- Leica announced a strategic partnership with Chinese sensor manufacturer Gpixel
- Recent Leica cameras use sensor technology made by Sony
- We can expect a new bespoke sensor for future models, perhaps the M12, according to rumour.
A lot has been happening behind the scenes at Leica recently, including the potential sale of a majority stake in the company for around $1.2 billion to Chinese and Swedish investors. It now appears poised to change the foundation 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 from Peta Pixel.
We now have a clearer idea of how this might work, following Leica’s announcement this week of its strategic partnership with Gpixel, a major Chinese sensor manufacturer with BSI, full-frame stacked and global shutter sensors in its product portfolio.
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This means Leica could ditch the ‘out-of-the-box’ 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 released in January 2022, but the series still feels fresh given that 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.
That hasn’t stopped rumors about the Leica M12 from circulating for a while, which is to be expected considering the original M11 was released over four years ago.
This most recent announcement will only fuel the rumor mill about the Leica M12. Dr. Kaufmann said: “I am really happy and proud that our long-term cooperation with Gpixel results in a real Leica sensor, integrating the best engineering ingredients between Wetzlar, Antwerp and Changchun,” referring to the head offices of Leica and Gpixel, as well as Gpixel’s European base in Belgium.
What does the future look like for the next generation of Leica cameras?
Gpixel is a much smaller player than Sony in the sensor manufacturing game, but it nevertheless has an impressive portfolio.
You can forget about looking for clues in Gpixel’s portfolio, however, because Leica says the next true Leica sensor for next-generation cameras will be an entirely new creation: “The partnership is focused on the joint engineering of a bespoke image sensor optimized for Leica’s exacting imaging standards, enabling unprecedented levels of image quality, dynamic range, color fidelity and low-light performance for future Leica products.”
There’s no indication how far along the development of this new sensor is, when we can expect to see it in a camera, or which future cameras will be the first to take advantage of it. There is speculation based on the current lineup of Leica cameras and which models are expected to be upgraded, the main one being the successor to the Leica M11.
Beyond a potential Leica M12, there could be a new high-performance mirrorless camera from the Leica SL series, 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 make a big impact in the photo industry, following the great strides made by lens makers such as Viltrox and leading smartphones such as the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, the most versatile camera phone available today.
What Leica camera would you like to see next and what kind of image quality improvement would you like the new sensor to bring? Let me know in the comments below!
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