Leica Camera has updated its M System, introducing the Leica M10 – price tag £5600 – with a release date set for 19 January 2017.
The Leica M10 rangefinder is the slimmest digital M System camera the company has released, with a new ergonomic body design reminiscent of its analogue forebears.
The Leica M10’s top plate measures just 33.75mm – 4mm less than its closest relative, the Leica M (Typ 240).
Leica says it has also improved the photographer’s view of the subject being captured by enlarging the M10’s field of view by 30%. Leica says it has also increased the magnification factor to 0.73.
And good news for photographers who wear glasses, Leica says the viewfinder is much more comfortable to use because it has increased the optimum distance of the eye from the viewfinder eyepiece by 50%.
On the back of the Leica M10 is a single joystick control and three buttons for Play, Live View and Menu. Particular settings can be selected according to personal preferences and photographic needs via a freely-configurable Favourites Menu.
Inside the new Leica camera is a 24-megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor developed specifically for the M10. Leica says this new sensor promises “impressive dynamic range, excellent contrast rendition, exceptional sharpness and fine detail resolution.”
This is thanks for a pixel and micro-lens architecture that, according to Leica, “enables a particularly large aperture, ensuring rays of light hitting the sensor even from the most oblique angles are precisely captured by its photodiodes.”
Leica says a new glass cover plate over the sensor acts as an infrared cut-off filter, protecting images from refraction of incoming light.
We’ve put these claims to the test in our Leica M10 review.
Meanwhile, the Leica M10 – like many new cameras these days – has no anti-aliasing filter to allow the new Leica camera to capture finer details.
What’s more, the Leica M10’s new sensor allows for a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 up to ISO 50,000, with better noise control at the higher end, Leica says.
Other new features include Leica’s Maestro II image processor, which gives the camera 2GB buffer memory and the capability to shoot up to 5fps at full resolution in burst mode.
Leica says the Maestro II processor allows a new loupe function for checking image sharpness to be used both on the camera’s LCD screen and in conjunction with the Visoflex electronic viewfinder with 2.4-megapixel resolution.
The Leica M10 viewfinder also boasts a swivel function and an integrated GPS module for the geotagging of image files.
The Leica M10 is also the first Leica M System camera to feature built-in Wi-Fi capability. The M10’s WLAN connectivity allows photographers to Apple mobile devices.
The Leica M-App also allows the direct transfer of RAW data in DNG format to mobile devices for further processing with suitable apps from iOS Version 10.2. The Leica M10 can also be remotely controlled by WLAN from a smartphone or tablet.
Leica M10 Specifications
Camera type
Compact digital viewfinder/rangefinder system camera
Lens attachment
Leica M bayonet with additional sensor for 6-bit coding
Lens system
Leica M lenses
Leica R lenses – using adapter, available separately
Image sensor
CMOS sensor, active surface approx. 24 x 36mm
Resolution
DNG™: 5976 x 3992 pixels (24MP), JPEG: 5952 x 3968 pixels (24MP),
4256 x 2832 pixels (12MP), 2976 x 1984 pixels (6MP)
Data formats
DNG™ (raw data, compressed loss-free), JPEG
File size
DNG™: 20-30 MB, JPEG: size dependent on resolution and image content
Buffer memory
2GB / 16 pictures in series
White balance
Automatic, manual, 8 presets, colour temperature input
Storage media
SD cards up to 2GB/SDHC cards up to 32GB/SDXC cards up to 2TB
Menu languages
German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Korean
Exposure metering
Exposure metering through the lens (TTL), with working aperture
Metering method
For metering the light reflected by light blades of the 1st shutter curtain onto a measuring cell: strong centre-weighted;
For metering on the sensor: spot, centre-weighted, multi-field metering
Metering range
At room temperature and normal humidity at ISO 100, at aperture 1.0 EV-1 to EV20 at aperture 32. Flashing of the left triangular LED in the viewfinder indicates values below the metering range
Sensitivity range
ISO 100 to ISO 50,000, adjustable in 1/3 ISO increments from ISO 200, choice of automatic control or manual setting
Exposure modes
Choice of automatic shutter speed control with manual aperture preselection – aperture priority A, or manual shutter speed and aperture setting
Flash unit attachment
Via accessory shoe with central and control contacts
Synchronisation
Optionally triggered at the 1st or 2nd shutter curtain
Flash sync time
1/180 s ; slower shutter speeds can be used, if working below sync speed: Automatic changeover to TTL linear flash mode with HSS-compatible Leica system flash units
