No full-frame rangefinder, says Leica

When Leica's then-CEO Steven K. Lee hinted to UK-based photo magazine Amateur Photographer that Leica would unveil a full-frame digital M-series rangefinder later this year, he was "premature" and giving a "too optimistic outlook," according to an official Leica statement published today. The statement was published this morning by Amateur Photographer.

Lee's comments, made during an interview last month at PMA, seemed to indicate that the current Leica digital rangefinder, the M8, would be upgradeable to a full-frame sensor, and that it would be introduced at Photokina this fall. These comments were in direct contradiction to what the Adorama News Desk was told. Adorama asked a Leica spokesperson during PMA about Internet rumors circulating before PMA concerning a full-frame rangefinder and were told they were not true.

Now the official policy confirms what Adorama originally reported: "We can confirm that comments made during PMA regarding the possibility of an M8 upgrade to full frame were premature and we apologise if one of them gave a too optimistic outlook," says the statement from Leica Camera AG. Last Friday, Lee was fired as Leica's CEO. It now appears his statements concerning the M8 were the cause.