Leica M EV1 First Review - It's Bad
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Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
I just watched Kai Wong's video on the EV1 and I don't really get it either:
In short: all the benefits of the Leica sensor and sensor stack with all the typical issues of an EVF. Lovely.
I know there are people in here who adore EVF and focus peaking, but Kai's issues with it in that video almost exactly match my experiences with it on all the Fuji bodies I've owned. It's too easily tricked; strong contrasty shapes (like printed type) can be incredibly hard to focus on with an EVF.
It'll be interesting to see if Leica add extra "focusing aids" via firmware upgrade down the line, but yeah, not for me, thanks.
In short: all the benefits of the Leica sensor and sensor stack with all the typical issues of an EVF. Lovely.
I know there are people in here who adore EVF and focus peaking, but Kai's issues with it in that video almost exactly match my experiences with it on all the Fuji bodies I've owned. It's too easily tricked; strong contrasty shapes (like printed type) can be incredibly hard to focus on with an EVF.
It'll be interesting to see if Leica add extra "focusing aids" via firmware upgrade down the line, but yeah, not for me, thanks.
Rogier
Rogier Willems
No more guesswork about the frame!
No more tiny frame lines for longer lenses!
Guess we don't have to wait for the M12...
Now I need to sell a kidney to buy it...
No more tiny frame lines for longer lenses!
Guess we don't have to wait for the M12...
Now I need to sell a kidney to buy it...
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ellisson
Well-known
I’d have to see it in person at a local camera shop and try it out. Quite a departure from the predecessors. That is, except for the price tag.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I see very little purpose to a Leica M with an EVF and no rangefinder.
G
G
oldwino
Well-known
I was hoping for a grown-up version of the X-Pro series...guess that will have to wait. Instead we get a stripped down SL3.
an EVF M without next gen focusing aids…why? Just get a Nikon Z5 and adapt M lenses (even use an AF adapter.) 😎
Kai shooting at f/1 for street isn’t a real-world scenario. Manual focusing accuracy isn’t quick with either an RF or EVF with a lens that fast.
the advantages I see for EVF are:
instant adjustment for the lens field of view for all focal lengths without external vf
focus at any location in the frame, not just the center
closer focus with lenses that support it
visualize focus (or what isn't focused) as compared to everything being in focus
visualize exposure
disadvantages:
peaking not precise enough without magnification except with wide angles and/or stopped down
magnification slower than RF, slow enough to lose both framing and the decisive moment
feel free to add to this list!
Kai shooting at f/1 for street isn’t a real-world scenario. Manual focusing accuracy isn’t quick with either an RF or EVF with a lens that fast.
the advantages I see for EVF are:
instant adjustment for the lens field of view for all focal lengths without external vf
focus at any location in the frame, not just the center
closer focus with lenses that support it
visualize focus (or what isn't focused) as compared to everything being in focus
visualize exposure
disadvantages:
peaking not precise enough without magnification except with wide angles and/or stopped down
magnification slower than RF, slow enough to lose both framing and the decisive moment
feel free to add to this list!
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luuca
Well-known
I don't understand who's the target of this camera.
Rogier
Rogier Willems
A much more balanced review:
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Not that I'm Leica's target market, but this camera does nothing for me. And nothing one of any number of other mirrorless cameras, most $1000's of dollars less expensive, can do.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
aw614
Well-known
So what does the little rangefinder window do on an EVF M?
It reminds me of the Leica MDA models which always looked very weird without a viewfinder
It reminds me of the Leica MDA models which always looked very weird without a viewfinder
agentlossing
Well-known
No more raison d'etre!
IMHO this didn't really add much compared to Kai's review. Good that he stated up-front he's a big fan of Leica. They both state that focus peaking isn't precise. Kai's video being more hands on with his usual street style.
I really don't think that a price difference for cameras at this price level matters very much, price conscious buyers are not going to consider either RF or EVF.
Pioneer
Veteran
Ok. Leica finally bent over to market pressure. They brought out a Fuji with a red dot.
Rogier
Rogier Willems
Then it would have a switchable optical and evf like the X100
agentlossing
Well-known
Well, it's FF, so more like a Sony with a different control scheme.
olakiril
Well-known
This camera makes sense only if you are heavily invested in M mount lenses. Otherwise the Q3 is ~5000 cheaper (EV1 is basically a Q3 without a lens and 3000 more expensive 🤦♀️)
luuca
Well-known
m
For those who heavily invested in M mount lenses there is the M11... why choose a camera that make focusing harder? M system is all about focusing...
For those who heavily invested in M mount lenses there is the M11... why choose a camera that make focusing harder? M system is all about focusing...
olakiril
Well-known
i don’t disagree but i can see for some the EVF can offer WYSIWYG
Darthfeeble
But you can call me Steve
Lessee, I have FF, 61mp, AF and can adapt M lenses with no problem. And all that at $3k roughly, and it's small. Sony A7CR. It's taken me a good month to begin to filter through the menu system and get things so it's more easily operated.
