Jono: A Leica M EV1 Review

[jonoslack]

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10 minutes ago, Tailwagger said:

But surely you're not surprised.  Regardless of how you view his level of competence to judge the camera, his view that the EV1 does little, if anything, new to advance the cause of M optics in the context of an EVF based camera seems, yet costs nearly as much as an M11 seems an accurate assessment and very likely one that will be echoed in populist circles which is why I quoted it.  Well that and the fact that on this point I agree with him which is why my 10R wont be traded for one. 

 

 

Well, it all comes down to whether it sells or not I guess. If people buy it it’s really irrelevant whether it does anything new to advance the cause of M optics in the context of an EVF based camera - and I think people will buy it (but I could certainly be wrong). 

One thing which is certainly true is that the group of photographers assembled for the beta testing all started off pretty sceptical, but after 6 months they all thought it was a good thing - perhaps only as a second camera. . . But you should trade your M10R for an M11 anyway 😂

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[SrMi]

29 minutes ago, Tailwagger said:

But surely you're not surprised.  Regardless of how you view his level of competence to judge the camera,

I hold him in high regard, hence my disappointment in the review.

29 minutes ago, Tailwagger said:

, his view that the EV1 does little, if anything, new to advance the cause of M optics in the context of an EVF based camera seems, yet costs nearly as much as an M11 seems an accurate assessment

That is a valid opinion, though quite subjective as the interest in M-EV1, even among RF owners, seems to exist. What he is missing is, as any good reviewer should, to consider the other opinion, even if not agreeing. 

Edited 22 hours ago by SrMi

[Tailwagger]

17 minutes ago, jonoslack said:

But you should trade your M10R for an M11 anyway 😂

Waiting for your review of the 12 Jono. 😉

[jonoslack]

4 minutes ago, Tailwagger said:

Waiting for your review of the 12 Jono. 😉

It’s bound to be a corker! Nice chatting, I’m off to sleep!

[jonoslack]

12 minutes ago, SrMi said:

I hold him in high regard, hence my disappointment in the review.

That is a valid opinion, though quite subjective as the interest in M-EV1, even among RF owners, seems to exist. What he is missing is, as any good reviewer should, to consider the other opinion, even if not agreeing. 

I quite agree. One of the things I try really hard to do is not to look at things simply through my own eyes, or my own wishes. 
That kind of write off certainly ignores what others may think. Cameras are always compromises and this one is no different. It certainly does have some shortcomings, but it also has some quite obvious longcomings (is that a thing!) 

[TomB_tx]

On 10/23/2025 at 10:47 AM, charlesphoto99 said:

How's the start up time? Better, same, worse?

Nice review, but honestly, I did not see a single image (excluding anything shot closer than .7m) that couldn't have been quickly and easily shot with the traditional M. For me, a three decade long M shooter, the EV1 is a solution looking for a problem. I'll give it a hard pass. Even for telephotos, I find seeing the space around the subject outweighs the ability to focus (sort of - still have to recompose) with an EVF. And seeing a clear bright optical view in any situation is a huge plus. 

I've been an M shooter for over 5 decades, and I agree for normal photos the M RF is what I'd use, as I nearly always use 35 to 90 lenses  However, I've experimented with small M lenses on a base Sony A7 which makes a nice small carry camera where the EVF works well. Of course the M EV1 will perform better with wide angle lenses, but not enough to make me spend the money for an "alternate to RF" camera, and I don't need more than 24 MP anyway. But for those who demand the performance of the M11 sensor - happy hunting!

I would have been tempted by the SL series if only Leica had added automatic stop-down for my R lenses...

[Tailwagger]

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5 minutes ago, SrMi said:

I hold him in high regard, hence my disappointment in the review.

That is a valid opinion, though quite subjective as the interest in M-EV1, even among RF owners, seems to exist. What he is missing is, as any good reviewer should, to consider the other opinion, even if not agreeing. 

I don't disagree.

I frankly don't quite as yet understand the EV1s target photographer, but then it would seem that Leica doesn't either.  In the past, I might have justified one to myself as a back up body for the 11 given the shared battery and other similarities and the admittedly infinitely better battery life over the 10R, but the reality is, particularly now that I'm enjoying retirement,  I'd get more value from adding any one of a number of M lenses then adding this particular body into the mix.  That and the fact that switching between OVF and EVF has become so second nature to me after all these years, I suspect I'd be scraping my nose on the EV's hot shoe far too often.

[setuporg]

On 10/23/2025 at 8:47 AM, charlesphoto99 said:

How's the start up time? Better, same, worse?

Nice review, but honestly, I did not see a single image (excluding anything shot closer than .7m) that couldn't have been quickly and easily shot with the traditional M. For me, a three decade long M shooter, the EV1 is a solution looking for a problem. I'll give it a hard pass. Even for telephotos, I find seeing the space around the subject outweighs the ability to focus (sort of - still have to recompose) with an EVF. And seeing a clear bright optical view in any situation is a huge plus. 

100%.  And for the telephotos, rangefinder with Visoflex 2 is better than only EVF.

