Embodying Leica's philosophies in the most essential form, the M-D (Typ 262) is a digital rangefinder that heavily emphasizes manual control and room to concentrate solely on the scene at hand. By omitting virtually all automatic features as well as a rear LCD screen, the M-D's simplicity is its core attribute, and affords unencumbered access to the four basic elements of photography: shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and focus. This simplicity is carried over to the operating aspects of the camera, including its manual rangefinder focusing mechanism, clear 0.68x-magnification optical viewfinder, and stills-only recording in the uncompressed DNG raw file format. Beyond handling and design, the M-D is, of course, also characterized by notable imaging performance aided by the full-frame MAX 24MP CMOS sensor and Maestro image processor that afford a top sensitivity of ISO 6400 and up to 3 fps continuous shooting. Designed as a camera for the pure photographer, the M-D maintains Leica's dedication to their heritage in crafting simple yet highly functional tools as well as an admiration for the basic elements of photography itself.