Re: A Leica M camera with an EVF is expected by the end of 2025
retrofocus wrote: Steve Spencer wrote:
I think there are dangers either way Leica goes. If Leica makes this small EVF camera with M mount, then I think it is either a very niche market for some M users who would prefer an EVF to a rangefinder basically a small subcategory of M cameras or it becomes the de facto M mount camera and they might alienate the M user base. Any slow introduction of M cameras with a rangefinder or complaints about those cameras can easily become magnified: people will be looking for "are they abandoning the rangefinder?" Both problems are even possible. It is only a niche product that alienates the M user base. In this scenario, this new camera becomes the typical M mount camera and the classic M with an optical rangefinder becomes like the current D models that don't have the LCD.
I disagree here that the market for an EVF-M would be very niche. Leica Forum made a survey not long ago resulting in high interest of M users in such camera. An often expressed interest derived from elderly users where EVF would be beneficial over OVF due to their eyesight issues. Others expressed interest to use EVF in situations where OVF is lacking - for example for close-up photography or in architecture to just name two areas. Only very few saw themselves "alienated" by such addition - and it clearly is an an addition NOT a replacement of the existing traditional rangefinder M line as the article also clearly stated. I clearly see the EVF-M opening a new market for Leica instead of alienating somehow a user base.
I don't think that would be good for Leica and may lead Leica M users to defect to other cameras. Especially, if other manufacturers built competing cameras as I presume they would.
I rather see Leica M users jump ship to other MLC brands if such EVF-M would not come to fruition! If M users can't use the traditional M for eyesight issues for example what other choice do they currently have? The bulky SL?! They would rather go with Nikon Zf for example as better alternative!
If they make an EVF camera with M mount, now competitors can easily come along and make it hard for them to compete and charge typical Leica prices.
If people wanted to do this, they have already kind of alternative options out there like the Nikon Zf.
I don't think I was very clear. I didn't say I thought the market for a small EVF Leica with an M lens mount would be niche. I don't know if it would be niche or not. I said it would either be niche or would threaten Leica's monopoly position for rangefinder cameras. If rangefinder cameras are not what is driving M mount camera sales then Leica wouldn't be in a monopoly position any more (i.e., the only ones selling that type of camera). They would just be one of many manufacturers with small EVF based cameras. I think that could be a tough position for Leica and I think they would struggle selling that camera in much they way they struggle selling SL cameras.
Said another way, I think Leica at least partly succeeds so well selling rangefinder cameras because they have a monopoly. I don't think they will do nearly as well selling a small EVF based camera whether it is M mount or L mount. They won't have a monopoly for that type of camera regardless of what mount it has and Leica simply doesn't compete well against other camera makers, IMO, and without a monopoly they will have to compete and won't do very well, or at least that is what I expect.
So, I don't see this small EVF based Leica camera doing all that well in the long run and if it cuts into rangefinder camera sales at all, it could end up hurting Leica. To me the rangefinder monopoly is the goose that lays the golden eggs for Leica and I think they risk injuring that goose by if they make this small EVF based camera with an M mount.
Now I could easily be wrong and I hope I am. I think I will be wrong if Leica is truly innovative in making this camera and has a much better way to use an EVF for manual focus, but if the camera is just using an EVF in much the same way that cameras that are already being produced do, then I don't think Leica will do very well with this camera in the long run.
Feb 11, 2025 at 05:48 PM
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