the Leica M has new competition | Pixii Max 

The pixii max offers B&W DNG, auto send on your phone, and a 1/32000 electronic shutterspeed. I was not interested because of the crop sensor, but now I'm all-in for Pixii Max. I'm bias 'cause i'm french so... :P

Was hoping you'd give some commentary on this. It's a steep investment but damn, I can't help but feel happy we're seeing more competition.

As a Pixii owner who switched to a m10... I am happy pixii still improving even if the camera was not for me.... overall build quality for a new camera company was great. and i did send the camera in for processor upgrade Minor things i didn't like - focusing patch compared to a leica was small - shutter release felt ok but its just a button no soft release - i thought i wanted a camera without a screen but i missed it. i normally shoot all my digital cameras with the screen off. but find it nice to check a shot without connecting to my phone Things i really didn't like - battery door was clunky mixed with not so great battery life it became a pain - app didn't have a batch download (at least when i owned the camera not sure if it changed) and if you left on wifi battery life was impacted pretty bad. - using a usb stick to take photos off the camera just dumb... it just adds way more steps then an SD card since you had to connect the USB and then download the files too it...

I feel similar about this and the Pentax 17. It's really cool to see someone do it. I got my first actual leica because I wanted a digital rangefinder and they were the only game in town, so competition in that space is great. But at the price and what you're getting, it just isn't worth it for me.

I've heard of pixii's cameras few months ago and, since I've never shoot in digital, this can be my way to go to digital photography. I love the fact that there's no screena dn it's a rangefinder, a thing that I want to use so bad in analog but never found the opportunity to have it, so this pixii camera can merge my whishes. I mean, it's still 5k so I can't afford it, but maybe one day...

the big man just pumping out videos, love to see it

I'm very excited to see how this camera works. Gotta get my hands on one!

Idk why you would get a 24mp rangefinder for 4k when you could get a Leica m10 for roughly the same nowadays

I still like using the Ricoh GRii and the xt20. Call me a Luddite, but I prefer keeping cameras for a very very long time. So long that they eventually die after 175,000 actuations. It gives me a sense of freedom. I never worry about dropping the camera, or it being stolen, or whatever. I take it everywhere. Boats, paddle boards, sketchy ass areas, rainy climates, bicycle rides, etc. I’ve come to love this. I would worry about a camera of this price point. But I’m glad that there are cameras like this that other people get excited about and want to spend their money on. It helps the industry continue to innovate and truck forward. Granted, I think most people can’t tell any difference with what camera you use since 2015. But that’s not a dig. If the user experience of a camera makes someone happy, that’s enough. The design of the pixii looks stunning. It’s a beautiful object to hold in your hand. I look forward to seeing one in the wild.

it's really interesting but few questions instantly: is it only internal storage with no SD slot? and is it only electronic shutter? if there's non of it, it's truly a bummer, I don't need an analog of Zeiss ZX1 only to expect god knows what if internal storage breaks on me, and the issues with lack of mech shutter is obvious

I don't really care about crop factors or whatever, but it's a little disappointing it's still electronic shutter only from what I can tell. That means flash use is basically a no go.

I don't do Instagram. But yes, YES and YEEESSS. Finally Pixii. Now. The only thing I want is the storage to increase from those low amounts.

I was really intrigued by the first pixii, wanted it as a backup cam, but couldn't justify the price. I don't have beef with that - I work for a smallish manufacturer too and know what it costs to make stuff. Wishing them well.

Excited and considering getting it. It’s a unique product. It seems they have an innovative approach to computational photography as well (their monochrome DNG/RAW is very interesting)

hAPPY 4TH OF JULY I ENJOY WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS

I looked at their site and a YT video with the founder. Hardware upgrades should be available going forward. It is missing things that I don't care about so much and has everything I'd like. Quality control should be amazing since the core 5 people (most or all engineers) build all the cameras themselves. I don't like EVFs. This has manual focus, DNG as main output, auto exposure if you want it, no cards, simple interface. This is a great option in my mind. It's like a simple film rangefinder with a digital sensor. I have never used a Leica digital camera.

Definitely excited for the competition. Leica needs it! I've always wanted an M10D so this is interesting. But the argument to buy an M10 is valid as the M10 will keep it's value longer than a Pixii (my assumption).

I would love this AND a Leica.

Very interesting!

Id love to see you review it. Im getting an m10 soon but if it was comparable, id be willing to do the pixii just to encourage more digital rangefinders in the market

YEAH BOI, thats great news. Finally a competitor to Leica.

People that compare Leica M and Fuji Xpro on price alone sort of fall into this same trap of Leica M vs. PIXII price point, etc. It's a camera with frame lines but so much of the experience deviates from there. I think the PIXII is going to fit some people better than a Leica the same way Xpro will fit some people better. If more people could demo PIXII in hand I think we would be better off for it.

