Leica M11-P SD Card Benefits

[MaxGor]

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Leica M11-P comes with 256GB of internal storage. What are the advantages of using an SD card in addition to this internal storage?

Here are a few reasons:

1. Extended Storage Capacity: If 256GB is insufficient for your needs, an SD card provides additional storage space.
2. Convenient File Transfers: Transferring photos is easier by simply removing the SD card from the camera and inserting it into an SD card reader.
3. Extra Redundancy:  If camera setup to save taken photographs on both internal and SD card.

If neither of these reasons apply to you, is it necessary to use an SD card at all?

Additionally, can internal storage wear out over time?

Edited June 28, 2024 by MaxGor

[lexffm]

When writing to internal and external storage, a higher level of certainty that individual files are defective

[MaxGor]

6 minutes ago, lexffm said:

When writing to internal and external storage, a higher level of certainty that individual files are defective

What do you mean?  

[lexffm]

I mean, if the internal memory has errors, that's a backup for important pictures.

[MaxGor]

4 minutes ago, lexffm said:

I mean, if the internal memory has errors, that's a backup for important pictures.

Good point!

Added as third item in initial post.

[MikeW]

All solid-state persistent memory has a finite lifespan. Leica doesn't publish the TBW specs for the internal storage, but given the nature of the product, one expects they've used premium storage.

Use the storage in a way that best fits your use case, and don't worry about it.

I have an M11-P and a 256GB SD card and will never fill either before pulling down images. If I am on a trip, without a laptop or other device to download files, I'll mirror DNG to both. For day to day use I usually write DNG to IN and low res JPG to SD.

 

[crons]

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All flash memory has a limited number of write/erase cycles. What they should've done was dual microsd cards instead of internal. 

Its difficult to say how long the internal memory inside an M11 will last. Based on the modern Leica M customer they want to upgrade stuff every time something new comes out so it won't matter. 

Depending on usage the memory inside your Leica M may last between 10,000-100,000 cycles. 

Edited June 29, 2024 by crons

[MaxGor]

19 minutes ago, crons said:

All flash memory has a limited number of write/erase cycles. What they should've done was dual microsd cards instead of internal. 

Its difficult to say how long the internal memory inside an M11 will last. Based on the modern Leica M customer they want to upgrade stuff every time something new comes out so it won't matter. 

Depending on usage the memory inside your Leica M may last between 10,000-100,000 cycles. 

I am not fun of micro stuff, smaller size probably comes with compromises.  I thought while point of internal memory is that you can not leave it at home, no extra slots will replace it.

Even 100K cycles does not sound too impressive to me - probably I need to get external SD card/

 

[MikeW]

100K cycles might add up to ~140,000,000 - 280,000,000 images on an M11-P depending on usage patterns. You'll have replaced your shutter many many times before you get there.

Edit: Put another way, assuming 90 MB per DNG file, my M11-p can store 2,800 images or 78 rolls of 35mm film equivalent (140,000,000 images = 3,888,888 rolls of film). I am decidedly not worried about internal storage wearing out.

If one is worried, for some bizarre reason, just use the SD card. Myself, I bought the camera to be used, not worried about.

Edited June 29, 2024 by MikeW

[crons]

48 minutes ago, MikeW said:

100K cycles might add up to ~140,000,000 - 280,000,000 images on an M11-P depending on usage patterns. You'll have replaced your shutter many many times before you get there.

Edit: Put another way, assuming 90 MB per DNG file, my M11-p can store 2,800 images or 78 rolls of 35mm film equivalent (140,000,000 images = 3,888,888 rolls of film). I am decidedly not worried about internal storage wearing out.

If one is worried, for some bizarre reason, just use the SD card. Myself, I bought the camera to be used, not worried about.

Yes. It should be fine for the life of the camera. But then maybe not. It can fail. With an sd card you just throw it away and get a new one. 

Internal memory is fine but it comes with compromises such as fixed limited capacity and inflexibility. Ask the people who spent a fortune on the M11 with 64GB only to be superseded the very next year with the M11P to 256GB. 😀

1 hour ago, MaxGor said:

am not fun of micro stuff, smaller size probably comes with compromises

This microsd card should be absolutely fine for any Leica M for example. 

https://shop.progradedigital.com/products/microsdxc-uhs-ii-v60-memory-card-250mbps?variant=44628805452023

The nature of a Leica M rangefinder is compromises. Although that is changing obviously which is why there are so many problems. Trying to make a simple slow rangefinder into a Sony A7RV competitor is not easy. It used to be "click & wind the film". Any ole cheap sd card should be more than fine for a Leica M rangefinder. Now we are on to how fast is it and how fast can it clear the buffer so I can do 15FPS with IBIS too and why not make it autofocus while we are at it...  Something has to give. 

Edited June 29, 2024 by crons

[MikeW]

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"Something has to give"

No, not really, the other makers have shown that, but they've also shown that it has taken Sony multiple iterations to get it right (I still don't like their implementation). Nikon took their time before going all-in on mirrorless and got the Z system more correct out of the gate, but not until an entire decade after Sony. Canon, not going there. Fuji blew the original X100, but the market demand was so strong for something different than a mirrorless version of the SLR that they got a second chance and now can't make cameras fast enough.

Common to all of these, today, are capable and bright EVFs, ample buffers, high FPS, amazing autofocus, IBIS and more.  Leica won't be starting at the bottom, if they choose to add more electronic features to the M. I haven't giIt ven much thought to what I might want, if anything. IBIS maybe? 

Yet Leica doesn't need to do any of that with the M. Gosh, they could just refine the software in the M11 and stay there for a bunch more years.

I don't know what I would add to an M11 that matters... IBIS probably? 

Quote

Ask the people who spent a fortune on the M11 with 64GB only to be superseded the very next year with the M11P to 256GB. 😀

Personally, I'm glad Leica maintains a product version with minor tweaks like that—they add to the longevity of the product, hold resale value, etc. If I'd bought an M11, I would not be upset with the M11-p release.

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But then maybe not. It can fail. With an sd card you just throw it away and get a new one. 

Sure. That is a remote possibility; good thing it has an SD slot. In the meantime I get the benefit of the internal storage, too. It's a win.

Edited June 29, 2024 by MikeW

[MaxGor]

Learn in hard way - it is not possible(please let me know if you managed) to recover deleted photographs from  internal camera storage. 

Taking SD card from camera and restoring lost photographs via card reader is pretty trivial under any OS.