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 p.5 #3 · A Leica M camera with an EVF is expected by the end of 2025 | |
rscheffler wrote:
The M11 has several weaknesses, primarily the slow readout of the sensor, which means e-shutter is prone to rolling shutter effects. IMO a truly silent and usable M with a stacked sensor seems like such a 'no-brainer' that I'm surprised Leica put the slow 60MP sensor in the M11 instead of the fast 50MP from the a1, unless of course that one wasn't available from Sony.
To me the M is a handheld camera for dynamic situations and a stacked sensor would be very welcome.
And if not stacked, then EFCS needs to be added as an option in addition to regular mechanical shutter and e-shutter.
Regarding an EVF M camera: I'm undecided whether M mount would be better than L mount. Yes, no adapter, but it makes the camera a lot more niche. Not that Leica is afraid of niches!  As L mount you'd then have access to AF and all the L lenses in addition to M, but of course, then it's just another SL variant in the form of a rangefinder camera.
If M mount, I still think the sensor will need to be PDAF capable so that the focusing aids can tell you what direction to focus and indicate how far out the focus is. I'm not familiar with Nikon's manual focusing aids but love Canon's implementation, which leverages their dual-pixel PDAF to provide a 'match needle' style that very clearly indicates how far off focus is and which way to turn the focusing ring. IMO focus peaking is only good for wide aperture use and is too inaccurate moderately stopped down, especially with wider angle lenses. And while magnification provides accuracy, it's slow. A picture in picture option that Gordon suggested might be a workaround, but I'd have to try it.
Two things an EVF-only M camera must have for me to be interested:
- stacked sensor for usable e-shutter
- IBIS. I wouldn't care if it made the camera slightly thicker (I still use the 'fat' M240 after all).
All that said, I still think rangefinder OVF focusing is the fastest manual focusing experience I've ever had. But yes, it is very reliant on proper calibration... An M EVF camera would be a solution to minimize downtime due to potentially less need for very slow servicing by Leica. ...Show more →
This is a great analysis. Personally I'd like something that honors the core values of the M system (as I see them): the compact body and ergonomics and the small manual-focus lenses. The SL system (and the R before it) are too bulky for my tastes (my L mount is a Lumix S5ii mostly used to scan 35mm negatives) and so are their lenses.
Leveraging PDAF, a high-res EVF, and focus recognition/aids to provide a "smart electronic viewfinder" for M mount lenses seems like a thoroughly modern take on the rangefinder camera concept. Ideally this would also allow a complete return to the film M body size (i.e., a little shorter, like my M2). Punch in is great, but Leica should prioritize speed to focus, the way rangefinders do (and fortunately the EVF removes the calibration concerns).
I'd prefer IBIS, but not at the cost of M240 thickness: my hands are small so I found the M240 somewhat awkward to operate. I find that I simply shoot my M11 at 36MP, so a return to an M10R resolution sensor would not bother me. I don't know the difference in materials, manufacturing, and assembly costs of a high-end EVF vs a Rangefinder unit, but I wonder if the swap really means [I]that[/I] big a price increase (not that it wouldn't be used to justify one).
In summary: M2 size, M mount, swap rangefinder for EVF, design the focusing experience to prioritize speed, and return image resolution to ~40MP and I start wondering what items and body parts I can sell to fund the purchase. As an adjunct to the M2 and M11 of course.
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) technology / approach that raises the bar on the VF experience and they'll have a winner, even if it isn't EVF.