Leica upgraded my Leica M10 (Review of my new Leica M10-P!)

What is your dream camera? If we are talking digital cameras I love the Leica M10-P. This Leica M10-P review explains my Leica upgrade and the Leica M10 – M10P conversion + the broader topic of Leica M10 vs M10-P, Leica M10 vs M240 and M10 vs M11.

Buying a Leica M10

After around 10 years with my digital Leica M240 camera I finally upgraded to a Leica M10 after seeing a great deal online. The Leica M10 I found was well used with signs of wear and a damaged leatherette but it was only slightly more expensive than a clean used M240. I jumped at the opportunity to gain access to a camera that was previously unreachable. 

• Leica M10 vs M240
• Leica M10 vs Leica SL – YouTube
• Leica M10 vs M10R – YouTube
• Leica M10 Monochrom – YouTube
• Best Leica M digital camera? M8, M9, M240, M10, M11
• Leica M10 presets

Leica M10 first impressions 

Coming from the fatter Leica M240 my first observation was I liked the slimmer dimensions of the M10. A Leica M10 still feels heavier than it looks but it’s slightly lighter than the M240.

If you’ve ever used a Leica M240 or Leica M262 without LiveView you get used to batteries lasting seemingly forever. Brace yourself for disappointment with the M10 as the smaller batteries exhaust much faster. 

Just bought a Leica camera?

If yes, congratulations! After helping lots of new Leica owners over the last 10+ years I put together Leica Welcome packs to help new users get started. Get yours by completing the form below –

Envious of my students cameras

After teaching Leica workshops for over a decade I get to see some very nice cameras. What I noticed after buying my black Leica M10 was that I was envious of my students with a Leica M10-P or Leica M11-P. Both cameras look near identical to the M10 but with the added elegant Leica script on the top plate and the red dot replaced with a black screwhead.

Written in the stars

As things would unfold I found my like Leica M10 was clipping the shutter at 1/4000 so it was returned under warranty. That lead to the unforeseen string of events that follow.

Leica Wetzlar repair time

My Leica M10 camera was sent to Leica Wetzlar where over the next 5 months or so they fixed the shutter and replaced the worn leatherette (as part of the work under shop warranty). 

Buying a Leica M262 

Leica Wetzlar have a reputation for long lead times so I had no clue how long I’d be without a camera. I’d been informed that the Leica M10 repair would take 6-12 months. I couldn’t be without a digital M camera as a Leica YouTuber so I decided to buy a replacement from RedDotCameras in London.

How to afford a Leica camera

You might ask, how can Matt afford to buy another Leica M camera after only recently buying the Leica M10? I wrote a full eBook sharing the framework that I use to Make Money with Photography. It worked so well I was able to quit my day job and now I live as a YouTuber and blogger.

Leica M10 replacement 

When looking at replacement camera options I went down a huge rabbit hole. I didn’t want to buy another Leica M10 as I knew I’d get mine back eventually. I wanted a black M camera but not black paint so it would look newer for longer. After much reading I discovered the Leica M262, a camera I’d somehow overlooked previously. Read the full Leica M262 review. 

Undecided

After teaching more Leica workshops I kept seeing nice Leica M11-P cameras. A moment of weakness later and I’d bought a Leica M10-P. It looked fantastic but I felt unease spending so much on a camera. After a few days I returned it to the store and stuck with my Leica M262.

Leica M262 colours

While waiting for my M10 I fell in love with the light weight and colours of the Leica M262. See that article for my adventures with that camera (and sample photos).

Leica red dot – Love or hate?

When it comes to Leica cameras there are different opinions. Some photographers love the famous Leica red dot and want to show it off. Others prefer to stay out the limelight so tape up their Leica camera to hide the dot. (This is especially popular for Leica street photographers. 

Taping up your Leica 

When I got my Leica M262 I added black tape to hide the dot.  I tried to cut a neat rectangle with matte black tape but it still looked messy and I needed a better solution. 

After searching online I found some round black self adhesive stickers on Amazon.  I added a black sticker dot to cover the red Leica logo on the M262. This looked much better than the previous tape but still not great.  There is no point buying a nice looking camera to then spoil it with tape and stickers, I needed a more premium looking alternative. 

Remove Leica red dot

After being inspired by the screwhead (red dot replacement) on my students M10P and M11P cameras I did some research online. I found a someone selling replica brass screwhead discs finished in black or silver. After speaking to the guy I got some and made a video for YouTube.  It’s very easy to carefully remove the Leica red dot logo and replace it with the Screwhead dot. 

