Loaded Question for M11 Owners

[Bobonli]

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Would you buy it again?  (owners only, please)

I returned to the M ecosystem a few months ago with an analog body and 35 Cron. Unlike my past experience years ago (when things were considerably less expensive!) I've been more patient with the RF focusing and am getting good results. The camera goes with me everywhere because of its compact size and simplicity. Shooting color and B&W, will switch to developing my own B&W. But let's face it, the cost of developing and scanning color is not something to be ignored.

I'm thinking of keeping the analog body for B&W and adding the 11 for color and for situations where I don't want to wait to develop. I've read nearly every thread here and it boils down to: some people have had issues with the camera, others have not. In my experience the internet is great at disseminating gripes more so than praises. I also recognize that people who spend $$$ are likely to defend their purchases even in the face of glitches. So.....all things considered are you happy with the camera to the point you'd buy it again?

[Henners]

Yes, for actually photographing and getting results it delivers and that's kind of the important part. The lockups/freezes are so infrequent that it's a non-issue in the big scheme of things (for me personally, shooting non-critical things anyway). I went away on holiday for 10 days, a week or two ago and didn't have a single freeze or lockup. The camera and app both worked great so the experience was as expected. I'm sure there will be more firmware updates to further improve the camera and possibly eradicate all lockups/freezes. I get freezes and lockups with my Ricoh GR cameras too, it's only that those were a lot cheaper that I don't even think about it or criticise them for it.

I think I've probably had maybe 4 or 5 freezes or lockups in the past year or two, nothing that popping the battery out and in again didn't fix. So, basically it sets you back about 10 seconds when shooting.

Other than that, they're solid and really fun to shoot with. Plus, USB-C charging is great and having the app to download the RAWs or JPEGS to your phone and Google Photos then uploading them automatically for backup is great too. The app geotagging the photos is nice as well.

 

Edited September 10 by Henners

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[hdmesa]

It wasn't until my fifth M11 that I got one that was good to go. My first M11 had a misaligned rangefinder, the next three experienced constant lockups, and the last and current one is flawless. I guess I have to answer in the affirmative 🫠 I wouldn't have kept trying if it wasn't worth it.

Highly recommend buying from a retailer such as Leica Miami that will immediately exchange it for a new one should you have any issues. Other retailers may exchange, but they want to put you on the slow train – verify the issue themselves and get Leica to verify the defect as well. Since the lockups with the M11 are not at this point reliably provoked, the retailer would have to use the camera like you would for a few days, which of course they're not going to do. They will power it up and down a few times and declare it ok.

[maxpower]

My M11 was my first M, since then I have added two other M bodies which I kind of like more but they are also special editions. But the M11 is slightly more versatile and I find the files slightly more malleable which means it will still be my goto camera if/when I only bring one body with me on a longer trip. On daytrips I just carry whichever I feel like that day.

So would I buy it again? Yeah.

Having said that, I would add that if I had to sell an M body because I was in need of cash (hopefully not happening but you never know) I would likely get rid of my M11 over the other ones despite that. That's because the past few M bodies have all been amazing cameras and still are to this day, so yes there might be some advantages to one of the other but at the end of the day all of them are enjoyable to use and will deliver stunning images.

[cmeinke]

I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago. I was quite unsure and almost worried after all the horror stories and complains about firmware and hardware issues that I found on the forum and elsewhere.

These concerns were the reason why I decided to buy a new M11 body and not one that was returned for a reason I didn’t know about.

I’m only a few weeks in and the money spent still burns a hole in my pocket, but I don’t regret the buying decision at all. Intuitive setup, no issues with charging, transferring files or the camera not responding. 

Very happy with the image output and more than once been left with a smile on my face when reviewing photos back at home after a shoot outdoors or in town.

I’m switching from Fujifilm after almost ten years and I’m feeling ready to part ways with my beloved X-Pro3 and a few great prime lenses. 

 

[LBJ2]

5 hours ago, Bobonli said:

Would you buy it again?  (owners only, please)

I returned to the M ecosystem a few months ago with an analog body and 35 Cron. Unlike my past experience years ago (when things were considerably less expensive!) I've been more patient with the RF focusing and am getting good results. The camera goes with me everywhere because of its compact size and simplicity. Shooting color and B&W, will switch to developing my own B&W. But let's face it, the cost of developing and scanning color is not something to be ignored.

I'm thinking of keeping the analog body for B&W and adding the 11 for color and for situations where I don't want to wait to develop. I've read nearly every thread here and it boils down to: some people have had issues with the camera, others have not. In my experience the internet is great at disseminating gripes more so than praises. I also recognize that people who spend $$$ are likely to defend their purchases even in the face of glitches. So.....all things considered are you happy with the camera to the point you'd buy it again?

