Leica M10

The Leica M10 is widely considered the camera that brought the digital M-system to maturity. Released in January 2017, it was engineered to address the primary complaint regarding its predecessor, the Leica M (Typ 240): size. The M10 features a top plate depth of just 33.75mm, making it exactly the same thickness as the legendary analog Leica M4. This reduction in bulk improved ergonomics significantly, allowing the camera to fit naturally in the hands of photographers accustomed to film Leicas.

At its core is a 24-megapixel Full-Frame CMOS sensor paired with the Maestro II image processor. Unlike previous generations, the M10 prioritized high ISO performance over pure resolution, offering a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 50,000 with impressive noise control. In a bold move to emphasize "Das Wesentliche" (The Essentials), Leica removed all video recording capabilities, microphone ports, and the "M" button from the top plate.

The M10 also introduced a dedicated mechanical ISO dial on the top left of the body, located where the film rewind crank would be on an analog M. This allows photographers to adjust ISO, aperture, and shutter speed without ever turning the camera on or looking at a menu screen. The viewfinder was also overhauled, featuring a 0.73x magnification (up from 0.68x) and a 30% larger field of view, making it the most comfortable digital viewfinder for eyeglass wearers to date.