Leica M10 Monochrom – 41 MP in Black & White

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Leica today introduces the Leica M10 Monochrome, the third pure black & white M camera.

The new camera drops the Bayer structure of the sensor and thus the ability to record color information, thereby gaining resolution, sensitivity and dynamic range over the standard model. Most important difference to the Leica M10:

The sensor has a resolution of 41 MP! The elimination of the Bayer filter (which is required for color reproduction) further increases the resolution that can actually be used.

The Leica M10 Monochrome is available as of now from authorized Leica dealers for $8,295 / 8,200 €.

Jono Slack was able to test the camera thoroughly in advance, here you can find his experience report and sample pictures:

» Jono Slack: Field Report Leica M10 Monochrom

» Leica M10 Technical Data

Leica Camera Advances its Dedication to the Art of Black & White Photography with the Leica M10 Monochrom

The highly anticipated camera enters a new dimension of innovation in the world of monochrome photography

More about the Leica M10 Monochrom

• Leica M10 Monochrom
• Technical Data
• Leica M10 Monochrom Manual & Quickstart Guide
• Leica M10 Monochrom Sample Images
• Leica M10 Monochrom Reviews
• Leica M10 Monochrom Survey

January 17, 2020 Leica Camera continues to be a trailblazer in the world of black-and-white photography with the announcement of the new Leica M10 Monochrom. Photographers are now able explore their subjects in vivid tones of monochrome due to the omission of a color filter, resulting in an unparalleled black-and-white photography experience. The newly developed 40-megapixel true black-and-white sensor, new Wi-Fi capabilities and expanded ISO range make room for added creativity with light and contrast, bringing photographers back to the basics with the most up-to-date technology.

Black-and-white photography lends itself to establishing emotional connections between the photographer and subject matter being conveyed. With the absence of color, a photograph conveys intense, vulnerable and timeless messages that speak to the foundation of a scene without the distractions of color.

The ultra-high resolution black-and-white sensor of the M10 Monochrom delivers images with impeccable sharpness and unrivalled resolution of details in all lighting conditions. While reaching these new feats of resolving prowess, the new M10 Monochrom is even more versatile than its black-and-white forebears, with a broadened sensitivity range at both extremes, now achieving ISO 160 to ISO 100,000 - ensuring that its unmatched imaging strengths can be used in new avenues, from the brightest of days to uncovering light in the darkest of nights. Images captured at all ISO settings offer fine-grained rendition of details with a more analog look and feel than a typical color camera set to black-and-white mode. As is the case with all Leica M-Cameras, the new black-and-white sensor pairs perfectly with the full breadth of Leica M-Lenses, showcasing their contrast, resolution and rendition of the finest details. With this combination, photographers can rest assured that the exceptional quality of the monochrome images they capture holds true to the luminance of their subject.

Based on the Leica M10-P, the M10 Monochrom now benefits from a bevy of newfound abilities for the Monochrom line, including a slimmer body, dedicated ISO dial, touchscreen controls, the quietest mechanical shutter of all Leica M rangefinders - analog or digital - and built-in Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity to the Leica FOTOS app on iOS, iPadOS and Android. For the first time in the history of Leica M Monochrom cameras, users can utilize a mobile workflow that gives them direct access to authentic black-and-white images straight from the camera to their favored social media platform - no digital filters required. The FOTOS 2.0 app helps bring Leica users from the decisive moment of taking the picture to the creative moment of processing and sharing the finished photo as seamlessly as possible. This new freedom ensures no boundaries when it comes to capturing and sharing photographs with a Leica camera.

The design of the M10 Monochrom camera body is as loyal to the strict adherence to the black-and-white aesthetic as the image sensor that lives within it. The camera has no Leica red dot logo on the front and all of the usual bold red engravings found on most M cameras have been desaturated to a neutral gray, creating a sleek monochromatic contrast against its bright white engraved numbers. A subtle black-on-black logotype of Leica M10 Monochrom on the top plate gives the camera the most minimal branding to avoid distractions. The black-and-white design details combined with the newly blacked-out shutter button and lens release make the M10 Monochrom the stealthiest serial production camera yet from Leica, emphasizing its focus on blending into the heart of the action and capturing the decisive moment.

