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Leica Introduces New M Monochrom Rangefinder
30 April 2015
Leica has updated its black-and-white rangefinder lineup with the M Monochrom (Type 246) featuring a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, 3.0-inch 921k-dot LCD with sapphire glass, Live View, 1080p video capture, a high-capacity 1800 mAh battery and a 2-GB buffer.
"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, vice-president of marketing and corporate retail for Leica.
The M Monochrom captures only black-and-white stills and video, dispensing with the color filter array that is typically used to interpolate color on other digital cameras. Leica claims, "The result is 100 percent sharper images with brilliance and detail contrast that far exceeds what color photography can do."
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of the new M Monochrom include:
- 24-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
- No color filter array or low pass filter
- Magnesium alloy body with brass top and bottom plates
- ISO 320 to 25,000
- 2-GB buffer for 3 fps continuous captures, 30-image series
- Leica Maestro image processor
- Full HD 1080p video at 24/25 fps
- 3.0-inch monitor with 921,600 dots
- Sapphire crystal LCD cover
- SD/SDHC/SDXC card compatibile
- Live View with 10x magnification and focus peaking
The lens mount is the Leica M bayonet with an additional sensor for six-bit coding, accommodating lenses from 16mm to 135mm. In addition, the M Monochrom includes a Lightroom download.
See the Full Specifications PDF (271K).
IN ACTION
Leica sent Ragnar Axelsson on an 80-hour trip around Iceland with the M Monochrom:
PRICE, AVAILABILITY
The Leica M Monochrom (Type 246) will be available in May for $7,450. That's $500 less than the original Monochrom list price, which has been discounted to $7,200. B&H is now accepting pre-orders.
For more information see the news release below.
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
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.
"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, vice-president 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 2-GB 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 percent 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 3.0-inch 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.