M11-D, the first true digital Leica as the main camera

[setuporg]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Since using the Edition 60 for years alongside many regular Leicas, from M9-P through M11-P, I've been using M11-D as the main camera for a week and feel that it's the first one that could be used alone.  For most situations you can use it as is.  In critical settings where you cannot blow highlights, you can check with either the Visoflex or the FOTOS.  When connected and open, the new shots are showing up at once and it is very easy to check.  I've not used bracketing on a regular basis but it could also be an approach to hedge important shots.

Despite having auto preview set to off on a Leica with a screen, I found that the D changes things.  It's because you do want to check a high-contrast shot, so I'd push play and see.

The efficient connectivity of the D is not a detriment.  You could completely sidestep it.  But since the M11 family is the first for super reliable geotagging and we carry our smartphones everywhere, in 99% cases it's a moot question.  (Unless you like Punkt or Lightphone.)  You already have geotagging and will also have background push when that comes out of beta, like Pixii.  The on-sensor metering ensures more good shots which is especially helpful for the D where you hope for the best.

M11-D feels like an instant classic.  I look at the ISO knob, the buttons, screen and joystick of the P and they all seem extraneous now.  It's a really good question whether to keep the P or not.

Edited October 16, 2024 by setuporg

[Smudgerer]

25 minutes ago, setuporg said:

Since using the Edition 60 for years alongside many regular Leicas, from M9-P through M11-P, I've been using M11-D as the main camera for a week and feel that it's the first one that could be used alone.  For most situations you can use it as is.  In critical settings where you cannot blow highlights, you can check with either the Visoflex or the FOTOS.  When connected and open, the new shots are showing up at once and it is very easy to check.  I've not used bracketing on a regular basis but it could also be an approach to hedge important shots.

Despite having auto preview set to off on a Leica with a screen, I found that the D changes things.  It's because you do want to check a high-contrast shot, so I'd push play and see.

The efficient connectivity of the D is not a detriment.  You could completely sidestep it.  But since the M11 family is the first for super reliable geotagging and we carry our smartphones everywhere, in 99% cases it's a moot question.  (Unless you like Punkt or Lightphone.)  You already have geotagging and will also have background push when that comes out of beta, like Pixii.  The on-sensor metering ensures more good shots which is especially helpful for the D where you hope for the best.

M11-D feels like an instant classic.  I look at the ISO knob, the buttons, screen and joystick of the P and they all seem extraneous now.  It's a really good question whether to keep the P or not.

It's all personal choices as to how one uses gear I know, but frankly I just don't get it if one has to rely on having an iPhone along with you so that you can have screen / playback access when shooting with a Leica M D of either of the two recent 10/11 flavours. Is it an impossibility to go out to take photographs without porting and checking in on a smart 'phone to see what you've got?..........( and for the record I have been a PUNKT 'phone user for years since dumping the crack-iPhone addiction ). That to me is contrary to the "D" ethic, whatever that might be, but of course, personal choices.

If you are checking your shots on your 'phone through Fotos even once or twice then you might as well go out with the 11P............And yes, I had the 10-D and now the 11-D and so far I do agree with you, this 11-D is a classic in a number of unexpected ways and despite my initial apprehension on moving up from the 10-D and through some confusing, ( for me ), set-up choices on the 11-D I am very happy with the camera and now I am Fotos and iPhone free........I hope.

[setuporg]

Yes the FOTOS is a valuable option but you can have the Visoflex along for just the very few critical cases.  Overall with bracketing and a wider dynamic range I hope we won't need to check at all, or almost never.

[charlesphoto99]

Obviously a camera for tech bros: "Dude, it's just like the old film cameras from the past, with no screen, and it works just like when we used to check out our M6 images by using our phones..."

[Smudgerer]

22 minutes ago, setuporg said:

Yes the FOTOS is a valuable option but you can have the Visoflex along for just the very few critical cases.  Overall with bracketing and a wider dynamic range I hope we won't need to check at all, or almost never.

I would never use a Visoflex either..........A Leica Luddite.

