- Esquisse camera in range is set to launch in the 4th quarter of 2026
- It packs a micro four third -duty sensor and lens mounting
- Dimensions and weights similar to those from a Ricoh Gr III
Despite a growing demand for compact and pocket cameras, most of the major brands continue to leave this market well alone. Step in the privately funded French startup, Esquisse camera.
It is a concept that is currently in the prototype development stage with a projected launch and delivery in the 4th quarter of 2026, but the initial Esquisse camera -mockups and potential features got lots of photographers excited when they appeared online yesterday.
We look at a pure Leica-like minimalist distance-style camera with a Micro Four Third Sensor and Lens Mount, it is a similar size as a Ricoh GR IV (as a card tire). Depending on which lens you cling to it, this can be a truly pocketable camera.
Many already make comparisons with the widely admired Panasonic Lumix GM5 (from 2014), a small MFT camera that Panasonic no longer does despite its admirers.
To be a Ricoh Gr IIIX user and priced to buy a Leica, I can definitely see the appeal of such a camera that is expected to cost between $ 1,500-2,000 / GBP.
There is still a lot to be decided with regard to the Esquisse camera’s designs and features, but let’s take a quick run through, what we already know and how photographers react to the concept so far.
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Well, if Panasonic won’t …
The Esquisse camera is focused on creating a high quality minimalist little camera that looks, and mockups, although obviously not final, is a promising start.
Rangefinder style, weatherproof aluminum body has only three exposure calls on the top, two function buttons, a playback and a click wheel. A 3.69 M-dot EVF is stored in the corner, while a 3-inch touch screen dominates the back, indicating how small the camera will be.
It measures 105 × 70 × 35 mm – it is a string larger than a Ricoh Gr III – and weighs a total of 350 g (without a lens attached).
We do not need to take into account the extra weight of a battery and memory because these components are internal. That’s right, a non-distressable battery and 256 GB of internal memory.
The thinking behind an internal battery is to keep the design as clean and solid as possible, but the early response is that such a design choice will be a dealbreaker for some. Meanwhile, photos from the internal memory can be shared via USB or wireless, but there are no memory card games, as in Sigma BF.
This will be a photography-only micro Four Thirds camera shooting 20MP set images and no video, with ‘Lightning-Quick Autofocus Acquisition’.
Essentially, we look at a small Micro Four Third Rangefinder in Premium quality that can be a fun Leica and Fujifilm alternative as a daily berry. Côme Courtault from Esquisse Camera told me:
‘Our vision is to create a camera that combines the timeless shooting feel of a Leica M, the pocketability of a Ricoh GR and the modern performance of today’s Micro Four Third System.’
This will not be the first Rangefinder-style camera to come out of France-check the manual focus only pixii. However, it may be the most accessible.
I keep an eye on this project and how the camera develops. Will a hotshoe mounting be added? Will there be any U-turn on any aspects of the concept already shared? I’m excited to see more!
