M11 experiences so far

[tap360]

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I have an M9-P, MP and SL but don’t like the EVF, so going to upgrade and focus on rangefinder.

I was thinking a used M10-P, but have the opportunity of a new M11 in black!

I have 28mm f/2, 35mm f/2 and 50mm f/1.5 Voigtlander lenses. 
 

I love all the new M11 features, but how are people finding performance?  Any concerns/issues?

I normally go for silver M’s, but have only been offered a black one. How is the new finish (or does anyone want a swap for silver??)

 

 

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[hdmesa]

To me the silver feels top-heavy – not sure if that's due to less/no brass on the bottom and/or other weight reductions at the bottom of the camera. I was constantly wiping fingerprints off the silver. But I still liked it  Ended up with black due to an exchange and black was the next available. I enjoy the balance and lighter weight of the black more than I thought I would. The new finish is great, sort of soft and grippy at the same time, but not as soft-feeling as black chrome.

I really like the black M11 so far:

• Battery life is very good
• Weight/balance is ideal
• IQ is tops
• I can shoot wide open in bright light, and
• When using the rangefinder, the metering no longer has a multiple-personality disorder. 

My Voigtlander lenses work well on the M11 👍

[lct]

4 hours ago, tap360 said:

Any concerns/issues?

Too bad Leica doesn't make a black anodized M11. I don't like black paint cameras and the silver M11 is 20g lighter than my silver M240 so i went for silver again. Only serious issue of the M11 is the lack of IBIS to me, mainly at 1/f and slower shutter speeds. The camera works but it is prone to motion blur at those speeds so better have rock solid hands if you don't like tripods. Now the M11 works fine at 1/2f or 1/3f in most cases and the shutter is so quiet that i tend to forget the e-shutter. 36mp and 18mp low resolution modes are just that, low resolution modes. I hoped they reduce motion blur at slow shutter speeds but they don't for some reason. Batteries don't last as long as my M240's but could be worse. I don't miss the old bottom plate that i never liked but having to remove the battery each time i need the SD card can be a pita. The internal 64GB storage is a good idea but doesn't help in this case, unless you plan to do without a memory card. Otherwise the camera has many qualities that you already know if you follow this forum. Happy snaps .

[augustwest100]

I ended up with a silver M11 even though I generally prefer the black bodies. This one is growing on me! I did hold a black one in the store and felt the lighter weight, but in practice it doesn’t bother me at all. 
 

So far I’ve been testing it against the M10M (you can find some of my non-scientific tests) and while the M10M wins at low light noise, the M11 is not too bad!

[dsm21]

I was able to compare my M10-R to the M11 side by side and a few things sold me on the M11.

-The coloring of images stood out when comparing side by side, and I preferred the M11's color.  Might be minor to some, but seeing them together I preferred the M11's look and the colors took better to my edits

-ISO 64 + Electronic shutter meant I could leave the ND filters behind, and the electronic shutter is great for times with you want complete silence

-Lighter weight of the black was very welcome,  but I love the look and feel of the silver. I don't think the black finish is an issue at all, and I like the texture of it.

 

[THEME]

Being able to crop offers a whole new world of photography to me. Was used to 16MP so far and thought that's all I ever need. Wrong.

Not sure, however, if I'd have three cameras already. I prefer to work with one camera and grow with it. In your place I'd sell the lot and go for the M11, whose black version is very nice.

Don't ask too many questions. I wanted to ask a zillion ones before deciding. What made me decide? Going to the dealer and holding the black one. For it was irresistible. Plus love the clean design.

But more importantly: If you feel you could be limited by pixel count, which I thought would not be possible, then an upgrade could pay off very well.

If you @tap360 are even offered an M11, go for it and monetize your other gear.

Concerns? The firmware is still quite buggy, but that will be solved over time.

Also have to say, got a lemon first with a fault in the in-viewfinder metering display. Plus I might have other Leica quality control concerns. The strap that comes with it is of such cheap quality, it started splitting at the ends after a few weeks of usage. But of course you'll already have your own strap. Guess that's just how it works in the Leica-verse.

[tap360]

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3 hours ago, THEME said:

Being able to crop offers a whole new world of photography to me. Was used to 16MP so far and thought that's all I ever need. Wrong.

