Why the New Leica M EV1 Could Make Your Wallet Cry, but will also Make Your Photos Cry…with Joy

Disclaimer: 
This device has not been authorized in the United States of America as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission.  This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased in the United States of America until authorization is obtained.

Leica has just flipped the script. The Leica M EV1 priced at $8,995, is the newest member of the storied M-system (yes, the one with the chic rangefinder legend) and is finally entering the 21st century. The optical rangefinder is gone, replaced by a snazzy 5.76 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 0.76× magnification and 100 % coverage. Now you can actually see what you’ll capture (no more guess-framing!). Leica touts this as “See your image before you take it.”

Under the hood: this new M camera sports a full-frame 60.3 MP BSI CMOS sensor along with Leica’s Maestro III processor. You’re looking at editor-friendly DNG (14-bit!) and JPEG output, in triple-resolution modes: 60, 36, or 18 MP. And yes, there’s internal memory (64 GB) plus an SD card slot supporting UHS-II.

Functionality Upgrades

• Focus-assist tools (focus peaking + magnification) built into the EVF for precise manual work.
• A front lever (that classic frame selector spot) now becomes two customizable function buttons—say goodbye to the old frame-line switch, say hello to “quick zoom 1.3× or 1.8×” mode or custom focus assist toggle.
• Connectivity: USB-C, WiFi, Bluetooth, and compatibility with Leica’s FOTOS App for remote control and image transfer.

The body? It’s as elegant as ever: full-metal (magnesium + aluminum), leatherette cover in a diamond pattern (a nod to design cues from the Q series), weight around 495 g (with battery) so it’s lighter than many previous models.

Caveats (yes, even Leica has them): No video recording. Manual focus only (M-mount legacy lenses, that’s your playground). The omission of an ISO dial. And remember U.S. buyers: it’s not yet authorized for sale in the U.S. pending FCC approval — so you may have to wait.

Even photography legend Joel Meyerowitz has tried the Leica M EV1 and he found its EVF to be very liberating. In short: if you’re a Leica devotee who loves the M-mount lens ecosystem and you’ve been itching for an M-camera that embraces modern EVF tech while preserving the premium Leica build and image quality — this might be your dream machine. Just be ready to manual-focus, skip video, and wait if you’re in the U.S.

Pricing and Availability

The Leica M EV1 is priced at $8,995 and is already listed on B&H for preorders. However, until it clears that regulatory hurdle, it cannot be sold or leased in the United States. Leica has not provided a definitive shipping date or availability timeline outside of this regulatory context. But you can place your preorders nevertheless.

​

Enjoy.

---