The rumored Leica M10-D camera is now officially announced and if I read the text correctly, the lever is just an “integrated fold-out thumb rest”, as I have already reported previously.
The US price is $7,995, shipping will start in November:
| US | Worldwide |
| B&H Adorama PopFlash Leica Boutique Palm Beach Leica Store Soho Leica Store Miami Tamarkin Classic Connection Ken Hansen |
Meister Camera (Germany) Leica Store Lisse (Netherlands) Reddotcameras (UK) M&K Kamera (Hong Kong) Rangefinder (Hong Kong) Map Camera (Japan) Leica Boutique Montreal (Canada) |
Additional information:
The new Leica M10-D continues the philosophy that began with the Leica M-D (Typ 262) of using a digital camera with no rear display. The concept is based around the idea of using a camera completely free from distractions, allowing the user to fully focus on their subjects and the core photographic settings at hand.
With no menu or playback on the camera, users can simply focus on the moment and enjoy a classic style rangefinder that operates and looks just like an analog camera. With no “chimping, ” the photographer can be focused on the next shot while they anticipate enjoying their photos later, either back at home when downloading the SD card or when connecting to Wi-Fi on the go.
Based on the Leica M10-P, the Leica M10-D has a redesigned On/Off switch with an integrated hard Wi- Fi On setting. The new Leica FOTOS app is a key aspect of the M10-D, allowing for access to the photos on the SD card and also controls over camera settings such as date/time, JPG/DNG controls, SD card formatting, and more options that are usually needed only once in a while. By combining the analog experience of shooting a digital camera without a display and the mobile connectivity of Wi-Fi, the M10-D becomes the perfect hybrid between analog and connected worlds. The photographer has the freedom to choose how they embrace it and fit it into their life.
- No LCD for an analog experience
- Hard switch for quick access to Wi-Fi
- Built-in Exposure Compensation dial on rear
- Integrated fold-out thumb rest
- Compatible with Visoflex EVF for Live View Capture
- Works perfectly with Leica FOTOS app
- Same design/specs as M10-P
- Quiet Shutter
- Body covering made from genuine leather
- Available in Black Chrome finish
The new selector switch for Off / On / On with Wi-Fi is reminiscent of classic ISO dials from Leica analog M cameras, and allows for the addition of a dedicated Exposure Compensation wheel – a first for digital M cameras.
The integrated fold-out thumb rest completes the film camera aesthetic and gives improved handling, especially with heavier lenses. Its function is purely ergonomic. The button to the right of the shutter release is used for checking SD card storage (remaining shots) and battery level in the built-in viewfinder.
The optional Leica Visoflex EVF allows the use of Live View capture for pin-point accurate focusing/ framing and compatibility with super wide-angle lenses. The EVF is only used for viewing and capture, as the Menu and Play functions cannot be used with it.
The new Leica FOTOS app augments the M10-D much further than any previous Leica camera with no LCD. Now the user can access, download, and share their photos on the go as well as use remote shooting to take pictures via Live View with their smartphone as the viewfinder. Now the first time you see your photos is on the high quality display that is in your pocket, and they are ready to share. Leica FOTOS will launch live to the public on October 24, 2018 for both iOS and Android.
The new Leica FOTOS app can now be downloaded at the App Store and Google Play.
Additional pictures:
Full press release:
Leica Camera Debuts the Leica M10-D: The Camera with a Digital Body and an Analog Soul
October 24, 2018 – Leica Camera transports the analog experience into the world of digital photography with the introduction of the Leica M10-D. The Leica M10-D combines the benefits of a digital M camera with an unprecedented approach to rediscovering the magic of an analog photographic experience, now augmented with mobile connectivity.
The ultimate experiential camera, the Leica M10-D is inspired by the discreet M10-P. In addition to incorporating the M10-P’s signature near-silent mechanical shutter and classic script logo branding on the top plate, the Leica M10-D’s monitor screen has been purposefully omitted from the camera body, freeing photographers from all distractions and allowing them to always focus on capturing the moment, rather than the camera itself. In lieu of the screen on the back of the camera is a new control ring for switching the camera on and off, with a dedicated hardware setting for activating Wi-Fi – a key piece to modernizing the analog-inspired workflow of the M10-D. Within the rear control ring is a mechanical dial for exposure compensation adjustments, a first for digital M models, harkening back to the ISO film sensitivity dial seen on classic analog M-Cameras.
In keeping with the mechanical spirit, all essential exposure settings on the Leica M10-D are made with mechanical controls. To further enhance the analog look and experience of this camera, the Leica M10-D features an integrated fold-out thumb rest, reminiscent of a classic film advance lever, which aids in the ergonomics and handling of the camera – especially when shooting one-handed. The optional Visoflex electronic viewfinder can also be used with the Leica M10-D to bridge the gap between analog and digital experiences by way of live view capture, and for easier use of wide-angle and telephoto lenses. When paired with the camera’s improved rangefinder and larger field of view, an innovation from the Leica M10, the Leica M10-D and Visoflex allow photographers to truly see the bigger picture from any angle.
With the soul of an analog camera at its core, the M10-D combines perfectly with the brand new Leica FOTOS app to transcend a solely classic shooting style and provide many of the features and functions offered by a modern, high-performance digital camera. By quickly switching the camera to the on position with Wi-Fi, the M10-D can seamlessly connect to an iOS or Android device, making it the perfect hybrid of analog feel and digital connectivity. The Leica FOTOS app allows easy use of the camera when on the go by enabling streamlined portable viewing, sharing of images and the selection of core camera settings. The app can also provide exposure settings and can be used as a remote viewfinder and camera shutter in live view mode. All personalized settings made from the app are saved and stored in the camera, enabling photographers to configure and custom tailor the Leica M10-D to meet their specific needs. The Leica FOTOS app can also be used to transfer pictures to iOS and Android devices for sharing in social media channels and saving to a personal photostream. With the Leica M10-D and the Leica FOTOS app, photographers can choose how analog or how digital they want their photographic experience to be, ensuring they find the perfect balance for their everyday journey in photography.
The Leica M10-D will be on sale beginning today at Leica Stores, Boutiques and Dealers for $7,995. The Leica FOTOS App will also be available as a free download from the Google Play Store™ and the Apple App Store™ on the same date.
Technical specifications:
| Product name | Leica M10-D |
| Camera type | Digital rangefinder system camera |
| Lens mount | Leica M bayonet |
| System lenses | Leica M-Lenses |
| Viewfinder | Large, bright, combined bright-line viewfinder / rangefinder with automatic parallax compensation |
| Processor | Leica Maestro II |
| Sensor | CMOS-chip, active area approx. 24 x 36 mm, 24 MP |
| ISO range | 100 – 50,000 |
| Storage media | SD cards from 2 GB, SDHC cards up to 32 GB, SDXC cards up to 2 TB |
| Buffer memory | 2 GB |
| WLAN | The WLAN function can be used only in combination with the Leica FOTOS app. Available free from the Apple App Store™ or the Google Play Store™. |
| Body | Full-metal body: diecast magnesium alloy, leather trim; top plate and baseplate: brass, black |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 139 x 37.9 x 80 mm |
| Weight | approx. 660 g (with battery) |
