FIRST LOOK at the Leica M11 Monochrom 

Update: The M11 has been SOLD! 💐 M11 Monochrom is the day to day camera now. ❤

Go Matt go! Love seeing Leica sharing this with you.

This is the perfect camera for you Matt, and we can’t wait to see what you create with it! 🧡

Always am so happy to see your videos at any Leica release and especially on this one.

I remember a video about a year ago when you first demo'd the new M11 you said you'd be all over the monochrom version if they ever come out with one. Well, you are a man of your word....Congrats on getting your dream camera!

You seem so convinced with the m11 monochrom! From the weight to the sensor and the images as a whole, they put a smile on your face! Get it Matt!

This mono sensors is totally different world, just like getting the pre production model WOW! I have Q2 mono for a year now, use it for BTS on corporate sets as my personal cam and more and more clients ask for those photos. Would be a killer combo with M10 or M11 with 50 or 35. Thank you Matt!

I would love if the next monochrome camera had a built-in infrared filter that you could switch on and off (similar to the ND filter built on the X100V)

Idk bout y’all but film still takes the cake over any of those hyper clinical m11m files!

I use and love Leica. But I’m more interested in the new Pentax K-3 mono than this:).

Just wow, ISO 100k still looks perfectly usable. This is pretty insane.

What a gorgeous and amazing camera. If I had the money, I wouldn’t think twice.

Pentax: Hey we got a new monochrome camera! Leica: And I took that personally

One place to go is fully adjustable viewfinder framelines. Being able to have the optics and the framelines adjust so that 21 or 15mm lenses work well optically without external viewfinder, live view, or evf, or to accommodate the rangefinder system for telephoto lenses, without needing to use liveview/evf. That would be an instant buy for me. It would mean inventing a new optical rangefinder mechanism (maybe stick an mini lens system inside the rangefinder mechanism), but this is where advancement would go to the next level. Miniaturization and technology has advanced to the point where such thing should be possible.

Due to my experiences the best “color” camera for monochrome pictures is the Hassy X2D. I think you can get a better quality file for a Leica price… It was an interesting experience to compare Leica to the Hassy… as never wanted to change from Leica. Now I did.

Great work, Matt. Always appreciate your reviews! Glad they sent you one!

I worked for a company that manufactured industrial machine vision cameras. Monochromatic image sensors are often favored when light sensitivity is a higher priority over color data. I've always found it interesting how there was no shortage of monochrome cameras for industrial / CCTV use, but no handheld digital cameras!

The redundancy is great! I hope they’ll have this in the Q3

This camera looks so clean! It’s such an interesting concept as well!

haven’t seen you this giddy in a long time…good for you Matt. Can’t wait to see what you do with your new camera.

I’d love to see direct comparison to a converted M11 file to the monochrome

What you have to say about the M11 Monochrom being an endgame camera is really interesting. I’m a car enthusiast as well as a photographer. the car market is trending in the same direction in my opinion. The internal combustion engine has been perfected and at this point, car companies are just adding horsepower like camera companies are adding megapixels. Where do we go from here?

Today, I finally bought my first real Leica camera. A few years ago, I bought one of the m mount bessa cameras, sold it, and got a Leica CL. While the CL is great for what I do, the build quality was incredibly lacking, constantly needing rangefinder calibration, and just didn't have my confidence in its structure. Today, I bought an M8, and can't wait to test it out. While this is unrelated to the video, I just had to get it out lol. Super excited.

14:00 "... improve ... resolution..." No, they cannot. They've reached the practical limits of physics already with cramming 60MP onto a 24mm by 36mm surface. Diffraction kicks in at f8 on the M11. The more pixels they squeeze into 24mm by 36mm, the fewer usable apertures remain without reaching a diffraction limit. On the M11, there already is a trade-off between a large depth of field and maximum detail resolution. When shooting f8, f11 or smaller for a larger depth of field, you are sacrificing detail resolution already. Adding more pixels will actually not result in more resolution in any practical sense. Pixels do not equate resolution. In that sense, you are absolutely right that they maxed out the M11. I think we'll see improvements in electronic shutters, readout speeds, global shutter. The endgame not just for the M11 will be to eliminate the need for a mechanical shutter all together. IBIS in an M would also be amazing. There are still lots of improvements they can make in other areas.

