Type | Bayonet |
---|---|
External diameter | 44 mm |
Tabs | 4 |
Flange | 27.8 mm |
Connectors | Focal lens indicator for frame selection in the viewfinder |
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been used on all the Leica M-series cameras and certain accessories (e.g. Visoflex reflex viewing attachment) up to the current film Leica M-A and digital Leica M11 cameras.
This lens mount has also been used by Epson, Ricoh, Minolta, Konica, Cosina Voigtländer, Rollei, Carl Zeiss AG and Rollei Fototechnic on some of their cameras. [1]
The Leica M mount was introduced in 1954 at that year's Photokina show, with the Leica M3 as its first camera. The 'M' stands for Messsucher or rangefinder in German. This new camera abandoned the M39 lens mount in favour of a new bayonet mount. The bayonet mount allowed lenses to be changed more quickly and made the fitting more secure. Other innovations introduced by the M3 included a single window for the viewfinder (for composition) and the rangefinder (for focusing). With a double-stroke film advance lever (later models have a single-stroke lever). The M3 was a success and over 220,000 units were sold, by the time production ended in 1966. It remains the best-selling M mount camera ever made. The M3 uses 135 film (or 35 mm film), with the canister being loaded behind a detachable bottom plate. The M3 was followed by many other M mount cameras, released over 40 years, with many of the basic concepts remaining in these designs. With the introduction of the Through-the-lens metering (TTL) in the Leica M5 and the digital Leica M8 being the most notable innovations since then. [2]
The lenses for the M mount were also introduced in 1954 and were based on the earlier M39 thread mount. Almost all M mount lenses are Prime lenses. These lenses are divided by Leica based on their maximum aperture number (also known as f-number). They are distinguished by their names: [2]
Name | f-number |
---|---|
Noctilux | f/0.95 or f/1.0 or f/1.2 or f/1.25 |
Summilux | f/1.4 |
Summicron | f/2 |
Summarit | f/2.4 or f/2.5 |
Elmarit | f/2.8 |
Elmar, Super Elmar | f/2.8 or f/3.4 or f/3.8 or f/4 |
Summaron | f/3.5 or f/5.6 |
Hektor | f/4.5 |
Image | Name | Year | Exposure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M3 | 1954–1966 | Manual | • First bayonet M mount camera • 220,000 produced in Germany | |
Leica M2 | 1957–1968 | Manual | • Around 82,000 produced in Germany • Around 1,500 produced in Canada | |
Leica M1 | 1959–1964 | Manual | • Around 9,431 produced | |
Leica M4 | 1964–1975 | Manual | • Redesigned film loading and film winding • Introduction of the "red dot" • Versions: Leica MDa, Leica M4-2, Leica M4-P | |
Leica M5 | 1971–1975 | Manual TTL metering | • Redesigned body • First M mount with electronic Through-the-lens metering (TTL) | |
Leica M6 | 1984–2002, 2022–present [3] | Manual TTL metering | • Basically the M4 with TTL metering • Leica M6 (1984–1998) • Leica M6 TTL (1998–2002): Better viewfinder and electronic flash capability | |
Leica M7 | 2002–2018 | Manual TTL metering Aperture priority semi-automatic | • Electronically controlled, requires battery to operate fully • Electronic shutter control and semi-automatic mode | |
Leica MP | 2003–present | Manual TTL metering | • Vintage design • Removal of the "red dot" | |
Leica M-A [4] | 2014–present | Manual | • Rerelease of the M3 design • Manual exposure only |
Image | Name | Year | Sensor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M8 [5] | 2006–2009 | 10 megapixel CCD sensor, APS-H size | • First digital M mount camera • 3936 x 2630 max resolution • 2.5″ inch screen | |
Leica M9 [6] | 2009–2012 | 18 megapixel full-frame CCD sensor | • First full-frame digital M mount camera • 5212 x 3472 max resolution • 2.5″ inch screen | |
Leica M9-P [7] | 2011–2012 | 18 megapixel full-frame CCD sensor | • Removal of the "red dot", otherwise same as the Leica M9 • 5212 x 3472 max resolution • 2.5″ inch screen with sapphire crystal LCD glass | |
Leica M (Typ 240) [8] | 2012–2017 | 24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor | • 5952 x 3976 max resolution • 3″ inch screen | |
Leica M-P (Typ 240) [9] | 2014–2017 | 24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor | • Removal of the "red dot" and 2GB of RAM, otherwise same as the Leica M (Typ 240) • 5952 x 3976 max resolution • 3″ inch screen with sapphire crystal LCD glass • Capable of capturing Full HD 1080p video | |
Leica M10 [10] | 2017–present | 24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor | • 5952 x 3992 max resolution • 3″ inch screen • Wi-Fi capability | |
Leica M10-P [11] | 2018–2022 | 24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor | • Removal of the "red dot", adding touch screen and quieter shutter, otherwise same as the Leica M10 • 5952 x 3992 max resolution • 3″ inch screen • Wi-Fi capability | |
