Leica has issued an official statement after several websites published articles suggesting that the firm is poised to launch its first mirrorless, compact system camera.

NEWS UPDATE 24 FEB

What the reports failed to acknowledge is that Leica has been making mirrorless cameras for more than half a century.

The articles stemmed from a report on the website of Spain-based DSLR Magazine which attributed its story to reliable sources.

Leica?s UK switchboard was inundated with enquiries when the story appeared on the micro-blogging website Twitter.

In a statement issued this afternoon a Leica spokesman said: ‘Leica has been producing mirrorless cameras since 1954 (starting with the M3, and even before this, if you consider the screw mount cameras).

‘With the Leica M9 (pictured), we have the most compact, full format, mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses on the market.

‘Of course, we won?t stop with the M9, but it is definitely too early to discuss a successor to this model.’