Jono: A Leica M EV1 Review

[zlatkob]

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The M EV1 makes a lot of sense. I'm surprised that the 35mm APO Summicron-M vignettes so much.

[tappan]

Thank you @jonoslack for the touching background story on Elsie Kuhn-Leitz. It IS nice to know that the Leica company was on the correct side of history.
Thanks as well for your thoughtful writings/photography. 
Could you tell me if the 35mm Summilux FLE that you used in some of these photos is the newest one?
Also, this may not be considerably lighter than the current black M11, however it is significantly lighter than my M10-P.
Coming from that weight difference situation (from the M10-P), how much heft and durability might this now lack?
Thanks,
Mark Garfinkel
Boston USA

[Elliot Harper]

My feeling towards this EV1 camera can be pretty much summarized by asking two questions:

1. Why do I want a EVF only camera without auto focus?

2. Why do I want a manual focus only camera without OVF/rangefinder?

If the price of the camera were halved, I might be attracted to it.

Otherwise, I am happy with my M10-R black paint, M11-P safari, SL3-S, and Q3/43.

 

I think Leica should have marketed this crap as Q with interchangeable M lenses.

I looked at my inventory again, I actually have M EV1 already, which is Q3/43 in manual focus mode with a fixed 43mm APO lens. 

 

 

Edited 10 hours ago by Elliot Harper

[IkarusJohn]

Nice, rational review, Jono (as always).

As you’ll have noticed in the other discussions, many posters got a bit over-excited about what this new camera might be, rather than what it was always going to be - a significant departure from the traditional M, while actually retaining everything but the rangefinder. I suspect the outrage will calm down after a while (some may need hosing down!).

This is a significant development for Leica, which has the potential to open many options.  I hope it signals new alternatives which enables Elsie to expand in a new direction, within the M fold.

Now, the camera I really would like is a “Classic” - a digital MP; rangefinder, excellent sensor, DNG only, nothing else …

[pgk]

17 minutes ago, charlesphoto99 said:

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 would say the same and add that, as a Sony EVF as well as rangefinder shooter, the review could equally well apply to a Sony EVF camera using M lenses via an adapter too. There are details which are different of course, but the main conclusions would be very similar. And there is a substantial cost difference. And the Sonys with their larger lens throat and shorter flange to sensor distance are far more versatile. I can see all the reasons many desire such a camera but I still see it as a compromise, better in some respects than a rangefinder M, but worse in others.

[Steve Ash]

Excellent review. Thanks a lot 

 

[LocalHero1953]

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Thank you, @jonoslack, as always, and especially for your photos!

This camera isn't for me. I'm not convinced that manual focusing on an EVF is a solution for deteriorating eyesight (mine is 'good enough' for the moment), but I can see its attractions especially for people interested in Leica for its image quality, usability and history, but unsure about a rangefinder. I suspect it will sell well.

[LocalHero1953]

One question: what is the EVF lag and blackout like? EVF lag is a less remarked factor where the OVF holds an advantage.

[Jamie Roberts]

Two big advantages I see here, beyond the obvious one about using longer lenses (and wider lenses) for composition and focus accuracy:

• sensor-level focus accuracy when close focusing with lenses that can do that, which many of my M lenses can do now (I hate using the back screen for focusing)
• no worries about your RF being slightly out of whack (or a lens mis-match, which happens pretty often when using different M lenses over time)
• directly seeing exposure in tricky lighting

That's not nothing. As a long-time RF user I do love it, and it's faster than many people think, but it *is* challenging to shoot a Mandler 75 Summilux wide open, or even to keep up with a 35 Lux wide open, or to take advantage of the close-focusing of the newer lenses, or to be precise in challenging exposure conditions. 

So I'm definitely considering it. The biggest lack here is IBIS--I think that's a missed opportunity--and the other thing I'm worried about is battery life in colder conditions. The current M11P is a champ there; all my EVF cams suffer from degraded battery life.

[scroy]

Thank you so much for the article Jono. Did you have a chance to test focus with long lenses? 135APO for instance? I have quite a bit trouble focusing this on my M11 as the rangefinder patch is quite small and have ended up only using it my SL3. 

Other plus perhaps is no longer needing to calibrate the rangefinder with a number of lenses 😁

Edited 10 hours ago by scroy

[evikne]

Thanks for another great review! I would love to try the new M EV1 one day.

[lanetomlane]

Great article Jono which I thoroughly enjoyed. I still love the rangefinder and at nearly 78 years young am fortunate enough to be able to use it accurately, however, I would dearly love to try this new camera. I have used M lenses on my SL2's but as you say, "what's the point", with the possible exception being the f0.95 50mm Noctilux. There are just so many good autofocus L mount lenses around.

I am going to try the M lenses again on the SL's and depending on how I go on, maybe heading up the A1/M sixty-something, to visit my old friend David Stephens.

Cheers and keep up the work.

[jonoslack]

32 minutes ago, lanetomlane said:

Great article Jono which I thoroughly enjoyed. I still love the rangefinder and at nearly 78 years young am fortunate enough to be able to use it accurately, however, I would dearly love to try this new camera. I have used M lenses on my SL2's but as you say, "what's the point", with the possible exception being the f0.95 50mm Noctilux. There are just so many good autofocus L mount lenses around.

I am going to try the M lenses again on the SL's and depending on how I go on, maybe heading up the A1/M sixty-something, to visit my old friend David Stephens.

Cheers and keep up the work.

