I received this tip several weeks ago, but did not publish it online because I really couldn’t believe it until today when Leica sent out invitations for their next announcement. The new Leica M camera is rumored to have a black and white only sensor and no LCD display. The sensor will not be produced by Kodak. Apparently the staff in Solms is already trained on the new camera and the production line is ready. The camera was initially set for a Photokina release.
I am not convinced that this rumored Leica M with a black and white sensor will be the “official” M9 replacement – it could just be a limited edition offering. Don’t hurry to sell your M9 just yet.
As far as I know PhaseOne is currently the only manufacturer who offers black and white only sensor digital back which makes this rumor even more plausible because Leica likes to do things differently.