Leica M EV1: The first M with EVF instead of Rangefinder

[Kiwimac]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

8 hours ago, algrove said:

Wait a minute, how can that be? It costs about $1000 to remove it from the M11 for an M11M.

It’s now a subscription service. 
 

Red Dot - $500 per annum 

 

No Red Dot - $800 per annum

 

 in both, Wetzlar gain an unrestricted right to own everything you shoot. You may lease back your work at rates to be advised. 
 

Adobe are advisors on the new methodology. 

[BernardC]

14 hours ago, Kiwimac said:

Having seen the herd of YouTubers Leica flew to Germany for the launch, Leica clearly think YT is the whole world 🤣

A single tactical strike could have dealt to just about every YT channel that ever mentioned Leica!

Clearly that's how a lot of photographers get their news these days, including yourself. Most photo magazines are gone (or pointless). Our favourite writers are now freelancers.

The few people I follow weren't invited, or they declined. They got their M EV1 from a local shop or distributor. Some of them have been to Wetzlar for previous launches, but clearly it's not the exotic holiday that it's made-out to be (by some): industrial park hotel, breakfast buffet, chilly overcast weather. 

[algrove]

Italy was well represented in the EV1 YT stuff. You are right-it is so boring to watch how one says it and the other has to say it slightly differently to be independent or whatever. I see Petapixel video guy even shot Ted Forbes video for him since Ted was on his own.

Sad tale.

[Paulus]

I tried the M EV1 today....

 

With a summilux 1,4 ash and an apo-telyt 135mm . The pictures ar rather sharp but the viewing trough te finder are so bad... so bad.. It's not a rangefinder-experience  at all . 

The things I like from the rangefinder... are gone. The camera is to slow for making fast photos because of the way you have to handle and keep  looking for a way to stay in focus, which is so different from the viewfinder that is frustrating. The Q had less issues, it was an EV , but the autofocus worked and this M EV1 is terrible in Manual . 

 

I must say, I never used a EV before, so this is maybe my experience, but I just don't like it. The M11p is so much faster in handling , the M EV1 is  annoying. Totally convinced: No camera for me. But you have to trie it first before you buy it , I heartily advise. 

 

And. the advertisement? This https://leica-camera.com/en-int/photography/cameras/m/m-ev1-black?utm_source=CRM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20251030_HQ_ROW_LNL2_M_ybh&cpid=912183bc42354c3c8b8e2db8bed1d7bb#focus

I did not find this way of looking through the lens at all. What did I do wrong? 

 

 

 

 

[Paulus]

Am 26.10.2025 um 22:42 schrieb BillCB:

Well, I've read all 29 (so far) pages of critique and find myself rather amused. I see the new camera as one of many choices in the Leica line up and applaud the fact we have choices. I love the M11-P but when it comes to using the APO 135  (and even the 90 mm) I find RF focussing problematic and I switch to the SL. To have an M that can avoid parallax error and shoot macro is another great tool.

Thanks for the choice, Leica!

 

The M11p focussing with the apo 135mm is rather good! The manusl focussing is faster than with the M EV1 and appears to be spot on! 

[Paulus]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb Paulus:

I tried the M EV1 today....

 

With a summilux 1,4 ash and an apo-telyt 135mm . The pictures ar rather sharp but the viewing trough te finder are so bad... so bad.. It's not a rangefinder-experience  at all . 

The things I like from the rangefinder... are gone. The camera is to slow for making fast photos because of the way you have to handle and keep  looking for a way to stay in focus, which is so different from the viewfinder that is frustrating. The Q had less issues, it was an EV , but the autofocus worked and this M EV1 is terrible in Manual . 

 

I must say, I never used a EV before, so this is maybe my experience, but I just don't like it. The M11p is so much faster in handling , the M EV1 is  annoying. Totally convinced: No camera for me. But you have to trie it first before you buy it , I heartily advise. 

 

And. the advertisement? This https://leica-camera.com/en-int/photography/cameras/m/m-ev1-black?utm_source=CRM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20251030_HQ_ROW_LNL2_M_ybh&cpid=912183bc42354c3c8b8e2db8bed1d7bb#focus

I did not find this way of looking through the lens at all. What did I do wrong? 

 

 

 

 

What bothers me a little is that this idea just isn’t true IMHO , Leica states about the M EV1 : 

 

The Easiest Way to Enter the Legendary M-System  “ 

[Paulus]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Gerade eben schrieb Paulus:

What bothers me a little is that this idea just isn’t true IMHO , Leica states about the M EV1 : 

 

The Easiest Way to Enter the Legendary M-System  “ 

When I started with the M6 , I was using a Minolta 7000 AF and a Nikon F3 . 
In the manual of the M6 I could read the simple explanation of how to focus, it was so easy , even a child can do it;

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

 

[SrMi]

5 minutes ago, Paulus said:

What bothers me a little is that this idea just isn’t true IMHO , Leica states about the M EV1 : 

 

The Easiest Way to Enter the Legendary M-System  “ 

I believe that for most, using an EVF is easier than using an RF. So they can start with M-EV1 and then graduate to an RF M.