Now my Leica M262 camera looks almost identical to the M10P and M11P (and MP Typ240) from the front so I’m really happy. The good news is, the work is fully reversible so I can put my Leica red dot back on at any time. (It’s only the same as when a Leica technician removes a red dot to calibrate a camera). 

Replace Leica M10 top plate?

That got me thinking. While my Leica M10 was in Germany I wonder if I can pay Leica Wetzlar customer service to add a Leica M10-P top plate to my M10? That way I get the same screwhead look and the Leica script on the top plate. Sounds perfect.

Leica M10-M10-P conversion

I reached out to Leica customer service and asked if they would add a Leica M11-P top plate to my M10 to reduce the weight.  They said no but they could add a Leica M10-P top plate while my camera was in Germany. 

Leica Wetzlar customer services explained that they offer a Leica M10-M10P upgrade program. You can choose either a full upgrade or a partial (“small”) upgrade. Here are the details and prices.

Full upgrade: Leica M10-M10P

Full upgrade cost – 2900 Euros (incl VAT), includes –

• Quiet shutter
• New top panel with Leica script and no dot
• Touch screen
• Spirit level
• 12mth warranty

Small upgrade: Leica M10-M10P

Small upgrade cost – 1300 Euros (incl VAT), includes –

• New top panel with Leica script and no dot
• Touch screen
• Spirit level
• 12mth warranty

Silent Leica M10-P shutter 

You may know that the Leica M10-P has a near silent shutter sound. This is great for stealthy street photography or weddings but not so good for model photography.

How so you might ask? Most professional models are trained to change pose on the sound of the shutter release click. When you suddenly use a silent camera they assume you’ve not taken any photos yet. I see this when teaching my Leica workshops and the models comment that they can’t hear my student’s cameras.

Check out my 50 chapter Model Photography handbook eBook for over 90 pages packed full of tips and tricks. 

Loud Leica M10-P needed

My conclusion was that the best camera for my specific needs is a look alike Leica M10-P camera that sounds like a standard Leica M10.  For that reason I went for the M10P partial upgrade or small upgrade.

Dream camera? Leica M10P

My well worn tired looking M10 that was sent to Wetzlar was unrecognisable when it came back. Now with its new leatherette and M10-P style top plate, the camera looks brand new at first glance. Great job Leica team. 

Cheaper to upgrade?

One question you might have is, Matt is it cheaper to sell a Leica M10 and replace it with a used Leica M10-P or upgrade an existing Leica M10?  For most photographers it probably makes more sense to just buy a Leica M10-P. My situation was different as even after the Leica M10-P upgrade cost it still worked out cheaper due to the lower price paid when I bought my Leica M10.

Customise your Leica camera

If you want to customise your Leica camera you have lots of options to personalise it. Check out my how to customise your camera article for ideas. 

Finishing touches – New strap

The easiest way to make any camera sparkle (old or new) is to just buy a nice looking camera strap. I use Wotancraft premium leather straps on all my cameras and I love them. You can see more details in the customise your camera article above. 

Is the Leica M10-P worth it?

Next let’s compare the Leica M10 on paper to similar Leica M cameras so you can decide if it might be right for you. The Leica M10-P was worth it for me but other models might suit you better.

Leica M10 vs M10-P

To recap first let’s cover the Leica M10 vs Leica M10-P. Benefits of the Leica 10-P are –

• Quieter shutter
• New top plate with Leica script and no dot
• Touch screen
• Spirit level

What about older digital Leica?

Next, let’s consider older Leica M cameras. If you want to spend less than the current market price for a Leica M10 we need to look at older models.  

Digital Leica M9 (+ M8)

The Leica M8 and Leica M9 have a cult following and I owned both in the past for multiple years. Great cameras but I view them more like Leica M film cameras so perhaps not ideal as your only body. Both cameras are poor in low light and neither have LiveView. If you’re still not deterred here are some reasons you might like them.

