First two weeks with the Leica M11-P

[Telemetric]

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After all the problems I've had with Leica (the light meter on the M6, the rangefinder, and the SD card slot breaking on the M10-P), it took me a lot of effort to take the plunge and buy the M11-P.

That said, once the issues with the M10-P were resolved, I have to admit that I’m quite happy with it: more than enough resolution for me and colors that, while difficult to process if you want to move away from the camera’s built-in "Leica colors," don’t really bother me. So overall, I’m quite satisfied.

However, due to the problems I've had with the brand in the past, as I mentioned, I wasn’t convinced about switching my M10-P for the M11-P, especially after reading about the numerous issues this model has had, such as freezing up or its strong magenta color cast.

But sometimes luck plays in your favor. The owner of my trusted camera store is a good friend of mine, and he had a chrome M11-P in stock for over six months. He told me it wasn’t selling and that if I took it, he’d give me a great discount. The discount was so significant that despite my reservations and my preference for the black version over the chrome one, I decided to take it. I figured that if I didn’t like it, I could always sell it and not lose money.

Well, I’ve had it for 15 days now, and I can start sharing my impressions. These are my impressions, I’m not claiming to be right and, of course, you may have a completely different opinion, and probably I might be the one who's wrong. Nevertheless, here they are.

---

PROS

• I like the menu much more.
• I also prefer the battery compartment design.
• It’s still very well-built, and I like the weight of the chrome version due to the brass construction.
• Mobile connectivity works very well.
• The built-in content credentials seem necessary in a world where AI is taking over imagery.
• The triple-resolution sensor is useful. I usually keep it in medium resolution. I use the highest for landscapes and the lowest in very poor lighting conditions. However, the medium setting seems like a great compromise, as even at high ISOs, the noise has a fine grain.

---

CONS

• In my opinion, the colors are much better on the M10. Thankfully, I haven’t sold it.
• As many had already pointed out, there’s a strong magenta color cast. I created a preset to fix it, so problem solved, but it’s a real issue.
• It’s slower than the M10-P when waking up from power-saving mode.

---

That said, the best thing about it is the rangefinder experience, which is what I truly enjoy. I always say the same thing: if I could only have one camera, I would choose my Sony A7RV without hesitation because it’s superior in every aspect, and its color science is better than Leica’s. With the Sony, I can process RAW files to achieve the "Leica look" or any other color style I want, but with the Leica, I can only get "Leica color." If you like the "Leica look", perfect. But if you don’t, game over.

The Sony would be like a highly efficient secretary who helps you out of the toughest situations with a smile. The Leica, on the other hand, would be like a beautiful, high-maintenance woman you take for a stroll every now and then...

But who doesn’t enjoy a walk with a beautiful woman?

 

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Edited February 6 by Telemetric
Pic uploaded

[pedaes]

21 minutes ago, Telemetric said:

In my opinion, the colors are much better on the M10

Nice story. Congratulations and hope you enjoy.

I too have M10 and M11 so interested in your comments.

I guess you have installed latest FW. I am not sure what you are seeing (aside from tiny magenta bias that appears in some, not all, images and needs about 10 'units' nudge in LrC to correct) that makes you say 'colours are much better on M10'. Much? I don't see any. I know it is subjective and the eye may be different, but would genuinely be interested to know where you see the differences.

Cheers

[_leicaguru]

1 hour ago, Telemetric said:

I’ve had it for 15 days

 If you go a month without issues my suggestion is DO NOT update. 

Every time I say this I get hate from people. But the rule with updates is, if it's not solving a problem you have or adding a feature you need, LEAVE IT ALONE. 

Even the people here who had an M11 and was fine until they updated it, even they will say I'm crazy. You're probably dismissing me as I'm saying it. I just want to say it so nobody can say I didn't warn you. 

[Almizilero]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb Telemetric:

As many had already pointed out, there’s a strong magenta color cast. I created a preset to fix it, so problem solved, but it’s a real issue.

Welcome to the 11 family! I've had the 11-P for 8 month now, no technical issues. i would sencond everything you said so far. I'd be interested in the preset you build. I have my own, which basically just does some light colour calibration changes and works most of the time, but it's always interesting how others approach this.

[pedaes]

3 hours ago, _leicaguru said:

suggestion is DO NOT update. 

That it such bad advice.

Do a factual survey of issues pre and post FW updates.

[_leicaguru]

58 minutes ago, pedaes said:

That it such bad advice.

Do a factual survey of issues pre and post FW updates.

Maybe you didn't read carefully. Here it is again. 

4 hours ago, _leicaguru said:

But the rule with updates is, if it's not solving a problem you have

Obviously if you have an issue solved by an update then update. If there is no issue you have and no new features then don't risk updating. We have a new threads about M11s not working after an update. There are many many threads in this forum like that. My Leica was fine. I updated it. Now it doesn't work. 

But like I said, everyone says I'm crazy and wrong. So that's fine. Update away. You're right I'm wrong. Need it or not. Do the update. Go ahead. 

So far new threads opened we have: 

My camera was working, then I updated and..

1) My photos are flipped 

2) Won't recognize my battery

3) Can't save photos to the SD card. 

And this is just new threads. 

Edited February 6 by _leicaguru

[T25UFO]

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8 minutes ago, _leicaguru said:

My Leica was fine. I updated it. Now it doesn't work. 

Ah, so your advice was based on one personal experience.  It’s not really a representative study.  

Fine to share your experience but not to provide universal advice to all other users.

[_leicaguru]

19 minutes ago, T25UFO said:

Ah, so your advice was based on one personal experience.  It’s not really a representative study.  