Leica M11 | 2022–present | 60 megapixel full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor | • 9528 x 6328 max resolution • 3″ inch screen • No removable bottom plate •64Gb of internal memory | |
Image | Name | Year | Sensor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M-E (Typ 220) [12] | 2012–2015 | 18 megapixel CCD sensor | • 5212 x 3472 Max resolution • 2.5″ inch screen | |
Leica M (Typ 262) [13] | 2015–2019 | 24 megapixel CMOS sensor | • 5952 x 3976 Max resolution • 3″ inch screen | |
Leica M-E (Typ 240) [14] | 2019–present | 24 megapixel CMOS sensor | • 5976 x 3992 Max resolution • 3″ inch screen • Capable of capturing Full HD 1080 video | |
Image | Name | Year | Sensor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M Monochrom [15] | 2012–2015 | 18 megapixel CCD sensor | • 5212 x 3472 Max resolution • 2.5″ inch screen • Black-and-white version of the M9 | |
Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) [16] | 2015–2020 | 24 megapixel CMOS sensor | • 5952 x 3968 Max resolution • 3″ inch screen with sapphire crystal LCD glass • Black-and-white version of the M (Typ 240) • Capable of capturing Full HD 1080 video | |
Leica M10 Monochrom [17] | 2020–present | 41 megapixel CMOS sensor | • 7864 x 5200 Max resolution • 3" inch screen TFT LCD monitor • Black-and-white version of the M10 • Dedicated ISO dial with ISO 160 to ISO 100.000 |
Image | Name | Year | Sensor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M-D (Typ 262) [18] | 2016–2018 | 24 megapixel CMOS sensor | • No Rear LCD Screen • The only control on the body is via the shutter speed and ISO dials | |
Leica M10-D [19] | 2018–present | 24 megapixel CMOS sensor | • 7840 x 5184 Max resolution • No Rear LCD Screen | |
Image | Name | Year | Sensor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M10-R [20] | 2020–present | 40 megapixel CMOS sensor | • 3" inch screen TFT LCD monitor • The only control on the body is via the shutter speed and ISO dials | |
Speed | Name | 21mm | 24mm | 28mm | 35mm | 50mm | 75mm | 90mm | 135mm |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
f/5.6 | Summaron | ||||||||
f/4.0 | |||||||||
Super-Angulon | |||||||||
Macro Elmar | |||||||||
Elmar | |||||||||
Tele-Elmar | |||||||||
Tri-Elmar ASPH | 16-18-21mm | ||||||||
28-35-50mm | |||||||||
f/3.8 | Elmar ASPH. | ||||||||
f/3.5 | Summaron | ||||||||
f/3.4 | Super-Elmar ASPH. | ||||||||
Apo-Telyt | |||||||||
f/2.8 | Elmar | ||||||||
Elmarit | |||||||||
Elmarit ASPH. | |||||||||
Tele-Elmarit | |||||||||
f/2.5 | Summarit | ||||||||
f/2 | Summicron | ||||||||
Summicron ASPH. | |||||||||
APO Summicron | |||||||||
f/1.4 | Summilux | ||||||||
Summilux ASPH. | |||||||||
f/1.25 | Noctilux ASPH. | ||||||||
f/1.2 | Noctilux | ||||||||
Noctilux ASPH | |||||||||
f/1 | Noctilux | ||||||||
f/0.95 | Noctilux ASPH. | ||||||||
A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder, typically a split-image rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus.
Leica Camera AG is a German company that manufactures cameras, optical lenses, photographic lenses, binoculars, and rifle scopes. The company was founded by Ernst Leitz in 1869, in Wetzlar, Germany. The name Leica is derived from the first three letters of the founder's surname (Leitz) and the first two of the word camera: lei-ca.
Carl Zeiss AG, branded as ZEISS, is a German manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics, founded in Jena, Germany in 1846 by optician Carl Zeiss. Together with Ernst Abbe and Otto Schott he laid the foundation for today's multinational company. The current company emerged from a reunification of Carl Zeiss companies in East and West Germany with a consolidation phase in the 1990s. ZEISS is active in four business segments with approximately equal revenue in almost 50 countries, has 30 production sites and around 25 development sites worldwide.
Cosina Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of high-end optical glass, optical precision equipment, cameras, video and electronic related equipment, based in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Rollei was a German manufacturer of optical instruments founded in 1920 by Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, and maker of the Rolleiflex and Rolleicord series of cameras. Later products included specialty and nostalgic type films for the photo hobbyist market.
The Nikon FM10 is a manual focus 35 mm film camera formerly sold by Nikon Corporation. It is of SLR design and was first available in 1995. It is normally sold in a kit that includes a Zoom Nikkor 35–70 mm f/3.5-4.8 zoom lens, although a Zoom Nikkor 70–210 mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom lens is also available. An electronic companion model known as the FE10 was also sold at one stage.
