Leica M EV1 First Review - It's Bad

[Axel]

EVF is dirt cheap compared RF.

Yes and they are around 20 years too late with this "innovation".
Don't misunderstand me - I like Leicas a lot but this (for 8k EUR?) looks like a joke to me.

 

[olakiril]

Yes and they are around 20 years too late with this "innovation".
Don't misunderstand me - I like Leicas a lot but this (for 8k EUR?) looks like a joke to me.

I agree they misjudged the price by a lot. But looking at the bright side, it gives plenty of space for a Pixii EVF version. If what many are arguing about the cost of the rangefinder mechanism is true, Pixii can offer an EV1 easily at sub 4K.

P.S. Pixii is coming up with another rangefinder model soon.

 

[joe bosak]

A Pixi EVF version? With or without being able to view images?

 

[Freakscene]

And it's priced higher than a standard M11...

Everywhere that I have seen so far the M11 EV1 is cheaper than new stock M11 series cameras (currently only the M11-P is 'new' - any plain M11 cameras are new old stock). It is $AU1200 cheaper than a new-old M11 and $AU1900 less than an M11-P in Australia. The M11 cameras that are cheaper in the US are new-old stock from before the change in import costs.

 

[olakiril]

A Pixi EVF version? With or without being able to view images?

I have no idea if Pixii would ever release such a camera and whether they would allow playback through the EVF. From their teaser, the upcoming camera is most likely a rangefinder version.

 

[kiwidad]

Then it would have a switchable optical and evf like the X100

The x100 does not have an optical rangefider it is a digital patch superimposed on the optical view just like the xpro cameras

 

[kiwidad]

Not innovative - in fact solving a problem that doesn't exist. M cameras have live view and a Visoflex option.

If they were trying to innovate the world's most hamstrung mirrorless camera (no autofocus and poor manual focus aids? C'mon...), maybe they succeeded.

Absolutely correct!
The big question no one is answering (that I can find anyway) is EVF lag. When I had a q2 it wasn’t horrible. The visoflex 2 is atrocious at best for lag. With my m11 I get to choose between critical focus with the viso or better framing or even getting something in frame if it moving quickly! I don’t quite understand the focus peaking comments about inaccuracy, I guess it depends on what your shooting and how well lit the scene is.

 

[cboy]

Everywhere that I have seen so far the M11 EV1 is cheaper than new stock M11 series cameras (currently only the M11-P is 'new' - any plain M11 cameras are new old stock). It is $AU1200 cheaper than a new-old M11 and $AU1900 less than an M11-P in Australia. The M11 cameras that are cheaper in the US are new-old stock from before the change in import costs.

You're right but to fork out 14kAUD just to use M lenses wide open is too much for an asking price for what is a essentially a manual focusing only mirrorless camera. They didn't even bother to adapt a new digital focusing system like what Fuji did is what irks me the most. They just removed one and slapped on something else. No innovation like a hybrid viewfinder.
Better to adapt m lenses to an other camera imo Anyway I can't tell anyone what to do with their cash but it doesn't past the pub test for me...

Also cosmetically it like its missing an eye. I also feel like they could of gone smaller. At least try to make it more appealing and easier to swallow. Just an evf ain't gonna cut it imo

 

[Duofold RF]

What about those of us who used EVF cameras for a decade or so, and then moved back to the M because we found that the rangefinder is much easier to use in bright sun outdoors? My eye don't accommodate radical brightness changes very quickly nowadays, and when I put an EVF camera to my eye when I've been out walking in the sun, it takes three to five seconds for it to adjust to the, relatively, dim viewfinder. This became so annoying that I went back to the optical rangefinder as I can use that in any light without any difficulties, and if I want/need an EVF for whatever reason, I just clip it onto the accessory shoe and use it with the M10-M/-R. Why make a camera that eliminates the primary design center that the M in Leica M stands for, when the alternatives are already there in place??

It's not sacrilege, it's simply a reduction of features for no reason whatever.

G

I think you’ve answered your own question: you can have the M10-11, then add the EVF, while others can simply enjoy the EVF M without additional hassles. There will always be questions when new technology hits the market. Leica not only offers digital M cameras, but also film and EVF M models. These are good things for users, even though the market for Leica M is very small.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

And the absurd thing it's they still call it a M. 😳

It is camera with native M lens mount. Buyer saves 450 Euro for L to M adapter if Leica label on it is needed.

 

[AusDLK]

And that's exactly why his 'review' is so funny, he absolutely struggled to say anything nice about the camera despite that being his job.

