In the specialised world of the Leica M rangefinder, the new M11 represents the most significant development since the arrival of the M9 in September 2009. It isn’t so much the huge leap in resolution to 60 megapixels, the design and specification is a radical departure from previous versions. The outward appearance of the M11 is virtually unchanged, which is what rangefinder fans demand, but there’s a lot of new stuff hidden away.
The removable bottom plate, a feature of LTM and M cameras since the days of Oskar Barnack, has gone. Instead, the camera mirrors the design of the Q and SL, featuring a new pop-out battery with 64% more capacity than its predecessor. In rangefinder mode without live view, the M11 can squeeze up to 1,800 images out of a single charge.
Dual storage is introduced, using a 64GB internal memory to supplement the single SD-card slot. And, for the first time, the M gets connectivity in the form of a data and power USB-C port. The provided Apple-approved Lightning cable automatically launches Leica Photos and enables automatic firmware updates via the app instead of having to rely on manual download and file installation.
One radical departure from previous models, which was not covered in the rumours, is weight saving. There are now two versions of the M11 one of which is 130g lighter than the outgoing M10. The black model, now designated as “black paint” rather than “black chrome”, is a full 20% lighter than the 660g M10 at only 530g. The silver chrome model, on the other hand, features a brass top plate and weighs 640g, making it just 20g lighter than the M10. The choice between the two finishes now becomes much more difficult. It will be a case of choosing tradition over a significant weight saving.
The black paint finish is said to be more scratch-resistant and more eco-friendly than the previous black chrome. The slightly smaller screen (2.95in, to avoid encroaching on the top and bottom plate metal areas) is covered by sturdier Gorilla 5 glass and offers enhanced touch functions. The rear controls and menu are based on those of the SL and Q, with the addition of the Fn button. There is also a customised button on the top plate, replacing the front control on the M10.
The emphasis with any new M model is usually placed on the improved sensor. In this, the M10 does not disappoint. The 60 MP backlit CMOS sensor is a massive upgrade on the M10’s 24MP chip and even offers 50% higher resolution than the previous resolution meister, the M10-R. For the first time, the M11 allows photographers to choose a recording resolution of the full 60MP or reduced 36MP or 18MP files using what Leica calls “Triple Resolution Technology”. Corresponding frame lines (x1.3 and x1.8) have been introduced in live view (screen and EVF) as an encouragement to zoom-by-crop, a feature the company first introduced in the Q range.
While the M11 design sticks to its roots, according to Leica, the inside of the camera has been entirely rebuilt to take advantage of the latest state-of-the-art technology. The camera offers improved endurance, an electronic shutter (up to 1/16,000s) in addition to the 1/4000s mechanical shutter, a wider ISO range (64-50,000), improved dynamic range of up to 15 stops, the new Maestro III processor and advanced metering. With readings taken directly from the sensor for the first time, the new metering system is claimed to be much more accurate.
The M11 is accompanied by a large range of accessories, including straps, protector cases, a handgrip and a thumb grip. The most significant extra, however, is the completely new 3.7MP OLED viewfinder, the Visoflex 2. With an all-metal design, tilting mechanism with stops at 45 and 90 degrees, this unit will transform the shooting experience for M11 users. This is especially so when using ultra-fast lenses, where focus accuracy is critical, and with wide-angle optics where the rangefinder lacks appropriate frame lines. The Visoflex 2 also offers a magnetised closure mechanism to avoid accidental tilting.
The M11 is available in both black paint and silver chrome from today. Both versions cost £7,500, including tax, in the United Kingdom. The Visoflex 2 is listed at £600, including tax.
PRESS RELEASE
Free for release after 13th January 2022 at 2 pm
The new Leica M11 – A Legend reinvented.
Wetzlar, 13th January 2022. The new Leica M11 combines the experience of traditional rangefinder photography with contemporary camera technology, delivering maximum flexibility to every photographer. Featuring an exclusive triple resolution sensor, expanded ISO range, dual memory, extended battery life and a streamlined and intuitive menu system, the Leica M11 represents a new benchmark in digital photography and the most flexible M-System camera in Leica’s storied history.
At the heart of the new Leica M11 is a full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with Triple Resolution Technology. Raw image files in DNG format and JPEGs can be recorded at 60, 36 or 18 megapixels, always using the full sensor area. The 60-megapixel option delivers unprecedented image quality and detail resolution, exploiting the full optical potential of Leica’s latest APO Lenses for the M-System – whereas the lower resolutions enable faster camera performance, extended burst lengths, and smaller files.
A special IR + UV cut filter – comprising of two extremely thin, cemented layers of glass – achieve an especially effective correction of even the most oblique rays of incident light. Thanks to a new colour filter array, the camera also offers an improved, more natural colour reproduction.
