Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Learn more.
The Leica M11 could be missing an iconic design feature
In This Article
Leica’s next M series rangefinder could lose its classic baseplate, according to a recent rumour that emerged online.
Leaked images published byLeica Rumorssuggest that the Leica M11 will launch without the base plate found on previous M series cameras, in a design move comparable to theLeica Q2.
It’s been a few years since we’ve seen a major update to Leica’s M line, the last significant one being 2017’sM10. Since then, theM10-P, M10-D, M10 Monochrom and M10-R have joined the M series, with the M10-R being the most recent addition in 2020.
The M10 brought a number of upgrades to Leica’s digital rangefinder series, including a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor, the MAESTRO II processor and an improved viewfinder with a larger field of view and increased magnification. The M10 also received a slimmed-down body as well as the addition of Wi-Fi for the first time in a digital M series camera, allowing users to upload shots wirelessly.
One of reviewer Amy Davies’ few qualms with the M10, however, was that you needed to remove the entire base plate to access the SD card.
While this feature evoked memories of the older Leica cameras that required photographers to remove the base plate to load their film, it proved somewhat inconvenient when it came time to access the card.
Leica doing away with the base plate altogether could certainly solve this issue on the M11 – albeit at the expense of some style and nostalgia.
Luckily, there doesn’t appear to be any more controversial design changes in store for the M series. Leica Rumors also listed the M11’s potential specs, with most of the major updates occurring inside the camera.
This includes a larger 60-megapixel sensor, a BC-SCL7 battery and charger, and a new home for the focus button on the top of the camera. The rangefinder is also expected to include support for tethering, USB-C, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but is unlikely to feature IBIS (in-body image stabilisation).
That said, this update looks like it’ll be a big one for the M series, so we’re excited to see what Leica brings to the table with the M11.
You might like…
Hannah joined Trusted Reviews as a staff writer in 2019 after graduating with a degree in English from Royal Holloway, University of London. She’s also worked and studied in the US, holding positions …
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
