Leica released Hammertone editions of the M-A and M11-P on November 12. The two rangefinders now share a textured gray finish over their brass top and bottom plates. Under that finish, each retains the shooting controls and capabilities of its standard model. In the U.S., Leica lists the two cameras at $8,000 and $10,950, respectively.
M-A Hammertone, a mechanical film camera
The M-A Hammertone takes 35mm film and has a mechanical shutter. It works without a battery and has no built-in light meter. You choose the shutter speed and aperture yourself, using a separate meter if you want a reading. The front view shows the stippled finish around the rangefinder windows.
M11-P Hammertone, a digital rangefinder
The M11-P Hammertone keeps the standard model’s full-frame sensor, 256 GB of internal storage and support for Content Credentials. It records DNG files at up to 60 megapixels. The lower edge and the top plate carry the same textured gray finish as the M-A, with slight variations in the pattern from one body to the next, according to Leica.
The finish is the reason to choose either of these editions over its standard counterpart. Choose the M-A if the appeal is loading film and setting exposure by hand. Choose the M11-P if you want digital files, playback and internal storage. The matching gray plates make the two easier to mistake for each other on a shelf than in your hands.
