- Leica announced a strategic partnership with Chinese sensor manufacturer Gpixel
- Recent Leica cameras use sensor technology made by Sony
- We can expect a new custom sensor for future models, possibly the rumored M12.
A lot has been happening behind the scenes at Leica lately, including the possible sale of a majority stake in the business for approximately $1.2 billion to Chinese and Swedish investors. Now, it seems set to change the basis of the technology inside its digital cameras.
In January, Leica Supervisory Board Chairman Dr. Andreas Kaufman revealed that “we are also developing our own sensor again,” referring to the future development of the Leica M system. He made the comment on the German-language ‘Leica Enthusiast Podcast’, according to a report by Peta Pixel.
We now have a clearer picture of how it could work, following Leica’s announcement this week that it is in a strategic partnership with Gpixel, a leading Chinese sensor manufacturer with BSI, stacked full-frame and global shutter sensors in its product portfolio.
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This means Leica could ditch the “off-the-shelf” Sony sensor technology used by its latest cameras, such as the 61MP full-frame unit found in the M11 series, in favor of its own bespoke type for future models.
The first Leica M11 rangefinder was launched in January 2022, but the series still feels fresh considering the screenless M11-P and M11-D models followed in 2023 and 2024 respectively, and last year’s polarizing M-EV1 also uses the same Sony sensor.
However, that hasn’t stopped rumors about the Leica M12 from circulating for quite some time, which is to be expected given that the original M11 was released over four years ago.
This latest announcement will only add fuel to the Leica M12 rumor. Dr. Kaufmann said: “I am really happy and proud that our long-term cooperation with Gpixel results in a true Leica sensor, incorporating the best engineering ingredients between Wetzlar, Antwerp and Changchun,” referring to Leica and Gpixel’s headquarters, as well as Gpixel’s European base in Belgium.
What will the future be like for the next generation of Leica cameras?
Gpixel is a much smaller player than Sony in the sensor manufacturing game, but it still has an impressive portfolio.
You can forget looking for clues in Gpixel’s portfolio, though, because Leica says the next true Leica sensor for next-generation cameras will be an entirely new creation: “The partnership focuses on co-designing a custom image sensor optimized for Leica’s rigorous imaging standards, enabling unprecedented levels of image quality, dynamic range, color fidelity and low-light performance in future Leica products.”
There’s no indication how far along the development of this new sensor is, when we can expect to see it on a camera, or which future cameras will be the first to enjoy it. However, there is speculation based on the current line of Leica cameras and which models need to be updated, the main one being the successor to the Leica M11.
Beyond a potential Leica M12, there could be a new high-performance Leica SL series mirrorless camera, or even an entirely new model given Leica’s recent form: the M-EV1 was the first ‘rangefinder’ in the 70-year history of Leica’s M mount to feature an EVF.
From a broader perspective, this is another situation where a Chinese company could have a big impact on the photography industry, following major advances by lens makers like Viltrox and leading smartphone makers like the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, the most versatile camera phone available today.
What’s the next Leica camera you’d like to see and what kind of image quality improvements would you like the new sensor to offer? Let me know in the comments below!
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