Leica M-E (Typ 240) Digital Rangefinder Camera

The Leica M (Typ 240) is the camera that many a rangefinder photographer has been waiting for. It fixes many of the issues of previous models, but it doesn't come cheap.

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  Big, bright optical viewfinder., Large, high-contrast rangefinder focusing patch., Full-frame CMOS image sensor., Compact for a full-frame camera., Live view with focus peaking., Detailed images at every ISO., Impressive build quality., Sharp rear LCD., Resistant to dusts and splashes.

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  Very expensive., A little slow to start up., Manual focus only., 1080p video could be better., Odd auto ISO exposure issue.

The Leica M is a large and robust rangefinder camera with a magnesium-alloy chassis with top and bottom covers cut from brass blocks. All elements are carefully sealed against dust and moisture and overall offers the handling, feel, and touch one has come to associate with Leica M cameras of the...

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  + Massive and robust rangefinder camera, + Excellent image quality, + Excellent optical viewfinder, + Very good LCD screen; Full HD video recording

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  - Very expensive, - Missing swivel monitor (for video recording), - Missing sensor for automatic toggling between optical and electronic viewfinder

Leica Camera AG unleashed two new cameras this week, one being the world’s first digital camera dedicated to an all-time classic: black-and-white photography. The other is a much, much cheaper fixed-lens compact.

The APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 is the longest lens available for the Leica M system. It can be tricky to focus, but Live View makes it easier to use.

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  Compact., Very sharp., Apochromatic design., Longest focal length available for M system.

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  Expensive., Manual focus only., Limited close focus distance., Small frame lines with digital M cameras.

We loved using the Leica M Typ 262. It's beautifully paired back, like a track-focused sports car it only has the essentials. What really struck me is how the camera feels mechanical, more so than any other digital camera I've tried before.

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  Design, Purity, Exclusivity

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  NO TECH..., Which IS the point..., But still...

Overall the Leica M 240 is an inspiring camera to use, from the design of the body to the feel of its controls. With its new sensor and processor it also performs extremely well, and produces images that match the body for quality. Its menu system isn't the slickest though.

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  Classy raw files that are packed with information, Lovely colour and contrast straight from the camera, New rear screen is clear, bright and high resolution, Pleasure-to-use body with first class lenses, Live View makes longer lenses easier to use

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  Exposure compensation button not always easy to use, Level tool only useful for tripod users, Menu could be easier and quicker to navigate

Features Handling Performance Verdict Specification Introduced at Photokina, Cologne, 2012, the Leica M (Typ 240) comes with a new 24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, and surprisingly for Leica, also introduced full HD video recording, and live view.

When a new Leica M comes along it’s sure to raise eyebrows. As the German godfather of 35mm photography attempts to balance new features with traditionalism, Ian Farrell finds out if the M Typ 240 measures up as a serious photographic tool.

Bought this camera 2 months ago. Love this camera, I purchased the 50mm f2.4 summarit beautiful little lens great output. I own Fuji which I love, but this camera brings image quality to the next level. Also have some older Leica Lenses and voightlander lenses work great.

I borrowed the M10 from a good friend for to compare it to my Sony A57. I came to the conclusion that I had better keep the Sony. Why Leica would make such a regressive camera is beyond my reasoning ability. The M10 is a film camera pretending to be the hot set-up of the digital world. Nein danke!

The M Edition 60 is a very beautifully made camera, not a typical Leica which are very well made and Edition 60 bring it up by a level, sleek (almost sharp) very modern yet very organic, and it is one of my favorite camera, and one of the best looking Leica that I owned.

Upgraded from the M9-P, took it to Cuba. I used a minimum of ISO 640 and often higher due to the dark streets, etc. Results were oustanding: low noise (easily controllable in Lightroom) even up to ISO 1600. Sharpness, great with the Leica lenses. Worked flawlessly.

It is an interesting camera! My first M camera is M6 which I bought back in 1988, and since then I have probably gone forward to use almost every Leica introduced, and gone backward to use all the vintage models. And this M60 is like a compression of all Leica M put together.

This is a unique piece of equipment...perfectly crafted... simple, friendly and special it takes time to get used to it if you come from the DSLR world...but the image quality is just amazing!

Fantastic camera. Having had all models of M camera, from the films Ms through recent digital models, this is the best of the lot. I didn't think I'd like it, as I felt Leica had sold out on some of the traditional M features (and I still don't want video on any camera), but having been using this...

I've been a semi-pro photographer for 4 years. I'm the type of photographer that will travel the ends of the earth for the right picture. I have been shooting with Nikon for about 15 years and went through the transition of film to digital. Today I have a Nikon D800E and a D4...

Having had the M6-TTL and now the new M, I can say without a doubt that this is an amazing camera, and the first digital M (in my view) to be worthy of the Leica name. (The M8 and M9 had too many issues to be worthy of the price and reputation that preceded them.

This camera is probably for affluent eccentrics. I like it enormously. It's expensive but you should save money by buying the lenses used, for example from KEH. Be sure to read the instruction manual for the camera before buying your M series lens. Certain ones won't work.