Why Did Leica Release a Digital Camera Without an LCD Screen?

If the benefits of a digital camera include instant review of your photos, why would luxury/heritage camera company Leica release its newest camera without a digital LCD screen on the back? While it may seem like two steps back for one step forward, the all-new Leica M-D is the company’s attempt to resurrect the analog feel with digital technology.

Yes, lacking a digital LCD screen on the back takes away one of the core advantages of digital photography, but the German legacy brand feels it adds to one of the best aspects of film photography: anticipation. For photographers as well, digital cameras take a lot of the soul and thought out of photography — just fire away and delete the ones you don’t want. With the M-D, users will need to focus (no pun intended) and concentrate more on the output they are recording onto its 24MP CMOS sensor. Another “analog”-like feature involves the M-D recording its output files exclusive to DNG format; no JPEG output for true, uncompressed imagery. Additionally, a stealthy red dot-deleted face keeps the camera clean, the ultra-quiet shutter (an improvement from the already quiet M 240) makes your shots discreet, and the rear ISO dial not only pays homage to film cameras of the past but gives an even more convenient option for capturing that decisive moment.

Order your Leica M-D from authorized Leica dealers for $5,995 USD now. Check out the introductory video below for more information.