Leica M EV1 First Review - It's Bad

[trix4ever]

My biggest problem with this is that realistically with wide angles you'll need to focus wide open then stop down to take the photo. Way slow compared to a rangefinder that has the same accuracy regardless of focal length or aperture. And I hate Focus peaking.
The funniest review has been Jono Slack's. He tries so hard to find something good about it, but reading between the lines he really didn't like it at all.
Sean Reid made it pretty clear it was a beta version and might be better after a few iterations.

 

[boojum]

It took the M8, M8.2, M9, M240 to finally get a quality digital M10.

Past failures seem a poor reason to repeat them. But that's your reasoning. The M9 is about as good as the images get. I have the M8.2, the M9 and the M240 and the Q3 43. They are all pretty good, the M9 just wonderful. But looking at what you get for what you pay, Leica is falling behind. The X2D II is way better. Better image, more options and access to better lenses, and cheaper. $1,500 cheaper for more camera.

An EVF in today's world without autofocus? Yeah, right. Great idea.

I believe that Leica will sell these M EV-1's. But it looks to me like a kludge, a Q3 with interchangeable lenses but no autofocus. I sure have no idea what is going on at Wetzlar but to me this M EV-1 was rushed to market. I'd hope for Leica's sake that they are working on a real camera, one that they think is an X2D II killer. We'll see. They may continue with another slightly modified M body. The Q series was a break with tradition. Can Leica do something new? We'll see.

In the meantime there is the Leica SL series for EVF autofocus.

 

[splitimageview]

I've never really like focus peaking for still images, it is too easily fooled wide open with sharp edges, sharp light transitions or sharp color changes.

Yes, it’s just not precise enough at standard viewfinder magnification. More resolution actually doesn’t improve things since the image size is greatly reduced.

Take an out of focus digital image and reduce its size on a monitor—it will appear to be in proper focus.

 

[kxl]

Step 1: Enable focus peaking by turning locus ring)

Step 2: Magnify (for verication)

Step 3: Adjust to nail fcous

Oops. The subject has moved on.

If steps 1-3 can be somehow be combined into one step, then it’d be more viable for street and similar uses. I’d still miss the rangefinder.

 

[plexi]

Step 1: Enable focus peaking by turning locus ring)

Step 2: Magnify (for verication)

Step 3: Adjust to nail fcous

Oops. The subject has moved on.

If steps 1-3 can be somehow be combined into one step, then it’d be more viable for street and similar uses. I’d still miss the rangefinder.

When I use my Canon with a manual lens I can pretty quickly set a focus point where I want it, say an eye for a portrait or wherever I want for the composition.
So when I magnify it will automatically magnify at where I set the focus point so I can quickly focus without having to recompose after.

 

[kxl]

When I use my Canon with a manual lens I can pretty quickly set a focus point where I want it, say an eye for a portrait or wherever I want for the composition.
So when I magnify it will automatically magnify at where I set the focus point so I can quickly focus without having to recompose after.

it’s more challenging in a dynamic environment like the street. I adapt my M lenses to a Nikon Z6 III and have to go through the above steps (on occasion) and miss the shot altogether. It is for that reason that I bought a Tech Art TZM-02 adapter—might as well enable AF with my M lenses. I have higher hit rates, but it’s not as enjoyable as using M lenses on a proper RF body.

 

[plexi]

it’s more challenging in a dynamic environment like the street. I adapt my M lenses to a Nikon Z6 III and have to go through the above steps (on occasion) and miss the shot altogether. It is for that reason that I bought a Tech Art TZM-02 adapter—might as well enable AF with my M lenses. I have higher hit rates, but it’s not as enjoyable as using M lenses on a proper RF body.

What we need is a simulated manual focus SLR focus screen 😊

 

[Archiver]

Step 1: Enable focus peaking by turning locus ring)

Step 2: Magnify (for verication)

Step 3: Adjust to nail fcous

Oops. The subject has moved on.

If steps 1-3 can be somehow be combined into one step, then it’d be more viable for street and similar uses. I’d still miss the rangefinder.

Jono Slack said in his review that the magnfied area is only in the centre, so one could achieve critical focus while still being mindful of the scene. At least, that's how I would use that application of punching in to focus. It's a bit annoying that the SL2-S doesn't offer this, but Panasonic has offered both options of full screen punch in and centre image punch in for years.

 

[Archiver]

What we need is a simulated manual focus SLR focus screen 😊

Or perhap a simulated rangefinder... oops 😅

 

[splitimageview]

Fuji attempted a digital split image RF a few years ago but I haven’t seen the latest implementation on their newest cameras so I’m not sure if it’s improved or not. I found it lacking.

