I have the M10R for 2 years now. I went to LA Leica store to check out the M11. It was new and shiny. And I realized Leica is like a leather jacket. More you wear it more it becomes your shape and unless my M10R stops working no real reason to change. I never had this view on any other brand. for me none of them have the “soul” of the Leica. And I agree. More choices in camera is not a good thing. Simple is what makes Leica special too.
This is my favorite Thorsten video by far! Free and loose and creative and fun! Thank you. ‘Forget about the megapixels - nobody cares. Always where your camera. ..and bring along a notebook and fountain pen and make pictures - make something that will smell and burn…..’
That is why I print all my favorite photos. And besides you never know when electronics & software will invite General Murphy-law over for??? Although I must hide them when my sister comes to visit if I still want them in my possession! Pretty good vid but if it doesn’t matter what Leica you take the photo with, why buy the M11? Because you can.
I appreciate the no nonsense approach to this review. Too many reviews focus on hype. No hype here. Going back to the photos we archive is a great practice for grounding and reconnecting to what drives our photography.
I had the opportunity of using an M11 yesterday in Sydney. I must say it was a lot heavier than expected. My daily camera is an X-Pro 3 and the weight difference was very obvious. I was able to bring along my SD card to record some photos and the results were lovely. The camera is solid, very well built and looks superb. I would seriously consider the M11 as a personal camera. I do appreciate the cost of the camera and quality of build but for the moment it will be on my maybe list. Honestly, I could have paid for it then and there no issues but the cost vs gain just didn't suit my taste......yet. Thanks Thorsten for the review, most appreciated.
Another great video from Thorsten, thank you. As usual, the Thorsten style video isn’t like others “reviewer”, some may feel confusing about Thorsten opinions. For those who are confusing, read the comments in this video. But hey, he can’t help you to decide what camera you should buy, but he shared his opinions from the perspectives of Leica photographer for more than 20 years, photography is about photographs not about camera and megapixels. One could make bad photo with the most advance and most expensive gear, one could make amazing photo even with camera that release 20 years ago. Back to the basic.
I've watched many of your videos and have learned from and enjoyed every one .....this is my new favorite....just had to thank you and tell you how much I admire your work, your teaching and the inspiration you give .......many thanks
Good said. It's not about mega pixels. I own an 8.2 Safari set, an M9-P with replaced Sensor and an M240. ... and I use the M9-P the most, then the M8.2 and then the M240 ....
Wow - great video. Yes, I am guilty of this. I'm so focused on my latest images with my newer cameras, that I forget to check my archives. I have loads and loads of good stuff, 'stashed' away on old memory disks. If ever I go and look at them I'm usually blown away by what I see. Thanks - I will. definitely do this now.
I went to a Leica store yesterday to see what the M11 really looks like compared to my M262. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed. Weight is roughly the same. M262's Handling is better for me. The ergonomics is not a complete break. At the end, I fully acknowledge that the M11 is a great step in many ways, but I went out of the store in the certainty that my M262 is still the perfect camera for me.
Great talk Sir, I agree ‘forget the technical stuff’ use your Leica as just another camera. I own a M10R but feel will skip M11. May be M12 if that becomes a classic
Another frank and honest assessment by Thorsten which I appreciate as you know it is not a hard sell. I have owned a number of Leicas and they all have given me some joy because they have their own personality. Personally I prefer film but I do large format for film now and use the Leica for digital. I had a ME with corrosion on the sensor that was getting worse and worse and Leica kindly offered me a decent trade in value if I upgraded to the M11 which is still not cheap but it will be my last digital for many years. I fully agree about simplicity being a likeable trait and that is why your advice to just use the basics on the M11 is good advice, so I will use it like it was just one of my old Leica cameras.
Thanks for the this video. You reminded me to Always Wear A Camera. This was my moto since 1986 and somehow got lost. Also the printed image ideal. You’re right, mega pixels count for shit, emotion is all you need in an image.
