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In this day and age of digital photography, the vast majority of high-end cameras are essentially identical, with a recent emphasis placed on cutting-edge capabilities such as AI-powered autofocus and HDR electronic viewfinders. Leica rangefinders are a return to a more straightforward era, since they eschew electronic viewfinders (EVFs) in favor of optical finders and AI-powered autofocus in favor of, well, manual focus.
The M11 Monochrom goes much farther, with a purpose-built black-and-white image sensor that records luminance in exquisite shades of gray, without any indication of color. The price for the body only of this camera is $9,195. It is tough to ignore the price, which puts a rangefinder out of reach for many people, including young creatives who would actually benefit from purchasing one. However, the M11 Monochrom is a unique camera that deserves our Editors’ Choice award if you have the financial means to purchase it.
Leica M11 Monochrom Specifications
In the modern digital age, most high-end cameras are built from the same mold, with a concentration on cutting-edge capabilities such as artificial intelligence-powered autofocus and HDR electronic viewfinders.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Memory | 256GB internal, UHS-II 1x SD / SDHC / SDXC |
| LCD | 3-inch fixed touchscreen, 1,036,800 dots |
| Technology | Triple-Resolution technology 60/36/18 MP |
| Dimensions | 139 x 38.5 x 80mm |
| Weight | 2.96 lbs |
| ISO range | 125 to 200,000 |
| Link | Check Price |
Leica M11 Monochrom: Design and Build Quality
The Leica M11 Monochrom is a fantastic choice for a camera to take on a trip. The portable form factor is ideal for the traveling photographer, whether to nearby cities or faraway lands. The black version of the original M11’s top plate was made of aluminum, making it lighter than the chrome version’s brass construction. The M11 Monochrom has a manageable 540 grams of weight thanks to its matte black and aluminum top plate. I choose the aluminum build over the brass because of how well it balances in my hands while using a rangefinder camera.
Like the original M11, I appreciate that the M11 Monochrom has a fixed bottom plate. The M11’s ancestors all feature a detachable plate that serves as a throwback but also adds an extra step when trying to access the phone’s battery or memory card slots. The new design is much better, and I love that I can use a USB-C cable to charge and sync the camera.
Leica M11 Monochrom: Image and video quality
The M11 Monochrom is not a video camera, so keep that in mind. It’s really bad, because older Monochrom models included video, and adding it was simple. It’s possible, though, that Leica owners have specifically requested no video capture at all. Having something you don’t want or need is always preferable to being without something you need or might want someday.
Although there is no accompanying video, the picture quality is excellent. The M11 Monochrom has a full-frame, 60-megapixel, monochrome BSI CMOS sensor with a pixel pitch of 3.76 micrometers. This sensor performs exceptionally well in low-light conditions and in the presence of noise. There are additional resolution options, including 18MP, 30MP, and 60MP. Although most people should shoot at the maximum resolution possible so they have more cropping options, it’s still helpful to have the ability to shoot at lower resolutions if necessary.
Leica M11 Monochrom: Performance
The Leica M11 Monochrom is a high-performance digital rangefinder camera made especially for black-and-white photos. It has a 60MP full-frame sensor that doesn’t have a color filter array. This lets it record more detail and a wider range of tones than a traditional color sensor. The M11 Monochrom also has a quick autofocus system, an electronic viewfinder with a high resolution, and a strong magnesium metal body.
In terms of how well it works, the M11 Monochrom can take beautiful black-and-white photos. The camera picks up a wide range of tones, and the pictures are clear and sharp. The autofocus system is also fast and accurate, which makes it easy to take sharp pictures of things that are moving.
Leica M11 Monochrom: Price and availability
In April 2023, just over a year after the Leica M11, which has a color sensor, the Leica M11 Monochrom was revealed and sold. This is how most Leica goods work. The price tag of $9,195/£8,300/AU$14,990 (body only) might make your eyes water, but you can buy it right away from Leica stores and approved retailers.
Leica lenses are expensive, just like Leica cameras. Most of the time, they cost between 50% and 100% of what an M-series camera body does, and sometimes even more. This is something to think about if you don’t already have a Leica and have one or two lenses.
Final Words
There’s no question that the Leica M11 Monochrom is a specialized camera that won’t work for everyone and isn’t meant to. Its clear limitation, that it can only record in black and white, will make many people happy, but even more people won’t understand it. I wouldn’t want to stop shooting in color completely, but the idea of a black-and-white camera is pretty cool. The fact that this camera takes better black-and-white photos than any other camera I’ve ever used makes it even more appealing.
Leica M11 Monochrom review: The good and The bad
The fit and finish of Leica cameras are unrivaled, and the M11 Monochrom seems to have been constructed with meticulous attention to detail across its entirety.
The Good
- Bright optical finder
- Works with M lenses
The Bad
- Expensive
Questions and Answers
A higher 125 base ISO means that more light is getting to the sensor, which is always good for picture quality. Noise that makes the picture look bad is less noticeable than on other cameras with similar sensors.
The M11 is made for light industrial places with fairly constant and loud background noise. There shouldn’t be much need for more noise reduction, since engine exhaust noise is kept at the same level as it is now.