The first Leica M12 images have been leaked – and it could be a revolutionary redesign
The first Leica M12 Rumors have entered circulation in recent weeks, suggesting the premium camera maker’s next model could receive a design overhaul. And while there’s still some doubt about what the camera will be called, newly leaked images point to some impressive and surprising upgrades.
Leica rumors shared design mockups illustrating the potential cosmetic changes that, if true, would completely change the way Leica’s next rumored camera handles. Of those great changes, a potential all-new viewfinder design is what stands out the mostwhile adjustments like shaving 3mm off the M11 are probably only of interest to the most hardened Leica fans.
The Leica M11 is part of a series of Leica cameras famous for their rangefinder experience. In fact, the M in Leica’s cameras stands for ‘Messsucher’, the German term for a combined rangefinder and viewfinder.
Lecia M cameras use an optical viewfinder equipped with a split image to facilitate manual focus and allow you to see outside the image area. Looking outside your frame, a rangefinder is especially ideal for street photography because you can see subjects before they walk into the frame, helping you time your shot.
However, instead of sticking with a rangefinder viewfinder, Leica could make its first-ever hybrid viewfinder, similar to what the Fujifilm X100VI and X-Pro 3 use. Photographers would be able to switch between an optical rangefinder display with digital overlay and a fully electronic viewfinder.
I’m a fan of the X100VI viewfinder, and this move would make a lot of sense in a Leica camera. You get the best of both worlds: the optical rangefinder, or an electronic viewfinder with exposure preview and not limited to wide and moderate wide angle lenses like an M11.
There’s also speculation that some external controls will be dropped to make way for a much larger 3.9-inch touchscreen that will dominate the rear of the camera. Such a design approach would follow in the footsteps of the minimalist Leica TL2.
That would be bad news for photographers who like to have lots of controls at their fingertips – apparently the ISO dial will also be omitted. However, a new thumb button could appear behind the shutter button, and it would presumably be customizable.
Leica often straddles the line between the traditional and modern camp, making cameras with an old-school aesthetic, optical rangefinder and manual focus only, combined with modern, minimalist touchscreen-centric controls. And with this rumored next model, it looks like it will double down on this approach.
If the rumors turn out to be true, a potential Leica M12 could be the most polarizing Leica camera yet.