Not everyone wants to own a Canon, Nikon or Sony, even though they dominate our guide to the best cameras. And for photographers who prefer their tech a little more quirky, the new Pixii Max could be the perfect mix of old and new.
French startup Pixii has been making Leica M-mount rangefinder cameras since 2018, but the new Max is its first to feature a full-frame sensor. And like Pixii’s APS-C cameras, it promises to be a compelling mix of modern design and an old-school shooting experience.
That Leica M-mount means the Max is only compatible with manual focus lenses, meaning it’s going to be a matter of taste. Still, it could certainly appeal to Leica fans who want something a little different from their Leica M11 – or for those who can’t afford to buy one of the new ones.
The Pixii Max is certainly no Leica rip-off, with a modern, minimalist design that’s milled from a solid block of aluminium and omits a rear screen. The optical viewfinder (0.67x magnification) offers a 28mm angle of view with 35mm frame lines for those who prefer that focal length.
The Max’s full-frame sensor is a 24.5MP unit, which Pixii founder David Barth calls “the sweet spot for today’s cameras.” While modern mirrorless cameras like the Sony A7 IV have moved up to 33MP, and even APS-C models like the Fujifilm X-T5 have topped out at 40MP, 24.5MP is still plenty of resolution for most.
Another modern feature, and one that’s still oddly rare on the best mirrorless cameras, is onboard storage. The Max will be available in a 32GB version (which can store around 840 DNGs or 1,700 JPEGs) or a 128GB model (3,350 DNGs or 6,800 JPEGs).
You can pre-order the Pixii Max from July 5 in black or space gray, with the 32GB model costing £3,385 (around $4,320 / AU$6,430) and the 128GB model £3,596 (around $4,595 / AU$6,830). Shipping is expected to start in September.
Cameras are getting fun and weird again
The rise of smartphones has caused a major decline in camera sales and originality, but they’ve been given a new lease of life as demand for a more tactile shooting experience grows. And the Pixii Max could be one of those things.
There have been calls for a full-frame version since the original Pixii Camera launched in 2019, and the French startup has now delivered. It’s also confirmed that it’s still committed to the APS-C Pixii Plus, with the Max coming alongside that camera.
The Max certainly isn’t for everyone, but that’s the point. A camera without a rear screen, electronic viewfinder or autofocus is aimed at photography purists, but it also has some refreshingly modern touches, like internal storage and a minimalist design.
The recent popularity of the Fujifilm X100VI bodes well for compact rangefinder cameras, and the Pixii Max has the extravagant appeal to make it one of the most intriguing new cameras this year. We’re looking forward to testing one out before it ships later this year.