Leica Camera Australia has released details of a new camera in the Leica M rangefinder system that is dedicated to black-and-white photography.
The new Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) camera. (Source: Leica Camera.)
The new Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) features an updated 36 x 24 mm black-and-white sensor with 24-megapixel resolution and no low-cut filter. It far exceeds the high performance standards set by its predecessor. Since no colour filter is required, luminance values are calculated without interpolation, resulting in sharp pictures at all sensitivity settings up to ISO 25 000 with depth, clarity and resolution of details that far exceed those of colour exposures.
The sensor is coupled with the same high-performance Leica Maestro image processor as installed in the current Leica M. The new camera’s buffer memory has been expanded to hold two gigabytes of image data, supporting faster image processing. Sequences can now be shot much faster and assessed almost instantaneously in review mode on the camera’s monitor and RAW+JPEG pairs can be viewed in less than two seconds.
The new camera can accept all lenses in the M-Lens portfolio and almost all lenses of the Leica R series. The camera body is manufactured from a high-strength magnesium alloy that is highly scratch-resistant. The LCD monitor has a resolution of 921,600 pixels and an almost unbreakable sapphire crystal cover glass that is treated with an anti-reflection protective coating.
Live View shooting is supported by up to tenfold magnification and Focus Peaking to ensure accurate focusing. The camera also offers 1080p full-HD video capability for capturing high-quality video in black and white. Optimum sound is ensured by the optional Leica microphone adapter set, comprising an adapter and a stereo microphone. JPEG images can be converted from black and white to sepia, cold or selenium tones. Leica M Monochrom customers can download a free copy of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom from the Leica website for professional post-processing. Full details of the camera are available at http://us.leica-camera.com/.
The Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) will be available from May 2015 from Leica Boutiques and authorised dealers. It will be priced at AU$10,500 (RRP).