[Paulus]

vor 4 Minuten schrieb SrMi:

I believe that for most, using an EVF is easier than using an RF. So they can start with M-EV1 and then graduate to an RF M.

Why would this be? Is the learning curve so much steeper?
Directing two squares over each other until they fall in place is not rocket science? As I remember corectly , it took me one magical evening unboxing and practising in an almost dark livingroom.  It worked like s charm! 

[edstock]

I'm not a technician and really don't understand most of what is being said. Did Leica really say this new VF overcomes the problems associated with the M rangefinder? I've been using Leica Ms and Rs professionally since the '70s, and for my own pleasure. I've never had a problem, and at $8,000, they can keep it.

[Jipster]

34 minutes ago, edstock said:

I'm not a technician and really don't understand most of what is being said. Did Leica really say this new VF overcomes the problems associated with the M rangefinder? I've been using Leica Ms and Rs professionally since the '70s, and for my own pleasure. I've never had a problem, and at $8,000, they can keep it.

For whatever it is worth, the most interesting aspect of the EV1 for me is the ability to use a larger set of lenses without any fuss. Long lenses (including long R lenses), close focus lenses without an Visoflex or on the back screen and very wide angle lenses without an extra external viewfinder. That said, probably not for me as of now, but used in a few years, who knows.

[Paulus]

vor 5 Stunden schrieb Jipster:

For whatever it is worth, the most interesting aspect of the EV1 for me is the ability to use a larger set of lenses without any fuss. Long lenses (including long R lenses), close focus lenses without an Visoflex or on the back screen and very wide angle lenses without an extra external viewfinder. That said, probably not for me as of now, but used in a few years, who knows.

That’s what thought also. 
 

But maybe I did something wrong, when I tried the M EV1 yesterday, because that advantage dit not work with the 135mm. 
could it be, because with the M10/11 your eyes focus is really on the subject, but with the M EV1 your eye ‘s focus is really close because it’s just a little tv screen where you watch on from close distance instead of looking through a real piece of glas?
so actually I have to use + 2 reading glasses here. instead of no reafing glasses with the M10/11? 
That a different kind of approach, like  making picturrs with an iphone with you eye against the screen instead of holding it one meter before uou.    
 

I

this way, I cannot use two eyes, because the one must be +2 and the other blurry or -0 ? 

[charlesphoto99]

14 hours ago, Jipster said:

For whatever it is worth, the most interesting aspect of the EV1 for me is the ability to use a larger set of lenses without any fuss. Long lenses (including long R lenses), close focus lenses without an Visoflex or on the back screen and very wide angle lenses without an extra external viewfinder. That said, probably not for me as of now, but used in a few years, who knows.

I was out working on my crows project yesterday with my M10M and 135mm APO. As long as something is still, you will probably get better focus results with the EV1. As soon as something is moving (flying as it may be) all bets are off. I can track and rack with the RF better than a magnifier pop up which  leaves me entirely lost as to what's going on (I've tried with the 020). AF of course would be ideal for the most keepers, but it's not really the vibe I'm after. 

[charlesphoto99]

9 hours ago, Paulus said:

because with the M10/11 your eyes focus is really on the subject, but with the M EV1 your eye ‘s focus is really close because it’s just a little tv screen where you watch on from close distance instead of looking through a real piece of glass?

Yep, that's exactly the issue for myself and many. Even with the classic SLR, one is actually looking at a mirror only an inch away from the eye. Even this can introduce a lot of eye strain. At least one is still viewing reality in realtime, and not at 5mp and 60hz. 

I recently got eyeglasses with transitional darkening, and I hate them. It's quite convenient when it's truly sunny out, but a lot of the time I find them too dark in cloudy or hazy situations, and it's like something is always obscuring my vision and I can't even enjoy the light let alone get a read on it (and as a photographer, light is everything). I find a similar analogy to the M RF verse EVF. With the RF finder, one is always seeing reality as it is, and it's your imagination that has to to envision what the final image might look like, with the 'dumb' camera taking merely what you point it at, with the settings you've made from experience. With an EVF, one is always looking at the world translated through a miniature TV, leaving little to the imagination (of course sometimes we don't want to leave things up to the imagination, especially in commercial photography). 

[algrove]

16 hours ago, edstock said:

I'm not a technician and really don't understand most of what is being said. Did Leica really say this new VF overcomes the problems associated with the M rangefinder? I've been using Leica Ms and Rs professionally since the '70s, and for my own pleasure. I've never had a problem, and at $8,000, they can keep it.

