M11 Black Body (Weight and Finish)

[digitalfx]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

A lot has been said about the Black body weight (or lack of) and the finish of the black paint. After a week of use I wanted to weigh in on both.

Weight- I've seen quite a few comments that the black body feels cheaper. IMO the lower weight is actually perfectly suited for the M body. The difference is immediately noticeable when you pick it up. I find it easier to carry in your hand all day and the balance is now better. Hopefully moving forward we will see this weight reduction carried forward in the next generation of M bodies. And just for comparison...the M11 + 35mm Summilux weighs in at 850 grams, which coincidentally is exactly the same as my first M. The Leica M2 paired with the same 35mm Summilux also weighs 850 grams. Were users complaining in the 60's that the M2 felt cheap?

Black Paint- I read multiple reports before the launch that the Black finish had issues, we even saw it first hand in a video that showed off none of the features of the M11 ... It was easy to scratch, it constantly showed finger prints, that your skin rubbed off on the abrasive finish, etc. Well clearly Leica has made some changes to the finish used on the pre-production models.

I was so concerned about the finish that I nearly cancelled my order and was going to wait on a silver model. But after a week of use I can say it still looks like new. Not a single scratch despite the fact that I have been dropping it in my briefcase every day. Actually the finish shows no marks at all...it still looks perfect. Lets see what happens after a year or two, but I feel like this finish is holding up better than my M10M which starting showing rub marks on the ends of the top plate from my strap almost immediately. And as far as finger prints go, they just dont seem to stick to the finish. 

Im very pleased I stuck with the black model and didnt opt for silver. The reduced weight is very nice and the black paint finish looks great.

What is your experience?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Kwesi]

I have handled the black finish multiple times and I have to agree with you. The camera feels solid, the weight reduction is quite nice and the soft black color makes it even more stealth than a standard MP type black lacquer on brass. The surface has a little tooth to it and makes it easier to hand hold. All said, I can see why Leica is proud of it.

I went with silver chrome only because I got used to it on the M10-P, but I do wish the silver finish had the same tooth as the black version.

[Daedalus2000]

2 hours ago, digitalfx said:

A lot has been said about the Black body weight (or lack of) and the finish of the black paint. After a week of use I wanted to weigh in on both.

Weight- I've seen quite a few comments that the black body feels cheaper. IMO the lower weight is actually perfectly suited for the M body. The difference is immediately noticeable when you pick it up. I find it easier to carry in your hand all day and the balance is now better. Hopefully moving forward we will see this weight reduction carried forward in the next generation of M bodies. And just for comparison...the M11 + 35mm Summilux weighs in at 850 grams, which coincidentally is exactly the same as my first M. The Leica M2 paired with the same 35mm Summilux also weighs 850 grams. Were users complaining in the 60's that the M2 felt cheap?

Black Paint- I read multiple reports before the launch that the Black finish had issues, we even saw it first hand in a video that showed off none of the features of the M11 ... It was easy to scratch, it constantly showed finger prints, that your skin rubbed off on the abrasive finish, etc. Well clearly Leica has made some changes to the finish used on the pre-production models.

I was so concerned about the finish that I nearly cancelled my order and was going to wait on a silver model. But after a week of use I can say it still looks like new. Not a single scratch despite the fact that I have been dropping it in my briefcase every day. Actually the finish shows no marks at all...it still looks perfect. Lets see what happens after a year or two, but I feel like this finish is holding up better than my M10M which starting showing rub marks on the ends of the top plate from my strap almost immediately. And as far as finger prints go, they just dont seem to stick to the finish. 

Im very pleased I stuck with the black model and didnt opt for silver. The reduced weight is very nice and the black paint finish looks great.

What is your experience?

I agree with you. The lower weight makes it so easy to carry the camera with me almost every day.

[shirubadanieru]

I love it, actually prefer it to the black chrome. Weight is perfect too, it does not make it feel cheap at all. The M3~M6 and M9 weight was almost the same as the M11 (560~580g VS 530g), so Leica is taking a step in the right direction and going back to the weight a Leica should have. Since the M240 that the M line was bloated (first it was fat and heavy, then slim but still heavy, now it’s both slim and light). 

Edited January 22, 2022 by shirubadanieru

[dsm21]

I agree with you, I don’t have any problem with the black finish on the M11, and the lighter weight doesn’t make the camera feel cheap or flimsy. I’m glad I went with the lighter body  

 

 

[Tailwagger]

Yet another much ado about nothing issue. Unless I pick up the 10-R at the same time, the camera feels just as dense as any previous M.  I've never been a fan of silver, the black paint is fine and I've yet to have any issue with handholding at 1/f. 

[dkmoore]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I finally got around to opening my M11. It is LIGHT! If someone would have asked me if I wanted a digital M the size of a M7 and the weight of an M7 I would have said hell yea! And, they delivered. 

I think 95% of us would agree if we were being honest.

The only anxiety I have is the rangefinder houses in aluminum. Does aluminum provide any less protection than brass? To put another way, does brass absorb vibration and bumps any mores than aluminum? Does aluminum react differently to hot and cold versus brass? I always have RFAA (range finder alignment anxiety)

[shirubadanieru]

11 minutes ago, dkmoore said:

I finally got around to opening my M11. It is LIGHT! If someone would have asked me if I wanted a digital M the size of a M7 and the weight of an M7 I would have said hell yea! And, they delivered. 

I think 95% of us would agree if we were being honest.

The only anxiety I have is the rangefinder houses in aluminum. Does aluminum provide any less protection than brass? To put another way, does brass absorb vibration and bumps any mores than aluminum? Does aluminum react differently to hot and cold versus brass? I always have RFAA (range finder alignment anxiety)

M6 is made of aluminum and it’s probably the most used leica film camera today; still running strong. 
 

