The M uses a CMOS 24-megapixel (6,000 × 4,000 pixels) image sensor designed for Leica by the Belgian company CMOSIS,[7] and made by STMicroelectronics in Grenoble.

The Leica M camera was introduced at the photokina event in Cologne, Germany on 17 September 2012.

Featuring a full-frame 24 MP CMOS sensor and 2 GB of built-in RAM, Leica claims that the new M-P digital is 'twice as fast' as the standard M (Typ 240).

It also features weather-sealing for protection against water and dust, its rear LCD is covered in sapphire crystal glass.

[11] Digital types: M = Professional | ME = Entry level | MM = Monochrom | MD = No display MR = Increased resolution CCD sensor  | CMOS sensor  | Video capabilities