Leica M12 - Leica's Next Hybrid Viewfinder?

Launched in 2022, the Leica M11 featured an impressive design but fell short of performance expectations. Now, two years later, there is speculation about Leica's potential resurgence as rumors of the Leica M12 start to emerge. In this video, we explore the latest speculations about the anticipated Leica camera.
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#leicam11 #leicam12 #leica

[stevemphoto]

lmao! I stopped watching when he said the major drawback of the M11 was the lack of autofocus and that will be remedied in the next model. Ummm then it's not an M...

[piruzinho]

While IBIS would be a nice addition, I fail to see how it would be possible to have autofocus. The lenses are all manual and do not have motors. A new line of autofocus lenses, which would need to be bigger, to accommodate the motor, would be a non-starter. The M9 came out in 2009. the M (typ 240) in 2012, the M10 in 2017 and the M11 in 2022. So, we can expect a Leica M12 in 2026/7 if they follow the same pattern. They may or may not. We will see...

[erichstocker]

Who needs or wants AF on a Leica M camera. The M camera is a manual focus rangefinder. Every time they added such junk they had to put out a model that went back to basics e.g., M240 to M262.

[nelsonclub]

According to sources on Leica Rumors, the new Leica M12 will be 3mm smaller than the M11. This makes sense, as we have seen with the Leica SL3, whose overall size was reduced to fit into a more compact size.

It was confirmed by Stefan Daniel, Leica Executive Vice President of Technology and Operations when he spoke to members of the Leica Society International in Dublin on October 14, 2022, stating: "In-body stabilization for the M system is not viable because of size constraints." This makes perfect sense, due to its interchangeable lens design.

However, to throw a bit of confusion in the air, in another interview in 2022 Stefan mentioned that IBIS could be added, commenting:

"It isn't ruled out that the image stabilizer could be integrated into the M at some point, for example, if we would do without the mechanical shutter and so the necessary space would be available again."

While the Leica M cameras have always been compact, having a slightly smaller design could help with weight distribution, and as the new close-focus M-mount lenses from Leica are lighter - making the overall package lighter makes sense. have been many rumors over the years that Leica could introduce an EVF or hybrid EVF, much like the Fujifilm X100IV. Back in 2022 Stefan Daniel, Executive Vice President of Technology and Operations at Leica mentioned that Leica would consider an EVF model if there was enough interest, originally stating that Leica would need to sell a couple of thousand to make it worthwhile, and later correcting that it would need to be several thousand to be viable.

With the new close-focus lens capability of 0.3m that Leica is currently producing it does hint that an EVF could be on the cards, as currently the only way to use this close-focus is to use the optional electric viewfinder of the Leica Visoflex - which a lot of users don't like as it adds extra bulk.

It also must be said that this is all hearsay currently, with no official announcement from Leica Camera AG.

[soulopticc]

I don't think you could call this an M

[ChalrieD]

I’ll buy the M12 when it’s available, won’t even look at the specs. Hope it has a GPS. I love my Learned photography on it and now it’s somehow more difficult to use consumer automatic cameras.

[GillesQuennevilleGQ]

Never auto focus. All the existing famous Leica lenses wont fit this idea.

[RS-Amsterdam]

Noting of this is based on facts so who cares

[jimwhite]

“…these speculations remain speculative…”

[makmakL]

Integrated electronic viewfinder, faster start up time, unfreezing camera, same MP, and better weather sealing is all what I wish for. IBIS will make the camera bigger, and autofocus seriously?!!!!

[LensForgotten]

IBIS and the ability to turn it on or off would be nice.

[michaelwhiles]

Leica 60m sensor known for not handling highlights and over exposure 😵🤪😵‍💫

[JaroslavZuiko-gvzt]

Only IBIS, not AF, not EVF.
Ok...).

[theosr]

If this happens. I will put all my Leica gear through the window. All 2 M3, R4s, R9, m249, leica Q, M6, m7, Leica Q, DIGILUX 2 and 3, type 107 Meica Cl(film) 2 ex, Leica CL DIGITAL ETC

[primegeek]

This video is laughably bad in not understanding anything about the Leica brand image and ecosystem.

[thedarkslide]

The M12 better have a faster startup time and not freeze up.

[forgiveness_denied]

money milking cow 🐮💰 don't buy the hype!

[lensman]

Oh dear, they are churning these out now as frequently as Sony and Fuji.

[Amia]

Ibis, Evf and autofocus will come, sooner or later! ... perhaps not directly on Leica M12, but certainly on Leica M13, M14 or M15 ! They will be forced to do so : trade and progress require ! If they do not innovate they will, as always, see a drop in sales. And as they want to make money and perpetuate the Leica brand the choice will be quickly made ! But, dear friends, let's not worry too much : the responsible for the brand are smart and will always think of the real photographers and the purists of the brand, so that the historical models, such as the Leica M6, the M11, the MA and the MP, will always be available and brought, more or less, up to date as they were able to do it intelligently with the M6! Please, let's never forget that we are dealing with Germans and, what's more, with people from Leica !