Like you, I revisit my archives. Many discoveries. I resume with Lightroom my photos of the years 2004, 2006 and 2011 taken in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. I'm also wondering what I'm going to do with it after this new post-production. Lightroom has come a long way in simplicity with these masks, and it's easy with plug-ins to remove digital noise from turn-of-the-century sensors. Fantastic exercise.
Yes, "Everything has to go somewhere" is the new thing. What to do with the photos now and in the future. But first and is always to take them and finalize them and have them ready in the archive. Then next, new possibilities will always arise as ways to publish and use them.
Great vid as always, love your obtuse scandi humour sir!, small point of interest when using a wide Lens on the M11 (at 43:44 in the vid) worth remembering you can put on perspective control on the screen to make sure the lines come out as straight as possible. I have this function saved on the middle back FN button for use when shooting buildings etc with the 28mm ttartisans F5.6 lens (that’s such a good one). Cheers Ken
Yes, the perspective control can be helpful if you use it enough to know how it works for you. But anything it does can also be done fairly quick in post processing in Capture One or Lightroom.
I have the M10R Black Paint edition (got brand new. I’m the 1st owner). When it dies I’ll send it back and have it fixed. I will never change it for anything. Hugh megapixels, but still smooth and magic like the older M’s. the black paint on brass feels amazing. Got it paired with the 50 APO-Lanthar at the moment. I really recommend trying it. M11: I don’t like they put the function button next to the shutter. Because as with the EVF, you have to take the finger off the shutter and then put the finger back, whereas on the M10 you never take your finger off because it’s on the front, so you can use your middle finger. And your middle finger falls there naturally anyway. It’s just makes sense on a camera that has so few buttons to put the one button where your fingers are instead of making me reach for it.
@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard I definitely recommend. It does vignette at f2 (typical Voigtlander), but the LR profile or the in camera 50f2 Summicron profile takes care of it. Other than that, it’s flawless but without being too stale and clinical. And the black and white look beautiful.
No, it's not about megapixels. 20 yrs ago I got a picture published in a book taken with only 640x480px. Mine was a small one, but I remember the magazine American Photo showing a picture taken by Joel Meyerowitz (640×480) over half a page. It was bad, but that's another story.
I was watching a review of the Leica M-A recently, and one person commented that they had had "quality control" issues with two new M-A's that they had recently purchased. Have you heard of such a thing: quality control issues with a new Leica camera? I, someone in the market for a new M11, would like to think that ALL Leica cameras and lenses are held to the same high standard.
I saw someone haveing an issue with M-A, and it can happen. It is not normal, and I think that you expect that a film camera is just perfect. Truth is that the production becomes more and more uniform on newer models, so M11 is closer to being made like a MacBook Pro where all parts and all assembly is as uniform and automatic as possible. Going back in model types, the assembly is more manual and each part is adjusted. Very old models like M3, each camera was individually adjusted before delivery, M6 was less individual adjustment, and modern cameras like SL are like a MacBook: Either it works or it doesn't, and if it works, all is as it should be an it keeps working. If not, it's likely replaced. The M-A is probably one that required that the one assembling and packing it is awake and remembers all.
Over my morning coffee I watched your video today and a few times I smiled … you do have have knack to make things simple and watching your videos and reading your books gives inspiration… good job Thorsten … bye way you mentioned people and others named Oscar … I had to laugh knowing when my Father was working as a cameraman for Granada TV in Manchester for some 35 years from 1956 he was known as Oscar … he even got some signed memorabilia from some celebrities back then to Oscar … just saying … 😀 have a great weekend … GBJ
The older viewfinder isn’t an EVF2, it’s a Visoflex (Typ 020). The EVF2 was for the Leica M (Typ 240) (a 1.4MP viewfinder). I’m still lusting after your M10R Black Paint, Torsten, and regretting not buying one when I had a chance.
