September 12, 2024 Leica once again launches the Lecia M11-D full-frame digital camera without a display
- ChungT.
- Feb 20
- 5 min read
On September 12, 2024, Leica released the Lecia M11-D full-frame digital camera in Wetzlar, Germany. Adhering to the concept of classic, low-key and simple, it abandons the display and direct image control, allowing photographers to focus on shooting as much as possible and trust their creativity. It is the design legend of the Leica M System. The back of the camera uses a mechanical ISO dial design, providing the same operating experience as a film camera. The fuselage is hand-assembled in Germany. Only the word Leica is engraved on the top cover, and the red Leica logo is deliberately erased to highlight its low profile. Unlike other Leica systems, the Leica M-System is synonymous with legendary quality "Made in Germany". Since the launch of the Leica rangefinder system in 1954, the world’s top photographers have praised the unique image quality and intuitive operation, superb manufacturing and retention of value of Leica M cameras and lenses.
"Messsucher" is the German name for the integrated rangefinder and viewfinder used on all Leica M-series cameras. Not only does it make the picture more open (with a wider shooting field of view), it also opens up a whole new world of creative freedom for you. In addition, the rangefinder system can help you capture those touching moments in real life and make the photos real and natural. More importantly, it allows photographers to truly immerse themselves in the shooting and composition, capturing the image they want - whether it is a scene, a mood or a moment.
At the same time, the photographer can clearly see everything happening outside the viewfinder. Compared to looking through the viewfinder of a SLR camera, the advantages are obvious. You can see the composition and clarity of the image in the photo on the left. There is no doubt that the rangefinder system of the Leica M broadens the photographer's artistic vision and allows him to control all composition and framing ideas at any time.
Leica ditched displays for its digital cameras with the launch of its first 24-megapixel full-frame Leica M-D back in April 2016, followed by its second 24-megapixel full-frame Leica M10-D in October 2018. The Lecia M11-D, launched six years later, was equipped with a 600,000-pixel sensor with triple resolution technology, a significant improvement in specifications.
There is not much difference in specifications compared to the Lecia M11-P launched in October 2023. The Lecia M11-D also has 256GB of memory space and a UHS-II SD card slot, which can store a large number of photos separately without worrying about storage capacity; built-in content authenticity technology that fully complies with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and C2PA standards enables the Leica content certificate function to prove the authenticity of the image by verifying its historical source, enhancing people's trust in digital photography, and making the photos taken by the M11-D a lasting symbol of the photographer's credibility and integrity; full-frame back-illuminated CMOS sensor supports 60 million, 36 million, and 18 million pixel resolutions. The huge sensitivity range of ISO 64 to ISO 50,000 delivers excellent image quality even in harsh lighting conditions; it uses a magnesium-aluminum alloy all-metal body covered with a scratch-resistant matte coating, and the total weight of the body including the battery is only 540 grams.
The Leica M11-D brings the experience of a film camera to digital photography without any limitations. Connect to the Leica FOTOS App and integrate digital processes into your work at any time. Users can use their personal device as a camera display to view their captured photos and adjust nearly all camera settings to suit their preferences. Furthermore, once the settings are saved, they are locked. The Leica FOTOS App also supports photo transfer, remote control, geotagging, and the ability to edit photos directly in Adobe Lightroom, Capture One Pro or Darkroom apps.
The lens determines the performance ceiling of the camera, which is why Leica has been committed to the research and development and production of excellent lenses for more than 150 years. As always, the Leica M11-D is compatible with all the high-quality M-system lenses since 1954, creating extraordinary image quality.
In addition to the new M11-D, two matching high-quality leather accessories are available. One is a black protector designed for the M11-D, with a cutout for the mechanical ISO dial on the back of the camera. The other is a shoulder strap, available in black and cognac, made from a single piece of leather and suitable for all M-series cameras.
The Leica M11-D will be available in all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Shop and authorized dealers worldwide.
Retail price 9,350.00 Euro
What is the Content Authenticity Program?
The Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) is a collaboration between Adobe and multiple organizations including The New York Times and Leica. The agreement was announced in late 2019 with the primary goal of establishing standards for attribution of digital content. The rise in manipulated digital content, deepfakes, and misinformation has highlighted the need for a more transparent system of content attribution, which is what CAI seeks to address.
Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI)
The following are the core elements and objectives of CAI.
Transparent attribution: One of the main purposes of CAI is to create a system that allows content creators to securely and verifiably attach attribution material to their content. This data may include who created the content, when it was created, and other potentially relevant information about the source of the content.
Detecting Manipulation: By providing a history of content changes or edits, CAI strives to make any changes transparent. This is extremely important in an age where digital content can be easily manipulated to deceive viewers or readers.
Open Standards: CAI aims to develop open standards for content attribution and ensure their universal adoption across a variety of platforms and services.
User control: Creators should be able to control how much metadata they wish to share. The Initiative understands the importance of privacy and is committed to creating a system for sharing information in a way that respects individual choices.
Collaboration: CAI is a collaborative initiative that brings together various stakeholders including technology companies, content creators, media organizations, and academic institutions to address challenges around content authenticity and provenance.
The Content Veracity Initiative is an important step in the fight against digital misinformation. By providing a verifiable history of content, consumers can have greater confidence in the digital media they consume, and creators can receive appropriate credit for their work.
