successful digital black-and-white photography concept for the Leica M rangefinder camera system. The new Leica M Monochrom, the first and only digital camera to enable a real black and white image – still or moving – without image processing or filtering, will be available May 2015.

“With never-before-seen imaging performance, outstanding low-light capabilities, and richness of detail, the new Leica M Monochrom surpasses the high standards set by its predecessor,” said Roland Wolff, VP of Marketing and Corporate Retail for Leica. “At the same time, it keeps its primary aim sharply in focus: black-and-white images with top quality across the board.”

Thanks to its high-capacity 2GB-buffer memory and Leica Maestro processor, the new Leica M Monochrom captures sequences three times faster than its predecessor. The new processor also enables extremely fast display of the captured images in review mode, making the new Monochrom even more versatile.

The Leica M Monochrom follows the successful route taken by the Leica M and captures decisive moments with 24-megapixel resolution. The monochrome CMOS sensor produces exceptionally sharp pictures at all sensitivity settings up to ISO 25000. As the M Monochrom has no color filter array over the sensor, it requires no interpolation for the calculation of luminance values. The result is 100% sharper images with brilliance and detail contrast that far exceeds what color photography can do.

The new Leica M Monochrom can also capture high-quality full-HD video in black and white. The optional Leica microphone adapter set, comprising an adapter and a stereo microphone, ensures perfect sound. The high-resolution 3″ monitor with 921,600 pixels ensures that photographers have complete control of composition, exposure, focusing and depth of field.

Moreover, the camera now offers full visual control with its Live View function, which provides two focusing methods: the up to 10x magnification of Live View Zoom mode, enabling full control of the sharpness of details in the image on the monitor or the closest focusing distance; and Live View Focus Peaking mode, where sharply focused edges in the image are highlighted by colored lines.

Another advantage of the new CMOS sensor is that, in addition to the M-Lens portfolio, almost all lenses of the Leica R series can now be used with an optional adapter on the Leica M Monochrom to expand the creative capabilities of the Leica rangefinder system, as is also the case with the Leica M. Additionally, all equipment and accessories from the Leica M series are compatible with the new Leica M Monochrom.

Other new features include:

Nearly unbreakable sapphire crystal cover glass for the LCD monitor, treated with an anti-reflection protective coating to ensure precise assessment of images in any lighting situation.

A body manufactured from high-strength magnesium alloy, with a top- and baseplate made from solid brass blanks and finished in black chrome.

New yellow, orange and green filters, available in July.