Psst! Wanna Cheap Digital Leica M?
OK, well still not especially cheap, but a whole lot more affordable than previously. Leica’s new M-E digital rangefinder camera is a repackaging of the Typ 240 M model and replaces the older-generation Typ 220 M-E. Consequently, the new M-E has a full-35mm format CMOS sensor with an effective resolution of 24 megapixels and a sensitivity range equivalent to ISO 200 to 6400 (extendable down to ISO 100). It has a 2.0 GB buffer memory with a maximum continuous shooting speed of 3.0 fps.
You still get the classic Made-In-Germany Leica M build-quality with magnesium alloy bodyshell that’s sealed against the intrusion of dust and moisture. The top deck and the baseplate are made from brass and finished in an anthracite-gray lacquer that Leica says was specially developed for the new M-E. The body-wrap inserts are real leather too. You also get the traditional optical viewfinder with a magnification of 0.68x, automatic brightline frame selection and automatic parallax correction.
Unlike some of Leica’s digital M models, the new M-E can record video, but only in the Full HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and at 30, 25 or 24 fps. The built-in microphone is mono, but there’s a standard 3.5 mm stereo audio input. The monitor screen is a 7.62 cm LCD panel with a resolution of 921,600 dots with a toughened ‘Gorilla Glass’ faceplate. Focusing is, of course, manual and the exposure control options are either manual or aperture-priority automatic. The shutter speed range is 60-1/4000 second with flash sync up to 1/180 second. Other features include up to +/-3.0 EV compensation, a dual-delay self-timer and manual colour temperature setting for white balance control (plus auto correction and seven lighting presets).
However, the big news is that the M-E (Typ 240) is priced at $6500 for the body only, compared to $10,300 for the M10 or $8300 for the Typ 262 model M. This makes it the cheapest digital M to date and provides some food for thought if for, example, you were considering the Leica Q2 at $7700. Of course, the Q2 has a fixed 28mm f1.7 lens and a 47.3 MP effective resolution (plus it can record 4K video), but still, if you started off with one of the very capable Cosina-made Voigtländer M mount lenses (shhh, don’t tell anybody), the M-E 240 body gains you comparatively affordable entry to a legendary rangefinder camera system that delivers a unique photography experience. Worth considering.
Leica products are distributed locally by Leica Camera Australia and for more information visit https://au.leica-camera.com