[RobW0]

I think there is a big misconception with the M11-D and having a smartphone. You do not need to have a smartphone with you when you are out taking pictures with it. You do not need to have a smartphone when you transfer your pictures from an SD card. If you want location data on the photos, then you need a smartphone with you.  Once you have done the initial setup, of the camera, you do not need to carry the device with the Fotos app on it. So it does give you the choice of taking the camera out and not seeing the images until they are downloaded and processed. It is up to you how you want to use it. 

[Smudgerer]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, RobW0 said:

I think there is a big misconception with the M11-D and having a smartphone. You do not need to have a smartphone with you when you are out taking pictures with it. You do not need to have a smartphone when you transfer your pictures from an SD card. If you want location data on the photos, then you need a smartphone with you.  Once you have done the initial setup, of the camera, you do not need to carry the device with the Fotos app on it. So it does give you the choice of taking the camera out and not seeing the images until they are downloaded and processed. It is up to you how you want to use it. 

Absolutely on the money...............

[Guest]

39 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

The very best image I took with a borrowed M11-D was geotagged to this lovely place in France: 47.60005199187928, 3.533505812411553

 

That's certainly got to the bottom of the issue!

[LocalHero1953]

I'm glad I have stayed at the low tech end of the Leica camera spectrum, that does not require me to set up my camera with a phone, or keep it with me to check exposure, and I don't have to carry extra devices around, worry about Bluetooth connections etc.

My SL2-S is all I need - nice and simple - a traditional photographer's camera.

Edited October 16, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[setuporg]

3 hours ago, Quarterpounder said:

OP you can simply use the M!1-D (which relies heavily on screens, phones, apps) without making a religion out of it.

I prefer autonomous cameras.

The Leica Forum Code of Conduct plainly states that we have to make a religion out of it!

[DadDadDaddyo]

Y'know, it's within living memory that we used Polaroid cameras, ones with manual settings, to check on exposure and things like lighting ratio in a scene. 

Very handy when shooting large format, even medium format. 

I've still got a venerable Polaroid 110A Pathfinder, graced with a gorgeous Rodenstock lens that I picked up in about 1970, because everyone was moving to the pack film Polaroids instead of the old roll film Polaroids. The pack film exemplar was the Model 180. I had my 110A converted to pack film in the early 80s by an outfit called "Four Designs Company"...(or was it Three?)...

My point is only that in deliberate photography there's nothing wrong with taking measures to check and correct all the elements of a shot. The boon of digital photography is being able to do that right in the camera body. You don't do it every time, but it's sure nice to have it there when you want it. 

There is this thing discussed about, and against, the practice of habitually checking each shot as you take it, "Chimping."

But, what I'm saying is that even without screens on our cameras, there was good reason for test shots, when desirable. 

And even with screens on our cameras, there's no reason to check each shot as you make it... kind of fouls up one's rhythm, I find, when your attention should be on what you're photographing. 

So in all, there are practices, good practices, and best practices. Most of them come from our heads, our experiences, our reasoning, and some are just habits, some good, some bad. 

But I don't find it useful to rely on the camera to enforce the practices I'm trying to instill in myself as a photographer. 

Edited October 17, 2024 by DadDadDaddyo

[JimmyCheng]

change metering to highlight weighted and boom, all safe. Shadows are generally maintained very well on this model. 

[hdmesa]

12 minutes ago, JimmyCheng said:

change metering to highlight weighted and boom, all safe. Shadows are generally maintained very well on this model. 

Highlight weighted is perfect for the D, but when I use the Visoflex 2 on it, I have to change it to Center Weighted or else the exposure preview flickers badly. I don't see the usual M11 setting to be able to move exposure preview to half-press of the shutter; permanent exposure preview seems to be the default with no way to change it.

 

[Anthony MD]

On 10/16/2024 at 11:22 AM, charlesphoto99 said:

Obviously a camera for tech bros: "Dude, it's just like the old film cameras from the past, with no screen, and it works just like when we used to check out our M6 images by using our phones..."

The MD 262 is the old firm camera that shoots digital…!

[tjphoto]

Does the M11-D have a different sensor than the M11?

[hdmesa]

40 minutes ago, tjphoto said:

Does the M11-D have a different sensor than the M11?

No.