Teaneck, NJ—Since 1954, the Leica M has stood for authentic images taken at the center of action. The unobtrusive style of M photography is especially appreciated by photojournalists in conflict areas. M cameras have taken countless iconic pictures that reliably document the history of the world. However, in today’s digital era, content is easily manipulated. Consequently, Leica Camera has debuted the world’s first camera to store metadata by attaching Content Credentials at capture to protect the authenticity of digital images—the Leica M11-P.
Leica is among the photo-imaging and tech companies, as well as the media, NGOs and academics, that realize forged and artificially created images deprive consumers of their trust in the accuracy of digital content. And that it’s also difficult to prove the authenticity of one’s own pictures. This development threatens the basis of photographic reporting. 
Simply, Leica Camera, as part of the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), developed the Leica M11-P to help protect the authenticity of digital images. Content Credentials are the digital nutrition label and most widely adopted industry standard for content of all kinds. Moreover, they are the foundation for increased trust and transparency online. To support these efforts, Leica joined with Adobe and the global community of nearly 2,000 members in the CAI.
“We’re thrilled to see Leica pioneering the integration of Content Credentials into their flagship M11-P cameras,” said Santiago Lyon, head of Advocacy & Education, Content Authenticity Initiative, Adobe. “This is a significant milestone for the Content Authenticity Initiative and the future of photojournalism. It will usher in a powerful new way for photojournalists and creatives to assert their digital rights; combat misinformation; and bring authenticity to their work and consumers, while promoting widespread adoption of Content Credentials.”
Leica M11-P and Content Credentials
The M11-P pioneers the use of secure metadata in compliance with the CAI open-source standard. This feature provides an additional layer of transparency when designing and modifying an image. It allows information such as names, dates, changes made as well as the tools used to securely attach to the image. Thus, it creates awareness of the file’s origin.
With Content Credentials, each Leica M11-P image captured receives a digital signature backed by a CAI-compliant certificate. Further, you can verify the authenticity of images at any time using a freely available, open-source CAI tool or by visiting here.
What’s more Leica’s Content Credentials technology ensures the picture’s authenticity by means of special hardware in the camera. It includes a special chipset for storing digital certificates of the German Federal Printing Office. This integration guarantees verifiability of a picture’s origin. As a result, with the debut of the Leica M11-P, Leica is hoping to set a new standard for the protection of digital content. It is also actively promoting adoption and implementation of Content Credentials.
“Leica cameras have always stood witness to iconic moments in world history. However, determining the authenticity of visual content has become increasingly difficult and important in the age of digital photography,” explained Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, chairman of the supervisory board of Leica Camera AG. “Now with the ability to prov
ide this proof, we are once again strengthening trust in digital content and reestablishing Leica cameras as authoritative tools in the documentation of world events.”
How It Works
When the “Leica Content Credentials” function is activated in the M11-P’s menu, the Content Credential logo is visible in the display. Furthermore, every image taken by the camera is reliably signed using a special algorithm. The image thus receives an unalterable, verifiable proof of camera model, manufacturer and image attributes.
Authenticating these certificates is easy. You can examine and verify them by means of free CAI open-source tools at any time. They prove whether an image is available in the original or in an edited version. What’s more, in the latter case, they provide insight into the history of the content changes.
Leica M11-P: The Specs
Leica notes that further distinguishing features expand the range of applications of the Leica M11-P. They deliberately omitted the red Leica dot on the camera front, for more discreet photographing. Instead, a subtle Leica lettering is engraved on the top plate. In addition, this plate and the bottom cover are milled from aluminum in the matte black Leica M11-P and from brass blocks in the silver chrome version.
Leica made the all-metal body from a solid magnesium alloy to protect the interior of the camera. Additionally, the 3.2-inch, 2.3M-dot LCD monitor is made of sapphire crystal glass. Further, an antireflection protective coating allows reviewing the pictures in all lighting. The LCD also offers touch control.
Notably, the M11-P employs a 60-megapixel, BSI CMOS image sensor and Triple Resolution technology (60/36/18MP). It also uses the Maestro-III processor. Plus, the camera has 256GB of internal memory.
The camera also sports a large, bright-line rangefinder viewfinder with automatic parallax compensation, suitable for -0.5dpt, and 0.73x magnification with all lenses. It also offers a sensitivity range of ISO 64–50,000. Further, it will wirelessly transfer photos, using live view, and GPS tag images via the Leica Fotos app using Bluetooth. The camera is powered by a rechargeable LI-ion 1.800 mAh battery.
The black version of the M11-P weighs 18.7 ounces. The silver chrome camera weighs in at 22.6 ounces. There are also two new black leather accessories for the M system: an M system case and a carrying strap. The Leica M11-P has a suggested retail price of $9,195.
Content Credentials & Content Authenticity Initiative 
Adobe cofounded the Content Authenticity Initiative in 2019 to help combat the threat of misinformation and ensure proper attribution for creators. Today, the CAI is a coalition of nearly 2,000 members. Among them are the AFP, the Associated Press, the BBC, Getty Images, Leica Camera, Nikon, Microsoft, Reuters, the Wall Street Journal and more. The companies all work together to add a verifiable layer of transparency and trust to content online. This is done via secure metadata called Content Credentials.