Reasons you might prefer a Leica M8

Bare in mind that the Leica M8 was the first digital Leica released back in 2006 –

• Most affordable digital Leica M camera
• CCD sensor (more filmic look)
• No known issue with CCD sensor (unlike Leica M9)
• Excellent for sharp B&W photos
• Good digital analogue experience for B&W photos
• 1/250 max flash sync speed (all other cameras are 1/180)
• 1/8000 max shutter speed (all other M cameras are 1/4000)

Leica M9 benefits vs Leica M8

Leica M9 cameras have perhaps the nicest colours thanks to their Kodak CCD sensor. Sadly most units suffered from sensor corrosion including my camera. Reasons you might prefer the Leica M9 vs M8 include –

• Full frame Kodak CCD sensor
• 18MP sensor vs 10MP
• Colour photography with IR cut filter
• Improvements to buffering speed

Leica M10 vs M240

A popular alternative to the Leica M10 is a Leica M240. I part-exchanged my corroded Leica M9 for the Leica M240 at Leica Mayfair in London. How good is the Leica M240 vs a newer Leica M10? Factors that might lead you to getting a Leica M10 include –

• Improved high ISO – To my eyes at least 2 stops improvement over the Leica M240. I use the M10 at ISO 3200-6400 if needed and that was impossible with the M240 due to banding issues at high ISO.
• Reduced buffer lag – The Leica M10 rarely stops to buffer and this is especially apparent if using LiveView. Using the EVF on the Leica M240 worked but it wasn’t a fun process due to the lag. (M10 can take 40 JPEG vs 12 JPEG before buffering to give some stats vs the M240).
• Larger Leica M10 viewfinder – This is not something I notice but the M10 finder is 30% larger vs the Leica M240 so it’s easier for glasses wearers to see the wider framelines. (I add a Light Lens Lab 1.4x viewfinder diopter magnifier for 50mm and longer lenses).
• Magnified M10 viewfinder – Again I don’t notice but the M10 finder is 0.73x magnification vs 0.68x on the Leica M240. (Again if I need to see to focus accurately I rely on a Light Lens Lab 1.4x viewfinder diopter).
• Leica M10 wifi – If you like connecting your camera to your phone the Leica M10 will let you transfer images to share on social media. Not something I’ve used.

Latest and greatest 

If price is not an issue and you like to buy the best, you probably want to look at the Leica M11 or M11-P.   You can buy a M11-P new today whereas for Leica M10 cameras you need to buy used. If we compare a Leica M11 vs M10 here are some reasons you might want to upgrade to the newer model.

Leica M10 vs Leica M11

• 18MP/36MP/60MP sensor options vs 24MP
• Higher capacity quick release Leica SL style battery
• Maximum shutter speed of 1/16000 (electronic) vs 1/4000
• Base ISO of 64 vs ISO 200 (Great with fast lenses)
• First Leica M camera with USB-C charging option (Great)
• Black Leica M11 and M11-P are the lightest digital M cameras
• First Leica M camera without a bottom plate – faster access
• 64GB internal storage – first Leica M camera to offer this

Photo trips with old Leica M10

To see my Leica M10 in action prior to the upgrade see these videos. 

Portraits with Leica M10

As a Leica model photographer here are some Leica M10 example portraits taken prior to the conversion. Click images to view full res and for lens details.

Leica M10 LR presets

All of the images shared in this blog were captured in RAW and edited with a MrLeica preset pack for Adobe Lightroom.  Click here to download my MrLeica Leica M10 presets and to see the full list of camera presets available. 

Best bag for Leica M10

When it comes to camera bags we have lots of options. You need to decide how many cameras and lenses you will normally carry before picking your bag. I often walk around with two Leica M cameras (film + digital) and perhaps 3-4 lenses. For this I use either the closed top Wotancraft 3.5L Pilot bag or open top Wotancraft 3.5L EDC Canteener (below).

If I would only carry the M10 + one normal size M lens I could take the Wotancraft 2L bag instead. When I fly I fit the smaller bag in the top compartment of my Wotancraft 18L backpack. See the article on bags for more details.

Trips with Leica M10-P

For a visual you can see me using the converted Leica M10-P in these videos below. Note that the camera still has the original M10 hotshoe with serial number.

Leica M10-P portraits 

Here are some Leica M10-P portraits from various model photoshoots and workshops since converting the camera. (RAW files + MrLeica preset applied in editing).

Best lenses for Leica M10

The best lens for a Leica M10 would ideally be between 28mm and 90mm. You do have framelines for 135mm but it’s not that rewarding if using the rangefinder due to the small frameline. 90mm and 75mm lenses are fantastic for portraits, 50mm gives you near endless lens options, old and new. (My most used focal length by far – see my Best 50mm for Leica article).

For travel, street and documentary work you will likely prefer a 35mm or 28mm lens.

Reliable lens for Leica M10

If you saw my recent YouTube video, some lenses are statically more likely to give you a higher number of keeper shots on a Leica M camera such as a Leica M10. The sweet spot might just be 35mm (and I say that as someone that loves 50mm).

