A black Leica digital camera with a textured grip, featuring a large lens and various control buttons on the top and front.


Leica M Monochrom

The Leica M Monochrom was introduced May 2012318 and was in production until 2015357. 

This camera was the world's first digital camera designed exclusively for full-frame, 35 mm black-and-white photography297. This camera featured a sensor specifically crafted for capturing exceptional black-and-white images, establishing new quality standards297. As the latest addition to the Leica M-System, it continued the successful legacy of the Leica rangefinder system, which played a significant role in the evolution of innovative photography297.

The camera featured a matte black finish on its top deck, making it an unobtrusive tool for photography297. The only visible branding was an engraved script on the accessory shoe that displayed the product name297. It was designed with soft leather trim that offered an excellent grip297. Additionally, the package included a real leather carrying strap made from premium full-grain cowhide297.

The Leica M Monochrom featured a raw data histogram display, which enabled precise control over tonal values297. Unlike conventional histograms, this display showed the original, unprocessed, and unmodified raw data297. When combined with a configurable clipping display, it allowed for accurate correction and optimization of exposures297.

The 18 MP image sensor of the M Monochrom was specifically designed to complement the unique features of the Leica M-System297. Since the sensor did not capture colors, each pixel recorded true luminance values.297 This results in 'true' black-and-white images that were significantly sharper than those produced by cameras with color-sensitive sensors297.

Current sensors only detect light intensity, not color304. To capture color information, a Bayer filter was placed over the sensor, with a different color filter covering each photosite304. When processing the image (a process known as demosaicing), groups of four pixels were analyzed together, along with their surrounding pixels, to calculate the color304.

However, the filter itself caused a reduction in light reaching the sensor, typically by one to two stops, and the demosaicing process reduced the overall resolution of the image304. In contrast, a monochrome sensor did not require a Bayer filter or the demosaicing process304. While one might expect a fourfold improvement in resolution with a monochrome sensor, practical results tended to show more like a twofold improvement304.

Product code for black chrome version was 10760 and 10787 for the silver chrome version introduced in 2014361.

The black chrome Leica M Monochrom was available from authorized Leica dealers at the end of July 2012297.

Weight was 600 gram361.

ISO speeds ranged from 320 to 10000361.


Prototypes

Examples of prototypes included:

  • Prototype number 4341318, dated circa 2012, was described as "Extremely rare functional sample of the Leica Monochrome 10760, produced before the actual prototypes were built, in very good condition and working order, showing some signs of use, with body cap, leather strap, warranty card, papers, letter of confirmation from Leica Camera AG, charger, battery and original maker's box, note the sample no.4341316 which is pictured in the official brochure of the camera."380. 


Pre-series

There were approximately 1000 cameras built for factory use before the series production started392. Among them were:

  • Body number 4341312, dated 2013
  • Body number 4342436 (N36/50), dated 2013

 

Special Editions

Leica M Monochrom (Version 1) "Ralph Gibson" (10776) was produced in 2013357. This special edition was released in collaboration with Ralph Gibson and commissioned by Foto Henny Hoogeveen357. The silver chrome-plated camera with Gibson's signature engraved on the top plate was offered as a set with a Summilux-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 print357. Among them were:

  • pre-series body number N02/35, dated 2013 and described as "unique chrome Monochrom 'Ralph Gibson' edition with red signature on top plate and red leather covering, in new condition with certificate and maker's box, with matching chrome Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. no.4047586, complete in maker's boxes"398.
  • body number 2/35, dated 2014, with lens number 4237018
  • body number 35/35, dated 2013

Leica M Monochrom (Version 1) "25th Anniversary Nordisk Foto Import" was produced in 2014357. To mark the silver anniversary of the founding of Nordisk Foto Import, this special series was produced for the Danish and Swedish markets357. The camera was silver chrome-plated and had a leather cover in Aztec beige357. The special number was engraved on the hot shoe instead of "Monochrom"357. There was also a matching silver anodised Summilux M 35 f/1.4 ASPH357.

Leica M Monochrom (Version 1) "Edition 100" was produced in 2014357. The occasion for the special series was the celebration of 100 years of Leica photography357. The special edition of 101 sets included a Leica M Monochrom and a Leica M-A, both made of solid stainless steel and with a special engraving on the top plate357. The three lenses included in the set were also made of the same mate-rial: Summilux-M 28, 35 and 50 f/1.4357. The set was delivered in a black anodised aluminium case by Rimowa and with a Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film357. Examples included:

  • pre-series body number N15, dated 2014, came from a small batch of 17 pre-series cameras which came on the market395.
  • pre-series body number N18, dated 2014
  • body number 4811913 (set number "1913"), dated 2014 - this was the first one, sold at the special Leitz Photographica auction in May of 2014 for the opening of the new Leitz Park397
  • body number 4811953 (set number "1953"), dated 2014
  • body number 4812011, dated 2014
  • body number 4812014 (set number "2014"), dated 2014 - this was the last one397

Leica M Monochrom (Version 1) "Leitzpark Edition" was produced in 2018357. This special series was released to mark the opening of the third construction phase of the Leitz-Park in Wetzlar357. The black camera had no red Leica dot; the lettering "Leitzpark" was embossed into its black leather coating357. This lettering was also engraved on the back side of the top plate357. Among them were:

  • pre-series body number N01/02, dated 2013, described as "Highly collectable preseries of the special edition Leitzpark Monochrome, first of two cameras only, in mint condition and working order, note the absence of 'Leica kehrt heim' (Leica returns home) engravings and the different font used for the 'L' on the limited edition production, with body cap, battery and charger. The camera is equipped with the current new CCD and the shutter count is only 4XX."379.
  • body number 4351048, dated 2013, described as "one of only 105 chrome Monochrome first version engraved 'LEITZPARK LEICA kehrt heim Mai 2014', mint with charger, presentation box"392.
  • body number 4351953, dated 2013, with a silver chrome 1.4/50mm Summilux-M ASPH lens number 4246574, and described as "Unique sample of a silver chrome Monochrome with special leather covering (Leica) engraved 'A.H.K. 2013' for the 60th birthday of Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, main shareholder and chairmen of Leica Camera A.G., with a silver chrome 1.4/50mm Summilux-M ASPH. no.4246574 - all complete and mint with boxes and papers"396.