Leica rumors 2024
The year started with a bang, thanks to the much-leaked launch of the Leica SL3 – the SL mirrorless line being one of the company's "three pillars" along with the Q series and M series cameras.
Taking a cue (pun intended) from Ricoh, the company just launched a sister version of the Leica Q3 (with its 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens) in the form of the Leica Q3 43 – a version of the camera, with a 43mm Apo-Summicron f/2 Asph lens and a new grey leatherette finish.
It also gave its "latest" (well, its latest upcycle of the Panasonic LX100 II) compact camera, the distinctly Q-like Leica D-Lux 8.
All that's left now is a new M camera and the pillars are thoroughly bolstered…
Leica SL3-S
Leica's mirrorless lineup has two tiers: the higher-resolution SLX series and the lower-resolution SLX-S range.
Historically these have taken their cue from the Panasonic SX bodies, with the Leica SL2 being modeled after the Lumix S1R and the Leica SL2-S sharing heritage with the Lumix S1.
This year, of course, has been different, with Leica taking the technological lead – so the SL3 was completely of its own, rather than being an upcycled Lumix. The question is, will the Leica SL3-S also be unique – or will it take its cues from the Panasonic Lumix S5II?
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Either way, it's currently being whispered that the SL3-S will launch at the very end of 2024 or the very beginning of 2025. Given all the announcement delays and postponements that have plagued the past 12 months, we could well be waiting until next year.
Leica M12
Another year, another M camera – but could this finally be the year that the M series goes all-electronic – and gets in-body image stabilization (IBIS), to boot? Leica has previously lamented that the M bodies are too small to implement IBIS, but later noted that omitting the mechanical shutter would free up the necessary space.
We've been hearing noise forever that an electronic viewfinder might be on the way to M cameras, too, so perhaps the Leica M12 could be the launchpad for a sweeping suite of changes.
There are also rumors that the M12 will be some 3mm smaller than the Leica M11, and that the screen could be almost an inch bigger – with chatter that this could be done to replace some or all of the physical buttons, as was the case with cameras like the Leica TL2.
According to FCC certification documents, the camera (or at least, a camera) was set to be announced on May 16. That obviously hasn't happened, though – and Leica's next camera is believed to be among those delayed by mysterious external circumstances.
Leica M11 Black Paint
Word is that we're about to get a Black Paint version of the Leica M11 – often seen as the last dance for an M camera before it is replaced by the next model.
These celebratory editions are often made from brass and, as the name suggests, are coated in gorgeous glossy black paint. This gives the camera a stunning vintage look when it's brand new, but also makes it more susceptible to wear – and as the paint wears, it produces the coveted patina "brassing" effect common to genuine vintage cameras.
However, it sounds special edition might be merged with the…
Leica S4
Leica has discontinued its medium format DSLR, the Leica S3. It has long been dropping Easter eggs and teasers about going mirrorless for its next medium format camera, though, and a company exec recently all but spelled it out.
"For the moment, we are stopping S3, but I think there will be plans for a future S4," Cyril Thomas, CEO of Leica France, told Phototrend.
"When will it happen? It's not tomorrow, it's not in the near future. I don't think we will see this in 2024, I don't know about 2025, but I know that Leica has plans in terms of mirrorless cameras in the medium format."
The Leica verdict
Having renewed the SL and Q lines, I'm excited to see the inevitable M12 along with the long-rumored return to medium format with the S4 – and I'm intrigued to see how it fares against the rest of the market, given the successes that Hasselblad and Fujifilm have been enjoying lately.
More camera rumors: Canon rumors • Nikon rumors • Sony rumors • Olympus rumors • Fuji rumors • Panasonic rumors • Sigma rumors • Hasselblad rumors • Ricoh & Pentax rumors • GoPro rumors
