Thread: Leica to sell Black and White sensor "M" camera? (rumor)

Look for the Leica M9-M in a few days. Rumored price $8,500 or $9,000.

Spoke with a Leica dealer yesterday.

He said he's not exactly sure when the M10 will be announced, it could very well be May 10 but if so, it won't be available until around September. What he does know is that the new M10 will have a Nikon sensor the likes of the D800. The Kodak sensor will be permanently retired.

What will be announced on May 10 will be the B&W M9, of which Leica will produce only about 1000 limited edition copies (I bet that will be priced out of reach for the vast majority of us), using the surplus Kodak sensors before they move on to the new Nikon sensors.

Another camera announced on May 10 will be a mirrorless interchangeable camera.

I cannot believe that "surplus" sensors will be used for a Monochrome version of the camera. A custom run of the KAF-18500 is required to leave the dye out of the mosaic layer. If the camera is nothing more than "fancy embedded firware" to "black-and-whiteize" the output from a color sensor, it is a waste of effort.

The Kodak sensor group did not close their doors, they are under new ownership. If they are doing a new run of monochrome detectors, and Leica is doing a new version of firmware to handle both a color and monochrome version of detector- then existing cameras could be fitted with the monochrome CCD.

We'll find out soon enough. I'm betting on a Monochrome version of the KAF-18500.

On a humorous note- When I called Kodak last year to ask what it would take to do a custom run of the KAF-18500 in monochrome, one of the engineers remembered me from when I called about an Infrared version of the KAF-1600. The answer was about the same, needed a run of about 50. On that one, they called back and told me they were doing it.

Mirrorless Rumors | Blog | Leica Monochrome sensor made by Platinum Equity (Kodak sensor).

Originally Posted by Brian

I cannot believe that "surplus" sensors will be used for a Monochrome version of the camera.

'Surplus' was my own word. It was the impression given to me by the Leica dealer that the B&W M9 is Leica's last hurrah with the Kodak sensor with whatever they had left - that is, whether it's their last contracted run of sensors or otherwise.

Forgot to mention - not sure if there is going to be a digital back too.......

Mirrorless Rumors | Blog | The Leica B&W M mount camera has 18 megapixels! Announcement tomorrow!

I've used Kodak IR, Konica IR, and SFX films. Several things could make a B&W digital camera interesting:
- ability to adjust the spectral response to UV or Visible or Near-IR or recover select spectra from RAW
- EVF for focus confirmation especially for UV and IR where focus is shifted
- ISO selection that includes very low settings, e.g. ISO 6, 12, 25, 50 so I can shoot wide-open at slow shutter speeds
- ability to tether to an iPad or laptop for critical EVF viewing and touchscreen UI

I know I'm way way off, but I can dream.

Official release.

Leica announces M-Monochrom black-and-white 18MP rangefinder : Digital Photography Review

I'm happy to see this- there has not been a monochrome camera since the Kodak 760m. Monochrome backs exist, but are VERY expensive - even compared to a Leica M9.

It will make a lot of photographers very happy.