The huge and rapidly expanding local market. It is surprising even to the industry.
'China is a massively shifting market for ILC shipments. After accounting for just 19% of the global market in 2022, China’s significance has increased every year. China’s share of ILC shipments was 24% in 2023, 27.6% in 2024, and is a whopping 30.5% so far in 2025, making it the largest market for ILCs by over five percentage points (the Americas is in second at 25.2%).'
'Mirrorless and DSLR Cameras: Valued at USD 7.86 billion in 2024 and expected to grow to USD 17.94 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 14.75%.' Annual growth of 15%..
'Sony tops all major categories, from the most popular camera brand to the best-selling lenses, in a market that remains one of the most competitive ones in the world.'
Which helps explain why E-mount is numero uno upon release of most recent lens ranges (Simera-C, Hektor, SP3, Zeiss Nano), particularly in the light cine/hybrid market. The market for M lenses will cascade once the EVF M cameras roll out. Their market is mature, well-stratified and in relative terms, technically savvy. Gen Z there is moving away from phone cameras, looking for better quality and a 'more photographic' shooting experience.
I expect many more high end small volume lens releases like LLL. Hopefully Thypoch gets involved in this pathway after they consolidate the Simeras. The Alt and legacy niches are very active and very knowledgable in China.
retrofocus wrote:
If I could get my hands on an EVF-based third-party M camera where I don't need to adapt M lenses to another mount like for other branded mirrorless cameras AND have the certainty that the M lenses work nicely with the FF sensor in it, plus that such camera comes for 1/4th or less of the price of the M11 EV1, I would get it for sure. I think there would be definitely quite a market for such camera - a non Leica based optimized M-mount mirrorless camera.
The optimization and certainty it works with M-lenses is where Leica probably still has some secret sauce. If it were that easy to do, it probably would've been done already.
Realistically - the path of least resistance is to just come up with a line of lenses optimized for the main mirrorless mounts. If you're a Chinese (or Japanese) lens manufacturer - much lower barriers to entry and lower risk than trying to come up with your own mirrorless camera. Look at how long Sigma has been working on its cameras with limited traction.
bwcolor wrote:
I own two Zeiss Ikon’s and one Bessa, so Leica has seen competition previously and had enough sparkle that I also purchased used Leicas. I currently own five used and two new Leicas. So, competition is expected and will work out for Leica.
Well, for a while it looked like they were going under.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Why do you think they need to wait for Leica to release the M-EV1 before making (or as you say copying) their own? A French camera designer has already been selling an M-mount camera with a rangefinder for years. If Chinese manufacturers wanted to make a mirrorless M-mount camera with an EVF, they could have done so long ago...there's no groundbreaking technology holding them back. It's more likely they simply prefer focusing on lens production rather than getting into the far more complex and competitive camera market.
Other than DJI, which already owns Hasselblad, those Chinese companies aren’t innovating, but rather producing new versions of older designs or cheaper versions of existing designs. It’s more likely they wait and see and then make a move.
Here are three new updates on the upcoming Leica M EV1 camera:
The new M EV1 will be 45g lighter compared to the M11
The new FN button (frame selection lever) will have dual functionality for the electronic viewfinder: peaking on/off or zoom on/off (assignable in the menu, I assume)
The M EV1 will use the same M11 BP-SCL7 battery (the M EV1 is based on the M11 electronics)
This is all so disappointing.
I really wanted the ILC Q (or full-frame CL) that I can use with an M-L adapter.
At least my bank account is most likely safe.
It seems like this camera is aimed at those who aren't fans of the rangefinder but still appreciate other aspects of the Leica M. There are plenty of people who shoot a Leica M with the Visoflex practically glued on.
For me, the Leica M experience is the opposite. I only reach for it when I want that rangefinder focusing feel, so this one doesn't really appeal to me.
Fred Miranda wrote:
It seems like this camera is aimed at those who aren't fans of the rangefinder but still appreciate other aspects of the Leica M. There are plenty of people who shoot a Leica M with the Visoflex practically glued on.
For me, the Leica M experience is the opposite. I only reach for it when I want that rangefinder focusing feel, so this one doesn't really appeal to me.
I don't think this camera is made for either/or. I would see it as complementary to most who continue or are already using the traditional Leica M system. I definitely see it filling the gap for situations where an EVF is preferred over rangefinder OVF - one example is for close-up, another one for focusing with very fast lenses wide open.
Fred Miranda wrote:
It seems like this camera is aimed at those who aren't fans of the rangefinder but still appreciate other aspects of the Leica M. There are plenty of people who shoot a Leica M with the Visoflex practically glued on.
For me, the Leica M experience is the opposite. I only reach for it when I want that rangefinder focusing feel, so this one doesn't really appeal to me.
That’s true for me, except that I don’t like the Visoflex at all (just because I don’t like focus peaking and find magnification too slow). So, it’s all about the MF functionality. And price.
crazeazn wrote:
I predict M body, peak+mag, with a later firmware update that provides focus confirm.
I would not be surprised if the current rumor describing a Q body is inaccurate. But also I was surprised to see the Q body without the fixed lens is very small and somewhat rangefinder style too.
What have the latest rumors added or confirmed? (With a few of my own speculations mixed in)
• No mention of a tilting screen, so it's likely a fixed display similar to the M11.
• The EVF reportedly shares the same specs as the Q3, suggesting identical size, design, diopter adjustment, and functionality.
• Reportedly modeled after the M11, with the same body and battery but no rangefinder. At about 45g lighter than the 530g M11, the M EV1 should weigh around 485g.
• The body appears to use the same Q3-style leatherette with the diamond pattern.
• No video functionality.
• A multifunction FN button or lever is included for EVF control.
• It will feature Leica Content Credentials.
• 60/36/18 MP full-frame BSI sensor with triple-resolution technology.
• Maestro III processor with 64GB of internal memory.
• No IBIS
• At launch, available in black only.
• It's still unclear whether it will have a dedicated ISO dial or where the Leica red dot will sit -- on top of the mount or to the right, like the Q3.
We'll find out in a about 10 days, but I'm curious to see which of the details above turn out to be accurate.
Fred Miranda wrote:
What have the latest rumors added or confirmed? (With a few of my own speculations mixed in)
• No mention of a tilting screen, so it's likely a fixed display similar to the M11.
• The EVF reportedly shares the same specs as the Q3, suggesting identical size, design, diopter adjustment, and functionality.
• Reportedly modeled after the M11, with the same body and battery but no rangefinder. At about 45g lighter than the 530g M11, the M EV1 should weigh around 485g.
• The body appears to use the same Q3-style leatherette with the diamond pattern.
• No video functionality.
• A multifunction FN button or lever is included for EVF control.
• It will feature Leica Content Credentials.
• 60/36/18 MP full-frame BSI sensor with triple-resolution technology.
• Maestro III processor with 64GB of internal memory.
• No IBIS
• At launch, available in black only.
• It's still unclear whether it will have a dedicated ISO dial or where the Leica red dot will sit -- on top of the mount or to the right, like the Q3.
We'll find out in a about 10 days, but I'm curious to see which of the details above turn out to be accurate. ...Show more →
Did something change, updated from the Oct 4th Leica Rumors you posted which described:
"Leica M EV1 = a Leica Q with M-mount
The upcoming Leica M EV1 camera was described to me as a Leica Q camera with an M-mount. The look of the M EV1 will be closer to that of the Leica Q, rather than the classic Leica M rangefinder design."
