Leica M10 or M11 in 2025?

[Richard G]

The difference is when shooting not in live view. The M10 is quite fast when focusing with the rangefinder. With the M11, it meters off the sensor, but when you shoot the shutter closes and then opens again to take the exposure. The camera is notably slower.

All my colour M11 images are work images, so I can’t share them, and I don’t have an M11 anymore - it was a loan camera. Overall I found the colour straight out of the camera better on the M10-R than the M11.

O M G. My M9-P is staying for the time being. And the M2....

 

[Godfrey]

The difference is when shooting not in live view. The M10 is quite fast when focusing with the rangefinder. With the M11, it meters off the sensor, but when you shoot the shutter closes and then opens again to take the exposure. The camera is notably slower.

All my colour M11 images are work images, so I can’t share them, and I don’t have an M11 anymore - it was a loan camera. Overall I found the colour straight out of the camera better on the M10-R than the M11.

Thanks ...

For the present, I have no motivation to move from the M10-R/M10 Monochrom to any of the M11 range. And I'm long past "upgrading for the sake of upgrading". I'm just curious ... only got curious about the M11 with the announcement of the M11-D.

I'll likely be shooting with the two M10s I have for the foreseeable future, if not forever. 😉 None of the improvements/upgrades seem all that significant to my photography.

G

 

[spyderphil]

I tried one last week and returned it. The magenta cast on some photos was ridiculous. Staying with my M10-R

 

[Freakscene]

I like the better live view/viso performance, highlight weighted metering and battery life in the M11 Monochrom a lot. The colour would stop me from ever wanting a regular M11.

But the BP-SCL5 battery situation is frustrating me.

 

[Miles.]

This has been a helpful thread, thank you everyone. I haven't made my decision yet but it'll be soon.

 

[boojum]

Leica batteries. I am jaundiced on the folks in Wetzlar and I see the battery problem as just another shabby marketing gambit. After all, they do not make the batteries, they order them. The manufacturer has the specs and know-how. So why is there a scarcity?

My M8.2 and M9 are covered, I have about a dozen of those batteries. The M240 has a honking big battery and I have two. The Q3 43 fortunately takes Q2 batteries and they are in the aftermarket.. Yes, I am jaundiced but it is hard to think of the folks in Wetzlar as honorable. This silliness with batteries is just another example of their cupidity. YMMV

/rant

 

[Godfrey]

I tried one last week and returned it. The magenta cast on some photos was ridiculous. Staying with my M10-RView attachment 4856435

hmm. I don't find the color on either side of that comparison to be what I'm after. But I *never* output from the camera as JPEGs, only raw files, and I can't imagine that I could not achieve identical results from them both using their .DNG output after properly calibrating Lightroom (as I've done for every one of my cameras...).

And let's please not go down the rabbit hole of BP-SCL5 battery availability yet again. As I said in that other thread, the service rep at Leica USA contacted me directly by phone after I asked what the situation was on new batteries for my M10 cameras. They're only 'scarce' in the USA, and Leica USA is trying to solve whatever the business problem is. They do have stock on hand, just not enough to list it on the website, so if you really need a battery or two, just write to Leica USA and they'll provide them. ... I ordered the second spare I was looking for while I was talking with the service rep on the phone. It was delivered 4 days later. This was in January 2025 (ordered on the 21st, delivered on the 27th, hopping the weekend). I expect that the scarcity situation will disappear in the near future. (That is, unless idiotic tariffs and other absurd nonsense by the present Federal government clowns makes the entire rest of the world embargo the USA from all trade... 🤬)

G

 

[Freakscene]

hmm. I don't find the color on either side of that comparison to be what I'm after. But I *never* output from the camera as JPEGs, only raw files, and I can't imagine that I could not achieve identical results from them both using their .DNG output after properly calibrating Lightroom (as I've done for every one of my cameras...).

And let's please not go down the rabbit hole of BP-SCL5 battery availability yet again. As I said in that other thread, the service rep at Leica USA contacted me directly by phone after I asked what the situation was on new batteries for my M10 cameras. They're only 'scarce' in the USA, and Leica USA is trying to solve whatever the business problem is. They do have stock on hand, just not enough to list it on the website, so if you really need a battery or two, just write to Leica USA and they'll provide them. ... I ordered the second spare I was looking for while I was talking with the service rep on the phone. It was delivered 4 days later. This was in January 2025 (ordered on the 21st, delivered on the 27th, hopping the weekend). I expect that the scarcity situation will disappear in the near future. (That is, unless idiotic tariffs and other absurd nonsense by the present Federal government clowns makes the entire rest of the world embargo the USA from all trade... 🤬)

G

And let me be clear again. I would advise anyone who wants to use their camera seriously NOT to buy an M10 series camera now on the basis of battery availability alone.

I do not live in the USA. Leica Australia have no BP-SCL5 batteries, and cannot get me any. Even if I was in the US, I need more than the one or two batteries per serial that Leica USA will provide domestically. Irrespective, Leica USA will not provide them outside the US. I need five, at least. It is an absurd situation that I cannot simply order 5 or 10 batteries and get them.

 

[Godfrey]

I agree that it is an absurd situation. But i expect it will change soon. 'Nuff said.

G

 

[35photo]

I love my M10-P works great no issues whatsoever got it used as well! Same my M9 which I got in 2013 also used and has taken a beating other than the known sensor since it was replaced no issues. I've got an extra battery for both. I'm good to go for a long time. I have no desires for any other model that in the current / future

 

[spyderphil]

hmm. I don't find the color on either side of that comparison to be what I'm after. But I *never* output from the camera as JPEGs, only raw files, and I can't imagine that I could not achieve identical results from them both using their .DNG output after properly calibrating Lightroom (as I've done for every one of my cameras...).

And let's please not go down the rabbit hole of BP-SCL5 battery availability yet again. As I said in that other thread, the service rep at Leica USA contacted me directly by phone after I asked what the situation was on new batteries for my M10 cameras. They're only 'scarce' in the USA, and Leica USA is trying to solve whatever the business problem is. They do have stock on hand, just not enough to list it on the website, so if you really need a battery or two, just write to Leica USA and they'll provide them. ... I ordered the second spare I was looking for while I was talking with the service rep on the phone. It was delivered 4 days later. This was in January 2025 (ordered on the 21st, delivered on the 27th, hopping the weekend). I expect that the scarcity situation will disappear in the near future. (That is, unless idiotic tariffs and other absurd nonsense by the present Federal government clowns makes the entire rest of the world embargo the USA from all trade... 🤬)

G

The file shown was a RAW in Capture One. On the right is the AWB adjustment using the picker. I took maybe 100 shots before I decided I wasn't keeping the camera. The magenta shift is variable so every image needs its own AWB adjustment. The highlight weighted metering is a huge improvement but not enough to overcome dealing with fixing the color in every image for me.

 

[cdnguyen]

M12 is due to come out soon. M10 has brass top and bottom plate. M11 doesn't.