Lens speed is the maximum aperture diameter, or minimum f-number, of a photographic lens. A lens with a larger than average maximum aperture is called a "fast lens" because it can achieve the same exposure as an average lens with a faster shutter speed. Conversely, a smaller maximum aperture is "slow" because it delivers less light intensity and requires a slower (longer) shutter speed.
Cosina Voigtländer refers to photographic products manufactured by Cosina under the Voigtländer name since 1999. Cosina leases rights to the Voigtländer name from RINGFOTO GmbH & Co. ALFO Marketing KG in Germany. Cosina Voigtländer products have included 35mm film SLR and rangefinder camera bodies, and lenses for the M39 lens mount, M42 lens mount, Leica M mount, and other lens mounts.
The Bessa family of cameras was manufactured in Japan by Cosina as a revival of the Voigtländer brand name between 1999 and 2015.
The E-mount is a lens mount designed by Sony for their NEX and ILCE series of camcorders and mirrorless cameras. The E-mount supplements Sony's α mount, allowing the company to develop more compact imaging devices while maintaining compatibility with 35mm sensors. E-mount achieves this by:
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a digital camera with HD video recording capability that is part of the Micro Four Thirds system. Though commonly referred to as a DSLR camera, it has no mirror or optical viewfinder, but has instead both a fold-out LCD screen and a electronic viewfinder.
The Leica M-E is a digital rangefinder camera manufactured by Leica Camera. It was released on 17 September 2012. The M-E is Leica's first entry-level rangefinder model, with a technical specification that is nearly identical to the Leica M9, and based around the same 18MP full frame CCD sensor. It does not offer the M9's built-in USB port, but keeps pace with an identical 2 frames per second continuous shooting mode, hot shoe and Leica's classic rangefinder design. The M-E does not have a frame-lines lever, it preselects the correct frame-line for any lens when it is attached. The M-E, like the M9 and the M Monochrom was made of brass around a magnesium chassis. The M-E is only available with an anthracite grey paint finish.
The Leica M is a full-frame digital rangefinder camera of Leica Camera AG. It was introduced in September 2012, and is the successor to the Leica M9 range of cameras. The M uses a 24-megapixel image sensor. The camera is the first M model to feature movie recording, and the first to have Live View, which allows the scene, as viewed through the lens, to be composed. The M can use most M- and R-mount lenses. Leica M cameras are made by hand in Portugal and Germany. There is also a version, the M Monochrom, with a monochrome, rather than colour, sensor.
The Leica M10 is a full-frame digital rangefinder camera in Leica Camera AG's rangefinder M series. It accepts Leica M-mount lenses. The camera model was introduced on 19 January 2017. It is a successor to the Leica M9; and has similarities with and differences to the Leica M, Leica M, and Leica M Monochrom. There are five variants of the M10 line—the M10,M10-P,M10-D, and M10 Monochrom and M10-R.
The name Summarit is used by Leica to designate camera lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/2.4. The name has been in used since 1949.
The Leica M Monochrom is a digital rangefinder camera manufactured by Leica Camera. It was released on 30 April 2015. The Leica M Monochrom uses a full frame 24 Megapixels CMOS sensor that, like its predecessor the Leica M Monochrom, has no color filter array. It is therefore Leica's second black and white only camera. It is essentially a monochrome only version of the Leica M. The M Monochrom offers an increase in ISO range up to ISO 25,000, a new 3 inches 921,000-dot LCD screen and live view shooting including focus peaking and 10x magnification. Also included is full HD video recording.
The Leica M-D was a digital Rangefinder camera released by Leica Camera on 28 April 2016. The M-D is the second digital camera in the Leica M mount line-up without the rear LCD screen. The first such camera was the Leica M Edition 60 that founded on 16 September 2014, and was released to mark the sixtieth anniversary of its Leica M rangefinder system. Only 600 of these models were made, and were sold for about $18,000/£12,000. The M-D however was a full production model. The camera went on sale in May 2016 with a price of $5995/£4650.
The Leica M10-D is a digital Rangefinder camera released by Leica Camera on 24 October 2018. The M10-D succeeds the Leica M-D in the Leica no-LCD screen line of digital cameras. Otherwise the M10-D is similar to the Leica M10.
The Leica M10 Monochrom is a digital rangefinder camera manufactured by Leica Camera. It was released on 17 January 2020. A black and white only successor to the Leica M Monochrom and the Leica M Monochrom. The M10 Monochrom uses a full frame 40 Megapixels CMOS sensor that has no color filter on the sensor. The Leica M10 Monochrom is physically similar to the Leica M10 and Leica M10-P with a dedicated ISO dial on the top plate. The ISO ranges from 160 to 100,000. The M10 Monochrom has a 3" color TFT LCD monitor with 1,036,800 pixels covered with Gorilla Glass. The camera is made of all-metal die cast magnesium body, wrapped in synthetic leather covering, and brass top panel and base, with black chrome plated finish.