While maintaining the iconic look of a traditional Leica M, the carefully optimised design of the Leica M11 is focused on efficiency and ergonomics. The controls have been arranged in a unique layout around the new, 2.3 million pixels, high-resolution touchscreen. The menu structure of the M11 remains consistent with that of the Leica SL2 and Q2, unifying the acclaimed interface for a more user-friendly experience.
The Leica M11 has a sensitivity range of ISO 64 to 50,000; it records a 14-bit colour depth and has a dynamic range of up to 15 stops. With its Maestro III processor, the Leica M11 offers a fluid and responsive operation, even at the highest resolution and image quality. With the optional electronic shutter featuring a shutter speed of up to 1/16000 of a second, photographers are empowered to work with wide-open apertures, in bright light – without ND filters. The M11 marks the first-time multi-field metering in rangefinder mode will be available, affording photographers a valuable tool to curate light.
The black-finish variant of the Leica M11 features a top plate made of high-quality aluminium with an especially scratch-resistant coating, resulting in a body that is approximately 20% (100 grams) lighter than its silver-chrome counterpart. By comparison, the silver-chrome M11 features a classic brass top plate and weighs in at 640 grams.
Unique to the M11 is the deliberate omission of the traditional base plate, offering photographers easy direct access to the battery and SD card. In addition to the SD card slot, the Leica M11 is equipped with a generous internal storage capacity of 64 gigabytes. As a result, the M11 is the first M model to save image files simultaneously onto two different storage media. The 1800mAh battery stores 64% more energy than before, and combined with the camera’s more efficient operation, allows for considerably longer shooting sessions with a single charge. In addition, the newly added universal USB-C port also serves to charge the camera’s battery, using most USB-C chargers.
Upgraded connectivity features of the Leica M11 will be available through a new firmware version in the second half of 2022. This will enable the new M11’s advanced connectivity capabilities that will elevate users’ mobile workflows and enhance the Leica FOTOS app with the possibility to embed location data, access images via Bluetooth connection, and allow increased transfer rates. Moreover, the Leica M11 is already an Apple “Made for iPhone and iPad” certified accessory and as such, offers unique abilities with the included Leica FOTOS cable.
With the evolution of the Leica M comes new accessories to enhance the rangefinder experience. The new Visoflex 2 electronic viewfinder features 3.7-megapixel resolution to
provide outstanding image control in Live View mode. Encased in a metal exterior, the Visoflex 2 perfectly matches the M11 in terms of design and functionality. Full-frame viewing and the precise focusing of Leica lenses is supported by the Visoflex 2’s large diopter adjustment range of -4 to +3 and 90-degree tilt function. To improve ergonomics without obstructing access to the battery and SD card, photographers will have the option to complement their M11 with a newly designed handgrip. The new handgrip doubles as a tripod mount, where the Leica M11 can be attached to Arca-Swiss-standard tripod heads without the need for any additional equipment.
Leica M11: Witness the Future
“We are very proud of the new M11,” says Stefan Daniel, Executive Vice President Technology and Operations. “This camera is another milestone for Leica. Its inner workings are a completely new development, while the exterior remains true to the iconic Leica M design.”
“As we all know,” says Dr Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG, Wetzlar, “the iconic Leica M-System has accompanied dedicated photographers worldwide over decades, giving them a superior tool for witnessing their time and creating outstanding pictures. The new M11 will continue this legacy with outstanding technology, based on the experience since 1925.”
Technical specification
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Er, “..for the first time, the M gets connectivity in the form of a data and power USB-C port..” b-but the M9 had – and has – connectivity in the form of a USB data transfer socket on the left rear side! Have Leica forgotten that already?!
Those PR people and copywriters are a little weak on Leica history, I think!
I doubt Leica has forgotten it. But your ‘umble editor had!
..not that I ever used it, as it ran, or runs, at half the speed of a snail!
It was – and is! – always faster to take out the camera’s SD card and slide it into the Mac’s card reader!
That’s what I’ve always done. But maybe USB-C will be better. I’ll try it once and see what happens…
At the bottom, isn’t it a bit inconveniently located for battery charging? My X1D II has it on its side which seems more practical, ie. you can still put down the camera as you normally put it down…
It’s not quite as inconvenient as Apple’s Magic Mouse connector on the bottom. I suspect they had no choice if they didn’t want to spoil the lines of the design. If it had been on the side it would have needed a rubber cover. But I agree, not the most convenient placing.
“..rubber cover..” ..as on the M9. Where it’s so inconspicuous that you hardly ever notice it!
I think, on balance, I prefer to have an uncovered (but weatherproofed) USB-C socket on the bottom plate rather than behind one of those flappy rubber thingies. But it’s a matter of opinion. For what I will use it for, which is mainly charging, it’s ok.
It is actually OK I believe provided you use right angle cables. If you use a cable like that you can still put the camera down. If you use a cable that goes straight in it is very inconvenient.
You scooped em all! Nice to be recognized as THE LEADER in all things LEICA!
For a second I thought you were telling me I’d broken the embargo! But I checked and it was 2 pm as daddy Leica told me.