Leica M mount

Last updated
Leica M mount
Leica M3 & Elmar 50mm f-2.8 (5503366942).jpg
Leica M3 and M Mount 50mm lens
TypeBayonet
External diameter44 mm
Tabs4
Flange 27.8 mm
ConnectorsFocal 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.

Contents

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]

Overview

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]

Namef-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

M Mount camera bodies

Film cameras

ImageNameYearExposureNotes
Leica M3 & Elmar 50mm f-2.8 (5503366928).jpg
Leica M3 1954–1966Manual  First bayonet M mount camera

  220,000 produced in Germany

Leica M2 vir.jpg
Leica M2 1957–1968Manual  Around 82,000 produced in Germany

  Around 1,500 produced in Canada

Leica M1.jpg
Leica M1 1959–1964Manual  Around 9,431 produced
Leica M4-P.JPG
Leica M4 1964–1975Manual  Redesigned film loading and film winding

  Introduction of the "red dot"

  Versions: Leica MDa, Leica M4-2, Leica M4-P

Leica M5.jpg
Leica M5 1971–1975Manual
TTL metering
  Redesigned body

  First M mount with electronic Through-the-lens metering (TTL)

Leica M6 TTL front.jpg
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 IMG 1990.jpg
Leica M7 2002–2018Manual
TTL metering
Aperture priority semi-automatic
  Electronically controlled, requires battery to operate fully

  Electronic shutter control and semi-automatic mode

Leica MP IMG 2672.jpg
Leica MP 2003–presentManual
TTL metering
  Vintage design

  Removal of the "red dot"

Leica M-A [4] 2014–presentManual  Rerelease of the M3 design

  Manual exposure only

Digital cameras

Professional

ImageNameYearSensorNotes
Leica-m8 hg.JPG
Leica M8 [5] 2006–200910 megapixel CCD sensor, APS-H size  First digital M mount camera

  3936 x 2630 max resolution

  2.5″ inch screen

Leica M9.jpg
Leica M9 [6] 2009–201218 megapixel full-frame CCD sensor  First full-frame digital M mount camera

  5212 x 3472 max resolution

  2.5″ inch screen

Leica M9-P cropped.jpg
Leica M9-P [7] 2011–201218 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-240-P4140434-white.jpg
Leica M (Typ 240) [8] 2012–201724 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor  5952 x 3976 max resolution

  3″ inch screen

  Capable of capturing Full HD 1080p video

Leica M-P (Typ 240) with Summicron-M 1-2-35 mm ASPH L1008131.jpg
Leica M-P (Typ 240) [9] 2014–201724 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 black.jpg
Leica M10 [10] 2017–present24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor  5952 x 3992 max resolution

  3″ inch screen

  Wi-Fi capability

Leica M10-P (Typ 3656) schwarz.jpg
Leica M10-P [11] 2018–202224 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 with Summicron-M 50mm F2 lens.jpg
Leica M11 2022–present60 megapixel full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor   9528 x 6328 max resolution

  3″ inch screen

  No removable bottom plate

 64Gb of internal memory

Entry-Level

ImageNameYearSensorNotes
Leica M-E Typ 220.jpg
Leica M-E (Typ 220) [12] 2012–201518 megapixel CCD sensor  5212 x 3472 Max resolution

  2.5″ inch screen

Leica M (Typ 262) front with a Leitz 28mm Elmarit lens.jpg
Leica M (Typ 262) [13] 2015–201924 megapixel CMOS sensor  5952 x 3976 Max resolution

  3″ inch screen

Leica M-E (Typ 240) [14] 2019–present24 megapixel CMOS sensor  5976 x 3992 Max resolution

  3″ inch screen

  Capable of capturing Full HD 1080 video

Monochrom

ImageNameYearSensorNotes
Leica M Monochrom.jpeg
Leica M Monochrom [15] 2012–201518 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] 2015–202024 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 01.jpg
Leica M10 Monochrom [17] 2020–present41 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

No display

ImageNameYearSensorNotes
Leica M-D.jpg
Leica M-D (Typ 262) [18] 2016–201824 megapixel CMOS sensor  No Rear LCD Screen

  The only control on the body is via the shutter speed and ISO dials

Leica M10-D (Typ 9217).jpg
Leica M10-D [19] 2018–present24 megapixel CMOS sensor  7840 x 5184 Max resolution

  No Rear LCD Screen

Increased resolution

ImageNameYearSensorNotes
Leica M10-R [20] 2020–present40 megapixel CMOS sensor  3" inch screen TFT LCD monitor

  The only control on the body is via the shutter speed and ISO dials

Other manufacturers

M mount lenses

Summary of Leica M lenses
SpeedName21mm24mm28mm35mm50mm75mm90mm135mm
f/5.6SummaronGreen check.svg
f/4.0
Super-AngulonGreen check.svg
Macro ElmarGreen check.svg
ElmarGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Tele-ElmarGreen check.svg
Tri-Elmar ASPH16-18-21mm
28-35-50mm
f/3.8Elmar ASPH.Green check.svg
f/3.5SummaronGreen check.svg
f/3.4Super-Elmar ASPH.Green check.svg
Apo-TelytGreen check.svg
f/2.8ElmarGreen check.svg
ElmaritGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Elmarit ASPH.Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Tele-ElmaritGreen check.svg
f/2.5SummaritGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
f/2SummicronGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Summicron ASPH.Green check.svgGreen check.svg
APO SummicronGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
f/1.4SummiluxGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Summilux ASPH.Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
f/1.25Noctilux ASPH.Green check.svg
f/1.2NoctiluxGreen check.svg
Noctilux ASPHGreen check.svg
f/1NoctiluxGreen check.svg
f/0.95Noctilux ASPH.Green check.svg

Other manufacturers

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leica M10-D</span> Camera model

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References

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