The Leica M 10-P by Jonathan Slack
Image by Jonathan Slack
Introduction
Leica has been creating incremental updates of their digital M cameras since the M8.2, adding a sapphire crystal rear display, different framelines and a quieter shutter in 2009. Of course, there have also been many limited edition cameras, but they haven't normally had any technical changes.
The M9 existed in 4 basic models:
M9 in 2009
M9-P in 2011 - this established the 'P' version with a sapphire glass LCD, a screw as a replacement for the red dot and with the Classic Leica logo on the top plate.
M Monochrom in 2012 which was similar to the M9-P but with a revolutionary monochrome sensor
M-E was a reduced cost model which was missing the frameline selector and the USB port and a dark grey body.
The M(240) added another variant
M type (240) announced at Photokina in September 2012 (at the same time as the M-E) but not delivered until 2013.
M-P type (240) announced in 2014 had a larger screw to replace the red dot and a larger buffer. No sapphire glass screen as the gorilla glass of the basic model was sufficient. Once again it had the classic Leica logo on the top plate.
The M type (262) arrived in December 2015 and was the reduced cost model (the equivalent of the M-E). It had a smaller buffer and an aluminum top plate to reduce the weight.
M-D type(262) was inspired by the success of a limited edition camera (the M edition 60 from 2014) without a rear LCD the camera had no rear screen (replaced by an ISO dial).
M Monochrom type(246) was released in April 2015 with a black and white sensor without the Bayer filter array.
The M10 was released in January 2017 and has proved to be a real success: In a sense, it was 'back to basics'. The camera has a body the same thickness as an M7 and has abandoned video (nobody seemed to notice) and much more controversially the level gauge of the M240. 18 months on (as has now become traditional) it's time for the first variant, and here is the M10-P.In the past, I haven't written about the 'P' cameras as they have only amounted to cosmetic changes (and I don't usually get sent a camera to test). The M10-P is rather a different thing, there are some serious changes from the M10, some of which are going to make a lot of people very happy!
Generally speaking, I have a camera for several months, often (by coincidence) coinciding with one of our trips abroad. In this case, I've only had a camera for a week or two, and we have been firmly embedded on the Norfolk and Suffolk border.
So I decided to take pictures of the world around me.
My role with Leica is to test the cameras, not to write reviews of them, and it’s important to understand that this article is not intended to be a critical review. If I find something wrong with a camera, then I tell Leica. Having said that, this article is my work, nobody has suggested what I should write, and I certainly wouldn’t say anything that I don’t believe to be the case or omit anything that seemed to be an issue.
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