Pixii Max
General
- Mount
- M-Mount
- Release Year
- 2024
- Type
- Digital
- Model Number
- A3410 (Full Frame) / A2572 (APS-C)
- Serial Range
- Varies by batch
Dimensions
- Weight
- 460g
- Length
- 138mm
- Width
- 33mm
- Height
- 79mm
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Magnification
- 0.67x
- Framelines
- LED projected (28/35/50/75 mm)
- Shutter Speeds
- 2s to 1/32,000s
- Shutter Type
- Cloth
Features
- Hot Shoe
- Yes
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- Yes
- Flash Sync
- High Speed Sync available (Electronic)
Pixii Max
The Pixii Max represents the culmination of Pixii's "software-defined camera" philosophy. While previous iterations utilized APS-C sensors, the Max (Model A3410) integrates a 24.5-megapixel Full-Frame BSI-CMOS sensor into the same compact aluminum body. This is a critical evolution for rangefinder purists, as it allows legacy M-mount lenses to be used at their native focal lengths without a crop factor (e.g., a 35mm lens behaves like a true wide-angle).
The camera retains the brand's signature "screen-less" design, omitting a rear LCD in favor of seamless smartphone connectivity via the Pixii App (iOS/Android). However, the Max introduces a significant upgrade to the optical rangefinder. It now features an interactive viewfinder that projects key information—shutter speed, exposure compensation, and white balance—directly into the photographer's peripheral vision, allowing adjustments without taking the eye off the subject.
Powered by a new 64-bit Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A55 processor, the Pixii Max processes images with remarkable speed and supports "Native Monochrome" DNGs. This mode bypasses the demosaicing process at the raw level to produce black-and-white files with superior tonality and reduced noise. As with previous models, the Max is designed to be upgradeable; owners of older APS-C Pixii cameras can send their units to the factory in France to have the optical block and sensor swapped for the Full-Frame Max internals.
History
The Pixii Max is the third major hardware generation of the Pixii platform, marking its transition from a niche APS-C curiosity to a serious Full-Frame contender.
The Full-Frame Leap (2024) After years of requests from the community, Pixii announced the Pixii Max in July 2024. The challenge was fitting a 24x36mm sensor into a body originally designed for APS-C dimensions (unlike Leica, which made the M (Typ 240) thicker). Pixii achieved this by redesigning the optical block and shutter mechanism entirely. The release of the Max validated the company's long-term promise that the camera body was a "platform" that could evolve over time [1].
Technological Milestones
- Original Pixii (A1112 - 2018): 11MP APS-C, Global Shutter.
- Pixii+ (A1571 - 2021): 26MP BSI APS-C, improved ISO.
- Pixii Max (A3410 - 2024): 24.5MP Full-Frame, Interactive Viewfinder.
The Max effectively replaced the APS-C models as the flagship, though Pixii continues to support the upgrade path for early adopters, a practice virtually unheard of in the consumer electronics industry [2].
Legacy The Pixii Max is currently the only digital rangefinder in production outside of the Leica M-System. It is celebrated for offering a distinct "modern" alternative: relying on phone connectivity and computational photography (software updates) rather than traditional hardware menus [3].
Sources
- [1] Pixii SAS. Introducing Pixii Max. https://pixii.fr/pixii-max
- [2] PetaPixel. Pixii Max Review: The Full Frame Rangefinder We Wanted. https://petapixel.com
- [3] 35mmc. Pixii Max – First Impressions of the Full Frame Rangefinder. https://www.35mmc.com
- [4] Hamish Gill. The Evolution of Pixii: From APS-C to Max. https://www.35mmc.com
- [5] DPReview. Pixii Max Full-Frame Rangefinder Overview. https://www.dpreview.com
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