The Esquisse Camera looks like the pocketable rangefinder that photographers wish Panasonic or Sony would make

Date:
Sat, 27 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Description:
Esquisse Camera will feature a Micro Four Thirds sensor and lens mount, a rangefinder-style design with EVF, plus a large touchscreen, in a body that's smaller than a deck of cards.

FULL STORY ======================================================================The rangefinder-style Esquisse Camera is set for launch in Q4 of 2026 It'll pack
a Micro Four Thirds sensor and lens mount Dimensions and weight are similar
to those of a Ricoh GR III

Despite a growing demand for compact and pocket cameras, most of the big brands continue leaving that market well alone. Step in the privately-funded French startup, Esquisse Camera.

It's a concept currently in the prototype development stage with a projected launch and delivery in Q4 of 2026, but the initial Esquisse Camera mockups
and potential features got plenty of photographers excited when they appeared online yesterday.

We're looking at a clean Leica-like minimalist rangefinder-style camera with
a Micro Four Thirds sensor and lens mount, that's a similar size to a Ricoh
GR IV (like a deck of cards). Depending on which lens you whack on it, this could be a genuinely pocketable camera.

Many are already drawing comparisons to the widely-admired Panasonic Lumix
GM5 (from 2014), a tiny MFT camera that Panasonic no longer makes despite the pleas of its admirers.

Being a Ricoh GR IIIx user and priced out of buying a Leica, I can certainly see the appeal of such a camera, which is projected to cost between 1,500-2,000 USD / GBP.

There's still much to be decided regarding the Esquisse Camera's design and features, but let's take a quick run through of what we already know and how photographers are responding to the concept so far. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Esquisse Camera) Image 2 of 3 (Image credit: Esquisse Camera) Image 3 of 3 (Image credit: Esquisse) Well, if Panasonic won't...

Esquisse Camera is focused on creating a high-quality, minimalist small camera that looks the part, and the mockups, while obviously not final, are a promising start.

The rangefinder-style, weather-resistant aluminum body features just three exposure dials on the top, two function buttons, one playback, and a clickwheel. A 3.69m-dot EVF is tucked into the corner, while a 3-inch touch display dominates the rear, which indicates just how small the camera will
be.

It will measure 1057035mm that's a twinge bigger than a Ricoh GR III and weigh a total of 350g (without a lens attached).

We don't need to factor in the additional weight of a battery and memory, because those components are internal. That's right, a non-removable battery and 256GB internal memory.

The thinking behind an internal battery is keeping the design as clean and solid as possible, but the early response is that such a design choice will
be a dealbreaker for some. Meanwhile, photos from the internal memory can be shared via USB or wirelessly, but there's no memory card slot, like in the Sigma BF .

This will be a photography-only Micro Four Thirds camera, shooting 20MP
stills and no video, with 'lightning-quick autofocus acquisition'.

In essence, we're looking at a tiny, premium-quality Micro Four Thirds rangefinder that could be a fun Leica and Fujifilm alternative as an everyday carry. Cme Courteault of Esquisse Camera told me:

'Our vision is to create a camera that combines the timeless shooting feel of a Leica M, the pocketability of a Ricoh GR, and the modern performance of todays Micro Four Thirds system.'

This won't be the first rangefinder-style camera to come out of France check out the manual focus only Pixii . However, it could be the most accessible.

I'll be keeping a close eye on this project and how the camera develops. Will a hotshoe mount be added? Will there be any U-turns on any aspects of the concept already shared? I'm excited to see more! You might also like Fujifilm X-M5 review a tiny powerhouse of a vlogging camera This fun point-and-shoot camera is like a cross between a Fujifilm X100VI and Camp Snap and it now
has a confirmed price tag The stunning Pixii Max looks like the ultimate hipster camera for Leica fans



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/mirrorless-cameras/the-esquisse-camera-looks -like-the-pocketable-rangefinder-that-photographers-wish-panasonic-or-sony-wou ld-make


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