- Leica announced a strategic partnership with Chinese sensor manufacturer Gpixel
- Recent Leica cameras use Sony-made sensor technology
- We can expect a new custom sensor for future models, possibly the rumored M12
A lot has been happening behind the scenes at Leica lately, not the least of which is the potential sale of a controlling stake in the company for approximately $1.2 billion to Chinese and Swedish investors. Now it looks to change the cornerstone of the technology in its digital cameras.
In January, Leica’s chairman of the board, Dr. Andreas Kaufman that “we are also developing our own sensor again” when referring to future development of the Leica M system. He made the comment on the German-language ‘Leica Enthusiast Podcast’, according to a report by Peta Pixel.
We now have a clearer picture of how it might work, following Leica’s announcement this week that it is in a strategic partnership with Gpixel – a prominent Chinese sensor manufacturer with BSI, stacked and global-shutter full-frame sensors in its product portfolio.
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This means Leica may ditch the ‘low-shelf’ Sony sensor technology used by their latest cameras, such as the full-frame 61MP unit found in the M11 series, in favor of its own bespoke type for future models.
The first Leica M11 rangefinder was released in January 2022, but the series still feels fresh considering the M11-P and the screenless M11-D models have followed in 2023 and 2024 respectively, and last year’s polarizing M-EV1 also uses the same Sony sensor.
However, that hasn’t stopped Leica M12 rumors from circulating for a while, which is to be expected since the original M11 was released over four years ago.
This latest announcement is only going to add fuel to the Leica M12 rumor fire. Dr. Kaufmann said: “I am really pleased and proud that our long-term collaboration with Gpixel will result in a true Leica sensor incorporating the best ingredients of engineering between Wetzlar, Antwerp and Changchun”, referring to Leica and Gpixel’s headquarters as well as Gpixel’s Europe base in Belgium.
What does the future look like for the next generation of Leica cameras?
Gpixel is a much smaller player than Sony in the sensor manufacturing game, but it has an impressive portfolio nonetheless.
You can forget looking to Gpixel’s portfolio for clues, though, because Leica says the next true Leica sensor for next-generation cameras will be an entirely new creation: “The partnership focuses on jointly developing a custom image sensor optimized to Leica’s stringent imaging standards, enabling unprecedented levels of image quality, dynamic range and Leica product performance.”
There’s no indication of how far along the development of this new sensor is, when we can expect to see it in a camera, or which future cameras will be the first to enjoy it. There is speculation based on the current Leica camera lineup and which models will be upgraded, but chief among them is a successor to the Leica M11.
As well as a potential Leica M12, there could be a new high-performance Leica SL series mirrorless camera, or even an entirely new model given Leica’s latest form – the M-EV1 was the first ‘rangefinder’ in Leica’s M-mount 70-year history to feature an EVF.
Taking a broader look, this is yet another situation where a Chinese company can make a big impact in the photography industry, following huge advances from lens manufacturers such as Viltrox and leading smartphones such as the Oppo Find X9 Ultra – the most versatile camera phone available today.
What’s the next Leica camera you’d like to see, and what kind of image quality improvements do you want the new sensor to deliver? Let me know in the comments below!
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