Leica has a new member in the M family in the form of an M-Camera with an integrated electronic viewfinder (EVF), which combines the advantages of an EVF with the traditional values of the M-System.

The introduction of an EVF to the M-Camera series signals Leica’s answer to a frequent customer request, says the company. The EVF expands the range of applications for seasoned M users and at the same time caters for a new audience for whom electronic viewfinder are essential. Leica says that thanks to its intuitive operation, new customers will also find it easier to delve into world of the M-System.

The company believes that adding an EVF to an M-camera it makes joining the world of M photography easier and it also enables reliable and comfortable focusing irrespective of visual acuity – in particular when using the fast Leica Summilux and Noctilux lenses at very shallow depths of field, and when composing images with ultra wide-angle, telephoto and macro lenses.

While purists will probably hate the new addition, Leica, who has for long defended optical viewfinders, is now promoting the advantages of EVF, which on fact expand the number of options available for photographers using or aspiring to use Leica cameras: the classical rangefinder cameras are not going away, EVF brings simply a new alternative that may appeal to some photographers.

Here is the information shared by Leica about the new camera and its EVF:

The image in the Leica M EV1’s viewfinder is shown exactly as it will be when the shutter snaps – in line with the lens used, focal length and aperture. The direct preview of the field of view and plane of focus is very advantageous, especially when it comes to composing images with ultra wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The precise real-time exposure preview provides additional certainty and unleashes new creative possibilities though targeted under- and overexposure. With the integrated dioptre compensation, the viewfinder can be adapted to the user’s own visual acuity. A setting wheel allows an adjustment between -4 and +2 dioptres.

The high-resolution 5.76 megapixel EVF provides brilliant image quality with exceptional clarity and natural colour rendering. If desired, relevant exposure data – such as shutter speed, ISO and exposure value – can be shown around the image, which remains completely uncovered. The automatic switch between viewfinder and touch panel is carried out by an eye sensor.

The integrated focus assist, already found in other Leica cameras, is particularly user friendly. Focus peaking highlights the active plane of focus with overlaid colour, allowing precise adjustment of the desired image area in real time. The focus zoom also makes manual focusing easier by means of two freely selectable magnification factors, either automatically by turning the focus ring or manually via one of the function buttons. This enables precise focusing, in particular when using fast lenses at a shallow depth of field and in the macro range. The lever at the front of the camera, which is used in rangefinder M-Cameras to preview bright-line frames, has been given a useful function on the Leica M EV1: this control can be assigned to one of the focus assists or the 1.3× or 1.8× digital zoom. With a simple touch to the right or left, the focus assist can be activated or deactivated quickly and comfortably as the situation requires.

The M EV1 continues the M-Camera’s long tradition of timeless, functional and iconic design. Handmade in Germany using high-quality material, it speaks the familiar clear and cultivated design language of an M. The leatherette covering featuring a diamond pattern and the purist front deliberately set it apart from the traditional rangefinder M-Camera.

The new M-Camera has been engineered based on the Leica M11 and its full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor with Triple Resolution Technology, which is admired for its precise colour rendering, impressive detail resolution, high dynamic range and excellent noise behaviour. Images can be saved in either DNG or JPEG format at a resolution of 60, 36 or 18 megapixels. The Maestro III chip processes image data at the highest resolution quickly and saves them either on the 64 GB internal memory or an SD card. Thanks to seamless connectivity via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cable, the camera can be quickly and conveniently connected with the Leica FOTOS App. Images can also be sent to smartphones energy efficiently in the background using Bluetooth Low Energy technology. Just like the M11-P and M11-D, the new Leica M EV1 supports Content Credentials. With this groundbreaking technology by the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), a digital signature is added to images, which verifies their origins and any post-processing in a tamper-proof manner.

The Leica M EV1 is available worldwide – but US – at Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers. The recommended retail price is EUR 7,950.00 incl. VAT. For comfortable handling and additional hold, a hand grip with a matching leatherette covering is available for EUR 395.00 incl. VAT. The camera will be available in the US soon, with a recommended retail price of $8.995,00.