Allendale, NJ—Leica Camera introduced the Leica M Monochrom (type 246) digital rangefinder camera as the next step in its digital black-and-white photography concept for the Leica M rangefinder system. The company claims the Leica M Monochrom is “the first and only digital camera to enable a real black-and-white image—still or moving—without image processing or filtering.”
Thanks to its high-capacity 2GB-buffer memory and Leica Maestro processor, the M Monochrom captures sequences three times faster than its predecessor. The new processor also enables fast display of the captured images in review mode.
“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, Marketing and Corporate Retail, Leica. “At the same time, it keeps its primary aim sharply in focus: black-and-white images with top quality across the board.”
The camera employs a 24 megapixel monochrome CMOS sensor capable of sensitivity settings from ISO 320 to ISO 25,000. 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 said to be “100% sharper images with brilliance and detail contrast that far exceeds what color photography can do.” It also provides JPEG + RAW shooting.
Sporting an antireflective, 3-inch, 921,600-pixel monitor with an unbreakable sapphire crystal cover glass, the M Monochrom records Full HD video in black and white. An optional Leica microphone adapter set comprises an adapter and a stereo microphone.
The camera also offers full visual control with its live view function, which provides two focusing options: up to 10x magnification in live view zoom mode, which enables 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.
In addition to the M-lens portfolio, the M Monochrom will work with almost all lenses of the Leica R series when used with an optional adapter. Additionally, all equipment and accessories from the Leica M series are compatible with the new Leica M Monochrom.
Constructed of magnesium alloy with a top- and baseplate made from solid brass blanks and finished in black chrome, the Leica M Monochrom will come with a free downloadable copy of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. MSRP: $7,450. us.leica-camera.com
