Leica M11-D, the return of the digital rangefinder without screen

Leica is bringing its screenless digital camera concept up to date with the announcement of the Leica M11-D. A digital rangefinder that builds on the spec sheet of the Leica 11but goes for silver by getting rid of the rear screen.

It all (re)started in 2014, when Leica presented its M edition 60 in 2014. A digital rangefinder limited to 600 copies which took up the sensor of the M bodies of the time, but which did not have a screen. From an exceptional device, since very limited in volume, the concept has moved on to that of the series, with a second MD Type 262 in 2016then a M10-D in 2018 and today, this M11-D.

So we find the same philosophy as before with the impossibility of reading the photos. Whether it is to allow fans of film to find their old feeling – the discovery of the shots after the fact, or to avoid the photographer being tempted to cut himself off from the action by looking at his production – and thus risk missing moments.

An M11-P without a screen… but more expensive

Inside the device, no surprises, it's an M11. But not just any M11: the M11-P. So we find, in addition to the 60 Mpx sensor (a CMOS BSI), the Maestro III processor and 3 GB of buffer memory to absorb a burst of up to 5 RAW photos per second.

For reporters, note that the M11-D, like its brothers, manages technology Leica Contents Credentials. A certification that guarantees the compatibility of the images with image protection systems. Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and that of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA).

Aside from the lack of a screen, the only electronic difference between this M11-D (and its technical base, the M11-P) and the classic M11 is the amount of internal storage memory. While the latter benefits from 64 GB (in addition to a UHS-II SD card slot), the other two integrate no less than 256 GB of memory.

Don't think that removing a component – an LCD panel here – will lower the bill. No, we're at Leica on the one hand. On the other hand, the M11-D is a more exclusive, less voluminous device… and therefore more expensive. While the M11-P is already at €8,950, the M11-D presented here will therefore be displayed at €9,350. Less is moreas they say in the jargon!