Leica M Monochrom Digital Rangefinder Camera Body, Black {18MP} 10760 ORIGINAL SENSOR *This item is NOT COVERED by the KEH.com WARRANTY

Leica M Monochrom Typ 246: the full-frame camera that shoots only black and white

The Typ 246 exists because removing the color filter array from a full-frame 18MP CMOS sensor changes what that sensor can do. Without the Bayer pattern, every photosite captures luminance directly, which means finer tonal gradations, lower noise at high ISOs, and a resolving quality that color sensors of equivalent megapixel counts simply cannot match. The native ISO range runs from 320 to 25000, and the files at the upper end hold detail in a way that makes grain feel intentional than problematic.

The body itself is the proven M rangefinder form: 139 x 42 x 80 mm, 680 grams with battery, an optical rangefinder viewfinder at 0.68x magnification, and manual focus as the default mode of operation. There is no scene automation, no built-in flash, no image stabilization. Leica stripped the top deck of branding, which gives the camera an understated presence on the street. The Maestro processor handles DNG capture, and the 3-inch, 921,000-dot LCD added in this generation over the original M Monochrom is a genuine ergonomic improvement. A dedicated video shutter release button supports 1080p recording at 24p or 25p, though the Typ 246 earns its keep in stills.

The M-mount ecosystem is the real long-term asset here. Decades of Leica M glass, from Summicrons to Elmarits, mount natively. With adapters, the body accepts lenses from Nikon, Canon, and Contax, among others. For a photographer who has already invested in M-mount glass, this is the logical body to put behind it when the work demands monochrome.

Who It's For

Street photographers working in low light will find the ISO 25000 ceiling genuinely usable in ways that interpolated monochrome from a color sensor is not. Documentary photographers drawn to the rangefinder workflow get a body that disappears in public and demands deliberate shooting. Fine art photographers printing large will get the most from the 18MP sensor's tonal rendering, where the absence of a color filter array produces a quality of detail that color-converted RAW files cannot replicate. Existing Leica M-mount collectors have an obvious application: a dedicated black-and-white body to pair alongside a color M body, sharing glass across both.

Key Features

• 18.0MP full-frame monochrome CMOS sensor captures pure luminance without Bayer filter array
• ISO 320-25000 native range with intentional grain character at high settings
• Full-frame optical rangefinder viewfinder at 0.68x magnification, manual focus only
• Leica M-mount with native compatibility for decades of M-mount glass and adapter options
• 1080p video recording at 24p or 25p via dedicated video shutter button
• RAW (DNG) capture with Maestro processor, 3-inch 921,000-dot LCD rear display
• Shutter range 60 sec to 1/4000 sec with aperture and shutter priority exposure modes
• 680g rangefinder body with no image stabilization, no built-in flash, no scene automation

FAQ

What makes a monochrome sensor different from a color sensor?

The Typ 246's sensor has no Bayer color filter array, so every photosite captures luminance directly instead of being filtered for red, green, or blue. This delivers finer tonal separation, lower noise at high ISOs, and resolving power that a color sensor with the same megapixel count cannot match.

Is this camera usable above ISO 6400?

Yes. The native range extends to ISO 25000, and files at the upper end retain detail in a way that makes grain feel part of the image rather than an artifact to clean up.

Do I need Leica lenses to use this camera?

No. Any Leica M-mount glass works natively. With adapters, you can mount Nikon F, Canon EF, and Contax lenses, among others. The M-mount ecosystem spans decades of optics.

What's the viewfinder experience like for manual focus work?

The optical rangefinder viewfinder is 0.68x magnification, which is standard for the M system. Manual focus is the only focus method available-there's no autofocus at all. You focus using the rangefinder patch in the center of the frame, same as a film M camera.

Can I record video with this camera?

Yes. The dedicated video shutter button on the top deck lets you record 1080p at 24p or 25p, or 720p at the same frame rates. Video is a secondary function; this camera is built for stills.

Does the Typ 246 have image stabilization?

No. There's no electronic or mechanical stabilization. Handheld work requires stable technique or faster glass-another reason the M-mount ecosystem's fast primes are a natural fit.

What's the improvement over the original M Monochrom?

The Typ 246 adds a larger 3-inch, 921,000-dot LCD (up from smaller size on the original), a dedicated video button, a Live View button, larger rectangular rear buttons instead of tiny circular ones, and a single rocker pad for navigation instead of four discrete directional buttons.