I noticed today that they finally had a price and preorder at BH…$4500 for 32gb and $4800 for 128gb. Availability in October. Not really sure how I feel about it. I’m interested in the camera and it’s still about the same price as a nearly 10 year old M10. Just think the price is a bit off putting when 4000 euros is 4300 usd. That extra couple hundred of dollars is rubbing me the wrong way.

Looking forward to owning one soon.

Hopefully the dynamic range is better on this new sensor.

I have been shooting Pixii since the A1571. Good image always. I have the A2572 now and like it. I will upgrade to the Max. I am glad to see Pixii slugging it out with Leica RF's.

I'm super excited. I love the rangefinder experience. I have some mirrorless cameras that I use when the work requires it, but my M is with me 95% of the time. I'm hoping to get my hands on a Pixii to see how I like it. Maybe it'll break my chimping habit. 😅

Hope you will get one to check out

My understanding is that the Pixii has sort of Tesla-level software features that strongly differentiate it from Leica cameras, but have also heard they hadn’t totally worked out all the bugs yet, so the camera could be a pain to use, esp. without a back screen…wonder if that’s still true?

To recap: No screen; internal memory only (i.e. expensive camera repair if it fails); no mechanical shutter; priced as a used Leica camera; misleading “upgradable” claim (higher density sensors will require a different hardware interface and/or processing power). Also, the “special” B&W DNG function can actually be implemented in software on any color DNG from any camera (via bayer filter profiling). I’d also like to know the performance of Leica ultra wide lenses, such as the Super Elmar 21/3.4 on this full-frame sensor, as they require an ultra-thin cover glass, and perform horribly on non-Leica cameras.

the price of pixiis might hold value as long as the company exists and continues to offer upgrades and in theory the product becomes more a lifetime purchase. thats really standout.

I think there’s a lot of neat stuff Pixii is doing with their UI architecture, and the revisions they’ve been willing to add in firmware. I’ve got a lot of respect for what they’re putting in there, and it does seem like a worthy Leica competitor-wild high-tech innovation vs classic impeccable build quality. I’m just not on the market for any rangefinder. Saving that much versus a new Leica is meaningful, however. And as I think about it, I’d actually still consider the original APS-C Pixii. The lens pair of a Voigtlander 21/4 and 40/1.4 would be such a neat kit.

Awesome news!

Matt, I agree Leica sorely needs competition when it comes to the M platform. When film cameras reigned supreme Leica had LOTS of competition, Voigtlander, Konica, Canon, Nikon when it came to rangefinders. In this digital mirrorless age we need more competition and innovation like we have with mirrorless DSLR’s. I have the M10-R and it’s the perfect camera for street and travel along with my Voigtlander and Zeiss lenses. I can carry the body, 4 lenses (28, 35, 50 & 90) with 3 batteries and they will last me for an entire week without having to lug a charger around. My ONLY major gripe with the M lenses and the no one has had the presence of mind to create these lenses with weather seals. As for PIXII, they did what Fujifilm should have done with the X-Pro line. Their original APS-C camera uses the same processor as the X-Pro3. For less than $5K USD this new full-frame camera is a steal. The M10-R in good condition still goes for over $6K USD used. I really wish Voigtlander would get back in the game and release an M mount digital mirrorless to compete with Leica as well. Wishful thinking on my part I know. 😂

You hat is hilarious. Those are my thoughts. The only way they will compete with red dot is if they can bring their price down at least a grand.

Would I rather buy an M-10 or a Pixii Max? A Max absolutely because yes roughly same price but the Pixii has insane hardware and software features over like especially in places like their Monochrome.

its amazing since you can just keep upgrading it. It's better then giving leica 9k every 3-4 years for the new model. Will Leica come out with a leica M-L mount to try and squeeze MFG's off the normal M mount ?

I know crazy price tag as well ‘ yaks ‘ cost of photography lol 😆 😅

Everyone is trying to make this a Leica competitor which is strange because it simply isn’t. Even if it were to be a “better” camera, that’s not why people shoot Leica for the most part. And if it were the same, well it can’t ever really be the same. I read an article recently from someone at Bentley talking about how their cars have changed over the years but how he is also proud that they will still find a place in the grand collection. Part of this was the way he described “heritage” and I think it applies very similarly to Leica. Without going too off the rails on what heritage is. You can copy a Bentley but it will never feel the same or have the same presence or impact because you can’t fake heritage. I think it’s a cool new camera that will be good for the market and help get more brands on board with possibly exploring more emotional camera designs. Look how Fuji designs influenced others over the last few years. I don’t for a second see the masses selling their Leica, their abstract emotional connection to their handmade tool and companion, their intrigue of a changing company through years of photography, their photographic experiences saved and layered in aesthetic brassing, their piece of Leica heritage just for this. Some may and that’s always a good thing, desire is strong. if sales stay strong as well after the hype and fomo has turned to desire then they will really be on to something in a market that does not have many options, much less competition.

At that price point with little resale appeal why would you buy it over a second hand M10 for similar price?