Flash exposure metering
Using centre-weighted TTL pre-flash metering with Leica flash units (SF40, SF64, SF26), or flash units compatible with the system with SCA3502 M5 adapter
Flash measurement cell
2 silicon photodiodes with collection lens on the camera base
Flash exposure compensation
±3EV in1⁄3EV increments
Displays in flash mode
In viewfinder only: using flash symbol LED
Viewfinder
Construction
Large, bright line frame viewfinder with automatic parallax compensation
Eyepiece
Calibrated to -0.5 dpt.; corrective lenses from -3 to +3 diopter available
Image field limiter
By activating two bright lines each: for 35 and 135mm, or 28 and 90mm, or 50 and 75mm; automatic switching when lens is attached
Parallax compensation
The horizontal and vertical difference between the viewfinder and the lens is automatically compensated according to the relevant distance setting, i.e. the viewfinder bright-line automatically aligns with the subject detail recorded by the lens
Matching viewfinder and actual image
At a range setting of 2m, the bright-line frame size corresponds exactly to the sensor size of approx. 23.9 x 35.8mm; at infinity setting, depending on the focal length, approx. 7.3% (28mm) to 18% (135mm) more is recorded by the sensor than indicated by the corresponding bright line frame and slightly less for shorter distance settings than 2m
Magnification
(For all lenses): 0.73 x
Large-base rangefinder
Split or superimposed image rangefinder shown as a bright field in the centre of the viewfinder image
Effective metering basis
50.6mm (mechanical measurement basis 69.31mm x viewfinder magnification 0.73x)
Displays
In the viewfinder
Four-digit digital display with dots above and below
LCD monitor (back)
3” colour -TFT LCD monitor with 16 million colours and 1,036,800 pixels, approx. 100% image field
Tough, scratch-resistant Gorilla® glass cover
Colour space: sRGB, for Live-View and review mode, displays
Shutter/shutter release
Shutter
Metal blade focal plane shutter with vertical movement
Shutter speeds
For aperture priority: (A) continuous from 125s to 1⁄4000s, for manual adjustment: 8s to 1⁄4000s in half steps, from 8s to 125s in whole steps,
B: for long exposures up to maximum 125s (in conjunction with self-timer T function, i.e. 1st release = shutter opens, 2nd release = shutter closes),
(1⁄180s): Fastest shutter speed for flash synchronisation, HSS linear flash mode possible with all shutter speeds faster than 1⁄180s (with HSS-compatible Leica system flash units)
Continuous shooting
Approx. 5 pictures/s, 30-40 pictures in series
Shutter release button
Two-stage, 1st step: Activation of the camera electronics including exposure metering and exposure lock (in aperture priority mode), 2nd step: Shutter release; standard thread for cable release integrated
Self-timer
2s (aperture priority and manual exposure setting) or 12s delay, set in menu, indicated by flashing LED on front of camera and corresponding display in monitor
Turning the camera on/off
Using main switch on top of camera; optional automatic shutdown of camera electronics after approx. 2/5/10 minutes; reactivated by tapping the shutter release
Power supply
1 Lithium-ion rechargeable battery, nominal voltage 7.4V, capacity 1300mAh.; maximum charging current/voltage: DC 1000mA, 7.4V; Model No.: BP-SCL5; Manufacturer: PT. VARTA Microbattery, Made in Indonesia, Operating conditions (in camera): 0°C – + 40°C
Charger
Inputs: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz, 300mA, automatic switching, or 12V DC, 1.3A; Output: DC 7.4V, 1000mA/max. 8.25V, 1100mA; Model No.: BC-SCL5; Manufacturer: Guangdong PISEN Electronics Co., Ltd., Made in China, Operating conditions: 0°C – + 35°C
GPS
Only with Leica Visoflex viewfinder, available as an accessory
Not available everywhere due to country-specific legislation, i.e. enforced automatic shutdown in those countries
Data are written to EXIF header in picture files
WiFi
Complies with IEEE 802.11b/g/n standard (standard WiFi protocol), channel 1-11, encryption method: WiFi-compatible WPA™/WPA2™ encryption, access method: Infrastructure mode
Camera body
Material
All-metal die cast magnesium body, synthetic leather finish. Brass top panel and base, black or silver chrome plated finish
Image field selector
Allows the bright-line pairs to be manually activated at any time (e.g. to compare detail)
Tripod thread
A ¼ (¼”) DIN stainless steel in bottom
Operating conditions
0 – 40°C
Interfaces
ISO accessory shoe with additional contacts for Leica Visoflex viewfinder (optional accessory)
Dimensions W x D x H
Approx. 139 x 38.5 x 80mm
Weight
Approx. 660g (with battery)
Included with camera
Charger 100-240V with 2 mains cables (Euro, USA, varies in some markets) and 1 car charging cable, Lithium-ion battery, carrying strap, body bayonet cover, cover for accessory shoe
Leica M10 Price & Release Date
The Leica M10 price tag will be £5,600 including VAT, and a release date is scheduled for 19 January 2017.