Re: Leica M11-V to be announced (Now called Leica M EV1)
retrofocus wrote: NJPhotographer wrote:
The SL series offers interchangeable AF lenses, with an option to use M lenses, but the SL bodies and their AF lenses are giants compared to the M series. Wouldn't it make sense to create an autofocus M-size & style camera, just like the Q/Q2/Q3, but with interchangeable AF lenses? (And I don't mean APS-C, like the TL and CL.)
It would make sense in theory - and it could happen if the SL was high in demand and selling well - which is not the case. Leica committed to the L-mount in the past, and it will hold this up until it can no longer sustain. An autofocus M-size & style camera with AF capability and using smaller lenses would definitely bite deeply into the SL sales. Therefore it won't be happening.
You can see already just by reading this thread and others how protective Leica was with the EV1 to avoid any kind of in-house competition with other cameras (M, Q, SL). It is very obvious.
I can't predict what would cut into sales of another camera. If the SL doesn't sell well, perhaps that's because it is so big, and the lenses are way too big.
For me, an autofocus M-size & style camera with its own line of small AF lenses would fit perfectly into the Leica system by combining elements that already exist into something new and attractive. The only challenge would be a new system of small AF lenses, but only a few would be needed to start, perhaps 28, 35 and 50 to start, and perhaps all f/2 to keep them small.
Here are the elements that already exist:
1) Leica already makes M-size & style cameras, but not with autofocus;
2) Leica already makes full-frame autofocus cameras, but not with M-size & style;
3) Leica already makes autofocus lenses, but they are huge and wildly expensive;
4) Leica already makes an autofocus M-size & style camera (Q3 / Q3 43) with its smallish lens, but not with interchangeable lenses.
The one thing they don't make is the logical combination of attractive Leica elements:
5) An M-size & style camera with its own small autofocus interchangeable lens line: perfect for people who appreciate the M size & style, but also value autofocus and interchangeable lenses.
It is so logical that I predict it will happen ... perhaps in 20 or so years.
Edited to add: David Ime'ls video (worth watching) suggests that the Q3 is Leica's "biggest seller" and that the SL3 is also in "high demand" ...
Re: Leica M11-V to be announced (Now called Leica M EV1)
retrofocus wrote: NJPhotographer wrote:
The SL series offers interchangeable AF lenses, with an option to use M lenses, but the SL bodies and their AF lenses are giants compared to the M series. Wouldn't it make sense to create an autofocus M-size & style camera, just like the Q/Q2/Q3, but with interchangeable AF lenses? (And I don't mean APS-C, like the TL and CL.)
It would make sense in theory - and it could happen if the SL was high in demand and selling well - which is not the case. Leica committed to the L-mount in the past, and it will hold this up until it can no longer sustain. An autofocus M-size & style camera with AF capability and using smaller lenses would definitely bite deeply into the SL sales. Therefore it won't be happening.
You can see already just by reading this thread and others how protective Leica was with the EV1 to avoid any kind of in-house competition with other cameras (M, Q, SL). It is very obvious.
I can't predict what would cut into sales of another camera. If the SL doesn't sell well, perhaps that's because it is so big, and the lenses are way too big.
For me, an autofocus M-size & style camera with its own line of small AF lenses would fit perfectly into the Leica system by combining elements that already exist into something new and attractive. The only challenge would be a new system of small AF lenses, but only a few would be needed to start, perhaps 28, 35 and 50 to start, and perhaps all f/2 to keep them small.
Here are the elements that already exist:
1) Leica already makes M-size & style cameras, but not with autofocus;
2) Leica already makes full-frame autofocus cameras, but not with M-size & style;
3) Leica already makes autofocus lenses, but they are huge and wildly expensive;
4) Leica already makes an autofocus M-size & style camera (Q3 / Q3 43) with its smallish lens, but not with interchangeable lenses.
The one thing they don't make is the logical combination of attractive Leica elements:
5) An M-size & style camera with its own small autofocus interchangeable lens line: perfect for people who appreciate the M size & style, but also value autofocus and interchangeable lenses.
It is so logical that I predict it will happen ... perhaps in 20 or so years.
