Leica M11-D - an analogue digital camera - Review by Elmar Streyl

[cboy]

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If they put back the faux advanced lever then they it should add functionality to advance something....it's doesn't fit the functionalist aesthetic of it's just a faux advance lever 

[jonoslack]

On 9/13/2024 at 6:41 PM, RMF said:

I wished they kept the built in thumb support as well. If you use the OEM thumb support you get a partial obscured “Made in Germany” . I’m nitpicking here but the designer in me seems that this is a odd decision as previous Ms added this much more thoughtfully.

 

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What a wonderful photo! Lovely hands!

Seems to me that there isn’t a right answer for this - I can see that there is an argument to keep the ISO dial the same as the M11 - and to have the faux wind on . . . But there is also an equally good argument for going back to the ISO dial on the back (Personally I don’t really understand why anyone would set a manual ISO these days with cameras having a perfectly good 12,500 ISO) . . But maybe I’m a bit revolutionary! 

But at least the M11-D is internally consistent and a lovely camera

[evikne]

The more I look at it, the more I like that the ISO dial on the top is gone. It makes for a cleaner design. And now it's back on the back where it belongs.

I still wish they'd kept the thumb rest though, even though I kind of understand why they removed it.

[IkarusJohn]

4 hours ago, jonoslack said:

(Personally I don’t really understand why anyone would set a manual ISO these days with cameras having a perfectly good 12,500 ISO)

I still use manual ISO as I really don’t want the camera making exposure decisions for me.

[jonoslack]

20 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

I still use manual ISO as I really don’t want the camera making exposure decisions for me.

But if you allow the camera to handle the ISO, then you can have more freedom to concentrate on the really important paramaters (aperture - and sometimes shutter speed). 

I really feel that these days you can rely on the camera to get the exposure right (and if it doesn't then the huge dynamic range of modern sensors means you can fix it in post). Which allows you to concentrate on the aperture and shutte speed . . . . 

[IkarusJohn]

4 minutes ago, jonoslack said:

But if you allow the camera to handle the ISO, then you can have more freedom to concentrate on the really important paramaters (aperture - and sometimes shutter speed). 

I really feel that these days you can rely on the camera to get the exposure right (and if it doesn't then the huge dynamic range of modern sensors means you can fix it in post). Which allows you to concentrate on the aperture and shutte speed . . . . 

Perhaps. I tend to leave ISO at the base setting, and then consider the impact on exposure. It’s only when I’m not getting the aperture or shutter speed I want that I change things. NZ has very bright, very harsh sunlight. It’s only in duller climes (Europe in autumn) or indoors that I select a higher ISO and set it at that. 

For my Monochrom, Auto-ISO is great as I really don’t care about the impact of higher ISOs. 
 

[Gueric]

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Not a lot of people mention this, but the M10-D lever allows for the hotshoe to be free. Especially handy for the D version where you're more likely to put on an EVF from time to time.
Maybe you're right about Leica dropping the thumb rest/rewind lever because people ridiculed it. Those people probably never used a film M for street. It allows to juggle your camera around your thumb or let it hang from it and give some relief in wrist and thumb.
Marketing is a bit at fault here. Instead of video's of setting sunlight on the hands of a photographer who holds a Leica M for the first time (in slow motion), they should show the M as a worktool. I'm getting embarassed walking around with an M.

So, to me, it's a pitty they left it out, as well as the 'old' ISO knob which is nice and retro and could have been repurposed. Or just keep ISO there. I agree it's not the most handy knob, but personnaly I almost never touch it as my ISO is 99% of the time on auto.

Now, if only I could find a second hand M10-D that doesn't cost north of 7500€... 😅

[Smudgerer]

15 minutes ago, Gueric said:

Not a lot of people mention this, but the M10-D lever allows for the hotshoe to be free. Especially handy for the D version where you're more likely to put on an EVF from time to time.
Maybe you're right about Leica dropping the thumb rest/rewind lever because people ridiculed it. Those people probably never used a film M for street. It allows to juggle your camera around your thumb or let it hang from it and give some relief in wrist and thumb.
Marketing is a bit at fault here. Instead of video's of setting sunlight on the hands of a photographer who holds a Leica M for the first time (in slow motion), they should show the M as a worktool. I'm getting embarassed walking around with an M.

So, to me, it's a pitty they left it out, as well as the 'old' ISO knob which is nice and retro and could have been repurposed. Or just keep ISO there. I agree it's not the most handy knob, but personnaly I almost never touch it as my ISO is 99% of the time on auto.

