Leica announces the M-E Typ 240 digital rangefinder: A more affordable M camera
posted Monday, June 24, 2019 at 2:30 PM EDT
Leica Camera has announced the newest member of their iconic Leica M family, the Leica M-E (Typ 240). The new M-E is aimed at newcomers to the M series while building upon the established formula of the existing Leica M Typ 240, which was released in 2012.
There are many similarities between the M-E and the M, including the use of a 24-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor, Leica Maestro processor, 0.68x optical viewfinder, 3-inch 920k-dot LCD, ISO 200-6400 range, 3 frames per second continuous shooting and Full HD video recording. The M-E Typ 240 also shares its camera body design with the M Typ 240, which means that it features a classic look and is handmade in Germany. The M-E has a magnesium alloy main body with a brass top plate. An area of differentiation is that the new M-E has an anthracite gray paint on the top and base plates, which Leica states has been developed specifically for the M-E.
With that said, the digital rangefinder Leica M-E is compatible with nearly all existing Leica M-Mount lenses. Further, Leica states that the camera is well-suited to "street and reportage photography." Ultimately, the biggest difference between the Leica M-E and the Leica M is its launch price. The Leica M-E Typ 240 is available for preorder for $3,995 and will be available by the end of July. The existing M Typ 240, on the other hand, is currently on sale for $5,795, which is a $1,200 savings compared to its list price.