For me, Yes. No question. No hesitation. I am however having thoughts, my M11 Silver might just be the rangefinder I keep for more than a few cycles 😉

[marchyman]

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Yes.  An M11 replaced an M 262 (sold) and a Q (kept for point and shoot duties and macro mode).

[EJS73]

Yes, and don't worry it's become a stable camera. Also very good in B&W!

[DadDadDaddyo]

Omigosh - Yes!

I worked my way to the M11 kind of the long way; I came up through life shooting Leica film bodies and developing and printing my own results. So, the rangefinder, the viewfinder with framing lines, these were as natural as breathing. 

My path into digital Leicas went first through Canon bodies, then Fujifilm bodies, starting with APS-C sensors and then working my way into the Fujifilm Medium Format, pulled along by a quest for high quality prints in the 16x20-and- greater range, employing born-digital and hybrid analog/digital work flows (still actively shooting film in 35mm, Medium Format, and Large Format, then scanning and printing digitally).

My first digital M was a used M246 Monochrom. It was great, and could use my M and LTM lenses accumulated over lo these many years. It drew me back into the Leica world in a big way, for next came a used SL, then an SL-2. By then I was out of the Fujifilm APS-C but still shooting Fujifilm Medium Format. So then a kind of stasis/tussle ensued. In terms of color digital, I was caught with one foot in the Fujifilm kayak and one foot in the Leica SL kayak: briefly possible but hardly sustainable.

And then the M10M came out.

At 40 megapixels, but blessed with its wondrous ergonomics, it relegated my SL2 gear into "3rd place", as something I reached for only when I needed color or zoom or auto focus, in a full frame format. I was still stretched across three systems, not counting my continuing use of Medium Format and Large Format film. 

Then the M11 came out. Woah, resolution in the digital Medium Format range but Leica M ergonomics! 

But then the freezes. Well, heck, I started googling the word 'freeze" alongside words like Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, and found that *everybody* had their brushes with freezes. 

Do the thing was to buy my M11 as an Open Box, but from a highly reputable, well known dealer who had a great return policy. It was all about timing. The forums were going nuts and folks were returning Leica bodies right and left. I reckoned that not *all* of those were freezing, that at lest some were being returned out of fear or panic, and, importantly, that this highly reputable dealer would let me return the M11 if I got one that truly *was* beset with freezes. 

So then the wait and keeping an open eye. And then the Open Box I was looking for showed up, and then I pounced. Saved close to a grand. Upgraded the firmware immediately and with each new iteration. 

Result? Fabulous!

And then the M11M came out (grumble)....

Didn't seem to be freezing much but surely I could find one that came back over buyer's remorse.... And then Yes!!

Grabbed the Open Box M11M, and sold out of the Fujifilm Medium Format system. Came out ahead with no additional money or of pocket! I could even grab a Visoflex II for those times when I just needed to use Live View at eye level! And, it worked great on both the M and the M11M.

Result? Bliss. I've watched closely for signs that I'm missing the Fujifilm Medium Format world, but no. It's been great. I'm a true "came-up-shooting-Leicas-having-strayed-once-or-twice-by-some-Siren's-Song-but-survived-safely-lashed-to-the-mast" life-long Leica shooter, and all it took to find that out was bloody-minded foolish persistence and something over half a century.

Phew!

Now it's the SL2 and those lovely lenses that sit mostly unused. And I still haven't parted with the M10M, but probably ought to. 

I feel lucky to have had a Dad who, back in the 1950s, had Leica gear and a largely untouched Omega enlarger, and a Mom who, understandingly, let me turn her laundry room into a darkroom whenever I needed. Now retired and about to hit 70, I look back on this photographic bent as a constant in a life that has gone truly all over the place, as lives will. I've been very fortunate. 

[lct]

5 hours ago, Bobonli said:

Would you buy it again?  (owners only, please)

I seem to see two question in yours.
1. Would i buy a second M11 body in addition to my current one? No because i consider the M11 an interim camera. I then will keep my current M11 and save for an M12, assuming it has IBIS i consider indispensable on high res cameras.
2. Would i replace my M11 with another one in case of thieft or loss, yes immediately for the simple raison that it is my best M camera since the seventies and the mere idea to buy an M10 instead makes me smile with all due respect to M10 users. I am not a traditional M user in that i expect modern Ms to work in LV mode like mirrorless cameras and only the M11 can do that.
3. Freezes? Never got one since firmware 1.6.1 so it is a non issue for me.

 

[Warton]

3 hours ago, lct said:

3. Freezes? Never got one since firmware 1.6.1 so it is a non issue for me.

 

never say never, you might have jinxed it

[hdmesa]

5 hours ago, lct said:

I seem to see two question in yours.
1. Would i buy a second M11 body in addition to my current one? No because i consider the M11 an interim camera. I then will keep my current M11 and save for an M12, assuming it has IBIS i consider indispensable on high res cameras.
2. Would i replace my M11 with another one in case of thieft or loss, yes immediately for the simple raison that it is my best M camera since the seventies and the mere idea to buy an M10 instead makes me smile with all due respect to M10 users. I am not a traditional M user in that i expect modern Ms to work in LV mode like mirrorless cameras and only the M11 can do that.
3. Freezes? Never got one since firmware 1.6.1 so it is a non issue for me.

