New Leica M Monochrom Digital RangeFinder Announced

Leica has announced the new Leica M Monochrom, with a full frame monochrome 18 megapixel sensor, the camera comes with Lightroom 4 and Silver Efex Pro 2.

From Leica: Countless iconic black-and-white photographs have been shot with the legendary cameras of the Leica M-System.

So it was time for a camera to continue this tradition and finally make it possible to deliver authentic monochrome photography in digital form: the Leica M Monochrom. It is the first full-frame, 35 mm format digital camera to be designed exclusively and without any compromises for black-and-white photography. It delivers ‘true' black-and-white images in unrivalled sharpness and dynamic range. This makes the M Monochrom the perfect camera for anyone with a passion for black-and-white photography.

Incomparably sharp

With a full native resolution of 18 megapixels, the Leica M Monochrom delivers 100% sharper images than with colour sensors. As its sensor does not ‘see' colours, every pixel records true luminance values - as a result, it delivers a ‘true' black-and-white image. The combination of the brilliant imaging qualities of Leica M-Lenses and the image sensor results in images with outstanding sharpness and natural brilliance.

Complete image control

The Leica M Monochrom more than satisfies the expectations of discerning users with a raw data histogram for the precise control of tonal values. The difference from conventional histograms is that it displays unprocessed and unmodified raw data. The combination of this with a configurable clipping display allows precise correction or optimisation of exposures.

At the touch of a button, images captured by the M Monochrom can be converted with characteristic toning effects from black-and-white film photography (sepia, cold or selenium toning). All users need to do is save the image in JPEG format and select the desired toning effect - simply and conveniently, and with no need for post-processing.

Monochrome Workflow

Leica M Monochrom buyers also benefit from a free online download option (available after registration of the camera) for the software packages; Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 4, a professional workflow solution and the world's leading black-and-white image processing software Silver Efex Pro™.

Silver Efex Pro 2™ offers an impressive collection of unique and powerful, darkroom-inspired tools for the creation of high quality black-and-white images. Silver Efex Pro 2 emulates over 20 different types of black-and-white film to recreate the glory of classical black-and-white film photography. The emulation of each film type is based on the analysis of many rolls of the respective type and guarantees perfect reproduction of the characteristic look of many popular films from ISO 32 to ISO 3200.

Leica Monochrom prints - an exclusive service for M Monochrom customers

In collaboration with WhiteWall, the premium photo finishers, the Leica M Monochrom print service offers customers an opportunity to have exclusive black-and-white prints made from their images. With this service, digital images from the Leica M Monochrom can be printed on premium-quality baryte photographic papers. Thanks to development in the classical wet-chemical silver halide process, the prints are hardly distinguishable from their analogue counterparts printed from negatives.

Leica M Monochrom Specifications

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