A popular starting point could be something like the Leica Summicron 35mm f2. If you need something faster and cheaper check out the new Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4 I reviewed recently. Great lens if you can’t afford Leica glass and a good alternative to the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4.

EVF for Leica M10

One benefit of the Leica M10 over the previous M240 is the faster LiveView and EVF. Leica made three EVF Visoflex units to date. Two units will fit a Leica M10. Here are all three for completeness –

• Leica EVF-2 (Olympus version is cheaper) – for M240
• Leica Visoflex (Typ 020)(round) – For M10 but will fit M11
• Leica Visoflex 2 (rectangular) – For M11 but will fit M10

Leica M vs Leica SL

If you plan to buy a Leica camera purely to use the EVF, skip the M bodies and just pick up a Leica SL camera instead. The EVF resolution in even the oldest Leica SL Typ 601 camera still outperforms the hotshoe units. 

Mirrorless Leica SL vs Leica M10

While we’re on the topic of the Leica SL vs Leica M10, let’s quickly list some of the benefits of Leica SL series cameras. 

Reasons to get a Leica SL series camera –

• Better EVF (+ higher resolution)
• Improved ergonomics when using larger lenses
• Longer battery life
• Autofocus L mount lenses available
• Mount your M mount lenses via M-L adapter
• Light Lens Lab M-L close focus adapter for all M lenses
• Built-in viewfinder diopter
• Big bright viewfinder (one of the best on the market)
• More robust (no rangefinder to be mis-calibrated)
• Twin SD card slot
• Compatible with most lenses via adapter (Nikon etc)
• Cheap price compared to Leica M cameras

Not perfect but I love it

So is the Leica M10-P the perfect camera? It’s very nice but no not quite. I prefer the lower weight of the black M11-P which is the lightest digital M camera. The Leica M10-P battery life is poor compared to my M262. Colours out of camera are also nicer from the M262. On top of that, digital isn’t film so film is still my priority for creating portfolio images. (See more below). 

Battery shortage for Leica M10

With the known poor performance of the Leica M10 battery it’s almost a must to buy a spare battery. That might be easier said than done in 2025. If you saw my video about Leica batteries, there are many comments stating that it’s near impossible to find spare batteries for Leica M10 cameras (and other models). 

Leica customer service didn’t reply to my email but many viewers explained that you can contact Leica and ask to buy a battery from them as a ‘spare part’.  At least that’s a glimmer of hope for those in this position. 

How many Leica M10 batteries?

I would recommend having at least 3 batteries for your Leica M10. This is especially true if you mostly use LiveView / EVF and plan a full day of photography.

Extend Leica M10 battery life

If you use a Leica M10 or similar camera you can extend the battery life by changing the default camera settings. I cover this in the above battery video but let’s quickly recap. 

The most significant gain in extending your Leica M10 battery life is achieved by simply turning off your LiveView in the menu settings.

Leica M10 settings for power saving

Tips to extend your battery life include –

• LiveView – Off (I sometimes use this)
• Auto review – 1 sec (You can turn it off)
• Display brightness – Low (most efficient)
• EVF brightness – Auto (You can set to low)
• Auto power saving – 2mins (most efficient)

Best Leica for colours?

What Leica camera has the nicest colours out of camera? I’ve been fortunate to use most digital Leica cameras and for me the best is the Leica M9 CCD colours. If we only consider CMOS sensor cameras the winner is the sensor found in the Leica M240, M262 and MP Typ240.  See my Leica M262 article for sample photos. 

With all that said, you can still add MrLeica colour presets to your Leica M10 or Leica M11 files to get nice colours. It’s what I use.

Matching Leica film camera

Now I have a pretty looking Leica M10-P for digital photos, what film camera would compliment it the best?  I would need a black anodized Leica M film camera so let’s look at the options.  Leica currently sell three Leica M film cameras –

• Leica M6 re-issue in black has the red dot and no top plate script so isn’t the perfect match. Still a very popular camera and the top choice if you like the red dot look.

• Leica MP black version is black paint not matte black so that wouldn’t look the same. Nice camera if you love black paint or need a light meter. See my Leica MP blog.

• Leica M-A black is the clear winner for my needs but it lacks the Leica script on the top plate. Yep you know what is coming next. I engraved my Leica M-A to match my converted Leica M10-P.   Read my Leica M-A blog for full details. 

MrLeica custom M10-P and M-A combo

Here are my two cameras side by side. The converted Leica M10-P and the customised Leica M-A. (Both cameras fitted with black Wotancraft leather straps).

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