ShutterCount does not read a shutter count from Leica M-E (Typ 220) DNG files. The parser has no Leica reader at all — it reads Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Pentax and Ricoh counter fields — so dropping a Leica M-E (Typ 220) file returns the model, capture settings, lens and serial numbers, and no actuation total. No verified Leica M-E (Typ 220) file has been examined here. For the count itself, use the camera or Leica. Everything below runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Open ShutterCount →The Leica M-E (Typ 220) was introduced in 2012 as a cost-reduced entry point into the Leica M system. Mechanically and optically it is identical to the M9: the same 18 MP Kodak KAF-18500 full-frame CCD sensor, the same horizontal cloth focal-plane shutter, and the same M-mount lens compatibility. The principal differences are cosmetic — the M-E wears a dark grey leatherette finish, the Leica red-dot logo is absent from the front plate, and the top plate lacks chrome trim. The M-E was positioned as the gateway Leica M for photographers who could not justify the premium of the standard M9.
Leica does not publish an official shutter rating for the M-E. Based on the shared mechanism with the M9 and community service data, the lifespan is estimated at approximately 150,000 actuations.
| Model | Release | Sensor | Est. Shutter Life | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica M-E (Typ 220) | 2012 | 18 MP full-frame CCD | ~150,000 | DNG |
| Leica M9 (basis) | 2009 | 18 MP full-frame CCD | ~150,000 | DNG |
| Leica M240 (successor) | 2012 | 24 MP full-frame CMOS | ~150,000 | DNG |
The M8/M9 generation keeps the figure on an undocumented body-debug screen as NumExposures, and the Leica community reads the same number out of the standard EXIF ImageUniqueID field, written as hexadecimal — a convention, not a documented Leica field, and not one this tool decodes. Leica Customer Care reads the body’s internal counter from the serial number. The CCD M Monochrom page goes through the routes in detail.
If you have a Leica M-E (Typ 220) file from a body whose count you know from Leica, we would be glad to check it against the file: samples@shuttercount.app.
Rangefinder photography inherently produces lower shutter counts than sports or event photography — a typical M-E owner may fire only a few hundred frames per outing. With an estimated 150,000-actuation lifespan, most used M-E bodies are still well within rated life. However, at over a decade old, sensor and mechanical condition matter as much as the count.
| Actuation Count | % of Est. Life | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 8,000 | 0 – 5 % | Very low use — near collector condition |
| 8,000 – 40,000 | 5 – 27 % | Low to moderate use — good buy |
| 40,000 – 90,000 | 27 – 60 % | Moderate use — inspect carefully |
| 90,000 – 130,000 | 60 – 87 % | High use — negotiate price |
| 130,000 + | 87 %+ | Near rated life — budget for shutter service |
The Kodak KAF-18500 CCD in the M-E (Typ 220) is prone to corrosion on the sensor cover glass under certain humidity and temperature cycling conditions. Leica ran a free global sensor replacement programme until 2022. Bodies that went through this programme have a replaced CCD and are more desirable. Bodies with the original CCD may show corrosion as a white misty haze or uneven veiling over images. Always request test shots at multiple apertures (f/8, f/11) against a plain bright surface to check for sensor corrosion before purchase.
Despite similar names, these are completely different cameras. The M-E (Typ 220) is CCD-based, derived from the M9, and was sold from 2012 to approximately 2015. The M-E (Typ 240) is CMOS-based, derived from the M240, and was sold from 2015 to 2018. The Typ 240 adds live view and video capability absent in the Typ 220. Confirm which model you are buying — the serial number range and rear menu layout differ.
A Leica M-E (Typ 220) shutter service typically costs €500–900 at an authorised Leica service centre. A CCD replacement (if still offered by third-party specialists in 2026) costs significantly more. Factor these into your offer on any high-count body.
Not from a DNG file with shuttercount.app: the parser has no Leica reader, so a Leica M-E (Typ 220) file gives you the model, capture settings, lens and serial numbers, and no actuation total. No verified Leica M-E (Typ 220) file has been examined here. The M8/M9 generation keeps the figure on an undocumented body-debug screen as NumExposures, and the Leica community reads the same number out of the standard EXIF ImageUniqueID field, written as hexadecimal — a convention, not a documented Leica field, and not one this tool decodes. Leica Customer Care reads the body’s internal counter from the serial number.
Yes. The M-E (Typ 220) uses an 18 MP full-frame (24×36 mm) CCD sensor, the same as the Leica M9. Unlike the earlier M8, there is no crop factor — every M-mount lens renders its intended field of view.
The M-E (Typ 220) was introduced in 2012 and gradually phased out as the M240-based Leica M-E (Typ 240) became available from 2015. All M-E (Typ 220) bodies are pre-owned; Leica no longer produces or sells them new.