Not sure, however, if I'd have three cameras already. I prefer to work with one camera and grow with it. In your place I'd sell the lot and go for the M11, whose black version is very nice.

Don't ask too many questions. I wanted to ask a zillion ones before deciding. What made me decide? Going to the dealer and holding the black one. For it was irresistible. Plus love the clean design.

But more importantly: If you feel you could be limited by pixel count, which I thought would not be possible, then an upgrade could pay off very well.

If you @tap360 are even offered an M11, go for it and monetize your other gear.

Concerns? The firmware is still quite buggy, but that will be solved over time.

Also have to say, got a lemon first with a fault in the in-viewfinder metering display. Plus I might have other Leica quality control concerns. The strap that comes with it is of such cheap quality, it started splitting at the ends after a few weeks of usage. But of course you'll already have your own strap. Guess that's just how it works in the Leica-verse.

Thanks, yes I plan to sell all 3 cameras to find the M11, which will be a bit of wrench for MP and M9-P. Hence wanted to understand if M11 worth it

 

[M11 for me]

The title of this thread invites us to speak about bugs that we encounter with our new camera.

I have the latest firmware installed from the moment it was announced a few weeks ago. I have individualised my settings and stored them in a profile as I always do. This includes all the menu fafourites plus other settings.

Now when I started my camera yesterday it behaved the same way as after the installation of new firmware with the animated graphics followed with a promt to enter the language . . . I turned my camera off, took out the battery. No chance. I had to start from zero and my profile was gone 🤨

Edited June 7, 2022 by M11 for me

[M11 for me]

The M11 gives us the option to store our images onto the SD card and at the same time onto internal memory. When reviewing the pictures on the LCD to me its never clear if or why the camera reads now from the SD or from internal memory (that is actually shown on the LCD screen). One might say that this is not important but considering that you want delete pictures or rate them then it gets some importance. Normally when I import the pictures to Lightroom I use the SD card and subsequently I want to be sure that deleted pictures are gone. When for the rewiev the camera uses the internal memory then there is a problem. The Canon menu allows to specify from which card the review should be done. The M11 does not have that option. But still it is not good that the camera take the one medium and another time the other and I do not know why or at least how to change. Any suggestions?

Edited June 7, 2022 by M11 for me

[M11 for me]

In the case that we record the images (I do only DNG) simultanously on SD card and internal memory then this causes a stupid fault when using Leica Fotos. Each image is shown twice. Can that be changed?

[elmars]

vor einer Stunde schrieb M11 for me:

The M11 gives us the option to store our images onto the SD card and at the same time onto internal memory. When reviewing the pictures on the LCD to me its never clear if or why the camera reads now from the SD or from internal memory (that is actually shown on the LCD screen). One might say that this is not important but considering that you want delete pictures or rate them then it gets some importance. Normally when I import the pictures to Lightroom I use the SD card and subsequently I want to be sure that deleted pictures are gone. When for the rewiev the camera uses the internal memory then there is a problem. The Canon menu allows to specify from which card the review should be done. The M11 does not have that option. But still it is not good that the camera take the one medium and another time the other and I do not know why or at least how to change. Any suggestions?

The internal memory is implemented in a bad way. Leica should improve it. But anyway: Press the play button and turn the click wheel some times to the left. The You get the choice between SD and internal (IN). And You can see the storage place of a file in a little icon before the file number. 

[mustafasoleiman]

57 minutes ago, elmars said:

The internal memory is implemented in a bad way. Leica should improve it. But anyway: Press the play button and turn the click wheel some times to the left. The You get the choice between SD and internal (IN). And You can see the storage place of a file in a little icon before the file number. 

Ah cool thank you, I did not know that... Still when I review and delete it still shows me both copies (I use only DNG on both)... It would be better if it showed only the contents of one and I would need to switch the storage to see the other...

 

Alex

[LEGEND]

1 hour ago, mustafasoleiman said:

Ah cool thank you, I did not know that... Still when I review and delete it still shows me both copies (I use only DNG on both)... It would be better if it showed only the contents of one and I would need to switch the storage to see the other...

