The Leica M11 is the latest instalment in a camera series that dates back to the 1950s – and it brings some surprisingly modern features.
The long-rumored Leica M11 is finally official – and the 60MP full-frame rangefinder packs some surprisingly innovative features into its classic, retro body. The M-series dates back to the 1950s and its cameras have typically been old-school in both their design and operation. But the Leica M11 inherits some modern features from its forward-thinking siblings like the TL-series, including 64GB internal storage. This is the first time an M-series camera has included internal storage, which remains a strangely rare feature on modern mirrorless cameras. The benefit is that you can simultaneously store images on both an SD card and the M11’s internal storage – a real bonus for a camera with only one card slot. Internal storage isn’t the only modern convenience hiding under the M11’s vintage shell. Its new 60MP full-frame BSI sensor, a big step up from the 40MP Leica M10-R, lets you shoot raw DNGs and JPEGs at 60MP,36MP or 18MP resolutions, using the full sensor area. This gives you the option of choosing between maximum detail in 60MP mode, or smaller file sizes and better burst performance. Leica says the lower-resolution modes are achieved by pixel-binning from the 60MP sensor (while retaining 14-bit color depth), and that a new color filter array also creates a more natural color reproduction.