Re: Leica M11-V to be announced (Now called Leica M EV1)
retrofocus wrote: NJPhotographer wrote:
The SL series offers interchangeable AF lenses, with an option to use M lenses, but the SL bodies and their AF lenses are giants compared to the M series. Wouldn't it make sense to create an autofocus M-size & style camera, just like the Q/Q2/Q3, but with interchangeable AF lenses? (And I don't mean APS-C, like the TL and CL.)
It would make sense in theory - and it could happen if the SL was high in demand and selling well - which is not the case. Leica committed to the L-mount in the past, and it will hold this up until it can no longer sustain. An autofocus M-size & style camera with AF capability and using smaller lenses would definitely bite deeply into the SL sales. Therefore it won't be happening.
You can see already just by reading this thread and others how protective Leica was with the EV1 to avoid any kind of in-house competition with other cameras (M, Q, SL). It is very obvious.
I can't predict what would cut into sales of another camera. If the SL doesn't sell well, perhaps that's because it is so big, and the lenses are way too big.
For me, an autofocus M-size & style camera with its own line of small AF lenses would fit perfectly into the Leica system by combining elements that already exist into something new and attractive. The only challenge would be a new system of small AF lenses, but only a few would be needed to start, perhaps 28, 35 and 50 to start, and perhaps all f/2 to keep them small.
Here are the elements that already exist:
1) Leica already makes M-size & style cameras, but not with autofocus;
2) Leica already makes full-frame autofocus cameras, but not with M-size & style;
3) Leica already makes autofocus lenses, but they are huge and wildly expensive;
4) Leica already makes an autofocus M-size & style camera (Q3 / Q3 43) with its smallish lens, but not with interchangeable lenses.
The one thing they don't make is the logical combination of attractive Leica elements:
5) An M-size & style camera with its own small autofocus interchangeable lens line: perfect for people who appreciate the M size & style, but also value autofocus and interchangeable lenses.
It is so logical that I predict it will happen ... perhaps in 20 or so years.
Edited to add: this video (worth watching) claims that the Q3 is Leica's "biggest seller" and that the SL3 is also in "high demand" ...
Re: Leica M11-V to be announced (Now called Leica M EV1)
retrofocus wrote: NJPhotographer wrote:
The SL series offers interchangeable AF lenses, with an option to use M lenses, but the SL bodies and their AF lenses are giants compared to the M series. Wouldn't it make sense to create an autofocus M-size & style camera, just like the Q/Q2/Q3, but with interchangeable AF lenses? (And I don't mean APS-C, like the TL and CL.)
It would make sense in theory - and it could happen if the SL was high in demand and selling well - which is not the case. Leica committed to the L-mount in the past, and it will hold this up until it can no longer sustain. An autofocus M-size & style camera with AF capability and using smaller lenses would definitely bite deeply into the SL sales. Therefore it won't be happening.
You can see already just by reading this thread and others how protective Leica was with the EV1 to avoid any kind of in-house competition with other cameras (M, Q, SL). It is very obvious.
I can't predict what would cut into sales of another camera. If the SL doesn't sell well, perhaps that's because it is so big, and the lenses are way too big.
For me, an autofocus M-size & style camera with its own line of small AF lenses would fit perfectly into the Leica system by combining elements that already exist into something new and attractive. The only challenge would be a new system of small AF lenses, but only a few would be needed to start, perhaps 28, 35 and 50 to start, and perhaps all f/2 to keep them small.
Here are the elements that already exist:
1) Leica already makes M-size & style cameras, but not with autofocus;
2) Leica already makes full-frame autofocus cameras, but not with M-size & style;
3) Leica already makes autofocus lenses, but they are huge and wildly expensive;
4) Leica already makes an autofocus M-size & style camera (Q3 / Q3 43) with its smallish lens, but not with interchangeable lenses.
The one thing they don't make is the logical combination of attractive Leica elements:
5) An M-size & style camera with its own small autofocus interchangeable lens line: perfect for people who appreciate the M size & style, but also value autofocus and interchangeable lenses.
It is so logical that I predict it will happen ... perhaps in 20 or so years.
Oct 23, 2025 at 08:47 PM
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