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

[PeterD]

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I was in my dealer's this afternoon, having got the notification from their marketing people this a.m. They only had their demo camera as they had already sold their only stock ( someone clearly likes it!), but the battery was flat! So it was just another box. Pretty light though with the lens off. Don't know whether I would rather have it or an M11Onochrom. Maybe horses for courses?

[sebas_]

I have thought Leica would put in the effort to come up with more innovative focus aids. Just peaking and zoom seems a bit underwhelming.
I was convinced that if they release an EVF version, it will certainly have some unique manual focus aids. 
64GB storage seems like they just had a stockpile of units from the M11 laying around - why not just put in 265 GB? 

I think it's good that Leica added this options to the line-up, but it just feels underwhelming for the price.
I was contemplating before to get one, but will not. Too expensive for what it turned out to be.  

[IkarusJohn]

A quick search on the forum of the M Edition 60 provides an interesting comparison to the M EV1 angst.  That was such a bad idea, apparently, sold badly, and resulted in the M-D, M10-D and M11-D, joining the equally terrible Monochrom series as highly sought after.

[brickftl]

I’m sure it will sell to a decent number but I’ll stick with my M11P for the rangefinder experience that I enjoy (especially after cataract surgery) and use my visoflex 2 for low light or when I want to look down for stealth. 

[DadDadDaddyo]

Looks like a camera body designed for distinct use cases. For those cases, it looks just great!

Those aren't my use cases, but I'm glad it's there. 

It's like when you go to the movies. Pay twenty bucks to get in. Before the movie starts they make you sit through five previews....

You sit there thinking, well, I'm not going to that one, or that one, or that one, or (sheesh!) definitely not that one, and probably not that one either. 

By the time your movie starts, you've saved a hundred bucks! 

You can make money going to the movies...

Edited Thursday at 10:38 PM by DadDadDaddyo

[Mute-on]

2 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

A quick search on the forum of the M Edition 60 provides an interesting comparison to the M EV1 angst.  That was such a bad idea, apparently, sold badly, and resulted in the M-D, M10-D and M11-D, joining the equally terrible Monochrom series as highly sought after.

Indeed. For all of those who criticise what it excludes, there are many who see it as a great leap forward for what it includes. As my eyesight deteriorates, there is still hope for a digital solution that will operate just as my beloved film Ms, but with the ability to use the viewfinder for wide angle and telephoto lenses, and see the entire frame. No clunky additional visoflex required! Brilliant!

[Eugene Young]

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5 minutes ago, hroark said:

IBIS in my SL2 works great with M lenses. 

I am wondering why there is  still existing tiny RF patch window. Just for design beauty or future RF focusing through firmware upgrading.

[algrove]

5 minutes ago, Eugene Young said:

I am wondering why there is  still existing tiny RF patch window. Just for design beauty or future RF focusing through firmware upgrading.

Self-timer.

[FarbSpieler]

let’s be honest, this isn’t really an M anymore. The whole point of the M is the mechanical rangefinder and the direct, optical experience that defines it. Once you replace that with an EVF, you’ve essentially built a new camera.

So basically, this is a Q without autofocus that takes M lenses.

Nothing wrong with that, and I’m sure it’ll appeal to plenty of people who like the M look but prefer EVF focusing. But let’s call it what it is: a different camera, not a continuation of the rangefinder lineage.

[hillavoider]

Do you get a square on the eye when focusing? that would be good 

[hexx]

4 minutes ago, hillavoider said:

Do you get a square on the eye when focusing? that would be good 

Nope, nothing like that. The only focus aids are zoom and peaking

[Eugene Young]

9 minutes ago, algrove said:

Self-timer.

Selftimer needs tiny small patch window?Na~~No small patch window on Leica q.

[hillavoider]

1 minute ago, hexx said:

Nope, nothing like that. The only focus aids are zoom and peaking

oh dear i'm not that great with the peaking 

[IkarusJohn]

30 minutes ago, Mute-on said:

Indeed. For all of those who criticise what it excludes, there are many who see it as a great leap forward for what it includes. As my eyesight deteriorates, there is still hope for a digital solution that will operate just as my beloved film Ms, but with the ability to use the viewfinder for wide angle and telephoto lenses, and see the entire frame. No clunky additional visoflex required! Brilliant!

It’s a problem, isn’t it?

I’ve had both cataracts done, but have developed astigmatism (only an issue beyond about 20 metres), so actually I’m good with both an EVF and rangefinder.  I’ve played with telephotos and ultra-wides, and I find for the majority of my photography, I’m happy in the range 21mm to 75mm, which makes the M system ideal.  The SL is great as an all weather, universal platform for just about anything.  Mine is relegated to scanning slides (with the fabulous Sigma 105 macro ART lens), the 24-90 zoom and my APO Elmarit-R 180/2.8 (as much telephoto as I need, handheld).  

When I need an EVF, I have an X2D (for wides), my SL, M10-D with Visoflex and TL2.  I really don’t need an M EV1, and the M11 has never appealed.  Besides, I’m not really an “upgrader”, needing to buy each new M release.  But, I do think this is just the right release for Leica, and I think it will sell well as, contrary to what many say here (including Leica), the rangefinder is not the heart of the M system.  What was decisive for me was fine manual focus prime lenses and a user interface which I could understand at first glance and operate directly.  The X2D has the same appeal with the V lenses.

That said, I get the reservations about focusing with the EVF.  I don’t like focus peaking as I don’t find it accurate enough, and auto-magnification is very slow.  I’m not sure if many remember, but when @jonoslack reviewed the SL, he made the comment that he just focused looking at the image.  This has been my approach since then and I’m sure it would work with the new camera.

I’ve often wondered how Nikon included a little green focus confirmation light in the viewfinder of the F5, even with a manual focus Nikkor lens.

Edited Thursday at 11:11 PM by IkarusJohn

[lct]

5 minutes ago, hillavoider said:

oh dear i'm not that great with the peaking 

You may wish to try focus magnification + focus peaking. Works well for me on the M11 and i don't expect the MEV1 to be worse in this respect.

Edited Thursday at 11:06 PM by lct

[tappan]

Wait, is this like Porsche making the newest model standard, with no stick shift?
WonderBread making their newest loaf with no wonder?
Charmin telling you that yes, it's ok to squeeze the Charmin?
The Kars4Kidz commercial kids spelling it Cars For Kids?
Ernest and Julio Gallo actually selling a wine BEFORE its time?
Mick Jagger ACTUALLY getting satisfaction?
Come on, help me here 🙂
 

[hexx]

6 minutes ago, Eugene Young said:

Selftimer needs tiny small patch window?Na~~No small patch window on Leica q.

It’s a self-timer LED. It’s in the manual. It blinks so you know when selfie is going to be taken. I know, feels gimmicky, but it is what it is. 

[Reciprocity]

Well one thing is for sure, no polarizing filter needed with the M EV1, it's polarizing all on it's own...;-)

[rramesh]

If the M-EV is just an EVF slapped onto a M striped of its rangefinder, why couldn't they make the EVF tilt?

Wouldn't that be easy or would it be reserved for the M-EV-P.

The only reason I purchased a Visoflex for my M10 was its ability to take shots low to the ground and at an angle.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[IkarusJohn]

1 minute ago, rramesh said:

The only reason I purchased a Visoflex for my M10 was its ability to take shots low to the ground and at an angle.

Surely you still can.