Leica’s M10 is a full-frame rangefinder with a newly-developed sensor, a stripped-back aesthetic and a £5,600 price tag (body only).
A new sensor for Leica’s newest M
At the heart of the camera is a 24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, coupled to Leica’s Maestro II image processor. The M10 can shoot at ISOs from 100 to 50,000, and can rattle off photos at a very un-Leica like five frames per second. The camera’s buffer can store 30 DNG Raw files or 100 jpeg images before you need to stop shooting, although frankly if you’re shooting that many frames in search of the fabled ‘decisive moment’ you should probably think quite hard about whether a Leica is right for you.
The top plate is now slim enough to match the dimensions of a classic analogue M-series
Classic styling and now, classic dimensions
The big news for Leica-ficinados is that the M10 is the first digital M-series camera to really match the size and feel of the company’s classic film rangefinders. Leica have shaved weight and bulk from the M10 so it’s a little slimmer than the Typ-240. The battery is smaller as a consequence (and you still need to remove the baseplate of the camera to change it) but Leica say it’s still good for a few hundred exposures.
There are fewer buttons on the back of the camera than the Typ 240 and no dedicated video button as there’s no video function. However there is now the ability to change ISO settings using a pop-up dial on the left hand side of the camera, where the film winder knob was located on analogue M bodies.
ISO is adjustable from the pop up knob on the left hand side of the camera.
Composing your shot
The all-important viewfinder now offers a 30 percent larger field of view and offers more accommodation for users with glasses. And in case you’re not into old-school optical viewfinding (heresy!) there’s also the optional Visoflex: a 2.4MP EVF with an eye sensor for automatic activation and an integrated GPS module to include location metadata in your photos. The non-touchscreen display on the camera back can be used for live view shooting as well as playback of images, if you want to compose your picture without holding the camera up to your eye.
The M10 is also the first M-series camera with integrated Wifi. It’s possible to control the camera via smartphone or tablet (iOS only at the moment, an Android app is in the works) and you can use the link to transfer images from the camera to your connected device.
The rear of the camera is stripped back and simple. Still no touchscreen though.
The Leica M10 isn’t for everyone
If one were feeling uncharitable it would be easy to be unimpressed by the specs of the M10. After all, the underlying technology is similar to what you could find in a DSLR from several years ago. But that feels like it misses the point. Leica stands for a more considered, slower style of photography and there’s something rather wonderful about a company making such genuinely idiosyncratic products.
Budget another £1,500 for the lens…
The M10 is a beauty, handmade and instantly recognisable. But there’s no getting away from it, this is a niche camera for photographers with deep pockets or an absolute need for the ‘Leica look.’ If that’s you, let us know how you get on…