Over on the leica camera forum they're tearing each other to pieces, it's genuinely funny if predictable to watch, half are saying "well that might be ok" the other half are like a Monty Python sketch where they scream "you bastard!" every few seconds as though something sacred has been slaughtered.

it is predictable. i've had my own spats with the fanboys. i pretty much trashed the M8 back in the day and stirred up a hornet's nest. but i was vindicated (at least in my mind) when Leica rushed out the M8.2.

 

[AusDLK]

It is camera with native M lens mount. Buyer saves 450 Euro for L to M adapter if Leica label on it is needed.

it would have been less offensive to have named it the "QM." i actually really like the ring of that. "M EV1" is ridiculous.

 

[Coldkennels]

"M EV1" is ridiculous.

... at least it's not the Typ EV1.

 

[Freakscene]

You're right but to fork out 14kAUD just to use M lenses wide open is too much for an asking price for what is a essentially a manual focusing only mirrorless camera. They didn't even bother to adapt a new digital focusing system like what Fuji did is what irks me the most. They just removed one and slapped on something else. No innovation like a hybrid viewfinder.
Better to adapt m lenses to an other camera imo Anyway I can't tell anyone what to do with their cash but it doesn't past the pub test for me...

Also cosmetically it like its missing an eye. I also feel like they could of gone smaller. At least try to make it more appealing and easier to swallow. Just an evf ain't gonna cut it imo

I find the strength of feeling this has engendered amusing. Manual eye focus like the Nikon Zf and Z8 have would be great, and once zoomed the magnified section in the EVF can’t be moved, but in general this is what I wanted. None of the adapted cameras I have tried work to the edges as well as cameras with optimised angled microlenses. Even adapted M lenses on SL cameras are not as good as on M lenses. So to use M lenses optically I want an M camera.

And as for cost, it’s a Leica, of course it’s going to cost a lot. It’s against all normal evidence to think anything else. “It’s too expensive” is what gets said every time theyproduce a new camera. They cost a lot. They will always cost a lot.

Yeah please do! Usually the EVF would mirror what's happening on the screen so it would be a bummer if it doesn't work that way in the EVF.

I handled an M11 EV1 tonight. Once zoomed, the EVF magnified area can’t be moved. You can exit the magnification, move the zoom point on the screen on the back, and re-zoom. The M10 and M11 series cameras with the Visoflex don’t work like this.

 

[splitimageview]

An exorbitant price was expected. Are shooters going to be happy with the focus aids as they are? That is the question.

@Freakscene what is your impression of the magnification feature as implemented, in actual use?

 

[Freakscene]

An exorbitant price was expected. Are shooters going to be happy with the focus aids as they are? That is the question.

@Freakscene what is your impression of the magnification feature as implemented, in actual use?

Playing with the camera in a showroom isn’t real use. I’d want 2-3,000 frames before I could say for sure. My guess, overall, is that I would prefer it to Ms with a rangefinder. Its principal components are still from the M11. From my experience I would be suspicious of its reliability, but maybe my experience was with a lemon. I could buy a Fuji GFX 100S II and two lenses for less money, which I need to think about.

 

[bcostin]

Is where analog of Leica sensor to work with rangefinder lenses from 35 and wider ?
No, where are non.
Is where people who can't focus with rangefinder?
I personally could count four.

It really is a legitimate concern. If you wear glasses, there are challenges when using an RF. I learned and adapted, like most other Leica users here. When I needed progressive trifocals to see clearly, I adapted again. But adapting to the camera's one single way of doing things isn't how every photographer is willing to operate. Leica has just decided they'd rather have those people as customers than send them over to the competition. Which is good, because Leica needs customers to stay in business.

I expect that there will be firmware updates to add other EVF focus aids, making that whole discussion moot in a few months.

 

[splitimageview]

None of the YouTube vids I’ve watched mentioned the magnification operation in detail so @Freakscene your first impression is helpful.

 

[Ccoppola82]

My Nikon ZF has the best manual focus aids I’ve ever used on a camera. Even with M lenses, the eye detect works perfectly. When tapping front button it zooms directly to that eye. No focus/recompose etc. I’ll take a ZF with the voigtlander close focus adapter ANY DAY over this M EVF. I can’t comprehend how they would make a manual focus EVF M for 9k and not absolutely revolutionize manual focus aids before releasing it.

 

[panatomic]

pixii could make a better evf-m than leica, and it would also probably have a better looking design.