A vintage Leica M camera with silver and black body and a Leica Summilux lens.


Leica M (Typ 240)

Prototypes

Three interesting prototype cameras were demonstrated during Leica HISTORICA Spring meeting on April 18, 2026, alongside with what looked like Leica M Series 14405 camera hand grip:

  • One camera was finished in chrome, looked like a prototype shell, with red Leica logo, engraved "M10" to the left of the rangefinder window. 
  • One camera was finished in black chrome, looked like a prototype shell, with red Leica logo, engraved "M10" to the left of the rangefinder window
  • One camera was finished in black chrome, with sticker denoted "P2" above the hot shoe on the top plate, without red Leica logo, engraved "M10" to the left of the rangefinder window. This camera had "P030/060" prototype number. It was illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Museum Leica" book in 2018596. 


Serial Production

The Leica M (Typ 240) was introduced at Photokina in September of 2012, alongside the Leica M-E, but it was not delivered until 2013318. The first sketches for the Leica M (Typ 240) camera were drafted in 2009, during the development of the Leica M9361. The product code for black paint mode was 10770 and for silver chrome was 10771361.

Camera number 4444000 was used in promotional materials and illustrated in Leica Fotografie International (7/2012). The camera had 50mm f/1.4 Summilux lens number 4142338 mounted on it.


Processor

At its core, the Leica M (Typ 240) design featured the MAESTRO processor for the first time357. This processor ensured fast performance despite the camera's high resolution and Live View capabilities357. The Maestro and its successors continued to be the driving force behind Leica's larger digital cameras to this day357.


Sensor

The Leica M (Typ 240) also featured a new CMOS sensor developed through a collaboration between Belgium, France, and Germany361. This innovative sensor had unique characteristics, the most notable being its lack of a layer of microlenses361. As a result, the sensor was less sensitive to the effects of skew rays hitting the pixels at the outer edges, delivering good results with both telecentric and standard lens constructions361. 

Speaking of sensors, initially, like many competitors, Leica opted for CCD sensors, known for their superior image quality at the time but also for high energy consumption, which made video capture impossible357. While CCD sensors dominated the market, CMOS chips began with an unfavorable reputation357. However, over time, CMOS sensors evolved to outperform their CCD counterparts and have since largely replaced them in the camera industry357. Leica was well-prepared for this transition357. A specialized team led by Dr. Volker Zimmer focused on in-house development of digital photography technology and firmware, which included contributions to the design of processors and sensors357. 


6-bit-coded R-Adapter

The Leica M (Typ 240) introduces the 6-bit-coded R-Adapter, allowing the use of R-lenses with focal lengths ranging from 15 mm to 800 mm361. Additionally, Leica M (Typ 240) featured a larger buffer, faster processing algorithms, and improved energy efficiency, making it the quickest-operating model in the M series361.


Live View function

The Live View function was well-executed, demonstrating that Leica was staying ahead of its competition361. As a manual focus camera, Leica M (Typ 240) allowedfor precise focusing through Live View and a selectable magnifier view361. Furthermore, it employed edge detection algorithms, a common image processing technique, to highlight sharp edges in red at the selected focal distance361. 

Significant innovations lied beneath the surface, particularly the transition from DSP technology to ASIC technology361. DSP referred to Digital Signal Processors used for general purposes, while ASIC represents Application-Specific Integrated Circuits customized for specific applications361. 


EVF2 Electronic Viewfinder

In addition to Live View and optical rangefinder modes, Leica M (Typ 240) camera was compatible with the EVF2 electronic viewfinder from the Leica X2, giving photographers three viewing options361. Similar to the Leica M9 Titan and Leica M-E models, the camera body did not have an external USB interface361. 


Bottom plate

The bottom plate was redesigned298. The tripod mounting hole was located in the chassis of the camera instead of bottom plate298.

There was a small section of the metal plate on the bottom plate that was cut away and filled with plastic298. This modification was made to eliminate signal interference with Wi-Fi SD cards298. The interior was now entirely metal instead of featuring a plastic lining298.


Shutter

The camera featured a brand-new shutter made by Copal, designed to facilitate Live View shooting298. When one pressed the LV button, the shutter opened298. To take a photo, one must have depressed the shutter to initiate exposure, which required the shutter to close and then reopen298.


Battery

The new battery in Leica M (Typ 240) was larger than the one found in the Leica M9298. It featured a power rating of 1800 mAh and a voltage of 7.4 V298. This increase in battery size was necessary to power the 3-inch screen 920000 pixel LCD screen with Gorilla Glass for live view functionality, which required both sensor and processing power to capture image data and display it on screen298. Combined with more efficient electronics—specifically the Maestro ASIC compared to the generic DSPs used in the Leica M9—the Leica M (Typ 240) could achieve approximately 400 to 500 shots in live view298. This translated to about 5 hours of continuous usage, or around 800 to 1000 shots when using the optical viewfinder298.


Framelines

The LED-illuminated frame lines in the viewfinder looked identical to those in the Leica M9 Titanium298. The frame lines were still in three sets: 28/90, 35/135 and 50/75298. The illumination of the frame lines was entirely internal298. The brightness of the frame lines adjusted based on ambient light and could be set by the user to either red or white298.


