Leica MLeica announced the new Leica M rangefinder camera earlier this week. It wasn't named the M10, but just M. The new rangefinder will have:
- 24Mpix CMOS sensor
- Better ISO performance
- Live-view with focus peaking
- Movie-mode (max. 1080p@25fps)
- Better dynamic range
- Bigger and better LCD screen
- Leica R Lens compatible (with optional adapter)
- Optional Electronic Viewfinder
- Optional Grip with extra features (external flash, power, usb, etc.)
The price will be around the original M9 pricing (€6800), and available in the beginning of 2013. The price is a steep figure compared to other (dSLR) camera's, but that shouldn't be a surprise. In hindsight, the price is lower what the rumors predicted (around €8000).
Will I want one? Sure, but not before the camera is on the market for at least a year, so that the firmware has matured, and all the annoyances/bugs are fully documented.
With the purchase of a new Leica M, I fear that I have to sell my Nikon gear (along with the current M9 off-course). This is more of a sentimental issue, since I hardly use the Nikon anyway. I use my M9 >95% of the time.
So keep an eye on this blog, to see if I'm really gonna get me a Leica M within the next two years (or so).