Leica Q and SL are made of aluminum and they seem ok; the difference in material does not seem to be detrimental; of course if you love brassing that’s the only thing that you wont get from this body. 

Edited January 22, 2022 by shirubadanieru

[dkmoore]

1 minute ago, shirubadanieru said:

M6 is made of aluminum and it’s probably the most used leica film camera today; still running strong. 
 

Leica Q and SL are made of aluminum and they seem ok; the difference in material does not seem to be detrimental; of course if you love brassing that’s the only thing that you wont get from this body. 

Hello,

I'm not worried about the aluminum body itself. I'm interested if aluminum will affect rangefinder alignment in some way as for protection from bumps and vibration.

I thought about the M6 when I posted. But, film is way different in my experience.  A slight rangefinder misalignment with film bodies is likely not discernible. 

[shirubadanieru]

5 minutes ago, dkmoore said:

Hello,

I'm not worried about the aluminum body itself. I'm interested if aluminum will affect rangefinder alignment in some way as for protection from bumps and vibration.

I thought about the M6 when I posted. But, film is way different in my experience.  A slight rangefinder misalignment with film bodies is likely not discernible. 

The M6 is ok after 30y with a much less polished rangefinder than the M11 I’m assuming, so it should be ok.i don’t think anyone besides a Leica engineer would have enough information to answer that question though. 

[dkmoore]

2 hours ago, shirubadanieru said:

The M6 is ok after 30y with a much less polished rangefinder than the M11 I’m assuming, so it should be ok.i don’t think anyone besides a Leica engineer would have enough information to answer that question though. 

Agreed. I sent a note to Leica and will reply back if I get a response.

[M9reno]

Lower weight does seem to be a significant improvement in the black M11.

But it is well to bear in mind that a body is only part of the equation with a Leica M:  what lens are you using?  A black aluminium M11 sporting a (similar finish) limited edition black brass APO 50, is *probably* (though I underline that this is a guess) going to weigh the same as silver brass M11 sporting a standard aluminium APO 50.  And the APO 50 is by no means an isolated case: there are many other modern Leica lenses in brass and aluminium versions and significant different weights to which the same body weight + lens weight consideration applies.

[Rob L]

Well as far as digital M cameras, I've had an M240P, MD, M10 etc and I've always found that 100grams makes a big difference. When I use a brass bodied M camera naked with a 35 or 5o Summilux, I always feel like I'm going to drop the camera. Switching to a Summicron or better yet a Summaron or Elmarit solves the problem. I started using 1/2 cases and a thumb grip for that extra bit of security. Now I may go back to the naked camera because it is so light and so small!

Also I really like the new black paint, at a glance, it is very close to my black chrome M10M. The black chrome wears easily and looks really bad after a while, another reason for the 1/2 case and thumb grip. So the new Black on aluminum solves two issues for me!

[M Journey]

I probably would have enjoyed saving 100g on the silver body.  I'm not sure how it would look in sliver aluminum though.  I like the way the brass looks and feels.  If someone aluminum looks and feels the same bur is lighter I would be all for it. 

I just weighed my kit (body, lens, battery, memory card, evf, strap, pouch) and it is 1310.2 grams.  The camera, lens, battery, and card is about 1000 grams.  I've heard a lot of people say that the heft of the camera helps to keep it steady in the hands when taking photos.  Maybe there is some truth in that but I can't say for sure.  It's still lighter than my Nikon z kit with a prime 1.8 lens attached and way easier to everyday carry.

I think that a heavier body pairs better with heavier lenses but don't ever see myself using a Noct. 

[setuporg]

2 hours ago, M Journey said:

I think that a heavier body pairs better with heavier lenses but don't ever see myself using a Noct. 

But then...  how are you going to bash the Orcs if they suddenly attack you?!:)

Also admitting you're not aspiring to use a Noct is an ethics violation here.

[M Journey]

34 minutes ago, setuporg said:

But then...  how are you going to bash the Orcs if they suddenly attack you?!:)

Also admitting you're not aspiring to use a Noct is an ethics violation here.

 

If someone wants to give me 14k to buy a Noct I'll be happy to use it...

From what I recall on the photos I've seen using a Noct, their bokeh has a swirly effect.  I'm not a fan of that  If i could get the Noct razor thin depth of field with the apo bokeh effect, I'd be all for that.  But the issue of affording one still remains....

If they made a M 50mm noct apo lens...

[Herr Barnack]

Quote

But then...  how are you going to bash the Orcs if they suddenly attack you?!:)

Bear spray.  Problem solved.  😎

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPYYBYC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?SubscriptionId=AKIAJO7E5OLQ67NVPFZA&ascsubtag=327943388-2-1771929711.1644507322&tag=shopperz_origin1-20&th=1

Just kidding.

More or less.

Edited February 10, 2022 by Herr Barnack

[Jewl]

Does anyone know whether the black version dips over with a 35mm Summilux ASPH. mounted while standing on a table (Including lens hood)? I really like that my m10p does not 😉 

Edited February 14, 2022 by Jewl

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Photoworks]

On 2/14/2022 at 11:56 AM, Jewl said:

Does anyone know whether the black version dips over with a 35mm Summilux ASPH. mounted while standing on a table (Including lens hood)? I really like that my m10p does not 😉 

it does .

if you add a grip to the m11 everything is back to normal.

[IMAGEPOWER]

You can always position the focus tab of the 35mm Summilux FLE (I presume you are talking about this version) as a rack. Focus position around 1.5 m works best...This works with other lenses as well. Saves buying a hand grip just in order to prevent a camera from "dipping"

FYI I just checked the silver version, it does not dip over with the 35 Summilux ASPH, no matter which position the focus tab is. Actually pretty stable on the table...;-)