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When Leica launched its first 35mm rangefinder-style camera a century ago, little did they know the company would become one of the most acclaimed in the photography industry. Since then, Leica models have evolved immensely, with the L-mount alliance further forging Leica’s name in the annals of history. However, we are not here to discuss the company’s complex history but to point out a few specific models that stand out in the recent decades of digital photography. Here is a brief look at why the best Leica cameras in the digital world stand out from the crowd.
Leica M9: The First
The Leica M9 was the first full-frame digital camera from the company, which also allowed users to use almost all M series lenses to their intended field of view. The camera featured an 18MP CCD sensor with the same classic M series design and build. However, since it was the first digital camera, there were some obvious challenges. For instance, it lacked an anti-aliasing filter, which led to color noise at high ISO. There was also the challenge of shooting portraits; the autofocus was slow in the dark, and the LCD screen was not high resolution enough (just 230,000 dots). But one could say that the M9 paved the way for Leica to become an exception in the digital camera range, with many professionals completely relying on it for their field work.
Lots of people still buy this camera today for the unique look it delivers. That surely makes it one of the best Leica cameras made in the digital world.
Leica S2: One of the Best Leica Cameras, for the Look
Before Fujifilm gave us a medium format compact camera, this feat was achieved by Leica, with the S2. The camera featured a boxy design that housed a 37.5MP 30x45mm sensor. It had an ISO range between 80-1250, a continuous shooting speed of 1.5fps up to 8 RAW GNG files, and a 3-inch 460,000-dot LCD. It also had an integral shutter, three-meter modes, and four exposure modes, with a flash sync of 1/125. In our review of the device, we said: “The image quality drastically improves from shooting compressed to uncompressed DNGs. And if you want the absolute best image quality from this camera, I recommend doing nothing else but shooting uncompressed.” The S2 may be a relic today, but it proves that the company always thinks way ahead every time.
The sensor is pretty much the same as the Leica M9 — making this one of the best Leica cameras for many reasons.
Leica Q2: Innovation and Durability
The Leica Q series was designed as a compact camera that can meet the demands of professional photographers. The Q2 was the first full-frame camera in this lineup, which housed a 47.3MP sensor, a 3.68MP EVF, a 28mm f1.7 fixed lens, and an ISO up to 50,000. It could also record 10fps of continuous shooting with a mechanical shutter and 20fps with an electronic shutter, along with 4K video capabilities. Some of the features the camera was exceptionally good at include image quality, weather sealing, a good and beautiful build, and an exceptional lens. From here on, the company worked on the camera’s shortcomings and gave us a perfect successor, the Q3.
Come on, we can all agree that this is one of the best Leica cameras for sure.
Leica D-Lux (TYP 109): A Great One!
The Leica D-Lux series was the first compact camera created by the company, and many said that it’s exactly like Panasonic’s LX series. The D-Lux 4 featured a 1/1.63-inch CCD image sensor, a 3.0-inch 460,000 dot LCD monitor, and a 24 to 60mm equivalent lens. As the series progressed, the D-Lux 5 came with a 10MP 1/6.3-inch sensor, while D-Lux 6 offered a 10.1MP 1/1.7-inch CMOS. However, to break away from this mold was the Leica D-Lux (Typ 109), which featured a 12.7 Micro Four Third sensor, offering a much higher quality of images. It also featured a 2.8MP electronic viewfinder, Vario-Summilux 10.9–34 mm f/1.7–2.8 ASPH zoom, and a high ISO sensitivity 25,600. One could say this camera changed the way high-end users would look at the compact lineup.
Leica X Vario (Typ 107): The Zoom is Strong
The X Vario (Typ 107) is the first compact camera with an APS-C sensor with a fixed lens in the world. The model comes with a 16.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor, an 18-46mm zoom lens, HD video recording, ISO up to 12,500, and a magnesium/aluminum build. In our review, we found the camera to produce excellent image quality, which could compete with APS-C cameras of its time. It is also built well and offers perfect user-centric ergonomics. However, the price tag, along with some of its flaws (such as autofocus speed and user interface), made it hard for us to give it a full five stars.
Leica M Monochrome: One of the Best Leica Cameras and Most Unique
The M Monochrome was the first Leica camera that decided to have a dedicated black and white sensor. It divided the photography industry back in the day, especially since the cameras from the company were only for the niche. The Monochrome featured an 18MP full-frame sensor, a 2.5-inch 230,000-dot LCD, and an ISO sensitivity of up to 10,000. It offered a flash synch speed of 1/180sec, a continuous shooting speed of 2 fps, and 600g of weight. While the camera excelled at high ISO performance, image quality, and compatibility with lenses, it had poor battery life. However, despite that, we absolutely loved the device. In our review, we said: “It’s hard for me to come up with anything poor to say about a camera that consistently ‘wow’ed’ me. I had a bigger grin on my face after shooting with this than I have in a long time, and that certainly has to stand for something.”
The company has continued to excel at every step of the way. So, we do hope that the German brand does the same in the future as well.
