Leica’s New M EV1 Camera Is Here

credits: Leica

Leica has officially unveiled the M EV1, the company’s first M-series camera with a built-in electronic viewfinder, a major shift for a lineup that has relied on optical rangefinders for more than 70 years. Leica says the new model marks a “significant milestone” for the brand, aiming to combine everything people love about the M lineup with the modern benefits of an EVF. The 5.76-million-dot OLED viewfinder offers 0.76x magnification and gives you live exposure previews, focus zoom, and manual focus aids, all without needing to use the rear screen. It even has built-in diopter adjustment from -4 to +2 and can show exposure info around the frame while keeping the image itself clear.

While it looks and feels like a familiar M, the EV1 changes how it is used. The usual rangefinder lever now switches between focus peaking, magnification, and digital zoom (1.3x and 1.8x) for JPEGs. Inside, it is powered by the same 60-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor from the M11 series, with Triple Resolution Technology that lets users choose between 60, 36, or 18MP files. It runs on Leica’s Maestro III processor, has 64GB of built-in memory, a UHS-II SD card slot, and, as always, is handmade in Germany. Despite the new tech, it still keeps that classic Leica build and feel, just lighter, about 50 grams less than the M11-P.

Design-wise, it gets a few fresh touches, including a diamond-pattern leatherette similar to the Q3, setting it apart from the rest of the M lineup. Like the M11-P, the M EV1 also supports Content Credentials, embedding authenticity data directly into each image. The camera is priced at $8,995, which makes it about $850 cheaper than the M11-P. It is already rolling out globally, though U.S. availability is on hold for now while Leica waits on FCC approval.

You can see full details on Leica’s website here