Now, if only I could find a second hand M10-D that doesn't cost north of 7500€... 😅

I agree, I too am very disappointed that the M11-D does not have the "faux" winding lever / thumb rest, but it is what it is and in their infinite wisdom Leica decided to axe it...............However the next best solution is to use a Thumbie, I have used these on all the M10's I have owned, ( except of course the M10-D ), and if I do decide to step to the M11-D a Thumbie will be the first accessory.

 

[LocalHero1953]

On 9/15/2024 at 11:14 PM, jonoslack said:

But if you allow the camera to handle the ISO, then you can have more freedom to concentrate on the really important paramaters (aperture - and sometimes shutter speed). 

I really feel that these days you can rely on the camera to get the exposure right (and if it doesn't then the huge dynamic range of modern sensors means you can fix it in post). Which allows you to concentrate on the aperture and shutte speed . . . . 

But what would photographers do if they didn't have to work out the right exposure? I mean, then just anyone could take a photo.......

[jaapv]

On 9/16/2024 at 12:14 AM, jonoslack said:

I really feel that these days you can rely on the camera to get the exposure right (and if it doesn't then the huge dynamic range of modern sensors means you can fix it in post). Which allows you to concentrate on the aperture and shutter speed . . . . 

And we still get regular posts on this forum complaining that a portrait in front of a bright window is underexposed... 🤔

[pgk]

On 9/15/2024 at 11:14 PM, jonoslack said:

I really feel that these days you can rely on the camera to get the exposure right (and if it doesn't then the huge dynamic range of modern sensors means you can fix it in post). Which allows you to concentrate on the aperture and shutte speed . . . . 

Perhaps the same could be said of autofocus? But any reliance on cameras to deal with technicalities also removes control from the photographer. Its not a philosophy which I would agree with.

[Derbyshire Man]

On 9/18/2024 at 8:59 AM, Gueric said:

Not a lot of people mention this, but the M10-D lever allows for the hotshoe to be free. Especially handy for the D version where you're more likely to put on an EVF from time to time.
Maybe you're right about Leica dropping the thumb rest/rewind lever because people ridiculed it. Those people probably never used a film M for street. It allows to juggle your camera around your thumb or let it hang from it and give some relief in wrist and thumb.
Marketing is a bit at fault here. Instead of video's of setting sunlight on the hands of a photographer who holds a Leica M for the first time (in slow motion), they should show the M as a worktool. I'm getting embarassed walking around with an M.

So, to me, it's a pitty they left it out, as well as the 'old' ISO knob which is nice and retro and could have been repurposed. Or just keep ISO there. I agree it's not the most handy knob, but personnaly I almost never touch it as my ISO is 99% of the time on auto.

Now, if only I could find a second hand M10-D that doesn't cost north of 7500€... 😅

Not bothered about the 'winder', I don't use a thumb rest on M's although was essential on Q's.

ISO wheel could have been WB, shutter mode or even better drive (single, slow, fast, self, etc). No doubt this will be the M12 D. Yes Leica, I'm happy to help beta test.

I like the easy access to an ISO dial with a wide range of values, Like @IkarusJohn when looking for real control I set aperture plus shutter and only increase ISO when I really need. For casual shooting I use auto ISO and leave it on 1/4f but when fully manual (usually tricky conditions, dark alleyways with pools of light, night time/dusk) where I'm looking for full control I know that I can handhold if I concentrate a 1/f and therefore can keep the noise under better control. This is more important on an M11D than M11P as one can't dive into the menu and change 1/4f to 1/f but the resolution of the rear dial is much better than the micro dial on the top and enables a much broader ISO range.

[jonoslack]

On 9/23/2024 at 8:53 AM, jaapv said:

And we still get regular posts on this forum complaining that a portrait in front of a bright window is underexposed... 🤔

That's because they don't know how to setup up the auto exposure properly Jaap!

[charlesphoto99]

17 minutes ago, jonoslack said:

That's because they don't know how to setup up the auto exposure properly Jaap!

Yes, because proper 'auto exposure' that works is what's known as 'manual.' 😏

[jaapv]

And spot… Nothing digital about the science behind it! 

[mboerma]

3 hours ago, charlesphoto99 said:

Yes, because proper 'auto exposure' that works is what's known as 'manual.' 😏

You mean fix it in Photoshop? 😉

[charlesphoto99]

20 hours ago, mboerma said:

You mean fix it in Photoshop? 😉

No different than 'fixing' it in the darkroom. 😉

[Derbyshire Man]

Yep, I got back from a trip out with the M11D and everything was somewhat underexposed. However, I hadn't blown any highlights and every single image was recoverable without effort. Expose for the highlights, develop for the shadows being the new mantra.