Today, Leica has announced the highly anticipated M11 digital rangefinder. Building upon the incredible M10-R before it, the M11 retains its instantly recognizable iconic design but packs a litany of improvements under the hood. At the heart of the camera, a cutting-edge 60-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor with dual gain design, ultra-thin cover glass, refined color filter array and Triple Resolution Technology delivers astounding image quality. An upgraded Maestro III processor combined with a larger 3GB image buffer provides better burst performance while UHS-II card compatibility and 64GB internal memory open up new options for storage and backup. Even with its always-on sensor-based multifield metering and more responsive live view, the camera delivers all-day battery life with a larger battery and class-leading power efficiency. A USB-C port on the bottom of the camera provides for easy downloading and in-camera charging.
On the image quality front, the new sensor on the Leica M11 captures up to 15-stops of dynamic range at its native base ISO of 64, while still delivering exceptional quality at even the highest ISO settings for amazing low-light images. For those not needing 60 megapixels all the time, the camera gives options for 36 and 18 megapixel DNG resolutions, saving card space, speeding up post processing and boosting burst shooting performance.
An electronic shutter with a maximum speed of 1/16,000 lets users of ultra-fast lenses shoot in bright daylight without the need for ND filters. And on the other end, long exposures up to one hour are now possible, with or without long exposure noise reduction.
The new Visoflex 2 electronic viewfinder, also launched today, features a 3.7 megapixel OLED in an all-metal housing. Live view is also available on the upgraded rear LCD touchscreen, now 2.3 megapixels, with 800 nits of brightness and displaying the full sRGB color gamut. To help with focus magnification of such a high-res image, Leica has developed electronic stabilization for live view shooting.
The camera body itself features notable changes as well. The black finish weighs 20% less, trading the traditional brass top plate for machined aluminum. For the first time in almost 70 years, there is no base plate. Instead, the battery, card slot and USB-C port are all readily at hand. Without adding any clutter, the M11 now gives users three assignable custom function buttons that can be set without digging through menus.
Full Review of the Leica M11
To see a complete rundown of the features and technology of the new M11, as well as tons of real-world images, be sure to check out my full review here:
Leica M11 Review: The Ultimate Digital M
Features
- Groundbreaking full frame BSI CMOS color sensor with triple resolution technology for incredible file output versatility and unmatched image quality with M-lenses
- Highest dynamic range M camera to date with a native ISO of 64 and up to 15 stops of dynamic range
- Maestro III processor for high speed image processing & data storage
- 64 GB of internal memory enabling parallel image storage and on-camera backup
- USB-C port for on the go charging and data transfer
- 64% more battery capacity and more power efficient system for extended shooting sessions
- Electronic shutter up to 1/16,000 sec and long exposures up to 1 hour, allowing for even more creative possibilities in extreme lighting conditions
- The black-finish variant of the Leica M11 features a top plate made of high-quality aluminum with a scratch-resistant coating, making it 20% lighter than its silver chrome counterpart
- Multifield metering is now possible when shooting in rangefinder mode, enabling users to shoot in dynamic lighting conditions while also conserving battery
- Live View digital stabilization allowing for smooth and accurate manual focusing while using Live View
- Two Digital Zoom options (1.3x and 1.8x) for fast cropping of DNG and JPG files
- UHS-II SD card compatibility and 3GB buffer enabling quick image storage
- Three customizable function buttons allowing quick access to almost any menu setting in the camera
- New 2.3-megapixel touch screen display with up to 800 nits of brightness, for comfortable image viewing during daytime shoots
- New 3.7-megapixel all-metal Visoflex 2 Electronic Viewfinder available as an add-on accessory
- The Leica M11 is a “Made for iPhone and iPad” certified product allowing for reliable data transfer to Leica FOTOS via the included USB-C to Lightning cable
- Outstanding build quality, designed and made in Germany
M11 Compared to M10-R
Pricing, Ordering and Availability
Initial deliveries of the Leica M11 have already begun, priced at $8,995 for either Black or Silver Chrome finish. As with any major Leica launch, supply of this handmade-in-Germany camera will be limited early on. If you are interested in ordering the M11, you can do so at Leica Store Miami by clicking the button below, calling 305-921-4433 or sending an email to info@leicastoremiami.com. If you are thinking about trading in any other Leica equipment towards the purchase of the M11 or are interested in any of the new camera accessories, you can note it during the pre-order process.
Press Release
The new Leica M11 – A Legend reinvented.
Wetzlar, January 13th 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 options, extended battery life and a streamlined and intuitive menu system; the Leica M11 represents a new benchmark in digital photography as the most flexible M-System camera in Leica’s history.
At the heart of the M11 is a full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with Triple Resolution Technology. Raw image files in DNG and JPEG format 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, utilizing 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 comprised of two extremely thin, cemented layers of glass, achieves an especially effective correction of even the most oblique rays of incident light. With a new color filter array, the camera also offers an improved, more natural color reproduction.