 

[plexi]

Jono Slack said in his review that the magnfied area is only in the centre, so one could achieve critical focus while still being mindful of the scene.

Ah, that's better. I also checked the manual, you can move that magnified area around.

 

[Freakscene]

It’s $AU 3,000 cheaper than the M11 here in Australia. That’s interesting.

Not being able to move the magnified patch takes us back to the Typ 240 . . .

 

[JeffS7444]

Kudos to Leica for trying something uncomfortable. There's no reason that an EVF model can't coexist with more traditional RF models.

 

[plexi]

Not being able to move the magnified patch takes us back to the Typ 240 . . .

Luckily you can. 🙂

 

[Godfrey]

Seen as just an EVF camera, not an M, I have to ask myself "Why?" Oh, full compatibility with M lenses (and R lenses) in terms of profiles is good, and there are those situations where a TTL EVF camera is far more useful than an M (long lenses, macro work, marginally ultra-fast lenses, etc). BUT ... They already had/have all this in the SL line and in the (now discontinued) CL ... both of which have the larger diameter L-mount bayonet, and with an adapter work beautifully with M and R lenses, and provide all the lens profiles, etc etc.

And one little detail that is important if the use for macro and long telephotos is what you're after: the larger bayonet mount of the L mount makes it much easier to adapt LONG lenses than the small M-bayonet mount, with less vignetting and attendant problems.

I stand by my earlier statements: I see little to no reason for this camera without the rangefinder. In my opinion, they should have taken the CL and redesigned it to have the FF sensor, and sold it with an M Adapter L in the box. Re-style it to look like an M11, include the M11 battery too: it would have made much more sense because that way they could have a compact platform to use all three of the Leica lens lines (M, R, and L mounts) with better results.

Obviously, that's my opinion, and I'm not running Leica. I hope they have a plan for where this camera will go in the future and provide something distinctive other than just being twice to three times the price of the competing cameras in the market.

G

 

[ellisson]

Seen as just an EVF camera, not an M, I have to ask myself "Why?" Oh, full compatibility with M lenses (and R lenses) in terms of profiles is good, and there are those situations where a TTL EVF camera is far more useful than an M (long lenses, macro work, marginally ultra-fast lenses, etc). BUT ... They already had/have all this in the SL line and in the (now discontinued) CL ... both of which have the larger diameter L-mount bayonet, and with an adapter work beautifully with M and R lenses, and provide all the lens profiles, etc etc.

And one little detail that is important if the use for macro and long telephotos is what you're after: the larger bayonet mount of the L mount makes it much easier to adapt LONG lenses than the small M-bayonet mount, with less vignetting and attendant problems.

I stand by my earlier statements: I see little to no reason for this camera without the rangefinder. In my opinion, they should have taken the CL and redesigned it to have the FF sensor, and sold it with an M Adapter L in the box. Re-style it to look like an M11, include the M11 battery too: it would have made much more sense because that way they could have a compact platform to use all three of the Leica lens lines (M, R, and L mounts) with better results.

Obviously, that's my opinion, and I'm not running Leica. I hope they have a plan for where this camera will go in the future and provide something distinctive other than just being twice to three times the price of the competing cameras in the market.

G

I doubt these possibilities were passed over by Leica'a development team.
And there will be a market for this camera, although many will not find that it adds to what they already own or need.

Personally, I like the form factor of the M-EV1 design and I don't need the rangefinder mechanism to enjoy my M-lenses. But more on this when my local Leica vendor gets one in to try.

 

[boojum]

This seems to be splitting into a group that just likes the M body form factor and those who are less charmed by the form factor than tech advancement.

Like many things Leica it will be fodder for a lot of talk. Reminding me of the Khayyam quatrain,

"When I was young I did eagerly frequent,
both doctor and saint and heard great argument.
But evermore came out the same door,
where in I went."

 

[JeffS7444]

Panasonic had an ingenious and rangefinder-like solution to EVF magnification in their old DMC-LC1: A magnified, rectangular patch would appear when the focus ring was moved, facilitating exact focus while preserving the overall view. I've often wondered why this hasn't been emulated in other cameras.

 

[Duofold RF]

To me, a Leica with an M-mount and EVF represents a meaningful evolution—not a betrayal—of the Leica M system.
The EVF eliminates parallax errors in framing and focus shift with wide-aperture lenses, while enabling true close-focus capability beyond the rangefinder’s 0.7 m limit.
For purists who resist change, the film M bodies remain untouched—timeless, mechanical, and perfect. But for those who want precision without compromise, the EVF is simply progress, not sacrilege.

 

[AusDLK]

GxAce does it again with a stunning video

oh gawd. suck up much?