 

Alex

I think actually it does shows you content of the one storage and if you want to see the photos on another you will need to switch. If you set up the the camera to make a backup on the internal storage you can choose wich one you want to review , In or SD Card. Also if you want to delete one photo from any of the chosen storages , In or SD Card, it will be deleted only in the chosen one that you wanted to review. But if you chose to delete all of the photos it will delete all photos only on the chosen storage. Then the photos on the another will be showed for review. I think this is good if you shoot like that and someone want that you delete his photo or something. You can do that and show him that you deleted photo, the photo in the backup storage will be not shown until you switch manually. Very handy function for these kind of situations because nobody knows that your camera has 64Gb of internal storage... I am not sure how this work with marked photos but I suspect it is the same... Perhaps I am wrong about all this so please try this your self...  

Nikola

[elmars]

You are right, Nikola. But it should be more obvious in which storage You are. 

[lct]

8 minutes ago, elmars said:

You are right, Nikola. But it should be more obvious in which storage You are. 

What improvement would you suggest? just curious.

[M11 for me]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb elmars:

The internal memory is implemented in a bad way. Leica should improve it. But anyway: Press the play button and turn the click wheel some times to the left. The You get the choice between SD and internal (IN). And You can see the storage place of a file in a little icon before the file number. 

Excellent. I wonder how you found that out. You can actually say that this is quite a usable implementation if made public enough.

[elmars]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb lct:

What improvement would you suggest? just curious.

In the betatest phase especially one professional critisized the implementation of the internal storage very hard and verdicted it useless. Most of us shared his opinion but not his final verdict. One often does not know clearly or on first sight in which storage one is; and the camera should not switch to another storage without active confirmation of the photographer, when the chosen storage is full (now there is only a warning: if for example SD is full the M11 stores in IN if You go on shooting after the warning). If You don´t notice the warning You don´t know where Your photos are. Not a big deal for me but a no go for the professional.

So what would I do:

• Change of storage in the camera menu and in the quick menu in addition to the existing method.
• One color for each storage (perhaps red for SD and blue for IN).
• Every photo (or group of photos) gets a colored frame (red or blue).
• The icon before the file number is colored in red btw blue.
• The camera should not switch to another storage without active confirmation of the photographer, when the chosen storage is full.

[Jeff S]

8 hours ago, M11 for me said:

 Any suggestions?

Don’t delete or rate pics in-camera.  I concentrate on shooting and save the rest for PP (and rarely delete pics anyway). Also reduces risk of accidental deletion or other unintended action.  But I also never took my darkroom with me when shooting film. 😉

Jeff

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[lct]

1 hour ago, elmars said:

In the betatest phase especially one professional critisized the implementation of the internal storage very hard and verdicted it useless. Most of us shared his opinion but not his final verdict. One often does not know clearly or on first sight in which storage one is; and the camera should not switch to another storage without active confirmation of the photographer, when the chosen storage is full (now there is only a warning: if for example SD is full the M11 stores in IN if You go on shooting after the warning). If You don´t notice the warning You don´t know where Your photos are. Not a big deal for me but a no go for the professional.

So what would I do:

• Change of storage in the camera menu and in the quick menu in addition to the existing method.
• One color for each storage (perhaps red for SD and blue for IN).
• Every photo (or group of photos) gets a colored frame (red or blue).
• The icon before the file number is colored in red btw blue.
• The camera should not switch to another storage without active confirmation of the photographer, when the chosen storage is full.

Interesting thank you. So far i have the feeling to be too stupid to comprehend the whole storage process. Just one example. In "DNG+JPG on IN=SD" and "Delete single/multi" modes, i can't seem to delete files on the SD card. Works fine on the SSD but not on the SD card for some reason. I must be missing something... or not... i have no idea those new Leica things are too complicated for me. Bottom line i don't delete anything on SD cards anymore but i agree with @Jeff S on that.

Edited June 7, 2022 by lct

[elmars]

1. 

From the M8 on I deleted files on SD cards and nearly never formatted the card after deleting all images. Never had problems. I think this is one of the myths of early SD days that this should be avoided. If it would be true You shouldn´t delete data on Your SSD in the computer.

2. 

If You delete files You must be shure on what storage You are. Files are only deleted on that storage that You are in when pressing delete. If Your setting is IN0SD You have to delete every photo twice, once on SD, once on IN. DNG and JPG are deleted together. As I wrote it is not easy to know what storage is active. If You are in SD You can delete. I have made it often.