Leica M Monochrom

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    Highlights

    • 19 MP Full Frame CCD Sensor
    • 160 - 10,000 Native ISO
    • 2.5" 230k dot Fixed Screen
    • Optical (rangefinder) Viewfinder
    • 2.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 30 min Video Recording Limit
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Leica M Monochrom was announced in 2012 and is a Full Frame (36 x 24 mm) Mirrorless camera with 19 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 160 to 10,000. The camera has a Fixed 2.5" screen with 230k dot resolution and built-in Optical (rangefinder) viewfinder.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Screen and Viewfinder
    4. Sensor
    5. Photography Features
    6. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    7. Other Features
    8. Physical Parameters
    9. For Different Types of Photography
    10. Evaluation
    11. Specifications  

    Here is the Leica M series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Leica M series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Leica M11 Monochrom
    Compare
    		April
    2023    		 60.3 MP
    Full Frame    		 64 - 50,000 Fixed 3.0"
    2,333k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Leica M11
    Compare
    		January
    2022    		 60.3 MP
    Full Frame    		 64 - 50,000 Fixed 3.0"
    2,333k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Leica M10
    Compare
    		January
    2017    		 24 MP
    Full Frame    		 100 - 50,000 Fixed 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Image cannot be found Leica M Edition 60
    Compare
    		September
    2014    		 23.7 MP
    Full Frame    		 100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    920k dot
    Image cannot be found Leica M-E Typ 220
    Compare
    		September
    2012    		 18.0 MP
    Full Frame    		 80 - 2,500 Fixed 2.5"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Leica M Typ 240
    Compare
    		September
    2012    		 24 MP
    Full Frame    		 100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    920k dot
    Image cannot be found Leica M Monochrom May
    2012    		 19 MP
    Full Frame    		 160 - 10,000 Fixed 2.5"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Leica M9-P
    Compare
    		June
    2011    		 18.0 MP
    Full Frame    		 80 - 2,500 Fixed 2.5"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Leica M9
    Compare
    		September
    2009    		 18.0 MP
    Full Frame    		 80 - 2,500 Fixed 2.5"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Leica M8.2
    Compare
    		September
    2008    		 10.35 MP
    APS-H    		 160 - 2,500 Fixed 2.5"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Leica M8
    Compare
    		July
    2007    		 10.35 MP
    APS-H    		 160 - 2,500 Fixed 2.5"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Leica M11 Monochrom vs M11 vs M10 vs M Edition 60 vs M-E Typ 220 vs M Typ 240.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Leica M Monochrom.

    PROS

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Expensive
    •   No Video Capture
    •   160 Lowest Native ISO
    •   10,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.0 fps
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in Microphone
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Sensor Resolution - 19 Megapixel
    •   Screen Size - 2.5"
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec
    •   Weight - 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz)

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Fixed screen

    Leica M Monochrom has a 2.5" Fixed screen with 230k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.


    Optical (rangefinder) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Optical (rangefinder) viewfinder. It has a and 0.68x magnification.

    Sensor

    Leica M Monochrom features a 19 megapixel Full Frame CCD sensor with dimensions of 36 x 24 mm and a total area of 864 mm2. Its native ISO range is 160 - 10,000.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Leica M Monochrom's Full Frame sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 5212 x 3472 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 3840 x 2592, 2592 x 1728, 1728 x 1152, 1280 x 846 with 3:2 aspect ratios.


    Lens Mount

    Leica M Monochrom has Leica M lens mount. Due to Full Frame sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length.


    No In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera does not have in-body image stabilization (IBIS) so it needs lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Leica M Monochrom.

    Leica M-E Typ 220
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    18.0 MP

    Leica M Typ 240
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24 MP

    Leica M9
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    18.0 MP

    Leica M11
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    60.3 MP

    Leica M8
    Image cannot be found

    APS-H

    10.35 MP

    Leica M9-P
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    18.0 MP

    Leica M Edition 60
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    23.7 MP

    Leica M10
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24 MP

    Leica M8.2
    Image cannot be found

    APS-H

    10.35 MP

    Leica M11 Monochrom
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    60.3 MP

    Sony NEX-7
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.3 MP

    Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
    Image cannot be found

    Micro Four Thirds

    16.1 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Leica M Monochrom has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Leica M Monochrom's shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 2.0 fps.


    Exposure

    Camera's exposure metering ranges from 0 to +20 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±3 EV range. You can also do exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment.


    Flash

    Leica M Monochrom has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/180 sec. Flash compensation can be set from -3 to +1 EV with 1/3 EV step increments.

    Physical Parameters

    Leica M Monochrom has dimensions of 139 x 80 x 37 mm (5.47 x 3.15 x 1.46"). It weighs 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    139 mm (5.47")

    80 mm (3.15")

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    80 mm (3.15")

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    37 mm (1.46")

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    Leica M Monochrom dimensions

    Leica M Monochrom for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Leica M Monochrom is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    AVERAGE
    65

    Leica M Monochrom gets a score of 65 and is AVERAGE choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    POOR
    45

    Leica M Monochrom gets a score of 45 and is POOR choice for Sports photography.

    •   10,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.0 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    POOR
    44

    Leica M Monochrom gets a score of 44 and is POOR choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   10,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.0 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    73

    Leica M Monochrom gets a score of 73 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 2.5"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    78

    Leica M Monochrom gets a score of 78 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    77

    Leica M Monochrom gets a score of 77 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots

    Leica M Monochrom Evaluation

    We evaluate Leica M Monochrom and give score of 44 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    44

    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    69

    We give Leica M Monochrom a score of 69 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Sensor Resolution - 19 Megapixel
    •   160 Lowest Native ISO
    •   10,000 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    60

    We give Leica M Monochrom a score of 60 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.0 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec

    Video

    BAD
    0

    We give Leica M Monochrom a score of 0 for Video parameters.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    BAD
    0

    We give Leica M Monochrom a score of 0 for Focusing parameters.

    •   No Face Detection

    Screen and Viewfinder

    AVERAGE
    64

    We give Leica M Monochrom a score of 64 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 2.5"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot

    Connectivity

    POOR
    40

    We give Leica M Monochrom a score of 40 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in Microphone
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    BAD
    39

    We give Leica M Monochrom a score of 39 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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