Leica M Monochrom

The camera features a matte black finish on its top deck, making it an unobtrusive tool for photography. The only visible branding is an engraved script on the accessory shoe that displays the product name. It is designed with soft leather trim that offers an excellent grip, enhancing its discreet character. Additionally, the package includes a real leather carrying strap made from premium full-grain cowhide²⁹⁷.
The Leica M Monochrom features a raw data histogram display, which enables precise control over tonal values. Unlike conventional histograms, this display shows the original, unprocessed, and unmodified raw data. When combined with a configurable clipping display, it allows for accurate correction and optimization of exposures²⁹⁷.
The black chrome Leica M Monochrom will be available from authorized Leica dealers starting at the end of July 2012²⁹⁷.
Leica Camera AG in Solms introduces the Leica M Monochrom, the world's first digital camera designed exclusively for full-frame, 35 mm black-and-white photography. This camera features a sensor specifically crafted for capturing exceptional black-and-white images, establishing new quality standards. As the latest addition to the Leica M-System, it continues the successful legacy of the Leica rangefinder system, which has played a significant role in the evolution of innovative photography²⁹⁷.
The 18 MP image sensor of the M Monochrom is specifically designed to complement the unique features of the Leica M-System. Since the sensor does not capture colors, each pixel records true luminance values. This results in 'true' black-and-white images that are significantly sharper than those produced by cameras with color-sensitive sensors²⁹⁷.
Current sensors only detect light intensity, not color. To capture color information, a Bayer filter is placed over the sensor, with a different color filter covering each photosite. When processing the image (a process known as demosaicing), groups of four pixels are analyzed together, along with their surrounding pixels, to calculate the color³⁰⁴.
However, the filter itself causes a reduction in light reaching the sensor, typically by one to two stops, and the demosaicing process reduces the overall resolution of the image. In contrast, a monochrome sensor does not require a Bayer filter or the demosaicing process. While one might expect a fourfold improvement in resolution with a monochrome sensor, practical results tend to show more like a twofold improvement³⁰⁴.
Introduced May 2012³¹⁸ and was in production until 2015³⁵⁷
Special Editions of Leica M Monochrom:

Model	Name	References	Year	Notes
M Monochrom (Version 1)	Ralph Gibson	357	2013	this special edition was released in collaboration with Ralph Gibson and commissioned by Foto Henny Hoogeveen. The silver chrome-plated camera with Gibson's signature engraved on the top plate was offered as a set with a Sum-milux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH., also anodised silver, a leather strap, a limited edition of the book "MONO" by Ralph Gibson, and a limited edition print.
M Monochrom (Version 1)	25th Anniversary Nordisk Foto Import	357	2014	to mark the silver anniversary of the founding of Nordisk Foto Import, this special series was produced for the Danish and Swedish markets. The camera was silver chrome-plated and had a leather cover in Aztec beige. The special number was engraved on the hot shoe instead of "Monochrom". There was also a matching silver anodised Summilux M 35 f/1.4 ASPH
M Monochrom (Version 1)	Edition 100	357	2014	Part of Leica M Monochrom and Leica M-A "Edition 100" set. the occasion for the special series was the celebration of 100 years of Leica photography. The special edition included a Leica M Monochrom and a Leica M-A, both made of solid stainless steel and with a special engraving on the top plate. The three lenses included in the set were also made of the same mate-rial: Summilux-M 28, 35 and 50 f/1.4. The set was delivered in a black anodised aluminium case by Rimowa and with a Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film.
M Monochrom (Version 1)	Meister Edition Berlin	357	2017	this special series was created to mark the ten-year anniversary of the Leica Store Berlin. The camera body, along with all controls, and the matching Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH., were treated with blue stain. Instead of lacquer, the blue stain was sealed twice. The covering was made of black saddle leather. The hot shoe featured a special numbering.
M Monochrom (Version 1)	Leitzpark Edition	357	2018	this special series was released to mark the opening of the third construction phase of the Leitz-Park in Wetzlar. The black camera had no red Leica dot; the lettering "Leitzpark" was embossed into its black leather coating. This lettering was also engraved on the back side of the top plate.