Leica has stepped away from conservatism and released the M EV1 camera — the first digital model with a built-in electronic viewfinder

Leica has officially introduced the new M EV1 camera — the first digital model in the M series with a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), completely abandoning the optical viewfinder. This is an important step in the development of the legendary brand, which has built its image on a special aesthetic of controlling the process of creating photographs.

The M EV1 is equipped with a full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with 60.3 MP, supporting Triple Resolution technology — users can shoot in DNG or JPEG formats with resolutions of 60, 36, or 18 MP. The camera uses the Maestro III image processing engine, has 64 GB of internal memory, and supports UHS-II SD memory cards. Continuous shooting is carried out at speeds of up to 4.5 frames/sec, and the buffer allows storing up to 15 frames in L-DNG format or more than 100 JPEGs.

A revolution for Leica and a must-have for everyone else — the built-in electronic viewfinder has a resolution of 5.76 million dots and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. It provides visual control of exposure, depth of field, and framing in real time, which is especially useful when working with Summilux or Noctilux lenses with shallow depth of field. Manual focus setting and digital magnification with two zoom levels have been added. The front lever, previously used for rangefinder frame preview, can now be reassigned to auxiliary focusing functions or digital zoom (1.3× / 1.8×).

Autofocus in the M EV1 is absent as a phenomenon — focusing remains completely manual, in line with the philosophy of the M series. This maintains the characteristic "slow" shooting that Leica fans appreciate.

Unlike previous models like the M11, the novelty does not support external viewfinders — Leica has removed the electronic contacts from the hot shoe, making the Visoflex 2 no longer compatible. For most photographers, the fixed rate of 60 Hz will be sufficient, though those sensitive to delays may notice differences compared to high refresh rate OLED viewfinders.

Leica positions the M EV1 as an evolution of the series that began with the Leica I in 1925. It retains manual control, a classic look, and mechanical elements, but adds a modern EVF to make the system more intuitive for new users.

The camera will go on sale on October 23, 2025, at official Leica stores, online, and from certified dealers. The recommended price is €7,950. Additionally, a leather grip can be purchased for €395.