Leica Goes ‘Gray’
The Leica M11-P in Metal Gray Paint Finish, with matching APO-Summicron-M 50 f/2 ASPH. — available from 28 May 2026
Week of 31 May 2026
A week dominated by official launches rather than rumour, with Leica confirming its Metal Gray range on 28 May, Panasonic introducing the DC-L10 to the English-language press in more detail, and Godox releasing a macro flash that will be of particular interest to close-up and nature photographers. In the background, Fujifilm's X-T6 has taken a significant step towards formal announcement, and Sigma has filed patents pointing to a deepening portrait lens programme.
Gear, Glass & Light
Leica Metal Gray — Officially Announced
The announcement confirms what had been rumoured since March: Leica is introducing a new finish across several of its product lines simultaneously, and releasing them in staggered waves a few weeks apart. The tone — described in Leica's materials as a "metal grey paint finish specially developed at the Leica factory" — is a genuinely new addition to the M-system palette, sitting alongside the existing black and silver options. The first wave, available from 28 May 2026, comprises:
Leica M11-P, Metal Gray Paint Finish — €9,290. The first M-camera to carry the new tone. Full-metal body, black control elements, diamond-patterned leather, Made in Germany.
Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 f/2 ASPH., Metal Gray Paint Finish — €8,950. Lens elements and front lens cap in the new finish; red engraving on feet and f-stop scales, matching the M11-P body.
Associated accessories: BP-SCL7 battery in Metal Gray (€180), dark brown leather protectors (€300/€330), and a leather carrying strap with shoulder pad (€135).
The second wave follows on 16 July 2026:
Leica Q3, Metal Gray Paint Finish — €6,590. The full-frame fixed-lens compact in the new colour; black controls; red engraving on the lens. Optional dark brown leather protector at €250.
Leica D-Lux 8, Metal Gray Paint Finish — €1,750. Body and FN buttons in metallic grey; other controls in black. Accompanied by a cognac-coloured leather case (€185) and braided black leather straps (€95/€125).
The Metal Gray finish occupies an interesting position in Leica's colour history. The original Leica M3 of 1954 was available in chrome, and subsequent decades brought various grey and steel tones through limited editions. This is, however, the first standard production offering of a dedicated grey paint across the contemporary M, Q and D-Lux lines simultaneously, and the coordinated accessories — particularly the dark brown leather — give the range a coherent aesthetic proposition that differs from the more austere black-paint editions. At these prices it is an unambiguously aspirational range, but as material objects they are well-considered.
The compact expert camera format — patient since the LX100 II — receives a thorough update in the Panasonic DC-L10, arriving in June 2026 at €1,499
Panasonic DC-L10 — The LX100 Successor Arrives
Eight years after the LX100 II, Panasonic has announced the DC-L10 — a compact expert camera unveiled on 12 May in Osaka as part of the Lumix brand's 25th anniversary celebrations. The specification is substantially more capable than its predecessor, built around a 26.5MP BSI Four Thirds sensor (the same unit found in the GH7) paired with a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 lens with an integrated leaf shutter. The eight-year gap is conspicuous — the X100VI mapped the world and the Leica D-Lux 8 became the default premium compact in its absence — but the DC-L10's specification is comprehensive enough to make a credible case for its relevance.
Key specifications:
Sensor: 26.5MP BSI Four Thirds, same as GH7
Lens: Leica DC Vario-Summilux 24-75mm (35mm equiv.) f/1.7-2.8 with integrated leaf shutter up to 1/2000s
Autofocus: hybrid phase-detection, 779 points
Viewfinder: OLED electronic
Screen: orientable LCD
Video: 4K/120p; 5.6K DCI/60p; 5.2K open gate 4:3/60p; 10-bit log
Colours: black and silver
Price: €1,499 (June 2026). A Titanium Gold edition with coordinated menus, threaded shutter release, and matching strap follows in July at €1,599, exclusively via Panasonic's website
Notable omissions: no headphone jack, no HDMI output
Panasonic frames the camera around the Japanese concept of "Mushin" from Zen and martial arts — the idea of an instrument that disappears between photographer and subject. Whether that translates into the handling experience will be clear from first reviews in June. The leaf shutter is the specification that most distinguishes it from mirrorless competitors: silent, vibration-free, and capable of flash sync at any speed. At €1,499 it sits just above the Leica D-Lux 8 (€1,350 in standard finish, or €1,750 in the new Metal Gray), which is precisely the territory it needs to occupy.
Fujifilm X-T6 — Registration Filing Confirms Timeline
The Fujifilm X-T6 has appeared in a registration database filing, following a product listing by a Vietnamese camera dealer that had already circulated earlier in May. The combination of a regulatory filing and retailer preparation is the clearest pre-announcement signal short of an official statement. The specifications in circulation remain difficult to disentangle from speculation, but the most credible elements are:
Sensor: 40MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 6 HR BSI
Pixel Shift: up to 200MP multi-shot mode
Processor: X-Processor 6
IBIS: 8-stop in-body stabilisation (up from 7-stop on the X-T5)
Video: 8K/30p is cited in the Vietnamese listing, though some sources are sceptical
Display: a fully articulating flip-out screen is rumoured, replacing the X-T5's three-way tilt — a change that has already provoked debate in the Fujifilm community
Battery: up to 750 shots per charge
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, USB 3.2 Gen 2
Announcement: September 2026 is the most consistently cited window
The flip-out screen is the detail that will generate the most discussion in the weeks ahead. The X-T line has historically attracted photographers who prefer a stiffer, more minimalist handling experience, and a vlogging-style fully articulating screen represents a meaningful change in design philosophy. Fujifilm have not confirmed anything; the September window remains speculation until they do.