[LarryLeica]

Good review, thanks! I am definitely interested in getting back into the Leica ecosystem with the EV1. 

The interview with Stefan Daniel returns, 

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[farnz]

A typically thorough and informative review that's full of superb pictures,  @jonoslack.

11 points out of 10 for your alliterative comment with respect to focussing being the result of "maths and mirrors, mechanics and machining".  Priceless.

Pete.

[newtoleica]

Chatting with the Leica rep at red dot yesterday. He said that Leica envisaged suggesting the EV1 to those trying out the Q in store. Given a lot of Q owners do transition to the M and many say they would but for the lack of an EVF. The Leica name the quality and choice of lenses may tempt many over, and add lens sales as well. They wanted something with proven technology that would be a risk free product but a better experience haptics wise than using M lenses on another brand. They have succeeded in that. Fundamentally though, over 15 years I have become so used to the RF that I don’t want to put up with an EVF’s shortcomings. Managed to snag a mint used M11-D for the same price as a new EV1.  

[Kiwimac]

10 hours ago, microview said:

I believe you are saying that you thought Jono's pics had something new and extremely attractive. Same here, but as sensor and processor are the same as with the M11P there should be no differences.

(Like you, I recently fell for the Safari M! and love it to bits!)

I agree there ought to be no difference from the camera (but as always with Leica the reality might not be as we assume!). Jono replied above and said he’d slightly changed his process so perhaps that’s affected how the images show on the web?

[IkarusJohn]

Well, I guess existing M owners (of whatever flavour) know what they’re in for (once their rage over the M EV1 has subsided) and have a reasonably good idea of what they’re looking for in the next M camera - it’s a wide and weird world out there!  For myself, I’m really interested in a simple process, with manual lenses, direct control of essential options and a good DNG file as the outcome.  I can tolerate AF, but I will always hate it and fight against it.  But, that’s just me (waiting for the M Classic).

What I do think about is the new Leica buyer.  This mythical beast has money (a surprising number of Millennials do).  They may have a Sony, an RX1 or a Q, or “just” an iPhone; but they’re interested in photography and they have money (why else would they be in a Leica Store, and why else would we be interested in this Unicorn buyer).  They go into one of the remaining “photography” stores - Harvey Norman or JB HiFi here in Australasia or the equivalent crammed in electronics store in the US/Canada (see what I did there?) or Europe - with shelf after shelf of Sonys, Canons & Nikons with all their specs and profusion of lenses and options, they can’t get a sensible sales person to help and they walk away.

This Unicorn buyer likes going into the relative calm of an Apple Store, with its few options, clearly laid out and helpful staff - the sales are easy, as the options are clearly defined, and not too many.  Few Apple buyers want to know the specs of the Mac they’re looking at to compare with the PC equivalent.  They want to know it has enough storage and enough RAM.  They’ve also seen lots and lots of movies where, when most of us were young the photographer was carrying an F3, the stars these days are holding a Leica M camera (Brad Pitt etc etc).

They walk into the Leica Store because it’s different and they can afford to be there.  Offered a Q, an SL or an M, they go for the M.  Why?  Because it’s the camera Brad Pitt was carrying in Spy Game, or whatever the movie was; because they can’t remember, but they recognise the Leica - a camera for life the stars and cognoscenti use.  They want that cool camera. They justify it because it has interchangeable lenses.  The shop owner extols the virtues of the SL3, as it is a better camera; but, our Unicorn didn’t come in for a “better” camera; for that, he would go back to JB HiFi and buy an A7R(n).  He came for a Leica!

So, he has the choice of an M11-M (only B&W? He’s not that old); an M11-D (weird); or an M11?  Now you’re talking.  Would sir like an OVF or an EVF?  They are the same camera, just a different viewfinder.  What does our Unicorn say? He’s familiar with EVFs because every other camera he’s used has an EVF - it’s the manual focus which surprises him, but the lenses are “reassuringly expensive”, if you’ll forgive me channeling Rutger Hauer.  And the M EV1 is not only familiar (all the information he needs in the view finder, including a histogram), and it’s a bit cheaper …

In a twist, he exclaims “but M means mesßucher!  If it has an EVF, it should be a Q with interchangeable L mount lenses!”

I don’t think so …

 

[mikeamosau]

53 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

Well, I guess existing M owners (of whatever flavour) know what they’re in for (once their rage over the M EV1 has subsided) and have a reasonably good idea of what they’re looking for in the next M camera - it’s a wide and weird world out there!  For myself, I’m really interested in a simple process, with manual lenses, direct control of essential options and a good DNG file as the outcome.  I can tolerate AF, but I will always hate it and fight against it.  But, that’s just me (waiting for the M Classic).