While maintaining the iconic look of a traditional Leica M, the carefully optimized design of the Leica M11 is focused on efficiency and ergonomics. The controls have been arranged in a unique layout next to the 2.3 million pixels high-resolution touchscreen. The menu structure of the M11 remains consistent with 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 at 14-bit color 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 settings. With the optional electronic shutter featuring a shutter speed of up to 1/16,000 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, offering photographers a valuable tool to curate light.
The black-finish variant of the Leica M11 features a top plate made of high-quality aluminum with a scratch-resistant coating. As a result, the body 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 640 grams.
The deliberate omission of the traditional base plate is unique to the M11, offering photographers 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. This makes the M11 the first M model to save image files simultaneously onto two different storage media. The 1800mAh battery stores 64% more power than before, and combined with the camera’s more efficient operation, allows for considerably longer shooting sessions with a single charge. Additionally, the newly added universal USB-C port also serves to charge the camera’s battery, using most USB-C chargers.
Upgraded connectivity features for 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 which 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. The M11 is compatible with Apple products and accessories and 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 a 3.7-megapixel resolution display 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 our experience developing cameras since 1925.”
Tech Specs
| Type no. | 2416 |
| Order No. | Black: 20 200 / Silver: 20201 |
| Camera type | Digital camera system with rangefinder |
| Lens mount | Leica M bayonet with additional sensor for 6-bit encoding |
| Sensor | BSI CMOS sensor, pixel pitch: 3.76 μm, active area approx. 24x36mm |
| Sensor Filter | RGB color filter array, UV/IR filter, no low-pass filter |
| Image resolution | The entire sensor surface will always be used irrespective of format and resolution. Digital Zoom 1.3x and 1.8x available (always based on L-DNG or L-JPG) |
| Processor | Leica Maestro series (Maestro III) |
| File formats | DNG (raw data, loss-free compression), DNG + JPG, JPG (DCF, Exif 2.30) |
| DNG | L-DNG 60.3 MP 9528 x 6328 pixels M-DNG 36.5 MP 7416 x 4928 pixels S-DNG 18.4 MP 5272 x 3498 pixels |
| JPG | L-JPG 60.1 MP 9504 x 6320 pixels M-JPG 36.2 MP 7392 x 4896 pixels S-JPG 18.2 MP 5248 x 3472 pixels |
| File Size | Depending on resolution and picture content |
| DNG | L-DNG approx. 70–120 MB M-DNG approx. 40–70 MB S-DNG approx. 20–40 MB |
| JPG | L-JPG approx. 15–30 MB L-JPG approx. 15–30 MB S-JPG approx. 5–9 MB |
| Color depth | DNG: 14 Bit, JPG: 8 Bit |
| Color space | sRGB in JPG |
| Buffer memory | 3 GB |
| Pictures in Series | L-DNG: 15 |
| M-DNG: 30 | |
| S-DNG: Unlimited | |
| Storage Medium | UHS-II (recommended), UHS-I, SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card (SDXC cards up to 2 TB) |
| 64GB Internal memory | |
| Viewfinder | Large, bright-line rangefinder with automatic parallax compensation, suitable for -0.5 dpt; optional corrective lenses available: -3 to +3 dpt |
| Viewfinder Display | Four-digit digital display with items show on the top and bottom, Image field limiter: two lit frames: 35 mm + 135 mm, 28 mm + 90 mm, 50 mm + 75 mm (automatic switchover when lens is attached) |
| Parallax compensation | The horizontal and vertical difference between viewfinder and lens is compensated automatically in line with the relevant focus setting. Congruence of viewfinder and actual image. The size of the bright-line frame matches the distance: – at 2 m: the exact sensor size of approx. 23.9 x 35.8 mm – at infinity: (depending on focal length) approx. 7.3% (28 mm) to 18% (135 mm) – less than 2 m: less than sensor size |
| Viewfinder magnification | x0.73 (all lenses) |
| Large-base rangefinder | Split or superimposed image rangefinder shown as a bright field at the center of the viewfinder image |
| Focus range | 70 cm to ∞ |
| Focus mode | Manual (focus assist functions Magnification and Focus Peaking available) |
| LCD panel | 2.95” (Active Matrix TFT), Gorilla Glass 5 cover glass, 2,332,800 dots, format 3:2, touch control available |
| Shutter type | Electronically controlled focal plane shutter and electronic shutter function |
