Leica M240 in 2026: Is It Still Worth It as a Travel Camera? (Real Photos from Italy)

Is the Leica M240 worth it in 2026? Over the years I have owned three Leicas: the original Leica Q (Typ 116), an M240 and now an M11. I loved all three. But if you ask me which one gives me the JPGs I like most straight out of camera, the answer is still the M240.

This post is for anyone looking at a used M (Typ 240) as a travel camera. Below are real frames from our June 2025 trip to northern Italy, shot on the M240 with a 50mm lens, plus the specs, what to check when buying used, and what it costs today.

Arches of the Roman Arena di Verona against a blue sky, shot on a Leica M240 with a 50mm lens — Arena di Verona, 7 June 2025. Leica M240 with a 50mm lens.

Leica M240: the key specs in 2026

Announced in 2012, it was the first digital M with a CMOS sensor: 24MP full frame, paired with the Leica Maestro processor.
Optical rangefinder, plus Live View on the rear screen, which was new for the M line at the time.
Optional electronic viewfinder (the Visoflex EVF2) through the accessory port, handy for focusing long or wide lenses.
Full HD 1080p video, the first M to record it.
Weather sealing against dust and splashes, a body of roughly 680 g, and the BP-SCL2 battery, which lasts far longer than the M9 battery did.

Real photos: Verona with the M240 and a 50mm

We spent 7 June 2025 walking around Verona: the Arena, Piazza Bra, Juliet’s balcony and the side streets. A 50mm on a rangefinder is a lovely way to see a city like this. You frame a little tighter and look for details instead of trying to fit everything in.

Wide view of Piazza Bra in Verona with colourful buildings and a lone traveller with a backpack, Leica M240 — Piazza Bra, Verona.

Wrought-iron café terrace with white tablecloths in Verona’s Piazza Bra, Leica M240 — A café terrace on Piazza Bra.

Juliet’s balcony in Verona above a courtyard full of visitors, Leica M240 — Juliet’s balcony, busy as always.

Narrow Verona street lined with tall pastel buildings and green shutters, Leica M240 — Verona side street.

Row of parked scooters along a busy shopping street in Verona, Leica M240 at 50mm — Scooters lined up on a shopping street.

Orange facade and shop window with green shutters in Verona, Leica M240 — Colour and shutters.

Old stone fountain basin on a Verona street with passers-by in the background, Leica M240 — An old stone fountain in the centro storico.

If you are planning the same route, our Northern Italy itinerary from Bergamo to Milan covers the whole trip, and gluten-free in Northern Italy covers how we ate.

Lake Garda and Sirmione

On 10 June 2025 we were at Lake Garda and in Sirmione. Soft, hazy light over the water, which the M240 handles in a very pleasing, slightly warm way.

Wooden pier stretching into calm, hazy Lake Garda with reeds in the foreground, Leica M240 — A pier on Lake Garda.

Yellow and red hotel facades on the water in Sirmione, Lake Garda, with a moored boat, shot on a Leica M240 — Sirmione, on the water.

There are more M240 frames on the blog: Northern Sardinia, shot with the Voigtländer Ultron 35, and Folgosinho in Serra da Estrela, shot with the Zeiss C Sonnar 50.

Leica M240 pros and cons for travel

Pros

JPGs straight out of camera that I personally still prefer to the M11’s.
Much better battery life than the M9 generation, so a full city day is realistic.
Live View and the optional EVF make it more flexible than earlier digital Ms.
Weather sealing and a solid, all-metal body.
Huge choice of M-mount lenses, including affordable Voigtländer and Zeiss options.
Used prices are a fraction of a new M11.

Cons

Heavy for its size, at around 680 g for the body.
24MP and a 2012-era sensor: less dynamic range and high-ISO headroom than modern bodies.
Rear screen and menus feel dated; there is no in-body stabilisation and no autofocus.
Repairs and parts depend on Leica service, which can be slow and expensive for an older model.

Buying a used M240 in 2026: what to check

Shutter count. Ask the seller for it, or read it from a recent file with an EXIF tool. A low count is reassuring, but condition matters more.
Sensor. Shoot a frame at f/16 against a plain sky and look for spots or marks. Unlike the M9, the M240 is not known for sensor corrosion, but check anyway.
Rangefinder alignment. Focus on something distant at infinity and on a close subject wide open, and check that the patch and the focused image agree. Misalignment is fixable but costs money.
Battery and charger. Original BP-SCL2 batteries age; a tired one will hurt battery life.
Screen, strap lugs and baseplate. Look for cracks, worn lugs and dents.
Firmware. Make sure it is on the latest version.

How much does a used Leica M240 cost?

On 5 November 2026, MPB had used M (Typ 240) bodies from about €1,990 (well used) to about €2,880 (excellent), with most “good” copies around €2,450–2,550. Prices move, so treat these as approximate, and check that the warranty and return window are included.

M240 vs M11 vs Q: a quick teaser

The M11 gives you far more resolution, a modern sensor and better battery life. The Q gives you autofocus and a fixed 28mm f/1.7 lens in a lighter, simpler package. The M240 is the most affordable way into a digital M with a CMOS sensor, and its colour still has a lot of fans, me included. I wrote my honest notes on the newer body in Leica M11 for Travel Photography, and a full M240 vs M11 vs Q comparison is coming soon.

Whatever camera you take, the habits matter more than the gear. Here are 10 travel photography tips that work with any camera.

So, is the Leica M240 worth it in 2026?

If you want a digital rangefinder for travel and you love how files look out of camera, a well-checked used M240 is still a great buy. It is not the newest or the lightest, but it is a joy to walk a city with.