Leica rumors 2026
Last year was a busy one for the Red Dot specialist! Being the 100th anniversary of the Leica I, it launched a host of commemorative cameras to celebrate the 100th birthday (along with 100th anniversary teddy bears and other collectibles). On top of that we had the Leica SL3-S, the Leica Q3 Monochrom and the long-awaited Leica M EV1 – controversially, the first M rangefinder with an EVF.
Having serviced all three of its key pillars (SL, M and Q) in 2025, this might be the year that Leica looks to re-establish its fourth pillar: medium format cameras…
Leica M12
The story of the M12 is an increasingly curious one. After longstanding rumors that Leica would, blasphemously, put introduce an electronic viewfinder to its M cameras, there were many sighs of relief when the M EV1 appeared – signposting that the "true" M series would retain the classic rangefinder system.
Given the outcry about the EVF, it's pretty clear that the purists don't want electronic tomfoolery in the Leica M12 – which would extend to the introduction of in-body image stabilization. Either way, Leica has previously lamented that the M bodies are too small to implement IBIS, but noted that omitting the mechanical shutter would free up the necessary space.
What could very well be new, however, is the sensor – as in, a completely new and Leica-developed sensor. The company previously used sensors made by AMS Osram, before switching to Sony sensors for the Leica M11 generation of cameras. But Leica has been developing its own "more advanced" sensors with new partner GPixel, which may well debut in the M12.
Could this be the reason for the camera's delay? It was widely rumored to debut last year, and according to FCC certification documents, there was a camera set to be announced on May 16 2025 that didn't materialize. Curiously, it then appeared that Leica had abandoned the M12 trademark. Perhaps the company is waiting to see how the EVF-equippped M EV1 is received before deciding its next step for the M series…
No Leica S4?
Having been stuck in development limbo for years, it's now being rumored that Leica has shuttered its mirrorless medium format development.
It's been six years since the Leica S3, the company's last medium format camera. But after a number of Easter eggs and coy comments about the S4 – including Leica chief Andreas Kaufmann saying that the camera exists and is being developed – current reports are that Leica has reassigned personnel away from S development to the SL and M teams.
It's entirely possible that this is a temporary measure, while Blackstone (allegedly) tries to sell its 45% stake in Leica. But with Fujifilm and Hasselblad having the medium format market sewn up, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the end of the S line at least for now.
No more APS-C cameras
Leica's last APS-C camera was, in fact, Leica's last APS-C camera. Dr Kauffman has stated that the company "wants to move away" from APS-C, as the company's strategy is built almost entirely around full-frame sensor technology.
In short, there will be no successor to the Leica CL or the Leica TL2 (unless you count, as Kauffman does with a twist of lemon, the Sigma BF as the modern update of the TL).
As I mentioned on the Panasonic rumors page, from what I understand, the L-Mount Alliance has no interest in APS-C cameras – the L-Mount is solely a full-frame proposition at this point, which is why Leica, Panasonic and Sigma are only releasing full-frame bodies for it.
However, Leica obviously makes cameras using non-full-frame sensors – the medium format Leica S4 is in development, for starters (see above), and the long-running D-Lux line continues to see sales success with Micro Four Thirds sensors. Just don't go expecting any L-Mount APS-C bodies.
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