Leica claims that their new M-D (Typ 262) is a return to “Das Wesentliche” or “the sheer essentials of photography”. Anyone who’s shot on a camera made before the ’90s knows that photography used to be a very different, much simpler process and the M-D looks to capture some of that old school magic of not being able to see your photos right away by removing the rear LCD.

It’s still, however, a digital rangefinder camera. Featuring Leica’s Maestro image processor and a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, the M-D captures captures RAW files to DNG but the actual experience of taking pictures with the M-D is like stepping in a time machine.

Without a rear LCD to review shots and no menu system to fiddle with, you’re left only the basics: shutter speed, aperture, distance and ISO. Nothing else to distract you from just taking pictures.

The M-D takes Leica’s traditionally minimalist design and strips it down further. It’s all black, including the brass top plate, and they’ve skipped the red dot on the front for an even more incognito appearance. Add a nearly silent shutter and the M-D looks to be a very discrete street camera.

The M-D (Typ 262) should be shipping soon. Feel free to contact our Richmond Leica Boutique location for more details.