The M10 Monochrom is built to the highest quality standards expected of a Leica M camera, made almost entirely by hand through the passionate labor of experienced specialists in Wetzlar, Germany with the finest materials, ensuring it can bear even the toughest conditions of use in its stride. The new Leica M10 Monochrom promises to be a long-term companion that delivers an unparalleled experience and impeccable image quality, as timeless as the classical black-and-white photos it creates.

The Leica M10 Monochrom is available beginning today for $8,295 at Leica Stores, Boutiques and Dealers.

[Ko.Fe.]

 

Quote

 "ISO 160 to ISO 100,000 - ensuring that its unmatched..."

M10M is good camera without pathetic statements. Under 1K$ Canon RP has 102400 iso. 

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[SrMi]

4 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said:

 

M10M is good camera without pathetic statements. Under 1K$ Canon RP has 102400 iso. 

Canon RP ISO range is 100-40,000. ISO 102400 is extended, non-native ISO. I assume that M10M has 160-100,000 native ISO. 

[Ko.Fe.]

2 hours ago, SrMi said:

Canon RP ISO range is 100-40,000. ISO 102400 is extended, non-native ISO. I assume that M10M has 160-100,000 native ISO. 

I’m only native to M-Е and bunch of Canons.

From my POV,  Canon puts it on H just to not offend those who proclaim M9 only good at 640. While I’m Canon H iso user since 2010 and Leica M-E iso 2500 user since 2016.

Edited January 18, 2020 by Ko.Fe.

[dkmoore]

43 minutes ago, Ko.Fe. said:

I’m only native to M-Е and bunch of Canons.

From my POV,  Canon puts it on H just to not offend those who proclaim M9 only good at 640. While I’m Canon H iso user since 2010 and Leica M-E iso 2500 user since 2016.

Awesome! 

From my POV, you have made your point of view clear that you dislike modern Leica cameras so therefore you don't have to trash the newer cameras anymore.

But, do as you wish.

[Mr.Prime]

such nice images, simply blows me away. Even my old 6x6 Rolleiflex can’t keep up. This is MF in the palm of your hand!

[Ko.Fe.]

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11 hours ago, dkmoore said:

Awesome! 

From my POV, you have made your point of view clear that you dislike modern Leica cameras so therefore you don't have to trash the newer cameras anymore.

But, do as you wish.

 I was not saying anything bad about M10M here. Nothing bad at all. I was strictly commenting on dubious Leica statement, about "unmatched"   ISO 100000.

 I like Monochrome M9M. I meet in person one of the best Monochrome photographers and have his Monochrome pictures book with his personal autograph.

I have caught you twice on false assumptions about me. This thread and M9/M10 CC compassion thread. 

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[Herr Barnack]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/hands-on-review/hands-on-review-of-the-incredible-leica-m10-monochrom?utm_medium=Email 1781133&utm_campaign=NewAnnouncement&utm_source=Leica 200117&utm_content=Explora&utm_term=hands-on-review-of-the&encEmail=30423046384643363833393232353542454233463235424436463437363634453439313732364639383234304332423830354334343438434545324630384542

$8300 USD - another price tag for "practical" people to scoff at and more fuel for the raging inferno that burns within the Leica haters. 

I once read an article where Leica cameras & lenses described as passion products.  That statement rings true to my ear; they certainly have become one of my passions in this too short, too bland life.  Too bland only if we settle for bland and let it be that way. 

The fact is, the vast majority of people living on this planet have no understanding of the concept of passion.  I'm just happy and fortunate to not be one of them, even when I can't immediately afford every new camera and lens with which Leica rocks the photographic world, key word being immediately. 

Passion requires planning, effort, sacrifice and work.  It's just a matter of time till the FedEx guy hands me a box containing my new M 10 Monochrom. 😊 

JMHO/YMMV.  Don't shoot me, I'm just the piano player.

 

[Havamal]

With M 10 you can correct för chromatic aberration (fringing) in Lightroom. How does M 10 M handle chromatic aberration. Do I have to rely on APO lenses, to get undisturbed sharp edges?

[Ko.Fe.]

17 hours ago, SrMi said:

Canon RP ISO range is 100-40,000. ISO 102400 is extended, non-native ISO. I assume that M10M has 160-100,000 native ISO. 

https://www.ultrasomething.com/2020/...m10-monochrom/
 

Quote

new M10 Monochrom also allowing 50,000 and 100,000 options. I sometimes shot the new M10 Monochrom at ISO 25,000, and was perfectly satisfied. ISO 50,000 is usable if you don’t manhandle the image too truculently in post-processing, but at 100,000 there is simply too much banding for it to be your first choice should you wish to photograph infinite voids in deep space.

