FIRST IMPRESSIONS — LEICA EV-1 M

[Derbyshire Man]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

7 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Some of the posts here appear to imply that anyone could take shots like the OP if they had a technically better camera. 

Not mine, my point was to able to have a hope of doing the same I would probably reach for something else as my success rate I suspect would be annoyingly low *for me*. And I am certainly of the opinion that having ‘a better camera’ is no more likely to make one a better photographer than a better word processor makes one an author or a nice scalpel a surgeon. 

Edited November 21 by Derbyshire Man

[LocalHero1953]

28 minutes ago, Derbyshire Man said:

Not mine, my point was to able to have a hope of doing the same I would probably reach for something else as my success rate I suspect would be annoyingly low *for me*. And I am certainly of the opinion that having ‘a better camera’ is no more likely to make one a better photographer than a better word processor makes one an author or a nice scalpel a surgeon. 

Fair comment. But sometimes the ability to take photos that are beyond just technically excellent doesn't depend on having a camera with the perfect functionality but rather on being inspired by, or bonding with, certain cameras and lenses. 

[GFW2-SCUSA]

The OP offered his impressions on using a new camera in a specific situation which would be a challenge with any camera. He posted pictures that proved the points of his impressions beautifully. Following that came a slew of comments, not about the quality of his photography but about minutia and about what other people would use in the same situation - some comments challenging the OP rather insistently 

My concern is the lack of appreciation for the man's work, for his taking the time to offer real life usage of this new Leica and a festering grumpy undertone. Is this really the spirit of a forum that is, in general helpful and supportive and friendly? Is it due to Autumn arriving and we are seeing more grey days? Is it because the world is confused and on edge? Is it because egos are feeling threatened?  I don't know, but I don't like it. It isn't helpful and it is not encouraging for others who might want to offer a well thought out opinions supported with fine images. Leica cameras are of superb quality; its users should strive for the same. 

[jaapv]

On 11/20/2025 at 4:05 PM, Irakly Shanidze said:

What makes M special is the glass. Everything else is just the means.

I cannot quite agree. Having a rangefinder certainly changes the way one takes the photograph and with that the photo itself. Better or worse? I could not say. 

[SrMi]

5 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I cannot quite agree. Having a rangefinder certainly changes the way one takes the photograph and with that the photo itself. Better or worse? I could not say. 

I agree. While M lenses have something special, the rangefinder experience adds an exceptional shooting experience, which reflects in the final result.

[jdlaing]

31 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I cannot quite agree. Having a rangefinder certainly changes the way one takes the photograph and with that the photo itself. Better or worse? I could not say. 

Maybe not better or worse but different. It’s subjective.

[LocalHero1953]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Can you tell a rangefinder photo from one taken with an EVF? Because the subject is centred? Does this mean M-EV1 photos will not have a family resemblance to M11 photos?

[IkarusJohn]

Thank you, @Irakly Shanidze, for a careful and informative post; and lovely images.  Truly inspiring.  I’m not in the market for an M EV1, but your thoughts on focusing manual lenses with an EVF is instructive for using the Visoflex and my X2D.

To just clarify your observations, presumably once the shutter is released, the “lag” you observe is the same whether using an M EV1 or an M11P?  Or are you saying that using an EVF slows the image record time because the buffer needs to clear before the sensor records the image?

Also, maybe I misread you, but does the higher resolution result in lag in the EVF image in the viewfinder?

Blackout drives me crazy. I've always thought that 60MP in an M camera was pointless.  Pixel binning/aggregation reads like hair splitting to me - if “aggregation” is simply a refinement of “binning”, do we really care?  Leica apparently doesn’t as it has used both terms.  Surely the issue is loss of image quality (measured how?) with different resolutions …

[Mahesh]

On 11/20/2025 at 3:02 PM, Smogg said:

Zone focus with Noctilux at f1?🤣

So rangefinder focussing at f1 for fast moving subjects, like birds flying? 😵‍💫

[Mahesh]

On 11/20/2025 at 3:06 PM, Irakly Shanidze said:

right, at f/16 🤣

I have shot fast moving subjects using rangefinder zone at 5.6, so can't we do that with M EV1? 

At very bright apertures (< f4), fast moving subjects will pose challenge to most Leicas (rangefinder or not) , unless you use a Sony camera with subject detection. 

[jaapv]

6 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Can you tell a rangefinder photo from one taken with an EVF? Because the subject is centred? Does this mean M-EV1 photos will not have a family resemblance to M11 photos?

The difference is in the viewing. With an EVF you are looking at the projection of the resulting photo on a screen. With the optical VFRF you are looking directly into the actual scene. The result is that photos taken with the optical system tend to feel more involved. 

[IkarusJohn]

4 hours ago, jaapv said:

The difference is in the viewing. With an EVF you are looking at the projection of the resulting photo on a screen. With the optical VFRF you are looking directly into the actual scene. The result is that photos taken with the optical system tend to feel more involved. 

And centred.

[jaapv]

17 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

And centred.

I've learned to swing my camera 😜

[jdlaing]

27 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

And centred.

Not necessarily. I sometimes focus and recompose.

[IkarusJohn]

14 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I've learned to swing my camera 😜

And guess how much to pull your head back 🥱

[LocalHero1953]

55 minutes ago, jaapv said:

The difference is in the viewing. With an EVF you are looking at the projection of the resulting photo on a screen. With the optical VFRF you are looking directly into the actual scene. The result is that photos taken with the optical system tend to feel more involves. 

I asked if anyone can tell photos from a RF camera from those from an EVF: not in a single photo, but what characteristics are indicative? Do you think M-EV1 photos will look different from those from a M11?

My opinion: I don't see a difference, but maybe that's just my lack of discrimination.

Edited November 21 by LocalHero1953

[SrMi]

12 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I asked if anyone can tell photos from a RF camera from those from an EVF: not in a single photo, but what characteristics are indicative? Do you think M-EV1 photos will look different from those from a M11?

My opinion: I don't see a difference, but maybe that's just my lack of discrimination.

Taking a photo of the same scene, you will not see a difference. However, you shots may be different when shooting with rangefinder or EVF.

[LocalHero1953]

21 minutes ago, SrMi said:

Taking a photo of the same scene, you will not see a difference. However, you shots may be different when shooting with rangefinder or EVF.

But how different?

[jaapv]

4 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

And guess how much to pull your head back 🥱

Yup

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[pgk]

13 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I asked if anyone can tell photos from a RF camera from those from an EVF: not in a single photo, but what characteristics are indicative? Do you think M-EV1 photos will look different from those from a M11?

My opinion: I don't see a difference, but maybe that's just my lack of discrimination.

Firstly I would defy anyone to consistently identify photographs from various cameras and lenses if they are similarly specified. Secondly, its not actually about whether photographs look different, its about the capabilities to take the photograph.

I shoot one a variety of cameras and lenses. Depending on my output needs the results can vary from indistinguishable to unique depending on subject matter and how an image is shot. Technical quality can be surprisingly good from many different (sometimes very old) combinations. Aesthetic quality is always subjective and some lovely photographs can be taken on ancient lenses or indeed the latest state-of-the-art lenses. But the ability to use a specific camera to take these infers little about its general viability other than that it can, in certain ircumstances, with a photographer who understands what he/she is doing, work effectively. Which is surely the point of this thread?