Hi There Tom

Thank you - Glad you enjoyed it. I can still do the rangefinder okay - like most of us I have the start of cataracts (7%) recently a feisty Irish optician (very good and professional) said - "why not just pay and do them now? you never know when the colour will be affected, and afterwards you will only need glasses for reading" Food for thought!. 

I must go and visit David sometime, lovely guy! - never been there but I would like to!

all the best

[jonoslack]

4 hours ago, jps1 said:

As always, very good article and Thank you.

Little question: when is the battery wear compared to an M11?

Thanks

Good Question - the figures for the battery life don't look very good, but actually it's nearly as good as the M11 - like most of us, I set the standby to 60 minutes because the startup is rubbish - but I still don't need to change a battery during a days shooting. 

[Elliot Harper]

1 minute ago, jonoslack said:

Hi There Tom

Thank you - Glad you enjoyed it. I can still do the rangefinder okay - like most of us I have the start of cataracts (7%) recently a feisty Irish optician (very good and professional) said - "why not just pay and do them now? you never know when the colour will be affected, and afterwards you will only need glasses for reading" Food for thought!. 

I must go and visit David sometime, lovely guy! - never been there but I would like to!

all the best

Jono, nevertheless it's a great review as usual. Your review is always the first one I look for when a new Leica camera or lens comes out.

But I have to ask myself, what does this EV1 offer other than a EVF? I really don't get it. I have a Live View with my M11-P, what else EV1 offers other than switching live view from LCD screen to the viewfinder? It's a genuine question, I am really puzzled.

[jonoslack]

2 hours ago, student said:

Many thanks Jono for a fun review, though there is a sense that the jury is still deliberating the matter

Hah - did you find lines you could read between? 

I do think there are some really good things about it . . . but I won't be selling my M11 in a hurry!

[lanetomlane]

4 minutes ago, jonoslack said:

Hi There Tom

Thank you - Glad you enjoyed it. I can still do the rangefinder okay - like most of us I have the start of cataracts (7%) recently a feisty Irish optician (very good and professional) said - "why not just pay and do them now? you never know when the colour will be affected, and afterwards you will only need glasses for reading" Food for thought!. 

I must go and visit David sometime, lovely guy! - never been there but I would like to!

all the best

Yeah, David is a great guy. I bought my first Leica double-wind M3 from his Dad, Tom in 1969, when it was Stephens of Salford and have been faithful to them ever since.

[jonoslack]

2 hours ago, Elliot Harper said:

My feeling towards this EV1 camera can be pretty much summarized by asking two questions:

1. Why do I want a EVF only camera without auto focus?

2. Why do I want a manual focus only camera without OVF/rangefinder?

If the price of the camera were halved, I might be attracted to it.

Otherwise, I am happy with my M10-R black paint, M11-P safari, SL3-S, and Q3/43.

 

I think Leica should have marketed this crap as Q with interchangeable M lenses.

I looked at my inventory again, I actually have M EV1 already, which is Q3/43 in manual focus mode with a fixed 43mm APO lens. 

 

 

Hi there Elliot

It ain't a Q (the only thing in common is the viewfinder and the leatherette) everything else is M

1 minute ago, Elliot Harper said:

Jono, nevertheless it's a great review as usual. Your review is always the first one I look for when a new Leica camera or lens comes out.

But I have to ask myself, what does this EV1 offer other than a EVF? I really don't get it. I have a Live View with my M11-P, what else EV1 offers other than switching live view from LCD screen to the viewfinder? It's a genuine question, I am really puzzled.

Thank you - I'm flattered

When I write this stuff I do try really hard to think of lots of different people's point of view - yours is a pretty valid one, certainly if you are talking about a 43mm lens the Q3 43 is a no-brainer.

To be honest I'm not sure that there is much to be said for it for shooting mid range lenses (28-75) if you are going to stop them down, a rangefinder wins hands down. Different if you want to shoot wide open (think Noctilux)

You argue that your M11-P with a visoflex 2 is just as good.

I might say that my M11 is as well (even without my visoflex) - for the WATE or 135 you can always use the rear screen. 

But there is a difference between looking for shortcomings and observing the advantages!

All the best

[jonoslack]

7 minutes ago, lanetomlane said:

Yeah, David is a great guy. I bought my first Leica double-wind M3 from his Dad, Tom in 1969, when it was Stephens of Salford and have been faithful to them ever since.

I never met Tom, but the current crew are all great!

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[jonoslack]

2 hours ago, marknorton said:

Thanks for your usual excellent review Jono. It’s telling that my first reaction was “I wonder what Jono thinks?”  

I’m a bit surprised there isn’t focus confirmation which I take absolutely for granted on my Nikon Z9, for example.

What about battery life? I never went beyond the M10 but did add the Visoflex 2 but with that, the battery life is very poor, with no ability to use an additional battery or substitute a larger one.

As always with Leica, it’s an interesting next step but I feel the job is not done and having now reached the age of 70, the iterations need to keep on coming! 

Hi There Mark

Compared to the M10 with the visoflex the battery life is wonderful - lasts all day for me, even with standby set to 60 minutes. Not quite as good as the M11 but still fine.

Focus confirmation requires PDAF points and although some variants of this sensor have them - the M11 doesn't - more than that the whole point of this camera was to do it with the current M11 configuration, so no IBIS and no focus confirmation . . . . . this time. I'd guess that if this sells then these things will come to the M EV2

best

Jono