Looks like teaming up with Panasonic/Sigma isn’t the only interesting collaboration Leica is up to. Leica and Zenit are joining forces to build Zenit M, a new digital full-frame rangefinder camera. This collaboration has been rumored for a while, and now, it’s finally official.

La storica Zenit in collaborazione con Leica per una fotocamera M-mount;

Obiettivo Zenitar 35 mm f/1.0 fatto in Russia, of course. pic.twitter.com/arGTeDn2LE — scimmia semiotica (@semioticmonkey) September 26, 2018

Krasnogorsky Zavod (the manufacturer of Zenit) has presented the camera on this year’s Photokina. It was previously rumored that the upcoming Zenit digital rangefinder will actually be a modified Leica SL. However, according to Krasnogorsky Zavod, it will actually be based on Leica M Type 240, with tweaks in both hardware and software. In terms of design, the Zenit M copies the designs of the legendary Zenit and Zorky cameras.

The camera is to come with a redesigned Zenitar 35 mm f/1.0 lens. According to the company, it will produce “unique bokeh and soft focus effect.”

Vadim Kaliugin, CEO of KMZ Zenit, says that Zenit M will be “not only a high-quality device with elaborate ergonomic design and high optical characteristics, but a really smart camera which will provide high image quality.”

The Zenit M is coming in December 2018 in Europe and January 2019 in Russia. You’ll be able to find it both at Zenit’s online store and in “selected photo shops,” the company writes.

As someone who has grown up using a vintage Zenit camera, I’m really looking forward to seeing how the Zenit M will look like and how it will perform. There’s still no word on the price, but we’ll keep you updated on it as soon as it’s announced.

UPDATE: Zenit M now has a dedicated website, and specs of the camera and the lens are out:

The camera

Image sensor Resolution 24MP Sensor type CMOS Sensitivity range ISO 200 to ISO 6400, adjustable in 1/3 ISO increments, automatic control or manual setting Basic settings White balance Automatic, manual, 7 presets Shutter Picture series Approx. 3 pictures/s, ≤ 12 pictures in serie Self-timer 2s or 12s Lens Lens mount Zenitar M-mount Lens in a set ZENITAR 35 mm f/1.0 Exposure Shutter speed 60-1/4000s Manual setting of exposure and aperture Available Flash exposure compensation ±3 1/3 EV adjustable in EV 1/3 Metering principle / method Spot, center-weighted, multi-field metering Memory and interface Memory card types SD, SDHC, SDXC Data formats DNG™ (raw data), JPEG Power supply Battery 1 Battery capacity 1800 mAh Video and sound recording Video/sound recording Available Video recording formats Motion JPG / Quicktime Maximum resolution for video 1920 x 1080 Size and weight Size (Width x Depth x Height) Approx. 138.6 x 42 x 80 mm without lens Weight Approx. 680 gr with battery, without lens

Lens technical data