You are right. I got confused, not sure why they called all three EVF's for 2 (EVF2, Visoflex 020 and Visoflex 2). The black paint is still available if you want one 🙂
To me this add on viewfinders on Leica M cameras looks comical, as I like M mount lenses, I would like an M body with EVF and IBIS (get rid of that rangefinder). But and a big one keep making rangefinder M for those that prefer that sort of stuff.
I own an SL but shoot M glass. I may buy a M camera. What attracts me to M11 is battery, small size, in camera charging, better EVF. I like wide angle shots so I think the EVF will be used by me with bigger lenses. I may put R telephoto on it too. I guess the extra megapixels is nice but not necessary, although future proofing your images is smart, the bigger files maybe a good investment. I think the EVF issues will be solved with software updates.
It make sense, and yes the battery, charging on the go and speed of the M11 all make it a good camera. The EVF "issues" are the same as when you put on an EVF on the M240 or M10, just the delay of glitches between modes (on/off, zoom, after picture) are less on the M11. Many of those are mechanical things you can't get rid of. The M11 is fundamentally made to be a Leica M with built-in viewfinder, and then this model is the one with traditional rangefinder and external EVF. We'll see then the M11-E comes about, might be quite a handy camera in that is till be much like the SL and Q2 in that regard.
Hmm, maybe. I don;' do anything special. I have a closet for them, and then in bags. No further protection, they get to be in free air and move around.
This was such a great video! I truly enjoyed the relaxed, informative style. You were at your BEST! I am a lowly NEW Leica CL owner, it's what I could afford. I had a Leicaflex in the early 70s when I was in college, but wanted to start again with LEICA. I know you don't think much of the CL, but I am retired.....must make choices. I did buy an M-L adapter, and am using M lenses until I can afford to purchase an M-11. But I wanted to start photography again, waiting for another year or two didn't make any sense. Hence, a two step approach to my goal. I did buy most of your courses over the last 3 months and enjoy them immensely. Very informative and helpful, thank you.
The new Visoflex on the M11 provides Image Stabilization is it the same case if used in the M10R? I use my Visoflex (type 020) mostly for Macro photography on my M10R. Great info in your videos.
"On great days I forget this is the M11" - Maybe you answered a lot in this statement Thorsten 😅 I don't have the M11, but looking on others work with it, I would say - it's just a camera. The sensor and colors look much like a Sony. The lenses are of course different, and so the handling. But hey - the main target is the image. So use the camera you have. If the image is fantastic, who would care about the camera that took it anyway.... In all I feel that Leica maybe lost a little of the "Leica look" with this sensor. But it is a good sensor for sure. All sensors are these days. edit: Great points in this video btw Thorsten!
I wasted about an hour of my precious time watching the video and in the end I didn't Come out with one useful result! The short is good, my dear brother.
Dear Thorsten, I see on your table Collapsible on M9. I have a question. On my M10R and on my friend's M10-P, when we set the Leica Summicron 50/2 Collapsible sometimes the focus is lost immediately and sometimes during the shooting. Have you ever had a similar problem on your M11 or M10R and Summicron 50/2 Collapsible? I have this problem only with Collapsible and want to understand this is problem only with my lens (looks like new) or with all Collapsible lens and range of m10 cameras
When you extend the lens, you turn it so it locks. But then sometimes it gets loose (when you use the aperture) and then the lens of course can move. So it's something to keep an eye on.
@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard Thanks for your answer. It's strange because I'm always at aperture f2 and don't change it. I always set it extended and well fixed. It feels like the camera stops recognizing it and the focus goes backwards. And as said the same problem on the M10-P. Both cameras are new. Selecting the lens in the menu does not help. And as said it can be in the process of shooting, the only thing I use is the focus ring, but there is no backlash. it can be that the distance is set, I take a few shots and on the last shot the focus starts to go away and never comes back.
I don't think they're steering. The GPS would have to be in camera or EVF, and having it via the app makes it available for all, all the time, rather than only when using the EVF.