Any film camera with a pallet of black & white film and a vacation > Leica's hope and dreams I'm glad Leica is making digital m's more affordable/accessible to everyone though 👍

Matt is a real one ☝️

Hi Matt, maybe they don’t need to add anything more. After all, the difference between an M2 and an MP is the light meter, which is not much change over 40 years. Cheers.

Reallyt like your style of presentation and your passion. Great review Matt

Interesting video Matt. That camera does look insanely powerful. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it in the coming months.

Nicely done. Thank you.

This is the most unnecessary camera (imo) that I have ever wanted. It looks beautiful and so fun to use. Thanks for the great video.

Awesome video dude. Love it! Quality is insane ❤

If I eventually win the lottery the M11 Monochom is my dream purchase. Looking forward to seeing you use one when yours arrives.

Killer video. This is my dream camera. I am starved to shoot solely b&w. thanks so much for sharing! keep killin it!

Shutting down the haters before they even can type lol love it

Love seeing it. Feel like it's the worst kept secret lately though.

Worth every penny

"no matter how you look at it, that's alotta bread" lolol

The fact you find it hard to talk without smiling constantly during this video speaks volumes.

It was controversial when Leica first introduced the Monochrom, but it has, I think, been an ingenious move on their part. Yes, go get it.😊❤

It's the smallest nuances that make the greatest differences. That's my note on photo philosophy. So I totally understand where you're coming from with the intentionality behind shooting BW on a BW camera. I'm the same way with a rear LCD. I'd rather have it eliminated so my mind isn't wandering with the possibility of checking my images. Cheers man, super exciting release!

I feel like the last thing that's missing in M cameras is IBIS

The M11 and M11M are peak M camera. Don't know what else they could do or *should* do. Most things are better left alone and it won't take long before the "need" for innovation doesn't make these M cameras anymore

I just purchased an M3 from KEH about 2 months ago and bought a new Zeiss 50mm for it and love it. I never knew how much easier it was to focus vs an SLR, I am trying to decide whether to buy a digital M next or maybe stick with the M3 and try different lenses.

Thanks for your excellent Video. Best wishes from Portugal. All the best!

Your future video about the Visoflex 2 will also be highly interesting... I've been hesitant about: does it ruin the rangefinder experience or is it a must for older guys and/or tele lenses?

Great job on this video, Matt. It looks like an amazing camera. I really wish that Fujifilm would come out with a monochrome X pro or something along those lines.

beautiful video.. a question in what position do you set the iso and the speeds and aperture of doafragma, for street photos...? Finally... what iso do you feel more like to avoid noise in the photos?

“Where do we go from here?” Matt… You and I both know that if the next version of the Monochrom comes out in an M6 body we’re buying it 🥲

"Report as pornography" lol! Damn that's an awesome camera. Next time my boss asks me how much I want to make, I'll tell him "enough to afford a M11 monochrome". Have fun dude, hope to see more of it soon.

Nice to hear someone who shoots B&W review the camera. Can you speak to the benefit of the monochrome sensor vs the ability to adjust the color channels before converting to B&W on a m11?

Digital photography aside, how much do you use to spend while travelling with only film?

Is it worth paying up so much for the M11M vs M10M? Are the extra pixels really worth so much money? If you are shooting under normal daylight conditions? I guess the light meter is much better? Highlight biased if want it so the risk of blowing the highlights is less? For those that will spend this money, the Q is M11M vs M10Rrather than buying a MC vs non MC Leica.

One day they will be able to add IBIS into these M bodies. Other than this maybe higher resolution screens and EVF add ons. But I suppose with the low noise, the shutter speeds could be high enough now on the Monochrom wouldn’t even need IBIS.

i was hoping we would be seeing you with it!

Honestly, if I had the bread to get one I absolutely would

I think the next advancement that we should see is the RGBW sensor.

Despite those improvements, I think I will still keep my M8.2, Q2M, and M10M unless there is a Reporter or a Stealth edition available.

I smell what you're stepping in, but the body alone is $9k!!! Holy balls 😅 very cool how the sensor allows more light in and renders it better than a color sensor, but I can't justify $9k+ (with lens) for that. But im happy you have one and enjoying it!