What I do think about is the new Leica buyer.  This mythical beast has money (a surprising number of Millennials do).  They may have a Sony, an RX1 or a Q, or “just” an iPhone; but they’re interested in photography and they have money (why else would they be in a Leica Store, and why else would we be interested in this Unicorn buyer).  They go into one of the remaining “photography” stores - Harvey Norman or JB HiFi here in Australasia or the equivalent crammed in electronics store in the US/Canada (see what I did there?) or Europe - with shelf after shelf of Sonys, Canons & Nikons with all their specs and profusion of lenses and options, they can’t get a sensible sales person to help and they walk away.

This Unicorn buyer likes going into the relative calm of an Apple Store, with its few options, clearly laid out and helpful staff - the sales are easy, as the options are clearly defined, and not too many.  Few Apple buyers want to know the specs of the Mac they’re looking at to compare with the PC equivalent.  They want to know it has enough storage and enough RAM.  They’ve also seen lots and lots of movies where, when most of us were young the photographer was carrying an F3, the stars these days are holding a Leica M camera (Brad Pitt etc etc).

They walk into the Leica Store because it’s different and they can afford to be there.  Offered a Q, an SL or an M, they go for the M.  Why?  Because it’s the camera Brad Pitt was carrying in Spy Game, or whatever the movie was; because they can’t remember, but they recognise the Leica - a camera for life the stars and cognoscenti use.  They want that cool camera. They justify it because it has interchangeable lenses.  The shop owner extols the virtues of the SL3, as it is a better camera; but, our Unicorn didn’t come in for a “better” camera; for that, he would go back to JB HiFi and buy an A7R(n).  He came for a Leica!

So, he has the choice of an M11-M (only B&W? He’s not that old); an M11-D (weird); or an M11?  Now you’re talking.  Would sir like an OVF or an EVF?  They are the same camera, just a different viewfinder.  What does our Unicorn say? He’s familiar with EVFs because every other camera he’s used has an EVF - it’s the manual focus which surprises him, but the lenses are “reassuringly expensive”, if you’ll forgive me channeling Rutger Hauer.  And the M EV1 is not only familiar (all the information he needs in the view finder, including a histogram), and it’s a bit cheaper …

In a twist, he exclaims “but M means mesßucher!  If it has an EVF, it should be a Q with interchangeable L mount lenses!”

I don’t think so …

 

All sounds about right. But…
Been a long time since I was in Australia, unless JB Hi-Fi got a whole lot better, I’d be surprised anyone would buy a camera there! 

[SrMi]

7 hours ago, jonoslack said:

I quite agree. One of the things I try really hard to do is not to look at things simply through my own eyes, or my own wishes. 
That kind of write off certainly ignores what others may think. Cameras are always compromises and this one is no different. It certainly does have some shortcomings, but it also has some quite obvious longcomings (is that a thing!) 

Yes, I appreciate that in yours and Sean Reid's reviews.

[SrMi]

7 hours ago, LarryLeica said:

Good review, thanks! I am definitely interested in getting back into the Leica ecosystem with the EV1. 

The interview with Stefan Daniel returns, 

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This link still works: https://chatsphotog.com/musings/f/stefan-daniel-on-the-leica-m-ev1

[SrMi]

6 hours ago, newtoleica said:

Chatting with the Leica rep at red dot yesterday. He said that Leica envisaged suggesting the EV1 to those trying out the Q in store. Given a lot of Q owners do transition to the M and many say they would but for the lack of an EVF. The Leica name the quality and choice of lenses may tempt many over, and add lens sales as well. They wanted something with proven technology that would be a risk free product but a better experience haptics wise than using M lenses on another brand. They have succeeded in that. Fundamentally though, over 15 years I have become so used to the RF that I don’t want to put up with an EVF’s shortcomings. Managed to snag a mint used M11-D for the same price as a new EV1.  

Interesting comments by the Leica rep. Many, including me, prefer to use Q in MF mode. I do not have my Q with me to compare, but the experience with M-EV1 should not be worse.

[Olaf_ZG]

Just now, SrMi said:

Interesting comments by the Leica rep. Many, including me, prefer to use Q in MF mode. I do not have my Q with me to compare, but the experience with M-EV1 should not be worse.

I also use manual focus a lot, and can envision having the m ev with my 50mm summilux on it. Would prefer that over the q43. 

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[SrMi]

1 minute ago, Olaf_ZG said:

I also use manual focus a lot, and can envision having the m ev with my 50mm summilux on it. Would prefer that over the q43. 

Hmm, maybe the M-EV1 will eat into the sales of Qs, not of RF Ms?

[Olaf_ZG]

8 minutes ago, SrMi said:

Hmm, maybe the M-EV1 will eat into the sales of Qs, not of RF Ms?

I can only speak for myself, using M’s for some years only, and having (had) several M’s and Q’s. 
I wasn’t interested at all in any iteration of the m11. The ccd versions are enough for me to enjoy a rf experience. For me, photographing in portrait mode is tough, hence my SL for portraits.

If I could make portraits with this new camera, as quick as with my SL (my portraits are made one click at a time), I can see myself buying this camera.

A q2m plus m 50lux would be a most wonderful setup for me.

I would have ordered it already, if I wasn’t afraid to deal with bugs. The latest releases of Leica (m11/sl3) had a bit too many of them…