Fine to share your experience but not to provide universal advice to all other users.

No. Not one. I said check the threads. Check the internet. Check everywhere. This isn't my experience. Like I said. I'm wrong. Don't listen to me. If you don't need to update stay away from it. 

But okay. Don't listen. 

Edited February 6 by _leicaguru

[Photoworks]

32 minutes ago, _leicaguru said:

Maybe you didn't read carefully. Here it is again. 

Obviously if you have an issue solved by an update then update. If there is no issue you have and no new features then don't risk updating. We have a new threads about M11s not working after an update. There are many many threads in this forum like that. My Leica was fine. I updated it. Now it doesn't work. 

But like I said, everyone says I'm crazy and wrong. So that's fine. Update away. You're right I'm wrong. Need it or not. Do the update. Go ahead. 

So far new threads opened we have: 

My camera was working, then I updated and..

1) My photos are flipped 

2) Won't recognize my battery

3) Can't save photos ro the SD card. 

And this is just new threads. 

Make sure you don’t update the fotos app, keep it to your old version because it will not work great on the new version without updating 

[_leicaguru]

1 minute ago, Photoworks said:

Make sure you don’t update the fotos app, keep it to your old version because it will not work great on the new version without updating 

I don't use the Fotos app. What for?

[dickgillberg]

I always have the most recent FW in all my cameras and in my computers etc. I like to think there's always some improvements, the same way as I hope I do some improvements in life and in photography with time. Don't be afraid. That sad I got a new M11 GBP a couple of months ago without any problems at all. Don't see any magenta issues either. My Canon bodys (R5) are worse in the magenta issue.

[Photoworks]

18 minutes ago, _leicaguru said:

I don't use the Fotos app. What for?

That says a lot about you. 
I am almost surprised you are using a device to write a post. But than again you probably need a place to download your images to

[_leicaguru]

5 minutes ago, Photoworks said:

That says a lot about you. 
I am almost surprised you are using a device to write a post. But than again you probably need a place to download your images to

I asked. What do you need the Fotos app for?

The word you're looking for is then not than. 

1) the downloading of photos is slow as molasses and I need the photos in my computer not my phone. I take the SD card out. So I don't need it for that. 

2) firmware updates are recommended by Leica as downloading the file and doing it through the SD card. The app does give you the option to update but it is risky. You can have connectivity issues. I would recommend to anyone to do the update the way Leica recommends. Download the file and do it through the SD card. 

So again. What do I need the Fotos app for?

Edited February 6 by _leicaguru

[Photoworks]

50 minutes ago, _leicaguru said:

So again. What do I need the Fotos app for?

It does a few things. But if you have not used or miss it don’t worry about it.

i took park of beta testing and the countless updates where done true the app with no problems 

[T25UFO]

1 hour ago, _leicaguru said:

Like I said. I'm wrong. Don't listen to me.

That's the only sensible thing you've said 🤣

[MinRas]

Hi

Fotos background transferring is the best feature (tethering lite)  , simple moving directly to system photos then everything synchronizes with cloud services and voila everything on computer by easy way   

[Jon Warwick]

8 hours ago, Telemetric said:

 

• The triple-resolution sensor is useful. I usually keep it in medium resolution. I use the highest for landscapes and the lowest in very poor lighting conditions. However, the medium setting seems like a great compromise, as even at high ISOs, the noise has a fine grain.

---

 

• As many had already pointed out, there’s a strong magenta color cast. I created a preset to fix it, so problem solved, but it’s a real issue.

Thanks for your comments. Re: lowest resolution DNG-S for low light, and perhaps I misinterpret what you’re saying, but are you sure that it’s an improvement in noise over DNG-L once you downsize it in post to the same file sizes? And some have argued it’s better to use DNG-L with high ISOs because there is more data for noise reduction to latch onto?

I use the triple resolution a lot, and think it’s great but for a different reason, being that i think the DNG-S changes the rendering to having less acutance (“gentler look”) than a downsized DNG-L, which means I prefer the aesthetic of DNG-S for head and shoulder portraits.

Agree re there being a magenta cast, for some images I actually quite like it, others not, for the latter I just click down the magenta slider under white balance (seems to often default towards c +20 if I recall) in Adobe Capture Raw, and job done in eliminating the magenta!

Edited February 6 by Jon Warwick

[T25UFO]

I see from another thread that @_leicaguru has been banned.  Quote: “not for the first time, not for the second time, sigh”. What a sensible decision.

[Telemetric]

On 2/6/2025 at 12:46 PM, pedaes said:

Nice story. Congratulations and hope you enjoy.

I too have M10 and M11 so interested in your comments.

I guess you have installed latest FW. I am not sure what you are seeing (aside from tiny magenta bias that appears in some, not all, images and needs about 10 'units' nudge in LrC to correct) that makes you say 'colours are much better on M10'. Much? I don't see any. I know it is subjective and the eye may be different, but would genuinely be interested to know where you see the differences.

Cheers

This month, I am in Turkey taking the photographs that will accompany an article. When I return, I will share examples of my impressions on color.

I installed the last firmware the first day

Edited February 8 by Telemetric

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[Telemetric]

On 2/6/2025 at 1:57 PM, _leicaguru said:

 If you go a month without issues my suggestion is DO NOT update. 

Every time I say this I get hate from people. But the rule with updates is, if it's not solving a problem you have or adding a feature you need, LEAVE IT ALONE. 

Even the people here who had an M11 and was fine until they updated it, even they will say I'm crazy. You're probably dismissing me as I'm saying it. I just want to say it so nobody can say I didn't warn you. 

Well, I updated the camera the first day. I habe been using it for two weeks every day and no problem so far.