To cap Leica’s centennial celebrations of its M-series cameras, the company has today introduced a remarkable limited-edition model. This is the first ‘left-handed’ version of its flagship M11 camera. Designated the Leica M11-S, for sinistra, Latin for left. The company will limit the series to one hundred, individually numbered cameras — one for each year of the M-camera’s existence.
Leica Centennial
Rumours have been swirling for months concerning how Leica will mark its one-hundredth anniversary of the introduction of the M camera. As many had expected, it will be a special, limited-edition version of the M11 rangefinder. But, in a surprising twist, undoubtedly delighting all those ‘lefty-photographers’ out there, it will be Leica’s first sinistral model.
Furthermore, in recognition of our unique place in the global Leica community, Leica has granted Macfilos the privilege of being one of the first media outlets to share this news.
According to Leica’s press release: “Most photographers are oblivious to the fact that cameras are chiral, that is, ‘handed’ objects. This is because they only ever see one of the two possible configurations: the right-handed one. Manufacturers invariably position viewfinders on the left, and shutter-release buttons on the right of the device, perfectly placed for operation by a right forefinger. Well, today, with the introduction of the Leica M11-S Sinistra we are breaking that paradigm”.
Left-handed devices
Left-handed versions of other premium devices, such as wristwatches, have long been available. Termed ‘destro’, since they are intended to be worn in the right wrist, they possess a crown on the left-side of the watch, facilitating winding using the left-hand.
Many smartwatch manufacturers, including Apple, allow users to choose whether to position the crown and buttons for either wrist.
Remarkably, Leica’s M11-S model becomes the first camera to cater to that small, rather underappreciated, section of the photography community: the lefties.
Although, externally, the camera looks like a mirror-version of the familiar M11, it will retain the ‘right-handed’ version of the M-bayonet mount. It therefore remains compatible with Leica’s impressive range of M-lenses.
Development of the new camera has been led by Dr. Oskar Linkshänder of the Wetzlar Beidhändigkeitsabteilung. Dr. Linkshänder said, “As a left-hander myself, I am delighted that Leica is leading the way in addressing the needs of photographers like me. It was a challenging, but rewarding, project to work on, but everyone in the newly launched Ambidexterity department is ‘over the moon’ about the final product”.
Only lefties need apply
The camera will be available exclusively through Leica’s global network of authorized dealers.
In an unusual move, prospective buyers will be required to demonstrate that they are indeed left-handed. This will involve writing out, with their left hand, the first verse of the Elvis Presley song ‘Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)’.
Are you a ‘lefty’, who resents being trapped in a world of right-handed cameras? Will you be rushing out to your local Leica dealers in the hope of snapping up one of these limited edition models? Should Leica put a left-handed model into regular production? Please let us know what you think in the comments below.
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Hi everyone! Thanks so much for reading and commenting on the article. It was good fun putting it together, and it’s been fascinating to see how much interest there would be in such a model. I am looking forward to finding out myself what Leica have in store by way of a special edition M-model to celebrate their centenary. All the best, Keith
My right eye has been damaged yet still usable. I have been using the cameras for past 40 years with the same eye. Lately in most cases I relay on the screen on the back than the view finder, do you think it would relatively easy to train yourself to start using the left eye with this camera?
I am willing to sell my damaged eye to get the camera!
What if you are right handed but your dominant eye is your left eye?
Then you get the original version of this camera !
I’m left handed, but right eye dominant with a camera, but would be left eye dominant if shooting with a bow and arrow/crossbow/rifle, so you tell me!
What if you are right handed but your dominant eye is your left eye?
Born left-handed, I have always written with my left hand, but from an early age I learned to use scissors, golf clubs, baseball bats, and cameras from the right side. My only left handed concession is wearing a watch on my right write because the winding stems are always positioned on the right side of the face. That causes irritation to my wrist if I were to wear the watch on my left side.
When I read today of the special edition of the M-11, I thought “that’s a fine gesture for people who are exclusively left-handed but that would not work for me.” When I picked up my M-11 to see if I might be comfortable with the lefty version, I immediately concluded that I would be terribly confused, but kudos to Leica for creating a camera for traditional lefty’s.
Love it!
I remember listening to a photo podcast years ago that took listener questions. Someone who only had use of their left hand asked how to adapt a camera, any camera, for left handed use.
Perhaps Leica should set aside some to give preference to users who don’t have a choice due to disabilities.
It will be interesting to see if they offer this as a regular choice down the road.
I am right-handed but I am left-eyed if I may say so. Anyway this is a funny April joke…
It was Yashica, I think, who issued a version of their half-frame camera in both left and righthand versions. Somehow I managed to get two cameras for testing. So I loaned one to my left-handed daughter, who loved it. But not enough to buy it.
I am not only left handed but I am also left eye dominant! I am so tired of getting nose grease on the the back glass of the camera! I would love it if Leica made left-handed cameras a regular feature. Thanks.
Sign me up! I have been waiting for this day.
Excellent fish!
Excellent!
Are you able to tell us how it fared on the long-term pre-launch test?
Very disappointed. I was hoping for a Leica with the red-dot script reversed, so that when I take selfies in a mirror I won’t have to flip the image in order to impress followers with my gear.
I know it’s an April joke and in any case I wouldn‘t be entitled to get one as I‘m not left-handed but it would be a good idea for people like me. I‘m short sighted on my link eye and use the right eye to focus. It‘s always a struggle with my nose and I don‘t see Parts of the rangefinder.
For some reasons I managed to write my message the wrong way round. I‘m short-sighted with my right eye and use the left one to focus which is a pain for the reasons explained with the other message.
The Linkermessucher will never take on
Brilliant!
As an ambidextro , Wow what a cool idea and I love the writing test. Hopefully that improves the odds these will actually get used irl