Leica has a long history with documentary photography. And it’s often in places where you need to be as quiet and inconspicuous as possible. To help aid in that, Leica today announces the Leica M10-P with its “almost inaudible” mechanical shutter. The observant ones amongst you will also notice that it doesn’t have the proud red dot branding, either.
- Sensor: Full Frame 24MP CMOS
- Lens Mount: Leica M Bayonet
- Compatible Lenses: Leica M, Leica R via adapter
- Storage: SD Card
- LCD: 3″ TFT 1.04MP touch screen
- ISO: 100-50000
- Continuous shooting: Up to 5fps
- Connectivity: Built in WiFi
- Video capabilities: None
- Dimensions: 139 x 38.5 x 80 mm
- Weight: Approx. 675g (with battery)
Other than the missing red dot, it looks almost identical to the regular Leica M10. In many respects, it is identical. And, like the M10 it’s available in both black chrome and silver chrome. But without the red dot and the quiet mechanical shutter, it should allow you to more easily blend in and not stand out as a photographer documenting whatever event is unfolding in front of you.
Street photography is another aspect of photography that Leica is famous for where being inconspicuous is definitely very handy. While people may still notice you pointing a camera at them, at least they won’t be able to hear it.
To test just how “exceptionally discreet” it was, Grammy-nominated photographer Mathieu Bitton has been using one.
Never before have I shot with a more discreet camera. The M10-P feels like stealth version of my beloved M film cameras. It fully retains that signature M nature, while being so quiet and unobtrusive that my subjects barely realize I’m photographing them. That’s such an important thing in the type of photography I do. The less I distract my subjects, the more genuine moments I’m able to capture.
– Mathieu Bitton
It’s a little weird to see a Leica without the signature red dot. But if you’re going to understate a Leica, removing the red button is definitely a start. You can still easily tell by the build and style that it’s a Leica, though. So you’ll still be the envy of all your friends at the local camera club.
The Leica M10-P debuts what Leica says is a new touch-function fo the M-System. They say that it enables faster checking of focus while in liveview and playback modes, along with the usual swiping and pinch-to-zoom. It also features a built-in level gauge to ensure your camera’s straight every time.
Other than that, the Leica M-10P is essentially identical to the $7,295 Leica M10. The M10-P, costs a little more, at $7,995. Whether or not it’s worth the difference will depend on how badly you want that quiet mechanical shutter, and new touchscreen features. The Leica M10-P does not replace the M10 in Leica’s lineup. The two will co-exist.
Leica says that the Leica M10-P is available from today, although some online stores have it listed for pre-order. Regardless, if you want one, as mentioned, they’re $7,995 and available in black chrome or silver chrome.
