You have to hand it to Leica for being bold enough to put the resources into releasing a niche version of its already niche M (Typ 240) ( at Amazon) . The M Monochrom (Typ 246) is the second iteration of the black and white digital rangefinder, following in the footsteps of the trailblazing M Monochrom ( at Amazon) , first released in 2012. The new Typ 246 ($7,450, body only) updates the technology inside to better stay in step with the modern world, adding a sharper rear LCD, Live View, and video recording to the classically designed camera. It's a lovely choice for photographers who see the world in black and white, as it offers some real advantages over shooting with a color camera. Our Editors' Choice in the full-frame mirrorless category is the much more mainstream Sony Alpha 7 II ($1,398.00 at Amazon) , but for rangefinder devotees it's no substitute. Design and FeaturesLeica hasn't made any radical changes to the basic design of M cameras in the past 60 years, so it's no su...
The manual focus, black and white-only Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) rangefinder camera isn't for everyone. But if it's for you, you'll love it.
True black and white image sensor; Live View with focus peaking; ISO 25000 support; Sharp rear LCD with sapphire glass cover; Bright optical viewfinder with rangefinder patch; Brass and magnesium construction; Dust and moisture resistant; Includes Adobe Lightroom license
Expensive; Video features could be better; A little slow to start; High base ISO can be an issue in bright light