M10vs M11 Monochrom
Leica
M11 Monochrom (2023)
Starting from £8300 new
Best for Black & White Photography
View M11 Monochrom
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street & Documentary — M10 (2017): The M10 returned Leica to its roots — thinner, cleaner, and video-free by design. The 24MP sensor is the perfect resolution for a manual-focus rangefinder. The simplified control layout respects the M tradition without digital clutter. A camera for photographers who want to slow down and engage with every frame. One of the most satisfying cameras to use — assuming you have M-mount glass to pair with it.
Black & White Photography — M11 Monochrom (2023): The M11 Monochrom is the finest black-and-white camera in the world. A 60MP sensor with no colour filter array produces sharpness and tonal depth no colour camera can match — combined with extended high-ISO performance. Manual focus, no video, and an extraordinary price make it a specialist instrument, but for dedicated B&W photographers it is unmatched.
Who should buy what
M10 (2017)
- Serious photographers who want to slow down
- Street and documentary photographers
- Leica M-mount lens owners
M11 Monochrom (2023)
- Dedicated black-and-white photographers who demand the finest possible monochrome files
- Fine art and documentary photographers who work exclusively in B&W
- Leica M system users who want maximum monochrome image quality
- Astrophotographers — monochrome sensors excel at capturing fine star detail
Quick take: The m11 monochrom has the highest resolution at 60mp; the m10 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M10 (2017) | M11 Monochrom (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,000 | £8,300 |
| Sensor | 24MP Full-Frame CMOS | 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array) |
| Resolution | 24.0MP | 60.3MP |
| Autofocus | Manual focus (rangefinder coupled) | Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus) |
| Stabilisation | None | — |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~700 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 660g (with battery) | 530g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 139 × 80 × 38.5mm | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Leica M-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storage |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M10 | M11 Monochrom |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Casual | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history