betfair wrote:
how good is the app on ios? sorry, i never owned digital leica but now thinking about an M11.I hated the Fuji app with GFX 100s it was like the worst thing ever i have used. Copying 10 jpg photos would take 5 mins im not even kidding.
It's okay. Works well, but transfer is slow. Compared to Apple's Airdrop, it's painfully slow. But it works well to get images on to your phone and then into Lightroom. Lightroom is pretty slow with these files as well. To be honest I think the mobile workflow for files of this size is going to always be disappointing.
1bwana1 wrote:
I have only had 1 Leica M camera, my M10-P. So far I have encountered zero issues.
I just checked my RF calibration. It appears to be fine at 0.7 meters, 3 meters, and infinity. No vertical or horizontal offset. Not sure the proper way to test for accuracy, but here is how I did it. I set to the numbers on the focus ring, and slid the camera into position until the RF looked perfect through the viewfinder. Then I measured the distance with tape measure (except for infinity of course). I used the small white line for setting shutter speed as the center of the camera assuming this is probably close to the focal plane of the sensor. The images at F2 looked spot on in focus. So, the RF rectangle is easy to read, and appears to be spot on with focus at the set labeled distances. Some who are more knowledgeable, and tend toward pixels peeping may find issues. I am not sure. For me, the RF is setting reliable focus when shooting in the real World, and that is what matters to me.
All the buttons and menu items I have used seem to work fine. I am encountering no freezes, Lockups, or other issues in the field when using the camera. Some things seem a little quirky, and not designed for the most convenient operation. But, this is true of all the cameras I have have owned. Maybe Leica has sorted things out through various firmware updates during the time the M10-P has been released. Mine is a pretty recent build of this version of the camera.
I tried to create an image that showed a sensor bifurcation line by shooting frames as described in the Leica comments. I shot high ISO (12500), underexposed images, with a suitable amount of detail in the lower frame, and smooth colored section in the top of the frame. I then pushed in Light Room up to proper exposure. I tested frames that requires 3 stops, 4 stops, and 5 stops of exposure slider. I then tried adding various other sliders at both ends of slider extremes. No matter what I did I could never see a bifurcation line. I will say that even if the line did finally appear under these conditions it would not bother me much. The images were so bad for so many other reasons that they would be totally unusable. If I missed exposure by this much I missed the shot anyway.
So far my very limited experience of only 1 camera has shown a high level of QC in my experience. I am a very pleased Leica customer at this point. I am hoping that reliability over time also proves to be good. I hear repair times are long, and costs are high. Not looking forward to having to deal with that.
My big frustration at this point is having only Voigtlander lenses. I have the 28mm Ultron, the 50mm Nokton, and the 75mm Nokton. I am very pleased with these lenses. But, I still want to acquire a Leica lens to get the whole Leica experience. I am thinking of adding a 35mm Summicron to my collection. It really doesn't make sense to have a 35mm in the lineup, but I don't know of another FL I would get good use out of in my Leica kit. I know, these are rich mans problems.
The M11 is a new camera that seems to be a big leap in technology for Leica. I do hear a number of what seem to be valid complaints regarding QC with this edition of camera. Let's hope that the bugs and issues all get worked out over time as they seem to have been in the M10-P. I may upgrade in a couple of years if they do.
My husband and I have been considering a move to a Leica M11, but have been concerned reading up on issues with QC and super long repair times. We are long time Canon users till late, and would consider ourselves as strict amateurs. But I've had Leica M lenses before used with my Canon and feel in love with the lenses. I simply wanted to ask this thread of extremely experienced Leica users instead of going by hearsay. Is Leica a safe buy these days?
Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions!
chrislee wrote:
My husband and I have been considering a move to a Leica M11, but have been concerned reading up on issues with QC and super long repair times. We are long time Canon users till late, and would consider ourselves as strict amateurs. But I've had Leica M lenses before used with my Canon and feel in love with the lenses. I simply wanted to ask this thread of extremely experienced Leica users instead of going by hearsay. Is Leica a safe buy these days?
Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions!
Sure it's a safe buy. Leica is one of the most profitabe camera companies on the planet. BUT. It's still a very small company compared to a multi tier enterprise like Canon and Fujifilm, who also make other stuff. And the M11 is hand assembled with many more mechanical parts than most modern cameras. You need to know that going in. It's all about expectations.
Repair times are long but problems are not as common as they were with the M9 and M240. And the RF experience is fabulous but not for everybody.
I have an M11 question regarding lens detection/selection by the camera. I'm using non-Leica M-mount lenses. In the lens detection menu, I have selected 'Manual M' lens which takes me to a menu to edit list of M-lenses. I pick lenses which approximate the lenses I am using and turn them all on. I can see the list of manual M lenses that I have turned on. I can return to that menu and see the list of lenses I have turned.
However, when I switch profiles, that lens list goes away. But it goes away for all profiles including the default profile. This happens no matter which profile I used to create the list of manual M-mount lenses. I've read through the user manual and can't find anything more than the setup of manual lenses.
I hope this is understandable but if anyone has any ideas here, I'm stumped.
rji2goleez wrote:
I have an M11 question regarding lens detection/selection by the camera. I'm using non-Leica M-mount lenses. In the lens detection menu, I have selected 'Manual M' lens which takes me to a menu to edit list of M-lenses. I pick lenses which approximate the lenses I am using and turn them all on. I can see the list of manual M lenses that I have turned on. I can return to that menu and see the list of lenses I have turned.
However, when I switch profiles, that lens list goes away. But it goes away for all profiles including the default profile. This happens no matter which profile I used to create the list of manual M-mount lenses. I've read through the user manual and can't find anything more than the setup of manual lenses.
I hope this is understandable but if anyone has any ideas here, I'm stumped....Show more →
Do you save a custom user profile, before switching ?
rji2goleez wrote:
OK, didn't know i had to save the list with each profile. So then you can't save the list with the default profile then?
Nope, but it is fine, default it's is like a hard coded profile. You can save your customization in various profiles.
you can make a Default 2 saving your list over a default setting, then save a customized command profile with your list too.
chrislee wrote:
My husband and I have been considering a move to a Leica M11, but have been concerned reading up on issues with QC and super long repair times. We are long time Canon users till late, and would consider ourselves as strict amateurs. But I've had Leica M lenses before used with my Canon and feel in love with the lenses. I simply wanted to ask this thread of extremely experienced Leica users instead of going by hearsay. Is Leica a safe buy these days?
Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions!
I have an M11 with a production date of 8/09/22. It's currently en route to Leica NJ for service as either the rangefinder or a 50mm Summilux (production date 9/09/222) has error/calibration issue as well. I've asked them to look at the lens and RF separately and together to try to sort out issues I'm having.
Combined with the production issues with the new 35 Summilux FLE v2 (aperture blade issue, current pause on production of those), Leica is clearly experiencing some QC issues. I also noticed some major customer service problems when dealing with Leica NJ. Basic stuff like not having people to answer the phone, inconsistent answers from reps, etc. The M11 is a PHENOMENAL camera and I can't wait to get mine back. The lenses are legitimately incredible. The size of the system is unmatched for compactness considering the image quality. But I am more than a little disappointed by the QC issues. I certainly don't want to push you away from Leica, but you are not wrong for thinking that some things are kinda rocky right now.
Thanks. Well, the M11 is being delivered today for my other half. Fingers crossed. I decided to get a used A1 for myself. I know he feels it's a little of a crap shot re: customer service. Seems like the whole world is having staffing issues. Ugh...
For some good news I will say that reports of M10's and M11's with calibration issues are MUCH lower than prevoius generations. Both my M9's, both my M240's and both my M-P's required almost immediate adjustment (from the M240 you could do it yourself if you had the mind to). My M10's, one required a vertical adjustment after a few months and so far nothing with my M10M and M11. My M11 still has perfect alignment after 4 months or so of regular use.
