Leica M10

The digital rebirth of the classic Leica M.

If you don't follow Leica M cameras closely, it might be hard to understand what the fuss over the M10 is about. But for those who do, the new camera represents a big step forward. There are other models in the Leica portfolio to take care of cutting-edge technical innovation, and the Leica M has a different role. here, Leica’s aim is to balance the long tradition of its M-series cameras with the needs of today’s photographers.

People buy Leica Ms because of what they are, and they don’t want things changed – so every new feature in the M10 is designed to make it better at what it already is, not to turn it into a different kind of camera. and for its £5,599 / $6,695 price tag, the Leica M10 caters to a very niche audience.

Given that Leica is committed to keeping the design and function unchanged, it’s perhaps no surprise to find the M10 looks – superficially – just like the Leica M, the M-P, and even the M9, launched eight years ago. It’s still a full frame range-finder camera with interchangeable lenses and a 24-megapixel sensor. But there are differences, and in the context of the Leica M range, they’re big ones.

First, there’s the size. digital Leica M cameras have always had a slightly fatter body than their older film counterparts. not any more. The M10 now has exactly the same dimensions as the film version, and even though the difference is just a few millimetres, you can feel it in the hand.