Take away the LCD and it would be a digital M that I would actually consider over my M3.

the leica MA11 DAY

if I had the money I would go down the same route, I know they hold value well so it's as much an investment as it an outlandish purchase. In terms of improvement, I agree it's everything you want. Maybe a built in ND or yellow filter

The M11 is a bridge too far financially, but I’m glad both versions exist. Currently using the Q2, which was a real stretch…couldn’t give up color, but set up as a B&W camera w/DNG. As much as I can afford.

I desire this camera

I had a feeling Matt would have a video! Haha

After the end game, your next level minus the low light is a Ricoh GR. Once you get used to it, the raw images it produces will any kill camera.

Does the standard M11 have rear sapphire glass like M11 monochrome?

The m11 is an amazing machine. One of the youtubers i follow has gone thru 4 of em since January.

In 3 years I might buy one used.

IT’S NICEEEEEE

My guess is that we'll soon see the M11P with the same body improvements.

If only they would put a GPS tracker in these expensive cameras it would be great. In my country burglars don't get caught. I take my camera everywhere because it's not safe to keep it at my house. So a Leica is a everyday carry camera! :)

Matt who do you sell you camera through… eBay, Adorama, or privately?

I think there might be two things worth an upgrade. First a global shutter like the new Sony. This way you can get rid of the shutter and flash at all speeds. Secondly a more modern/smarter OVF. What they are doing at this moment is not working great.

It's not improbable that Leica are going to have to completely rethink their whole game. They can't keep selling 1920s style tech to an audience that has immediate access to the highly-acclaimed Pentax K3III Monochrome. That looks like a DSLR and feels like a DSLR and works like a DSLR, and more importantly has a 26mp sensor. Which is far more user-friendly than 60, 36 or 18mp. And, is a bucket of cash cheaper. If Leica would consider addressing those issues, I would consider looking at one.

where did u get that signet ring?

Maybe the next thing they can add is IBIS

Having more options in resolution is great. Having Less options in controls is great. This is why theses justification videos never work, it's always better to say you like a Leica because of the fell and not the technical side.

did they improve the wake up time?

Im starting a go fund me to get this camera! HELP!

So tempting but I do not believe my eyesight is good enough for a rangefinder. Can not wait to see the work you create with the M11 Monochrome Matt.

Help ! All the guys who sold me the film dream are all using digital cameras !

Matt - is your M11 still available?

I love black & white like you do, but the thing that is great about color cameras shooting black & white is that you can manipulate the tones even better using stuff like the B&W mixer in Lightroom. Basically color cameras let you "color" grade black & white better than shooting natively in B&W, allowing you different "film stocks" in a way. That being said the advantages and "purity" of the monochrome cameras are appealing, and you being eternally B&W I understand why you would just wanna put your head down and forget all that color mess. I bet you even set your live view/playback to B&W on the M11 now.

Dear Jesus, please help me not to react out of my flesh and sell everything for the M11 monochrome. Amen

OMG!!

I wish i could afford this 😢😢😢😢😢😢

The next step for Leica is the Leica M12 Sepia.

Leica’s don’t depreciate like other cameras, correct?

The bayer filter array of a classic colour sensor effectively captures a signal that has half the bandwidth (equivalent to a quarter of the pixel count) on every colour channel. You would need a 240MP bayer sensor to rival this 60MP monochrome sensor in terms of sharpness, so there absolutely is a motivation for why you would want a camera like this.

A pity you couldn't have added a little warm tone and increased contrast to those images.

I have one word… bougie. 😜

At first I thought you were doing a video on the new Pentax monochrome, but then I realized it was leicashit.

The only polarizing thing about leica is price/quality...

nice Matt, but 9000 euros?? Not sure anymore.. Do not remember when salaries went crazy as inflation has been these days.

If only I could justify spending $11.000 at my local Norwegian camera store …

adding hybrid viefinder and ibis would make it the endgame camera. far away from it so far i think

I mean it's cool and all but HP5+ pushed to 1600 in a decent contrast developer still wipes the floor with it.

I will never spend that much money for a camera like M11 or Monochrome. I much prefer Hasselblad X2D. 10 times better in every situation

At that price? nope