NEXT! M-EV1 with a L-mount

[BernardC]

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I am convinced that Leica will eventually release an L-Mount camera that is smaller than the SL line. The hold-up isn't technical, it's mostly the lack of smaller L-Mount lenses. The recent 28-70 partially fixes this (and could be included in a kit).

I would hope that this smaller camera uses the same battery as the Q and SL, and that it has a much better rear LCD than the Lumix S5/S9. These two design constraints would prevent it from looking like an M, which is a good thing. The L-mount bodies are Leica's "modern" line, they don't need to fit inside a box that was defined in the 1950s.

[rramesh]

1. The SL will get smaller with innovation.
2. The M-EV1 will evolve to the M-EV2 and will share the M12's new sensor, processor, redesigned architecture, and body for both RF and EVF.

[sebben]

I honestly see how the user experience of this camera is any better or different than the Leica CL that seemingly failed. 
 

Ok the improved viewfinder may make it a bit better to focus an m lens manually but I don’t experience much difference between the SL2 and the CL when it comes to focus accuracy. 
 

This camera is puzzling to me as it’s even more limited since there are no autofocus lenses available for the mount. I really would have thought that they would have added some extra special features to help with manual focus Like LiDAR focus confirmation or a zoomed in center section of the sensor or something, anything...

As it stands the rangefinder offers the fastest possible way to focus manually. Zooming into an evf image to check focus is cumbersome and slow and you loose the context of the photograph while fiddling around which is a great way to miss moments. 
 

Maybe it’s optimised for a F8 and be there kind to of shooting style…

[jaapv]

Does it have to be? What is in a name? 

 

9 hours ago, jdlaing said:

Uhhh……..if it’s an L mount it won’t be an M by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[jdlaing]

57 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Does it have to be? What is in a name? 

 

 

Accuracy. Leica seems to like that.

[jaapv]

Well, the M EV1 is an M camera in shape only. EV1 would have been more accurate. 

[dsalamena]

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I'd also be really interested in a small L-mount interchangeable-lens camera with EVF and IBIS.

The SL is perfect in many ways, but it's simply too big and heavy for travel and street photography. A larger CL-style camera with a full-frame sensor and image stabilization would be perfect for this type of photography.

As for lenses, given that Leica might take this opportunity to launch a new line of smaller SL lenses (such as the new 28-70mm f/2.8), you could still use Leica, Sigma, or Panasonic prime lenses, which already have acceptable weights and dimensions. I would also use some TL lenses (18-23-35-60 primes would be perfect for this camera, with the extra benefit of having small RAW files) and even M lenses with an adapter.

[pgk]

On 10/26/2025 at 5:09 PM, CptSlevin said:

SL3/SL3S shows less sales than their any other product line, why they would kill it off even more by introducing M with L mount?
Just enlighten me

Different market entirely.

[frame-it]

On 10/26/2025 at 11:28 PM, LocalHero1953 said:

Leica has made a small investment (by its own account) in replacing the opto-mechanical rangefinder with an EVF. What could be simpler than taking the next step, with another small investment, to replace the mount with a L-mount? For the shorter L-mount registration distance, they would bring the sensor forward in the body, thereby making space for IBIS as well. The higher power demand would be mitigated by a higher capacity battery (as they did for Q and SL by switching from BP-SCL4 to BP-SCL6).

They have conveniently drawn the ire of the RF adherents by the launch of the M-EV1, so the only people who could be upset are those who bought the latter, but would really really like AF - and IBIS.

What not to like?

(Yes, maybe this should be in the L-mount forum - or half way between - but this is where the M evolution excitement is)

You mean a full frame 36-48mp CL2.

they already have the tech, the full frame sensor will fit in that body [it fits inside an RX1R!]

twill be painful to hold onto with big lenses though

Edited 16 hours ago by frame-it

[LocalHero1953]

53 minutes ago, frame-it said:

You mean a full frame 36-48mp CL2.

they already have the tech, the full frame sensor will fit in that body [it fits inside an RX1R!]

twill be painful to hold onto with big lenses though

I tried the CL with the big SL zooms and it wasn't a comfortable experience. It was OK with the Apo-Summicrons