Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) Review – Verdict

Thanks to Leica’s new 24-million-pixel CMOS sensor, the new Leica M Monochrom has significantly improved image quality over it’s predecessor. Removing the anti-aliasing and colour filters mean the image quality is even better in its absence.

Dynamic range is fantastic which is an important factor for black & white photography. Equally, the detail the camera is able to resolve is very impressive. This is thanks not just to the sensor, but also to the class-leading m-mount lenses.

With no colour noise, cranking the ISO up gives speckled luminance noise which  adds a filmic character to the images. The metering may be a bit off but that’s one of the only criticisms.

However, buying a Leica isn’t simple process of weighing up the traditional pros and cons. It’s incredibly expensive for what it is, but you don’t buy a Leica on specification alone – you buy a Leica because you like that photographic ethos and you want a Leica. It’s that simple.