The biggest issue for me with Leica is I like 40mm and it's definitely a compromise without 40mm framelines. Maybe the Pixii will be better in this regard.

It can shoot both colour AND monochrome DNG RAW👍🏻👍🏻

Electric shutter 🤔

It’s been out for some years now.

The only competition is what camera company can charge stupid prices for a camera that’s not worth the money. Period!

Interesting can we have it for like 2k and some Swag 😎

No LCD, no card slot, no screen… $4300. I get that options are a good thing, but I’d rather have my M10 with a similar sensor resolution, and the addition of a card slot and screen. I just don’t get Pixii.

Almost same price with a Leica camera 🙄

For £4k, just buy a Leica M10 used 🤷‍♂️

Leicas have some serious QC issues. I know quite a few people who have had to send their cameras back multiple times for the same issue that constantly does not get repaired. Leica is so over hyped. Sorry but there are way more disadvantages to a rangefinder than advantages. People just like to shoot them because they think it's trendy

I don't need any New Overpriced Cameras including Leica M!! I'm very happy with my XPro3 Rangefinder with Voightlander manual focus lens. 😊

I think the tricky thing is when someone is choosing an M over a Pixxii Max ... and they've never seen a Pixxii in person or tried one out. There's no comparison in the history nor community to Leica either. That's a big leap of faith. That said ... goodness gracious, "Pix-ee" is such a weak name ... I'm too shallow to get over it unless it was a stellar/lovely shooting experience. LOL

Still can't beat Leica M. Pixii has no mechanical shutter (no joy to shoot with) no FF sensor (if you're a big fan of using vintage MF lenses and see all the imperfections around the edges), reliability and repair are also controversial.

nice contrast ratio in todays talking head.

5000 dollars, no card slots, only 128GB (my smallest sd cards are 256GB and cost around 20 dollars) and worst of all, IT HAS MICRO USB after over 8 years since the port has been deprecated and replaced with USB C. They're literally asking 5000 dollars for a toy camera and don't have the decency to spend 50 cents on a modern usb port. NO ONE buying such a camera uses micro usb for anything. They have usb c laptops and phones and everything else. 💀 It's like this company hates its own customers, I'm surprised they've found a market for this shit.

wow, all that money for an electronic shutter only camera that won't ever let you use flash. Must be a joke.

sorry but does the person asking for an entry level leica m even understand what he/she asking? the leica m is already so "dumb down" I can't see any further "downgrades" except material for the body which has not stopped leica from changing the price point much --> leica M11 silver vs black is an example.

Having on-board memory only is the biggest downside for me, and personally I'd buy a Leica for the cost of the Pixii ... It isn't being a brand snob.

Yeah, competition is a good thing, agree. However... for that kind of money, I'll rather buy a used 100 MP Fuji 100s, but that's just me...

They really beat leica in price. All they had to do was remove the shutter and screen. Really impressive.

They should sell at at Fuji X price. It will gain traction for sure. If it is 4k usd. Nah. Going for a 2nd hand Leica instead.

Internal memory only. I don’t think it doesn’t have a removable battery. No rear screen. It’s just to much of an odd ball. Might as well get a leica film camera.

Matt's a nice enough guy that the click-bait of "new competition" can be excused. 😂 It is truly absurd for a random, unknown company to charge $4300 USD for this.

That price doesn't seem appealing, unless the point was to have a Leica price as well 🙂

I just want to remind everyone that the Fuji Xpro3 is a super affordable alternative to both these cameras. Dont want the LCD screen? The fuji screen stays hidden unless you pop it down. Want a rangefinder system? The fuji has a toggle so the EVF displays in rangefinder mode, live view, or rangefinder with a teeeeny pop up focus screen. Obsessed with your manual focus lenses? Adapters let you put your leica lens onto their Xmount, and its very unobtrusive. Does is sing with the style and flavor of a leica? No, but damnit if it isn't pretty dang close for around $1800. Look for an xpro3 in Dura/Titanium if you are still looking for an alternative to both these cameras.

The pixii is pointless

No sure why anyone would buy that instead of a used m10 for just a little more.

doesn't make sense 4k is too expensive. who is going to buy this? you can get Leica for that price

It is just insane to me to see people trying to make a price argument in favor of Leica here. This camera does not compete with the M10, it competes with the M11. The tech in this is nearly a decade newer. The M11 is over twice as much as a Pixii Max and will lose half that value or more in the next decade before settling around $4000 used just like the M10/M262/M240. In the M10's case, why would I spend the same amount as a brand new Pixii Max just to get a similar camera which has been used by half a dozen other people, has less features, and is running decade old tech? Buying a new tool just for the resale value has never made sense to me. Do you buy your camera to take pictures with, or to show off at the monthly Cameras and Coffee meetup?

Both suck. Leicas always break and pixii doesn't have a mechanical shutter. They're all hype and lame

Both useless 😂😂😂😂😂

Yawn. Not the video. It was great. The camera. Why?

I’m good with my M11 but really really really want to check this out.