Leica M EV1: Rumors reveal more details about extremely compact full-frame camera days before launch
The Leica M EV1 is scheduled to be officially unveiled on October 23. With this camera, Leica is fulfilling the wishes of many customers, as it is essentially a Leica Q3 with interchangeable lenses – at least on the outside. Technically speaking, the camera is more accurately described as a Leica M11 with an electronic viewfinder instead of a rangefinder, as the electronics are said to be identical to those of the Leica M11.
That's a shame, because it means the Leica M EV1 is based on the older Leica Maestro III processor, which only has 3 GB of buffer memory, and wireless charging is unlikely to be possible. The battery will also be somewhat smaller, as Leica is said to be using the BP-SCL7 with 1,800 mAh at 7.4 volts. At least the camera will be relatively light, as according to the latest information from LeicaRumors, the Leica M EV1 weighs just 410 grams without a battery, but 485 grams with the battery.
By comparison, the Leica M11 weighs 530 grams with a battery, the Sony A7r IV 662 grams, and even the extremely compact Panasonic Lumix S9 is slightly heavier at 486 grams. This makes the Leica M EV1 one of the most compact and lightweight full-frame cameras in the world, although Leica is reportedly continuing to forego autofocus and image stabilization. This is unfortunate, as with an L-mount instead of an M-mount, the camera could support autofocus lenses and still use Leica M lenses via an adapter.
The slider next to the lens mount, which selects the frame lines of the rangefinder on the Leica M11, will be used on the M EV1 to activate focus peaking and focus magnification in the viewfinder. In Hong Kong, the Leica M EV1 is priced at $75,000 HKD (around $9,600), so the US price may well break the $10,000 mark on account of the new Trump tarrifs. It will come with a 60 MP full-frame sensor, a 0.5-inch OLED viewfinder with 5.76 million pixels, and support for Content Credentials.
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