Leica M10-R Digital Rangefinder Camera (Black Chrome)

The Leica M10-R puts a brand-new, 40MP image sensor into an absolutely classic body design, resulting in a compelling camera for rangefinder devotees.

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  40MP full-frame sensor, Optical viewfinder with rangefinder focus, Head-turning looks, Dust and splash resistance, Nearly silent mechanical shutter, Add-on EVF available, Built-in Wi-Fi

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  Expensive, Omits video support, Manual focus isn't for everyone

Leica M cameras are an acquired taste. They are fiendishly expensive – of course – and resolutely old fashioned in their design and operation. They don’t suffer fools gladly. The M10-R also happens to feature some of the latest digital technology to produce image quality to challenge any other full...

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  Compact and beautifully made, Beautiful, retro-feel optics, Utterly fuss-free controls

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  Challenging rangefinder focusing, Manual or aperture-priority only, Expensive, as are the lenses

The Leica M10-P has emerged as the embodiment of all of the stealth technology Leica has gathered over many years of producing inconspicuous, unobtrusive cameras. It’s quiet, that’s for sure, and it’s easier to use than traditional rangefinder Leicas because of the focus assist functions.

Shooting with the Leica M10 for the past few days has been a lot of fun, but every good conclusion should include some criticisms, and inevitably, there are several things about the M10 that I don’t like.

Either way, I’d have to go Sony in this case. Personally speaking, I’d rather buy an M9 or another film Leica. The M9 had a truly unique sensor that to this day still has output that looks like chrome film. I’m not the only photographer who thinks so.

The Leica M10 Monochrom is the dream camera for devotees of classic black-and-white photography.

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  40MP full-frame monochrome sensor, Optical viewfinder with rangefinder focus, Luxurious fit and finish, Crisp touch LCD, Dust and splash resistant, Nearly silent mechanical shutter, Add-on EVF available, Wi-Fi

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  Premium pricing, Doesn't do color or video, Manual focus isn't for everyone

This is a camera that simplifies the picture taking process, and forces you to concentrate on one thing. It may seem like an anachronism, but the Monochrom drives you towards seeing, composing and shooting images in a very different way.

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  • Classic Leica design, • Traditional rangefinder focusing, • Touchscreen LCD with LiveView

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  • No option for color shooting, • No autofocus or video, • Cost

The Leica M10-P is a more discrete version of the M10, with less obvious branding, a quieter shutter, and a new touch LCD.

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  Big, bright optical viewfinder with focusing patch., Compatible with lenses dating back to the 1930s., Very quiet focal plane shutter., 24MP full-frame image sensor., Dust- and splash-resistant build., Add-on EVF available., Wi-Fi.

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  Expensive., Rangefinders are not for everyone., No video recording., No Android support for Wi-Fi.

The Leica M10 camera improves upon its predecessor, upping performance and slimming down the body. It's a solid, albeit pricey, choice for rangefinder devotees.

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  Optical viewfinder., Rangefinder manual focus., 24MP full-frame image sensor., 4.8fps image capture., Crisp rear display., Integrated Wi-Fi., Dust- and splash-resistant design., Add-on EVF available.

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  Very expensive., Manual focus isn't for everyone., Omits video.

The M10-R is still essentially a prestige camera for the purists or somebody who simply likes to do things differently, but it is also now right in the mix in terms of the image quality standards being set by the leaders in mirrorless cameras.

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  40MP resolution delivers a competitive image quality, Classic styling and handling has enduring appeal, High resale values will help offset purchase price

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  No video and limited digital functionality, Rangefinder focusing won’t be to everybody’s taste, Can only use with prime lenses

After more than a year of use of the M10, I finally got around to writing a lengthy user-review ( which you can read here ). In summary, it is clearly the best digital Leica ever, and probably the first to really feel like using a film M (I have worked with an M7 for more than five years).

What a fabulous camera to use! Simple controls, wonderful image quality, and outstanding lenses that fit in your pocket. Watch out for the lint though. Convenient physical dials for focus, diaphragm, shutter and ISO. It's like having a film camera where you can change the ISO.

I previously owned the M-9 and M typ 240, and now the M-10. The new ISO dail is super useful and I find myself using it all the time. It's worth noting even the camera is slimmer, it is slightly heavier than the predecessor. Highly recommended.

I have been shooting with M cameras for close to 3 decades, on almost all models from film to digital including the latest M10. I use four M cameras frequently these days - the M Type 60 (the heaviest and thickest and to me the most beautiful M camera ever made), the M-P Titan (type 240, the...