Leave it to Leica to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Leica M, which debuted as the M-3 in 1954, with a rangefinder digital camera. Aside from its thicker M9-ish body contours and full-frame sensor, the Leica 60 M resembles a Gray Ghost version of the landmark M-3. Finished in a distinctive stippled gray covering, it’s one of the very few modern digital cameras that has no LCD whatsoever. So, just like a film camera, you can’t review the captured image unless you connect the SD card to some kind of card reader in a viewing device.
On the back, instead of an LCD, there’s an ISO dial that’s virtually an exact replica of the ones found on traditional 35mm Leicas. If you look closely at the lower right-hand corner of the back, you will see a tiny red LED that flashes as the captured image is being stored to memory, the only real concession to modernity. There’s no frame-selector lever for the range/viewfinder, and the Leica 60 will be offered as a limited production kit finished in a satin Silver, complete with a similarly finished Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH lens, a matching lens hood, and front and rear lens caps, all in a custom handmade presentation box. No, it may not be the most practical Leica M in the world, but it sure is unique, gorgeous, and a must-have for the Leica collector who has everything, or dyed-in-the-wool contrarians.
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