I’ve exactly sure what you guys mean by using the word “required adjustment” Obviously I do not know much about rangefinders myself.
As a sidenote, the M11 and lenses…I mean Christmas gift, just landed 30 min ago, and he’s still savoring the opening ceremony 😊. I look very much forward to handling it when he gives me permission 😂
chrislee wrote:
I’ve exactly sure what you guys mean by using the word “required adjustment” Obviously I do not know much about rangefinders myself.
As a sidenote, the M11 and lenses…I mean Christmas gift, just landed 30 min ago, and he’s still savoring the opening ceremony 😊. I look very much forward to handling it when he gives me permission 😂
I know exactly how you feel. I just got my M11 less than a week ago. No issues with mine and I love what this camera can do and how compact it is. I'm a rangefinder newbie as well.
chrislee wrote:
I’ve exactly sure what you guys mean by using the word “required adjustment” Obviously I do not know much about rangefinders myself.
The rangefinder mechanism is how the camera focuses. It doesn't see through the lens. Your new/used A1 that you're getting "sees" with the shutter open, so what the lens "sees" is what the sensor sees. That's not the case with a rangefinder. The mechanism that does the rangefinding is a) mechanical vs electronic b) complex c) assembled by hand. Without going into more detail, if the rangefinder is out of alignment images will not be in proper focus even though they may *look* like they're in proper focus when you're using the rangefinder. Some brave folks will adjust their own. Others send them to experts to adjust/align/calibrate the rangefinder. In my case, since my M11 is so new, I'm asking Leica to do it. For out of warranty cameras, there are skilled Leica technicians who work independently. They take the camera, expose the adjustment elements, and get the rangefinder calibrated so that when it looks focused in the RF window, it's going to yield a focused image.
Your A1 and other mirrorless electronic cameras have autofocus fine-tuning capabilities that can also be used to make sure focus is as accurate as possible. That's not doable with a Leica M so the bodies are more finicky and need expert care to run properly. Think of the M11 like an exotic European sports car. When it runs well, there's nothing like it and the pleasure is immense. But we all know those cars spend more of their time in the shop. A Leica M is the same.
Thank you so much for that, it helps enormously! Your analogy is very understandable. I will be sure to pass this along, but only if I have to, because I don’t want him to have an excuse for image coming back out of focus! 😂😂😂
chrislee wrote:
Thank you so much for that, it helps enormously! Your analogy is very understandable. I will be sure to pass this along, but only if I have to, because I don’t want him to have an excuse for image coming back out of focus! 😂😂😂
Do you guys have a focus target on hand, like a Spyder LensCal? It is probably a good idea to do some static tests both using Live View (LCD screen) and the rangefinder so he can get comfortable with the inherent challenges of RF focus. The advantage of a LensCal or other target is that you can see easily in fractions of an inch how far off the focus was. Ideally it would accurate both using Live View and the rangefinder, and from both stops on the focus ring (infinity and MFD). I waited a few weeks after getting my M11 and 50 Summilux to test and I wish had done so earlier, as I identified a peculiar behavior that is why my stuff is headed back to Leica for repair right now. With a mechanical system like this you do want to be sure that things are working as expected. I'd do a battery of tests on a tripod with a static target like the one I recommended, using good consistent light desk lamp is fine) from a reasonable distance (25-30 x focal length is a good start). Do the tests with Live View from minimum focus distance and from infinity. Compare the results and make sure they match. They should since you're seeing what the lens sees. Then do the same tests with the rangefinder, from both infinity and MFD. Shoot 4-5 pairs of pics and keep notes on what image number corresponds with each test. Import the images in your chosen platform (C1 or LR), examine them both zoomed out and at 100%, and see if any patterns emerge. If it's just slightly off it's probably due to user error, but if you see consistent front or back focus even when the RF indicates it will be in focus you know something is off and can decide about return/repair/etc.
