{
  "id": 19685808,
  "title": "I still miss my Leica M9 – and that glorious CCD sensor is something that modern cameras just can't replace",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/i-still-miss-my-leica-m9-and-that-glorious-ccd-sensor-is-something",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-12T16:41:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Digital Camera World",
    "slug": "digital-camera-world",
    "url": "https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/rangefinder-cameras/i-still-miss-my-leica-m9-and-that-glorious-ccd-sensor-is-something-that-modern-cameras-just-cant-replace"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "There are cameras you buy, cameras you enjoy, but few leave an indelible mark on your heart. For the author, that camera was the Leica M-E (Typ 220), a beautiful and understated rangefinder, essentially the more affordable version of the celebrated Leica M9. Launched in 2012 for $5,450, the M-E offered an anthracite-gray finish that was both modern and unmistakably Leica. As the author's first digital Leica M camera, it held a special place in their heart. Equipped with the same 18MP full-frame CCD sensor found in the original M9, the M-E produced stunning, richly colored images with a film-like quality. Its tonal transitions, contrast, and character in black-and-white photography were unparalleled. However, the M-E suffered from a notorious sensor corrosion problem, which ultimately led to its demise. Despite Leica's replacement program that ended in 2020, finding a camera with a properly replaced sensor has become increasingly difficult. Although the author now owns a newer Leica M (Typ 240), they still miss their M-E, cherishing the unique rendering of the old CCD sensor that the newer model cannot replicate. The author believes that the true value of these cameras lies in the photographs they produce and the experience of using them, rather than their technical specifications.",
  "summary": "I owned the cheapest digital Leica M9 – and 14 years later, I still regret selling it",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}