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Leica M Monochrom: The Ultimate Black & White Camera

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If you’re the kind of person that really loves black and white photography, then this is the camera for you. The Leica M Monochrom Camera will probably break the bank, but it’s the first digital camera that was exclusively designed for full-frame, pure black and white photography.

leica m monochrom camera

The Leica M Monochrom Camera has got an 18 MP CCD that stores true luminance values, which means that it can’t see any colors. Unlike other digital cameras, it doesn’t start with a color picture and then remove the color. Instead, it shoots true black and white only.

leica m monochrom camera side

The rangefinder camera has Leica’s typically rugged build quality and classically minimal styling. ISO goes up to 10,000, it also has a 2.5-inch LCD screen, a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 sec, and it’s compatible with all sorts of Leica M lenses. Unfortunately, the M Monochrom will cost you almost $8,000, so better sell your car if you want this baby.

leica m monochrom camera back

You can find some hi-res sample images over on the Leica website, and check out the video below for a L-Camera Forum’s review of an early build of the Leica M Monochrom:

[via Uncrate]


Leica M Monochrom captures exclusively in black and white, costs far more than your color-abled shooter

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Wildly colorful photos got you down? There's an 18-megapixel full-frame sensor for that. The Leica M Monochom may seem an unlikely proposition, with its monochrome-only sensor and $8,000 price tag (not to mention the added financial burden that comes along with investing in a Leica M-mount), but the camera offers some unique benefits that, for some, may justify the cost. Because the sensor is capable of outputting one pixel of data for each pixel captured -- there's no hint of color mucking about -- the resulting images are incredibly sharp. There are low-light benefits as well, with the Monochrom offering a top ISO setting of 10,000, compared to 2500 with the aging M9. Other features include a 2.5-inch 230k-dot color LCD, a rangefinder-type optical viewfinder and a 14-bit uncompressed RAW mode that yields 36MB DNGs.

The camera itself offers an appearance consistent with other Leica snappers, and includes a magnesium alloy construction with hints of brass and chrome. Naturally, there's no video features to speak of, so no 1080p black-and-white shoots for you. We do have pricing and availability, however, though we don't exactly have the funds to match. The body-only M Monochrom is expected to retail for $7,970 when it hits stores (beginning with Leica's Washington DC showroom) in July. A new Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH prime lens will be available around the same time, for the modest sum of $7,195. There's a full PR just past the break.

Gallery: Leica M Monochrom

Update: DPReview has posted a gallery of sample images. Don't be so quick to dismiss this camera -- plenty of deep-pocketed photographers have likely been waiting for something just like it. Hit up the source link after the break for the shots.

Continue reading Leica M Monochrom captures exclusively in black and white, costs far more than your color-abled shooter

Leica M Monochrom captures exclusively in black and white, costs far more than your color-abled shooter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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