There aren’t many cameras that boast a legacy quite like the Leica M-series. For decades, the brand has tweaked the flagship rangefinder release with subtle improvements, elevating the much-loved camera to near untouchable status. But a new year brings new ideas and for 2022, Leica is going out of the box, on the inside, at least. The much-anticipated Leica M11 has finally been unveiled, continuing the brand’s march into the future.
Image: Leica Camera
“As we all know, 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,” Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG, Wetzlar said. “The new M11 will continue this legacy with outstanding technology, based on the experience since 1925.”
Building on the improvements implemented in the M10, the M11 upgrades a few key components that will provide an even better quality of photography experiences. For starters, the M11 features a new 60-megapixel backside-illuminated full-frame CMOS sensor. This new sensor has 14 stops of dynamic range and is also capable of capturing RAW files at either 18 megapixels or 36. The ability to capture RAW files also unlocks another dynamic stop plus improves low light performance and lets you capture longer burst shooting—which is nice as the M11 doesn’t capture video.
The new sensor isn’t the only improvement though. The M11 also sports a new ultra-thin UV filter that helps the sensor reproduce more natural colours. Additionally, the M11 comes with a faster processor and it has the ability to use multi-field metering.
Image: Leica Camera
Those improvements all happen internally, so if you’re concerned about the appearance of the camera, don’t. The M11 is slightly smaller than the M10, by a matter of just a few millimetres. In terms of weight, the M10 and the M11 are virtually the same, weighing about 1.4 pounds. You can pick up the black edition, which employs anodized aluminium to make it 1.2 pounds.
The biggest difference you’ll see on the exterior is the lack of Leica’s signature bottom plate. The M11 also uses the cartridge-style battery from the Q2, which is 64 per cent larger than the M10, giving you another 700 shots using the live view or 1,700 shots with the rangefinder. The M11 provides a USB-C port for data transfer and charging, and the camera comes with 64GB of storage.
“The Leica M has long been our flagship system, dating back to the first M camera released in 1954, and we are thrilled to introduce the new M11 which sets a new benchmark in digital photography,” Ryan Williams, managing director, Leica Camera Australia said. “The M11 takes a significant leap forward technically, and will appeal to both professional and enthusiast photographers who are passionate about capturing moments and memories with outstanding detail and colour precision.”
Leica’s continued improvements to its cameras shows its dedication to their customer and fan base—a reason why they have such a loyal following. You can add the Leica M11 Body (available in Silver and Black) for AUD$13,500 inc. GST.
Image: Leica Camera
Image: Leica Camera
Image: Leica Camera
