New Leica Packaging - Blaah

[bherman01545]

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Has anybody seen the new Leica packaging? According to Leica:

 

"Leica's new packaging, starting with the Leica M11-D, is a shift towards eco-friendly materials and reduced waste. The new boxes are primarily made of natural paper and have a simpler design, with some versions omitting the charger and other accessories. This move aligns with Leica's commitment to sustainability and their desire to minimize their environmental impact"

The outer plain, brown box looks like a cross between Origami and a Whole Foods box from their hot bar. The inner black box is ok. I'm sure that is is less costly to produce as well.

That said, I'm more interested in what's inside the box, i.e. The camera or lens, but it was still a little shocking to me

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[Pyrogallol]

They won’t last like the solid red boxes from the past.

And what’s the good of a camera that uses batteries and doesn’t have a charger in the box.

[maxpower]

I actually like the new "eco" packaging, the original M11 had terrible packaging. The packaging before that with the drawers was cool too, I still have one of those boxes for my M10-P, although I never really liked the "silver" colour of those boxes myself, I prefer the brown paper bag look then. But realistically I open the packaging once and then the box goes into storage until I need something that I kept inside or possibly when I want to sell it, so I can only care so much about it. The new packaging takes up less space in my storage. 

But aside from packaging I do think it would have been nice to include the external battery charger, especially because some M11 models did have it included and others did not. Would be nice to have this be more consistent across the series. I'm fine with the USB-C charging in-body myself, but understand people who are hesitant or want the charger for a second battery etc. 

Not sure why this is in the M10 forum though?

[darylgo]

My hope is that Leica produces a new product that I need or want so I could feel indifference toward the box.  
 

The rating of camera manufacture boxes has not been discussed on these forums.  My favorite are the Nikon gold and black boxes, least liked are Sonys orange boxes that look designed for a child’s toy.  

[pgh]

I’m all for it. The m10 packaging is too much. Keep my camera safe through shipping but otherwise reduce the footprint as much as possible. If it saves Leica money, great. I am paying for the camera and if I pay even $20 extra for a stupid fancy box that sits in my basement I’m not happy about it. This is a tool I’m buying here and everything else doesn’t matter as long as it gets the tool to me in one piece. 
the new Leicas that charge via usb-c, I get not shipping with a charger. How many ways to charge them do we all have sitting in our house already? Leica saves money, makes less plastic crap that is unneeded, win win. 

[jdlaing]

God knows the box affects the photography.

[pgh]

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I usually get cameras used. When they come without the box they're typically a little less than if it's the same thing with the box.

Saves me trash, saves me money. Win win. 

But to @jdlaing's point - it's weird, the box does affect the photography! Every camera I've bought without a box I make better pictures with, for sure. 

[intangiblethings]

Take it for what it is, but my first ever "new product" experience was with the M10-P and I still remember that experience of it being opened and flipping out.

However small, it was memorable and felt highly considered. 

[pgk]

8 hours ago, jdlaing said:

God knows the box affects the photography.

Schroedinger's photography - would it have been better with the camera left in the box? Imponderable.

[T25UFO]

On 6/12/2025 at 6:18 AM, Pyrogallol said:

And what’s the good of a camera that uses batteries and doesn’t have a charger in the box.

We’ve been here before - many times - Leica is a European company and is complying with EU regulations.  Can’t remember which one, there are so many, but @jaapv will tell you 🙂

[earleygallery]

Leica should be the first (?) to do away with all packaging, just get the camera/lens at the store or if it’s mail order then send it in a box that you have to return to be used again. 

[bherman01545]

I understand why they did it and fully support recycling and sustainability. I guess that for such a premium product, they might have been able to do better, but again, it is what is inside the box that matters. Canon and Nikon use a painted box and corrugated cardboard inside, so it looks like an egg crate. Everyone is doing it and has been doing so for several years.

-Brad

[sinquerer]

A Leica M is still a luxury item. It should come in a beautiful box. When you buy an Omega watch, the presentation box is a beautiful wooden box. They could just put it in a plastic wrap and give it to you, but when you're paying $10,000 for a watch or a camera, the packaging does matter. 

[jaapv]

On 6/12/2025 at 7:18 AM, Pyrogallol said:

They won’t last like the solid red boxes from the past.

And what’s the good of a camera that uses batteries and doesn’t have a charger in the box.

In the interest of sustainability it is an EU directive aimed at making USB-C an universal charging port. You don't need a drawer with dozens of chargers.

