(Credit: Leica)
Leica's newest camera isn't brand new. Instead the M11-P rangefinder takes the basics from the the M11 and puts it in a discrete body that drops the iconic red dot logo, quadruples internal storage, and encrypts creator and copyright details right into the image metadata, so it can't be later stripped away.
(Credit: Leica)A New Old Camera
Pro photographers will appreciate the encryption function, but more enthusiasts and hobbyists are drawn to the M series because of its timeless design—the basic body style of the M11-P is the same as the original M3 film camera, a model introduced in 1954. As such it has some vintage aspects, there's no autofocus or video support, and the built-in viewfinder is an optical design, not an electronic one.
Inside the tech is as modern as it gets. The M11-P uses a 60MP BSI CMOS image sensor for photos and includes 256GB of built-in storage for photos, versus 64GB for the regular M11, along with an SDXC card slot. A new security chip adds support for the aforementioned encryption, but aside from those changes, the tech aspects of the M11-P are identical to the M11, so you can refer to our review of the older camera to learn all about its imaging engine and the ins and outs of using a rangefinder.
(Credit: Leica)The changes to the exterior are more apparent. The M11-P drops the Leica red dot logo from the front, so it looks a bit more like a vintage M2 or M3. The top plate also matches up with those classic cameras; it uses the same engraved Leica script logo that you'll find on antique Leicas. The rear display and function buttons are a giveaway that the camera is digital, however. And speaking of the screen, its Sapphire cover glass is more durable and scratch resistant than the Gorilla Glass screen on the regular M11.
I'll touch on the P concept too, because it's something Leica does regularly. Leica has released a mid-cycle refresh that's mostly about aesthetic changes and tech refinements with every digital M, starting with the M8.2 in 2008. It started using the P branding a little later, with the M9-P, but the idea was there from the jump.
(Credit: Leica)Adobe Content Authenticity Initiative
The M11-P is the first camera to ship with support for Adobe's Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), an open-source tech standard that supports encrypted EXIF image metadata. The standard lets you lock in copyright data and timestamps, and records any edits you make to a photo in the file.
Leica recognizes that not everyone will want to use CAI, so it is something you need to dive into the camera menu to enable and configure. However it sees it as a tool that photojournalists, documentarians, government agencies, and academics will find useful to help establish provenance for a photo. Each photo made with the camera includes an embedded digital certificate, which can be checked for validity via a free online tool.
Pricing and Availability
The M11-P is available in a black or silver finish. The black edition uses an aluminum top plate, while the silver is chrome over brass. Both are priced at $9,195 and available for purchase immediately. The M11 remains on sale for $8,995, but only while supplies last, so if you're a fan of the Leica dot logo, you may find reason to snag the basic edition.
(Credit: Leica)In addition to the new camera, Leica is releasing an updated version of its Summicron-M 28mm F2 ASPH. prime lens. The new version of the lens uses the same 6-element/5-group optical formula as the previous edition. Rangefinder coupled focus remains limited to 0.7m, but the new edition goes closer in live view, down to 0.4m. The lens also swaps out an add-on hood for one that's integrated into the barrel. The Summicron-M 28mm is priced at $5,295 and is expected in stores at the end of November.