Leica M12 said to launch soon with outdated full-frame sensor
According to the latest information from LeicaRumors, the successor to the Leica M11 will be officially unveiled as early as the beginning of 2027. It is reportedly indeed the Leica M12, rather than an updated M11 that could be marketed as the Leica M11-R.
This is surprising in that Leica is said to be using the same 60-megapixel full-frame sensor already found in the Leica M11. This would be the first time that two Leica M generations use the same sensor. This suggests that the brand-new sensor Leica is developing together with Gpixel is simply not ready for market yet. Buying a better sensor from its current supplier Sony instead is not an option, as according to DxOMark, the Leica M11's sensor remains unbeaten even almost five years after the camera's launch.
The sensor might not be the only disappointment for Leica M photographers, as Leica is also said to be changing the controls. While the menu buttons have always been positioned to the left of the display since the Leica M8, they are reportedly set to move to the right of the screen, similar to the Leica Q3. The reason for this change is that Leica allegedly wants to make room for a larger display.
Earlier rumors also suggested that Leica could return to the classic design with a removable bottom plate, or offer a version with a bottom plate as a "Heritage Edition". According to LeicaRumors, production of the Leica M12 has already begun, so nothing stands in the way of a launch in early 2027.
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