Yes, battery life is not an issue anymore, and anywhere there's a fellow with a USB-C charger, you can recharge. I got an extra battery, but actually haven't had the need for it so far. I'm always charged enough, and it's easy to recharge the battery via USB-C.
May I offer a different view? I look at the flexibility of the M11 as a way of bespoking the camera to your preferred configuration. I set the camera up for my preferred settings and leave it, although I have made minor refinements along the way.
❤thank thank thank you for reminding your audience what a camera is for… ‘making photographs’. Technology and changing controls has almost always been about commerce and engineers. Making a photograph has always been in the realm of expression and passion😅.
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I really admire leica rangefinder ms - they are surely photo marvels of the past. But honestly speaking - what can leica m11 do that other main stream cameras can't. Obviously there is one thing in other way - m 11 can't auto focus while all other cameras can😊
That is can manual focus with such precision is what makes it unique. And drop a Leica on the floor and pick it up and keep shooting. Drop a Nikon or Hasselblad and buy a new one. Things like that is what make it unique in our day and age.
As a person with glasses, I was wondering how do you deal with the limitations of using the M viewfinder while wearing glasses (I am not really interested in using a diopter adapter)? I recently had the opportunity to try out the Leica M11 (my first time using any M camera) at the Leica store in Soho, NY since I have been saving up for my dream system. I was really disappointed because I faced a lot of limitations because of my glasses. I had always thought that I would have trouble with the tele focal length framelines, but it turns out that I was having more problems with the wider framelines - I really couldn't see the 28mm framelines since my glasses prevented my eyes from being absolutely up close to the viewfinder. I tried 35mm framelines (though my preference has always been 28mm on the wider side). It was better, but still not perfect - the framelines were at the absolute edge of the viewfinder. I tried the Visoflex 2 too (which I thought I would eventually need anyway for tele lenses) and things were better because I could see the whole frame now, both for tele and wide focal lengths. But it defeats the purpose of a rangefinder system. Also, at least to me, the Visoflex still felt like it had some lag to it. I don't know if EVFs are any better with other camera systems, like say the Sony A7 cameras. The whole experience put me down a bit and left me wanting for more. The M has always been my dream camera for everything it represents and offers. Using the rangefinder system is fun and deliberate. And holding the M11 feels great and oozes of quality - and I would personally still want a grip extension for it (which is crazy expensive as well). I was wondering how you deal with its limitations (both the framelines and other issues) and if you have found any solutions for it since I assume you wear your glasses while using an M as well.
#1 thing people like you ( ie mature intelligent photographers) do for the photographic community is motivation and the last part of your video ( to me) was the most interesting - what to do with 30 years of photographs...totally agree with you that the M11 is just another camera - I bought one only because of teh 60 megapixels- it means I can get rid of some other bodies which I bought for high megapixels and hate using because they arent nice in the hand - looking forward to your considered thoughts on how best to set up the not quite yet optimised M11. atb Pete
EVFs are horrible! When others are prepared to admit it, I reckon my Canon DSLR will be worth as much as I paid for it new. It would be better without a mode dial, but then digital Ms would be better if they weren't shaped as though they have film canisters inside. Still DSLR and range finder cameras are the same where it matters: optical view finders!
To be honest I never understood why someone like you a very stylish type of guy would lived in Hollywood in the first place. I always thought of you as a Euro type of guy. Well you are Danish I know that, what I mean is you are more suited to Europe than the US.
Did that a few times, and it happens now and then again and again. I think the M10-P is the "new M9" in that sense. It has the simplicity, the ISO deal and the speed of operation. The M9 has the the shutter sound and the feel of nostalgia, as well as the CCD look. But I will say, to get work done, while also enjoying the tool, the M10-P is probably the sweet spot (and M10-R Black paint too).
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Personally I don't think Leica will (even if they can) make the old (round) EVF work on the new M11 cameras cause then they will cannibalise part of their own market of the newer. Most people own a prior Leica and used to use the EFV are now forced to buy a new one.