Multifunction Handgrip

The Multifunction Handgrip was slightly taller at the base compared to the Handgrip M to accommodate the additional electronics298. On the backside, there were four ports located beneath two weather-sealed rubber caps298. The left side featured a USB port for connecting to a computer and a power input for external power supply to the camera298. On the right side, one could find a PC sync socket and a new LEMO-style SCA connector designed for the TTL flash bracket accessory298. 


Movie Mode

Additionally, the Leica M (Typ 240) became the first camera of its kind to record videos in Full HD format, featuring a separate shutter release on the top357. These new capabilities were made possible thanks to the Maestro processor357.


Closing Remarks

The Leica M (Typ 240) was discontinued in 2017357.


Special Editions:

Leica M (Typ 240) "for (RED)" was produced in 2013357. This unique piece was designed by Apple Chief Designer Jonathan Ive and designer Marc Newson357. The housing and lens were coated with a special alloy357. The leather covering was replaced by a laser-machined outer housing made of anodised aluminium with texture357. The camera was sold with an APO-Sum-micron-M 50 f/2 ASPH. at auction in New York for the benefit of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria357.

Leica M (Typ 240) "Le Mans Classic Set" was produced in 2014357. This special edition was produced on behalf of Leica Camera France357. The silver chrome-plated camera had a special green leather cover and a special engraving of the Le Mans Classic logo on the top plate357. It was delivered in a wooden box with a silver anodised Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH357. 

Leica M (Typ 240) "20th Anniversary Map Camera" was produced in 2014357. This special series was commissioned by Leica Camera Japan357. The silver chrome-plated camera had a blue leather coating and a special engraving on the top plate357. 

Leica M (Typ 240) "Centenary Edition Red" was produced in 2014357. This special edition M was commissioned by Harrods Leica Camera UK357. The black chrome-plated camera was wrapped in red leather and had "Centenary Edition 1914 - 2014" engraved in white on the top plate357.

Leica M (Typ 240) "100 Years Leica Photographie" ("Edition 100") was produced in 2014357. (10770) 500 cameras from this special series to mark 100 years of Leica photography differed from the standard cameras in that the 100-year logo was engraved on the top plate above the flash shoe357. Of this series, 250 were released in a black version and 250 in a silver chrome version357. A special 100-year anniversary sticker on the packaging also labelled the product as a limited edition357. Examples included:

  • black body number 4848172, dated 2014
  • black body number 4849629, dated 2014

Leica M (Typ 240) "Kumamon" was produced in 2015357. Kumamon, the mascot of the Japanese Kumamoto prefecture, took centre stage on this special edition357. The image was engraved twice on the top plate of the black chrome-plated camera (top and front)357. The lettering "kumaMon" was also engraved around the M on the front of the camera357.

Leica M (Typ 240) "Kinderlachen" was produced in 2015396. This unique camera number 4889418 was described as "This camera is a fund-raiser based on the collaboration between Leica and the non-profit organisation Kinderlachen e.V. It is one of two unique Leica cameras (Leica M no.4889418 and Leica M-E no.3333535) with Kinderlachen designs. All of the proceeds will go towards projects carried out by Kinderlachen e.V. Two unique Leica models were created as part of a Kinderlachen e.V. project with children in Dortmund. The children were given cardboard versions of the Leica M rangefinder camera, which they were free to paint and decorate as they pleased. The result was 140 paper works of art, which are still exhibited at the Leitz Park in Wetzlar. In return for the vivid designs, the company chose two cardboard cameras that served as a template for the Munich-based artist Helmut Lutter to transform real Leica products to yield two remarkable and truly unique Leica rangefinder cameras."396.

Leica M (Typ 240) "Ara Güler" was produced in 2015357. This special series was produced for the Leica Store Istanbul in collaboration with the Turkish photographer Ara Güler, who was honoured with the Leica Hall of Fame Award a year later357. The camera was painted black and also had a black leather cover. Güler's signature and the words "50 Years Master of Leica" were engraved on the top plate357. The set was offered with a black painted Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH357.

Leica M (Typ 240) "Mr. Porter" was produced in 2016357. This special series was created in collaboration with the luxury fashion brand Mr Porter357. The silver chrome-plated series camera had an engraved special series number on the hot shoe and a special leather finish, and was supplied with a Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. with a round lens hood357. 

Leica M (Typ 240) "Daimaru Department Store 300th Anniversary" was produced in 2017357. The occasion for the special edition was the 300th anniversary of the Japanese department store, Daimaru357. The top plate of the camera was finished with a black, multi-layer paint from Wajima, Japan357. The Leica dot was also lacquered357. The set also included a painted lens cap and a special edition box with four shutter release buttons representing the four seasons357.

Leica M (Typ 240) "India Edition" was produced in 2017357. This special edition was released on the occasion of the opening of the Leica Store New Delhi357. The camera had an orange-coloured leather coating and a special orange-coloured engraving of the country's outline on the top plate357. Half of the edition (35 units) was silver chrome-plated, the other half was painted black357. A black or silver Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH. with orange-coloured engravings was available to match the model357.