ShutterCount does not read a shutter count from Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) 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 Monochrom (Typ 246) file returns the model, capture settings, lens and serial numbers, and no actuation total. The M (Typ 240), the body this generation is built on, was measured on a visitor’s file on 3 November 2026: its DNG carried a three-entry Leica MakerNote and no counter, and ExifTool 13.59 decoded none. No Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) file has been measured here, and nothing suggests it differs. For the count itself, use the camera or Leica. Everything below runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Open ShutterCount →The Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) was introduced in 2015 as the second dedicated monochrome digital M rangefinder. Where the original Leica M Monochrom (2012) used a modified 18 MP CCD sensor, the Typ 246 moves to the same 24 MP CMOS platform as the Leica M240 — but with the colour filter array (Bayer matrix) removed entirely, leaving a pure monochrome capture surface. The result is a camera that can only photograph in black and white, with every pixel capturing luminance information directly for maximum sharpness, micro-contrast, and high-ISO performance in the Leica rangefinder tradition.
Leica does not publish an official shutter rating for the M Monochrom (Typ 246). Based on the shared M240 mechanical platform, the estimated lifespan is approximately 150,000 actuations. Monochrome-dedicated cameras are often used for deliberate, methodical shooting — count accumulation is typically slow.
| Model | Release | Sensor | Est. Shutter Life | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) | 2015 | 24 MP full-frame CMOS (B&W) | ~150,000 | DNG |
| Leica M240 (colour sibling) | 2012 | 24 MP full-frame CMOS | ~150,000 | DNG |
| Leica M10 Monochrom (successor) | 2020 | 40 MP full-frame CMOS (B&W) | ~150,000 | DNG |
The Typ 240 generation has no owner-facing actuation readout, and ExifTool’s Leica maker-note table covering the M (Typ 240) documents no actuation tag. Leica Customer Care or an authorised Leica service centre reads the body’s internal counter from the serial number. The M-P (Typ 240) page goes through the routes in detail.
If you have a Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) file from a body whose count you know from Leica, we would be glad to check it against the file: samples@shuttercount.app.
M Monochrom photographers tend to be deliberate practitioners — many bodies accumulate counts far more slowly than equivalent colour-camera bodies of the same age. A 10-year-old M Monochrom Typ 246 with 15,000 actuations is not unusual. Focus on sensor, shutter, and rangefinder condition over the raw count figure.
| Actuation Count | % of Est. Life | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 10,000 | 0 – 7 % | Very low use — excellent condition expected |
| 10,000 – 50,000 | 7 – 33 % | Low to moderate use — good buy |
| 50,000 – 100,000 | 33 – 67 % | Well used — inspect shutter and rangefinder |
| 100,000 + | 67 %+ | High use — negotiate price, budget for service |
A conventional colour sensor places a Bayer filter array over the photosites, dedicating each pixel to capturing red, green, or blue light, with the other channels interpolated by the demosaicing algorithm. On the M Monochrom Typ 246, this filter is absent — every pixel captures the full luminance of whatever light falls on it. The result is files with 40–50% higher effective resolution than a same-MP colour sensor converted to B&W, with finer grain, greater micro-contrast, and significantly cleaner high-ISO output.
The original Leica M Monochrom (2012) is CCD-based and subject to the same corrosion issue as the M9. The Typ 246 moves to CMOS, eliminating that risk. The Typ 246 also adds live view (absent on the CCD Monochrom), higher resolution (24 vs 18 MP), and vastly better high-ISO performance — usable to ISO 6400 vs the CCD body’s practical ceiling of ISO 2500.
A Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) shutter service typically costs €500–900 at an authorised Leica service centre. Rangefinder calibration is €150–300 additional. Factor these into your offer on high-count bodies.
Not from a DNG file with shuttercount.app: the parser has no Leica reader, so a Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) file gives you the model, capture settings, lens and serial numbers, and no actuation total. The M (Typ 240), the body this generation is built on, was measured on a visitor’s file on 3 November 2026: its DNG carried a three-entry Leica MakerNote and no counter, and ExifTool 13.59 decoded none. No Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) file has been measured here, and nothing suggests it differs. The Typ 240 generation has no owner-facing actuation readout, and ExifTool’s Leica maker-note table covering the M (Typ 240) documents no actuation tag. Leica Customer Care or an authorised Leica service centre reads the body’s internal counter from the serial number.
No. The Typ 246 uses a 24 MP CMOS sensor (not CCD) and is not affected by the corrosion issue that afflicts the M9, M-E (Typ 220), and original M Monochrom (2012). This is a significant practical advantage when buying used.
Yes. It was succeeded by the Leica M10 Monochrom (2020, 40 MP) and the Leica M11 Monochrom (2023, 60 MP). All Typ 246 bodies in circulation are pre-owned.