Leica M-E
CCD-SENSOR ● FULL FRAME ● RANGEFINDER ● TYP 220, 2012
After a two-year break, and a comeback that felt like a restart, the M-E Typ 220 was the camera that brought me back. Discovered through Marcus Lloyd's portfolio, bought used for under €1,800: the lightest full-frame M ever made and the most affordable entry into the rangefinder system.
The colours. In almost 20 years with Fuji, Nikon and other Leicas I have never produced colours like this with any digital camera: the CCD sensor delivers a look straight out of film, no preset, no help needed.
The slowness. No live view, no video, dark framelines, unhurried pace, and that is exactly the point. The M-E transports you directly into an analog feeling: you watch the light, think about your frame, and only then release the shutter. Paired with the Summicron 35 f/2 V4 it teaches you to see the light.
Strengths
- CCD colours with an analog character
- Lightest full-frame M, built like a tank
- Slow, deliberate shooting experience
- Most affordable entry into the Leica M system
- Good battery life, distinctive shutter sound
Weaknesses
- Early CCD sensors prone to corrosion, check for sensor replacement!
- Poor high-ISO performance
- Dark framelines, no frameline lever, no USB
- Slow, by design, but not for everyone
Verdict: If you are looking for a slow camera experience and value colours over features, this camera rewards you. The M-E (or M9) is not a camera that does everything , it is a camera that makes you see better.