Thinking of buying a Leica M digital camera in 2026? I'm not the fountain on knowledge on the matter. I didn't even care for Leica until January 2025 when I got my first one, just because I wanted to try it. But I have been on a crash course over the last 16months and have clear body of work and anecdotal experience to share for any budding new Leica-owner-to-be.
I'll start with the simplest of premises. I will present to you a High, Medium and Low cost option into the eco-system for digital-M camera body and the three most typical lenses - 28mm, 35mm and 50mm. Not the best, not the most ideal or even cheapest but what I just happen to land on.
Costs vary by country but I've used USD and B&H prices (new) - not because I'm US based (I'm not), or that I have affiliate links (I don't) but because it seems the easiest.
A Medley of Leica M cameras
Low - US$ 6,530
Leica M8 - US$ 2,400 (used)
(50mm) Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.4 - US$ 480
(35mm) Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH - US$ 3,000
(28mm) Thypoch Ksana 21mm f/3.5 - US$ 550
This would be the second Leica M body I bought after the M11-P. It's Leica's very first foray into the digital realm released in 2006 with a bespoke CCD sensor made by Kodak. By any measure, it's a terrible camera even at the time of release and included a bunch of peculiarities and bugs for free.
First the sensor is APS-H an odd standard size; second the shutter was prone to malfunction; third the sensor omitted the IR filter causing some blacks to turn brown and greens yellow; fourth it was slow; fifth dynamic range was abysmal.
But in 2026 these cameras have retained their charm and are sought after enthusiastically by a specific type of shooter who know what they want, and understand what they are getting.
First the sensor is made by Kodak and emulated the colours of that generation, meaning CCD and gorgeous - just don't use the JPGs; second the shutter speed reaches a maximum mechanical speed of 1/8,000s which is unheard of these days and really helps with fast lenses in daylight, the whizz ker-plunk of that shutter sounds has a massive nostalgic charm to it; third... well it's still old and kinda sucks but it still shoots faster than a M11-P
It's slow and that's part of its charm (for some). The APS-H sensor has a 1.33x factor applied to lenses so the 40mm Nokton becomes a 50mm equivalent; the 28mm Elmarit becomes a fantastic 35mm equivalent (truly the M8 paired with the 28mm Elmarit is beautiful) and the 21mm becomes 28mm.
What about the M8.2? This is an updated M8 released by Leica shortly after the M8 to address the concern raised above. I briefly owned one in the coveted glossy Black Paint but ultimate sold it one keeping the M8. The key reasons Leica released the M8.2 was also the key reasons I kept the original. I preferred having the 1/8,000s shutter, the M8.2 was capped at 1/4,000s. The shutter sound was dampened, it lost character in my view.
This is second most used Leica.
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Light Lens Lab 50mm f/2
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Summilux 50mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Leica M8 + Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4
Medium - US$10,550
Leica M10-P - US$ 5,600 (used)
Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 ZM - US$ 1,000
Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8 ZM - US$ 850
Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH - US$ 3,000
I will write something here on the M10-P
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
Leica M10-P Reporter + Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8
High - US$ 35,850
Leica M11-P - US$ 10,400
Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 - US$ 9,950
Leica APO-Summicron-M 35mm f/2 - US$ 9,500
Leica Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH - US$ 6,000
More words on the M11-P here...
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2 ASPH
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + APO-Summicron 35mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
Leica M11-P + Summicron 28mm f/2
