In June 2011, British Journal of Photography and Amateur Photographer revealed that Leica was planning to launch a mirrorless camera at the 2012 edition of Photokina. The revelations emerged during an interview with Leica chairman Dr Andreas Kaufmann and CEO Alfred Schopf, attended by several members of the British photography press.

In the interview, both Schopf and Kaufmann stressed that the firm was working on a mirrorless camera that would use an electronic viewfinder, as well as an "APS-C sized sensor at least".

In a recent interview, however, Stefan Daniel of Leica and Schopf have denied ever hinting at the release of a mirrorless camera. When asked whether users could still expect an Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens camera, Daniel answered: "We do not speculate. We're not happy about the interview which started that rumour. We feel that it rather misrepresented what was said."

Schopf added: "What was asked was whether Leica was going to make cameras with Live View. We've given the answer with the Leica X2 and the Leica M."

In answer to these charges, BJP and AP have issued the following statement: "British Journal of Photography and Amateur Photographer stand by their reporting of comments made by Leica representatives during a wide-ranging interview with UK journalists in Paris in June 2011. The magazines absolutely refute any suggestion that Leica's stated intentions at that time were misrepresented."

In a May 2012 interview, still with BJP and AP, Kaufmann reaffirmed that Leica was working on a mirrorless camera, which would not be introduced at Photokina as previously claimed. "There's a project in place, but no timeframe," he said at the time.

Schopf added: "We already have the best compact camera system here, with the M9. Now we have to look at the size of the lenses. Do we like having a Coca-Cola can in front of a small camera body? The combination between the camera body and the lens has to fit." Asked whether it meant that the new product might not be a "compact" model, Schopf acquiesced.

Last month, Leica introduced the M-E, an entry-level version of its M camera that retains the form factor of the M9, with a price tag of £3900. It also introduced Live View to the M.

In his most recent interview with L-Camera, Daniel adds, that Leica still recognises there's a gap between the X2 and the M, "both in terms of pricing and features", he says. "We do not comment on possible future products."