Leica M mount

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 article is about the Leica M lens mount system. For the Leica M digital camera (released in September 2012), see Leica M (Typ 240).
Leica M mount
Leica M3 and M Mount 50mm lens
TypeBayonet
External diameter44 mm
Tabs4
Flange27.8 mm
ConnectorsFocal lens indicator for frame selection in the viewfinder

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]

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
  • M mount female part of the bayonet on a Leica M3 body. The mechanical sensor seen inside the top of the mount is the rangefinder coupling arm
    M mount female part of the bayonet on a Leica M3 body. The mechanical sensor seen inside the top of the mount is the rangefinder coupling arm
  • M mount male part of the bayonet on the Leica Elmar 90mm f/4.
    M mount male part of the bayonet on the Leica Elmar 90mm f/4.
  • The Leica M3 shutter speed dial, film advance lever, shutter button and the frame counter.
    The Leica M3 shutter speed dial, film advance lever, shutter button and the frame counter.
  • The Leica M3 ASA dial, purely decorative reminder of the Film speed showing DIN and ASA comparison dial.
    The Leica M3 ASA dial, purely decorative reminder of the Film speed showing DIN and ASA comparison dial.
  • Leica "red dot" logo.
    Leica "red dot" logo.

M Mount camera bodies

Film cameras
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

Professional
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

 • Capable of capturing Full HD 1080p video

 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

Entry-Level
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

Monochrom
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

No display
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

Increased resolution
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

Other manufacturers

M mount lenses
Summary of Leica M lenses
Speed Name 21mm 24mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 75mm 90mm 135mm
f/5.6 Summaron Green tickY
f/4.0
Super-Angulon Green tickY
Macro Elmar Green tickY
Elmar Green tickYGreen tickY
Tele-Elmar Green tickY
Tri-Elmar ASPH 16-18-21mm
28-35-50mm
f/3.8 Elmar ASPH. Green tickY
f/3.5 Summaron Green tickY
f/3.4 Super-Elmar ASPH. Green tickY
Apo-Telyt Green tickY
f/2.8 Elmar Green tickY
Elmarit Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
Elmarit ASPH. Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
Tele-Elmarit Green tickY
f/2.5 Summarit Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
f/2 Summicron Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
Summicron ASPH. Green tickYGreen tickY
APO Summicron Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
f/1.4 Summilux Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
Summilux ASPH. Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
f/1.25 Noctilux ASPH. Green tickY
f/1.2 Noctilux Green tickY
Noctilux ASPH Green tickY
f/1 Noctilux Green tickY
f/0.95 Noctilux ASPH. Green tickY

Other manufacturers

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leica M.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leica M lenses.

References
  1. "Leica M Mount in the Leica Glossary". apotelyt.com. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  2. Taylor, David (2014). Leica M Typ 240 Expanded Guide. United Kingdom: Ammonite Press. ISBN 1781450390.
  3. Ruffatti, Isabella (20 October 2022). "Leica brings back the Leica M6 and Leica Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 lens". Amateur Photographer. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  4. "Leica M-A Details". us.leica-camera.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  5. "Leica M8: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  6. "Leica M9: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  7. "Leica M9-P: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  8. "Leica M Typ 240: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  9. "Leica M-P (Typ 240): Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  10. "Leica M10: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  11. "Leica M10-P: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  12. "Leica M-E Typ 220: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  13. "Leica M (Typ 262): Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  14. "Leica M-E (Typ 240): Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  15. "Leica M-Monochrom: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  16. "Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246): Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  17. "Leica M10 Monochrom: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  18. "Leica M-D (Typ 262) Review". Imaging Resource. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  19. "Leica M10-D: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  20. "Details // Leica M10-R // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG". uk.leica-camera.com. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
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