 

I don't think they meant either of those things, perhaps lost in translation. I took it to mean, "If you had it to do all over again, would you still have purchased it?" Your #2 answer probably covers that and more. Purchasing again after losing it is an even higher form of praise.

[lct]

4 hours ago, Warton said:

never say never, you might have jinxed it

Little chance, i have mine since May 2022 and i got some freezes before firmware update 1.6.1. The culprit was SD cards and/or the way my M11 managed them, i don't know.

Edited September 11 by lct

[lct]

3 hours ago, hdmesa said:

I don't think they meant either of those things, perhaps lost in translation. I took it to mean, "If you had it to do all over again, would you still have purchased it?" Your #2 answer probably covers that and more. Purchasing again after losing it is an even higher form of praise.

Indeed my #2 above is self explanatory i believe but aside from memory cards related issues i managed to fix myself, I've had no serious problems with this camera.

[jgeenen]

The M11 is my main camera since March this year. It replaced a M10 which I had for two years. I am super happy with the M11 - good sensor with plenty of resolution and great battery life with USB loading system, improved menu system and a Visoflex that is good enough for special use, couples great with my iPhone for Geo data exchange, and finally perfectly reliable (no single freeze since day one - knocking on wood). I had the M9, the M240 and the M10 before, for me the M11 is the best digital M available.
 

I definitely would buy the M11 again.  Johannes

[Jewl]

If it got the maturity state of today, I'd say yes. But my recommendation if new Leicas are released, wait until the first issues and bugs are ruled out! Or I'd wait for the P-Version the next time again (replaced my M10P by the M11) as this seems to be way more mature! 

[jakontil]

I’d buy it again, in fact i did, got my m11 since april last year, got a hang on to it until september? Sold it, sticking with my m10 r  black paint, but i missed the battery life and usb c charging, dont get me wrong, the battery on M10 r aint no slouch either, but m11 just gives more confidence with going out on a single battery and with the mind i could charge conveniently using my battery box, and luckily the local dealer had my unit still in possession so i grabbed it back

[Al Brown]

Let me just shed a light on the "would you buy it again" question:

It is one of three classic questions regarding material posessions many lifestile coaches use. The other two are "does it make me happy" and "do I use it regularly". The first one is the key question and the most important, but if the answers to the other two are also positive then the item is a keeper.

So whenever you are trying to get rid of a Leica M or a M lens, ask yourself these three questions and ponder the answers carefully.

[R4p70r]

I came from Canon DSLR, Voiglander Bessa R3A Leica X1, Fujifilm X cameras, Ricoh GR3 and lastly Sony A6xxx & Sony A7ii & Sony A7Riii.

During the pandemic I went back to film got my first medium format film camera and by sheer luck got my first Leica film M the M6 Classic that I lusted for years since the uni time. I had so much fun with the M6 that I wanted a digital M. During the uni time I was also dreaming of a M9 but that was financially wise far away as a student.

Last year I got the M11. Before that I was thinking to get a M10-P, but after spending an entire weekend at Leica HQ in Wetzlar I was more convinced that the M11 was the better tool especially coming from the Sony system regarding its sensor output dynamic range plus high ISO capabilities.

I don't regret the purchase even though I had a few freezes before the latest and recent firmware update. After the most recent firmware update I had 1 time a freezing of the camera but a battery pull-out and re-inserting solves the problem. The hope is that Leica finally finds either the last bugs in the firmware or a probably underlying hardware issue and get rid of those lasting freezes. 

Other than that the M11 is an awesome camera and my main camera after a few months still taking the A7Riii as a backup camera in case of any issues. I also purchased a Q3 as an additional camera in cases when autofocus and image stabilization for longer shutter speed are needed (astonishingly that Q3 can see and focus in darkness in its Single AF mode; tested it 2 nights ago). I see the Q series as a complementary camera to the M but I can see for many people that the Q camera can be as a sole and only camera for them to replace everything if they only need one camera with one lens to do it all - if the fixed 28mm lens fits their vision for their work (including the copping ability with the Q2 or Q3 high pixel count sensor).

I would buy the M11 again.

Leica can do some improvements like a faster sensor read-out so the massive rolling shutter with the electronic shutter can be eradicated.

A wishful thinking: IBIS in a future Leica M camera but keeping its perfect dimension intact.

Edited September 11 by R4p70r

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[acalmplace]

I've had my M11 for about a year and as my only camera for a couple of months. Yes, I would do it all over again. My experience has been very positive.