No--it's US$9000, but even at $8k it is priced too aggressively for me.

Edited Friday at 05:45 PM by algrove

[algrove]

16 hours ago, Jipster said:

For whatever it is worth, the most interesting aspect of the EV1 for me is the ability to use a larger set of lenses without any fuss. Long lenses (including long R lenses), close focus lenses without an Visoflex or on the back screen and very wide angle lenses without an extra external viewfinder. That said, probably not for me as of now, but used in a few years, who knows.

I hear you, but if once in a while if I need help I just put the Viso2 on my M11 and it works GREAT.

[algrove]

I heard someone posted 8 reasons why he likes the EV1. It turned out he had many R lenses on his list of 8 lenses and many were long. To me one should have the IBIS of the SL3 for these heavy, long lenses like the 280 he shows.

[Strmbrg]

”Comparing this to that.. and that to this…”

😵‍💫😵‍💫

Why not shift focus and compare things to ones own needs, priorities and opinions instead? I try to think that way.

This is why I don’t want the M11. I don’t like the fact that the sensor is open so much, due to the exposure-technique it uses. Dust contaminating the sensor may be a much bigger issue in M11 than in my M10-R. Shure, that is a camera-comparing aspect, but not regarding performance and such.

The new M EV-1 is to me so crazy, because of the complex way of focusing in reality. At least I suppose so.
Full aperture - focus - maybe even magnifying (but still seeing the same red pixels…) - change aperure - (by taking the camera from my eye to see the value or counting clicks) - press shutter…

I don’t even want to try it. I want the gear out of the way and concentrate myself on seeing possibilities to create images.

Well, with EVF you see ”exactly” what you will get. Maybe in some aspects, but I learn to understand what I will get quite well. And the aspect if seeing exactly the same boundaries as the sensor sees? Well, it was long time ago I used slides and had to get the boundaries rigt in the camera. Now, just step a little backwards to get some post-cropping margin. But anyway, most images win by selecting a different aspect ratio than the sensors one.

🙂

PS
When I had a Q2 I did not at all use the manual focus-function. It was just a more complicated and inaccurate way of focusing than the auto-focus. So why the same but without the auto-focus?

 

Edited 22 hours ago by Strmbrg

[SrMi]

50 minutes ago, Strmbrg said:

”Comparing this to that.. and that to this…”

😵‍💫😵‍💫

Why not shift focus and compare things to ones own needs, priorities and opinions instead? I try to think that way.

This is why I don’t want the M11. I don’t like the fact that the sensor is open so much, due to the exposure-technique it uses. Dust contaminating the sensor may be a much bigger issue in M11 than in my M10-R. Shure, that is a camera-comparing aspect, but not regarding performance and such.

The new M EV-1 is to me so crazy, because of the complex way of focusing in reality. At least I suppose so.
Full aperture - focus - maybe even magnifying (but still seeing the same red pixels…) - change aperure - (by taking the camera from my eye to see the value or counting clicks) - press shutter…

I don’t even want to try it. I want the gear out of the way and concentrate myself on seeing possibilities to create images.

Well, with EVF you see ”exactly” what you will get. Maybe in some aspects, but I learn to understand what I will get quite well. And the aspect if seeing exactly the same boundaries as the sensor sees? Well, it was long time ago I used slides and had to get the boundaries rigt in the camera. Now, just step a little backwards to get some post-cropping margin. But anyway, most images win by selecting a different aspect ratio than the sensors one anyway.

🙂

PS
When I had a Q2 I did not at all use the manual focus-function. It was just a more complicated and inaccurate way of focusing than the auto-focus. So why the same but without the auto-focus?

 

I find Q3's MF more accurate than AF, and also more flexible, as I cannot do BBF with Q3.

While I always focused wide open with my Rodenstock and M lenses, I decided to start focusing M-EV1 at working aperture, unless I cannot discern the point of sharpness. While I know that I get more precise focusing wide open and magnified (more accurate than with a rangefinder as well), I am finding that I can get well-focused images with a 28mm and up to f/5.6 (did not try more closed). The main drawback is the slight delay when going from magnified to an unmagnified view.

I think one can adapt one's own shooting technique to M-EV1 to be efficient.

M-EV1 is certainly no rangefinder camera, but I do not feel it is in the way of creativity. 

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[lct]

47 minutes ago, Strmbrg said:

The new M EV-1 is to me so crazy, because of the complex way of focusing in reality. At least I suppose so. Full aperture - focus - maybe even magnifying (but still seeing the same red pixels…) - change aperure - (by taking the camera from my eye to see the value or counting clicks) - press shutter…

Other methods could be simpler and faster.
For instance with autozoom and focus peaking:
1. Focus at working aperture;
2. Recompose if needed;
3. Shoot.