 

[SrMi]

12 minutes ago, Ko.Fe. said:

https://www.ultrasomething.com/2020/...m10-monochrom/

Thank you for the link. It has been posted in various forums and threads so that we have succeeded disabling poor guy's server: 508 Resource Limit Is Reached. Had read it before it stopped, a helpful article.

Sean Reid (subscription: reidreviews.com) has published an excellent article evaluating High ISO shots of a studio scene and comparing it with MM (246). He agrees that ISO 100,000 should not be your first choice, but I did not see banding, and it should be fine for smaller prints.

[Ko.Fe.]

8 minutes ago, SrMi said:

 

Thank you for the link. It has been posted in various forums and threads so that we have succeeded disabling poor guy's server: 508 Resource Limit Is Reached. Had read it before it stopped, a helpful article.

Sean Reid (subscription: reidreviews.com) has published an excellent article evaluating High ISO shots of a studio scene and comparing it with MM (246). He agrees that ISO 100,000 should not be your first choice, but I did not see banding, and it should be fine for smaller prints.

I'm the one who is always finding use for entire ISO range with any camera. But even with M10M ISO 100 000 doesn't seems to be within base (no issues) range, which tops at ISO 25 000 according to the article, field report in the link, quote. 

[John Black]

6 hours ago, Havamal said:

With M 10 you can correct för chromatic aberration (fringing) in Lightroom. How does M 10 M handle chromatic aberration. Do I have to rely on APO lenses, to get undisturbed sharp edges?

CA is not visible in monochrom and there's no way to correct for a lens' inherent CA performance in a raw editor because no color information was captured in the monochrome RAW.  Since most raw editors use de-saturation as means to mask color fringing, a monochrome raw is (arguably) inherently corrected.  

[Mr.Prime]

it will not correct the loss of sharpness / contrast though, so seems to me that an APO lens maximizes the raw capabilities of the mono sensor

[TLCLeicaM3]

Read many comments of complaint & consternation about this unique Leica camera.

Well I've used the first version/incarnation of the Monochrome 'series' and was very impressed.

I soon formed the opinion that if one brings a tripod (no excuses for any loss of resolution caused by 'handholding'), this camera can replace the

bulk & inconvenience of a 4x5 camera in the field. - The performance in every way is simply that stunning...

[Guest Nowhereman]

On the M10M replacing a 4x5 camera: perhaps in resolution but not gradation, particularly in the highlights. And there is also the facility of large format cameras providing for lateral adjustments and angular adjustments between film plane and lens plane.
________________________
Frog Leaping photobook

[gnuyork]

On 1/21/2020 at 4:55 PM, TLCLeicaM3 said:

Read many comments of complaint & consternation about this unique Leica camera.

Well I've used the first version/incarnation of the Monochrome 'series' and was very impressed.

I soon formed the opinion that if one brings a tripod (no excuses for any loss of resolution caused by 'handholding'), this camera can replace the

bulk & inconvenience of a 4x5 camera in the field. - The performance in every way is simply that stunning...

Wow, I've heard on several occasions the M10 Monochrome has "medium format tonality" which I haven't really seen in much of the examples so far, but 4x5?? Really?

[rivi1969]

On 1/22/2020 at 5:45 PM, gnuyork said:

Wow, I've heard on several occasions the M10 Monochrome has "medium format tonality" which I haven't really seen in much of the examples so far, but 4x5?? Really?

I think this comparison video is interesting, specially how similar the M10M files look to the Fuji XT3 ones. I mean, VERY close. 

I bet the guy claiming is like having a 4X5 camera has never seen a proper platinum print made with a large format BW neg. (Probably not even a 6x7).

Edited January 24, 2020 by rivi1969

[calijax]

Cool video. I chose the M10M in that blind test all but 1 image set. Some of the detail in those images is amazing.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[BerkMillers]

The only thing I can see from this video is, that there is only a marginal difference from a 12000€ combo to the Fuji X-T3.

The Fujis are exceptional good cameras with outstanding good glass and 10 times worth their money.