M11 Monochromvs Now Gen 3
Leica
M11 Monochrom (2023)
Starting from £8300 new
Best for Black & White Photography
View M11 Monochrom
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
Who should buy what
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
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M11 Monochrom (2023) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,300 | £120 |
| Sensor | 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array) | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Resolution | 60.3MP | — |
| Video | — | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus) | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | — | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | N/A |
| Battery Life | ~700 shots (CIPA) | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 530g (body only) | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots | N/A |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storage | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M11 Monochrom | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with M11 Monochrom
Camera family history