[jaapv]

8 minutes ago, sinquerer said:

A Leica M is still a luxury item. It should come in a beautiful box. When you buy an Omega watch, the presentation box is a beautiful wooden box. They could just put it in a plastic wrap and give it to you, but when you're paying $10,000 for a watch or a camera, the packaging does matter. 

I don't see Leicas as a luxury item. They do nothing for my status as hardly anybody recognizes them. A Ferrari, diamond tie pin or  trophy wife is far more effective.

[sinquerer]

12 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I don't see Leicas as a luxury item. They do nothing for my status as hardly anybody recognizes them. A Ferrari, diamond tie pin or  trophy wife is far more effective.

True that Leicas aren't flashy like a Ferrari or Rolex, but they're still luxury by definition: high cost, crafted design, niche appeal, and bought more with emotion than practicality (a $10,000 digital rangefinder without a screen). They're a connoisseur’s luxury. Not for showing off, but for appreciating the feel, heritage, and experience. Kind of like a handmade fountain pen or a bespoke suit.

Some of the most expensive watches are things nobody would ever look at. 

Edited July 12 by sinquerer

[Stuart Richardson]

15 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I don't see Leicas as a luxury item. They do nothing for my status as hardly anybody recognizes them. A Ferrari, diamond tie pin or  trophy wife is far more effective.

Unfortunately, that is how they have been marketed and sold, especially in the last 20 years. So I think sinquerer has a point. Personally, this new packaging seems fine to me. I did not really care for the drawers and folding silver packages, but I did like the grey or black inner cardboard box with the viscose liner that had form-fitting cutouts for the camera body. If nothing else, it was very nice for storage or shipping. As for luxury, I think Leica puts in more effort on this front with special editions. Another option would be to make the basic packaging standard and offer some sort of presentation or storage box separately. I imagine, however, that it would almost certainly be wildly overpriced. Personally, I love the leather lens cases in the M and R systems, and it was a bit of a let down to have the more basic (and largely unpadded) nylon ones for the S and SL systems. I guess they were not offered primarily for the size, but those are really functional and attractive. If they want to focus on sustainability, one way is to treat the packaging as functional rather than disposable. If you can continue to use it as storage, that is one way to cut down on waste.

Edited July 12 by Stuart Richardson

[sinquerer]

Let's not pretend Leica isn't a luxury brand. Please. Not only Luxury but a status symbol for some. The people who buy $10,000 Leica cameras with a $5,000 Leica lens are treated like people who go buy a Rolex. And the unboxing of your $15-$20,000 camera/lens purchase has to be an experience. You don't want to just sit and open a cardboard box like your opening a $1,000 Nikon inside and egg carton. 

I love that my lenses came in a nice leather lens carry pouch. I love that my camera was a whole experience to open. The drawers are storage now. I have the M10R manual in there. I asked for it from Leica. 

Still the one item that disappoints inside that box is the hard unusable crappy Leica strap. Those straps should be RocknRoll Straps quality. 

The other thing I don't like about the new box is how when you slide it open the camera is just standing straight up. Looks cool but, isn't that dangerous? Why can't it be on its back sunken into the box for safety? And cover it with a nice microfiber Leica cloth. It'll add such a visual for nothing. Pennies. When I had a Fuji XPro3 it came with a very large and thick microfiber cleaning cloth in the box.

And the box where the camera rests, line it with a soft material. It shouldn't be just hard cardboard. He'll make it a hard shell box, the same size of the camera itself, but fake good quality leather outside and soft inside. How much could that possibly cost them? And if it's good and secure you could even use the box for travel. 

Edited July 12 by sinquerer

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[jaapv]

What nonsense - most of us buy Leica for the cameras they are, are deep into photography and own other brands for their specific strengths. Stay around a bit on this forum and learn... Showoffs are few and far between. If you judge by price you disregard quality. 

[sinquerer]

6 minutes ago, jaapv said:

What nonsense - most of us buy Leica for the cameras they are, are deep into photography and own other brands for their specific strengths. Stay around a bit on this forum and learn... Showoffs are few and far between.

I'm not talking about people here who buy Leica cameras. I am talking about Leica. The brand Leica. It is a luxury brand. To pretend it isn't is a bit silly. 

Luxury = Very expensive, exclusive, Niche market.  

And like I said, when you are about to plunk down $20,000 for a small camera and a lens you expect that those items will not come in cheap cardboard boxes. The unboxing is part of the experience. It has to be at that price point.

Edited July 12 by sinquerer