| Shutter speeds | Mech. shutter: 60 min to 1⁄4000 s Electro. shutter function: 60 s to 1⁄16000 s Flash Synch: up to 1⁄180 s Optional noise reduction via additional “black picture” (can be disabled) |
| Shutter button | Two-stage (1st stage: activation of the camera electronics including exposure metering and metering memory lock, 2nd stage: taking the picture) |
| Self-timer | Delay time: 2 s or 12 s |
| Image Capture | Single, Continuous – Low Speed (3 fps), Continuous – High Speed (4.5 fps), Interval Shooting, Exposure Bracketing |
| Exposure metering | TTL (exposure metering through the lens) |
| Metering principle | Exposure metering is done by the image sensor for all exposure metering methods (in Live View mode and in rangefinder mode) |
| Exposure metering | Spot, Center-Weighted, Multi-Field |
| Exposure modes | Aperture priority mode (A): Automatic shutter speed control with manual aperture preselection, Manual (M): manual setting for shutter speed and aperture |
| Exposure compensation | ±3 EV in 1⁄3 EV increments |
| Automatic bracketing | 3 or 5 shots, graduations between shoots up to 3 EV, in 1⁄3 EV increments, additional optional exposure compensation: up to ±3 EV |
| ISO sensitivity range | Auto ISO: IS0 64 (native) to ISO 50 000, also available in flash mode Manual: ISO 64 to ISO 50,000 |
| White balance | Automatic (Auto), Default (Daylight – 5200 K, Cloudy – 6100 K, Shadow – 6600 K, Tungsten – 2950 K, HMI – 5700 K, Fluorescent (warm) – 3650 K, Fluorescent (cool) – 5800 K, Flash – 6600 K), manual metering (Gray card), manual color temperature setting (Color Temperature, 2000 K to 11,500 K) |
| Flash sync time | 1⁄180s, slower shutter speeds available, automatic switchover to TTL linear flash mode with HSS-compatible Leica system flash units if sync time is undercut |
| Flash exposure metering | Using center-weighted TTL pre-flash metering with Leica flash units (SF 26, SF 40, SF 58, SF 60, SF 64) or with system-compatible flash units, remote controlled flash SF C1 |
| Flash exposure compensation | SF 40: ±2 EV in 1⁄2 EV increments, SF 60: ±2 EV in 1⁄3 EV increments, Other: ±3 EV in 1⁄3 EV increments |
| Displays in flash mode (in the viewfinder only) | Flash icon: Connection of an external flash unit |
| Interfaces | ISO accessory shoe with additional control contacts for Leica flash units and Leica Visoflex 2 viewfinder (optional accessory) |
| USB 3.1 Gen1 Typ-C (5 Gbs) | |
| WLAN | The Leica FOTOS app is required to use the WLAN function. The Leica app is available from the Apple App StoreTM or the Google Play StoreTM. 2.4 GHz/5 GHz* dual band IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wave2 WLAN (standard WLAN protocol), encryption method: WLAN-compatible WPATM/WPA2TM, access method: infrastructure mode |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v4.2 BR/EDR/LE, BR/DR-channel 1-79, LE-channel 0-39 (2402–2480 MHz) |
| GPS | Geotagging via Leica FOTOS app using Bluetooth |
| Menu languages | English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Portuguese |
| Rechargeable battery (Leica BP-SCL7) | Li-Ion (Lithium-Polymer) rechargeable battery, rated voltage: 7.4 V / capacity: 1800 mAh, Charging voltage/current: DC 1000 mAh, 7.4 V, operating conditions: +10°C to +35°C (charging) / +0°C to +40°C (discharged) |
| Battery Life | Approx. 700 shots (in accordance with CIPA Standard) up to approx. 1700 shots (Leica adapted shooting cycle – rangefinder use only) |
| Charger (Leica BC-SCL7) | Input: USB-C DC 5 V, 2 A, output: DC 8.4 V, 1 A, operating conditions: +10°C to +35°C |
| Power pack (Leica ACA-SCL7) | Input: AC 110 V – 240 V ~ 50/60 Hz, 0.3 A, output: DC 5 V, 2 A, operating conditions: +10°C to +35°C |
| USB Power supply | When in standby mode or Off: USB charging function, When On: USB power supply and intermittent charging |
| Material | Black: full-metal housing made of magnesium and aluminum, leatherette cover |
| Silver: full-metal housing made of magnesium and brass, leatherette cover | |
| Operating temperature | +0 to +40°C |
| Tripod thread | A 1⁄4 DIN 4503 (1⁄4”) with stainless steel in the base |
| Dimensions | 139 x 38.5 x 80mm |
| Weight | Black: approx. 530 g/455 g (with/without battery) Silver: approx. 640 g/565 g (with/without battery) |
Can the Visoflex 2 be used on an M10 body or only on the M11 ?
I’m guessing that the Visoflex 2 does not have GPS, since the M11 can get that from the Leica Photos app?
So sad they didn’t correct (remake) the viewfinder mechanism at least… even if there wasn’t a EVF built in.
Luxurious images. Thanks David. Much appreciated.
Greetings from Australia!