Hasselblad X2D II — In-Depth Coverage
With the X2D II now in reviewers' hands, detailed coverage of Hasselblad's updated medium format system is beginning to emerge. The headline specifications are well established — 100MP sensor, 1TB built-in storage, 10-stop IBIS — but reviews are now exploring the practical implications. The 11,656 x 8,742 pixel files (in 4:3 aspect ratio) compare to the Sony A7R VI's 9,984 x 6,656, providing a meaningful resolution advantage for those who need it. The camera records 16-bit RAW at base ISO and 14-bit in burst mode, and supports the HIF format at 10-bit. Autofocus uses a combination of phase detection, contrast detection, and AI subject recognition — a significant improvement over the original X2D, which was widely criticised for its AF performance. The camera is compatible with Hasselblad's XCD series natively, with adapter support for other mounts.
Twin flash units allow independent positioning on either side of the lens — the Godox MF-T76 brings this to macro photographers at an accessible price point
Godox MF-T76 — A Twin Flash for Macro Work
Godox has released the MF-T76, a macro flash unit that takes a different approach to the ring flash format. Where the existing MF-R76 uses a circular ring arrangement, the MF-T76 separates the flash output into two independent units that mount on either side of the lens via an adapter ring. Each unit can be independently repositioned, which solves the principal limitation of the ring flash: its inherently flat, shadow-free illumination. The ability to offset one unit higher or to the side creates directional light and modelling that ring flash cannot produce, while maintaining the critical advantage of front-mounted illumination — keeping the photographer's body from blocking light at extreme close distances.
Flash power: 76Ws total
Power range: full to 1/256 in one-third stop increments
TTL metering and High Speed Sync
Built-in modelling lights for previewing ratios and aiding manual focus
2.4G Wireless X System compatibility — works within the broader Godox ecosystem
Three dedicated TTL versions: Canon, Nikon, Sony (no Fujifilm or L-mount version at launch)
Price: $249 / £221 / AU$389 — available now
The lack of Fujifilm and L-mount versions at launch is a noticeable gap given the natural overlap between macro photography and the Fujifilm X and Panasonic L communities. Godox has typically added additional mount versions in the months following initial release, so this may resolve in due course. At £221, the price is significantly below comparable twin flash systems from Canon and Nikon.
Sigma — Portrait Lens Patents Signal Deeper Commitment
Sigma has filed patent P2026079898, revealing three lens designs: the already-confirmed 85mm f/1.2 Art (announced at CP+ 2026, shipping September 2026), a 105mm f/1.4, and a revised variant of the existing 135mm f/1.4 Art. The 85mm f/1.2 remains the only confirmed product among these three; the 105mm and 135mm variants are patent disclosures rather than announcements, and Sigma files patents for designs that sometimes do not reach production. That said, the pattern — three fast portrait-length primes within a single patent filing — suggests a deliberate expansion of the portrait end of the Art series, a segment that has historically been strong territory for Sigma.
Viltrox Z1 Pro — Retro Flash With Modern Capability
Viltrox has launched the Z1 Pro, a compact flash with deliberately vintage-inspired styling. The Z1 Pro is the first Viltrox flash to support High Speed Sync in the Vintage series, adding TTL, HSS, and a claimed guide number of 60 to a form factor designed to evoke mid-century flash aesthetics. Available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm mounts. It occupies an increasingly populated niche — the aesthetically distinctive flash alongside functional necessity — but the HSS support at this price level is a practical upgrade over the standard Z1.
Also This Week
The Photographic Arts
A useful guide from PHmuseum covers June 2026 photography awards and open calls. Notable deadlines: Deloitte's Photo Grant (14 June, no fee; €50,000 prize with solo show at Triennale Milano); the Hariban Award for collotype printing (15 June); and the DongGang International Photo Festival open call in South Korea (1 June, no fee, theme "The Silence That Shapes"). The Griffin Museum of Photography's Handmade Photobook Exhibition opens 12 June in Massachusetts, running through September.
Film & Analogue
Rollei has released Blackbird Creative Film, an orthopanchromatic ISO 64 black-and-white emulsion reviewed this week on 35mmc. The film is described as based on security film stock, with very high resolution, fine grain, and notably solid blacks — the name comes from the inky depth of its shadow tones. Currently available in 35mm only. Processed in Rodinal (11 minutes at 1:50, 21°C per the box instructions), it produces strong micro-contrast and is particularly suited to architectural subjects. Less demanding than Adox CMS II Pro at a comparable speed, it occupies an interesting position in the crowded slow-speed B&W emulsion market.
The Digital Darkroom
Adobe has released Lightroom Classic version 15.3.1 (May 2026 release). The update moves Denoise, Raw Details and Super Resolution into the standard Detail panel as permanent edit features rather than modal dialogs — a workflow improvement for those who use them regularly. XMP auto-writing behaviour has been optimised: the process now pauses during imports and writes every 10 seconds rather than after each edit. Additionally, Lightroom Classic now remembers the last image selection for up to 25 recently accessed sources. Separately, Capture One has announced a 6% price increase across all products from 2 June 2026.
Looking Ahead
The Panasonic DC-L10 arrives in June, and first hands-on reviews should follow shortly after availability. The Leica SL3-P — 44.3MP, ~€5,900, improved AF over the SL3-S — remains on watch for a May or June announcement; with the Metal Gray range now formally launched, this is the next item in Leica's pipeline. Fujifilm's September window for the X-T6 gives the summer for further specification details to emerge. Next week's Photography Weekly covers The Photographic Arts, with Rencontres d'Arles (opening 6 July) and the June awards season well in view.
