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Leica M EV1

pmeheut
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p.67 #1 · Leica M EV1

flash wrote:
I get that most here aren�t buyers for this camera. Too many purists on this forum for that.

I found no "purist" argument here. I for one am not. I've always used other cameras beside the M, other brands, started to use digital the day it became good enough (Nikon D1, 1999), etc.

And what I read here is the opposite of "purists": people who would like a camera like the EV1 but find the current focusing aid not efficient enough. And I agree with them.

For instance, my next trip is mainly cities so street pictures. My camera will be the M11 with 28, 35 & 90. Maybe a 15mm and 50mm that I will not use every day.

But I will also spend a few days country side and shoot landscape or "travel pictures" and for this, I can use the M11 of course
So I could use the M11 but I would prefer a backup camera and use a good EVF.
- use a EV-1: same ergonomics, small, not to heavy but slow, MF, nothing impressive compared to using the Visoflex, just a better EVF
- use a micro43 camera: small, very light, could pack from 18 to 200mm into a pocket and final IQ more than enough for my needs. I get AF and an impressive IBIS at a very low cost.
- add a Fuji kit: almost the more, better sensor, bigger and more weight, still a bargain
- go FF: Sony A7cII, Sony A7xxx maybe with Kolari. I can mount my M lenses, even have some AF with them, great viewfinder, weight ok

I'm sorry but the value proposition of the EV-1 is simply poor. This is not the case of the M11 or the M11-M because shooting with them is a totally different experience than anything else and I see the impact on my pictures once printed: their composition is different, better.
I've already noticed this in the past: a small viewfinder, either OVF or EVF has a bad impact on my pictures: they tend to become simpler.

So yes, I'm ready to pay the big bucks to buy a M. Because there is no alternative. But the EV-1? There are plenty.
If someone want to buy it, I'm glad for them, this is their choice, their money, their pictures and they do as they want.

But I would like to know why, it would be interesting instead of reading words such as "purists", "keyboard warriors" to just reject all the points made here to express why this camera is not that attractive.

Oct 26, 2025 at 11:55 PM

SrMi
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p.67 #2 · Leica M EV1

pmeheut wrote:
<snip>
- use a EV-1: same ergonomics, small, not to heavy but slow, MF, nothing impressive compared to using the Visoflex, just a better EVF

Based on my experience with M11 and M-EV1, EV1's EVF has much better ergonomics than Visoflex 2, even though it does not tilt. The location and form of the Visoflex are disadvantages.

<snip>
I've already noticed this in the past: a small viewfinder, either OVF or EVF has a bad impact on my pictures: they tend to become simpler.

M-EV1's EVF is the same as in Q3, so it's pretty decent for framing.

So yes, I'm ready to pay the big bucks to buy a M. Because there is no alternative. But the EV-1? There are plenty.
If someone want to buy it, I'm glad for them, this is their choice, their money, their pictures and they do as they want.

But I would like to know why, it would be interesting instead of reading words such as "purists", "keyboard warriors" to just reject all the points made here to express why this camera is not that attractive.

Some people think it is a sacrilege to put an EVF in an M body. I think they can be labeled as purists.

Oct 27, 2025 at 01:41 AM

johnvanr
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p.67 #3 · Leica M EV1

wolfloid wrote:
I don�t agree. If it was well conceived and made (Typoch quality) it would be a bargain, and I think it would make very large sales. Not everyone is a posing snob wanting Veblen goods. If it worked well and opened up a good manual focus experience with all those beautiful M mount lenses, I think it would sell like hot cakes. Think full frame Fuji X100 focusing elegance and build, with native M mount lenses. Perfect!

As a former owner of the Voigtlander rangefinders, I agree.

Oct 27, 2025 at 02:13 AM

pmeheut
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p.67 #4 · Leica M EV1

SrMi wrote:
Based on my experience with M11 and M-EV1, EV1's EVF has much better ergonomics than Visoflex 2, even though it does not tilt. The location and form of the Visoflex are disadvantages.

We all know this. I own the Visoflex so I'm aware ot its limitations. But the point many people here made is that they are not ready to pay the same price as a M11 just to have a slightly better EVF when the competition offers IBIS and more useful focusing aids on top of AF, even with M lenses...

Some people think it is a sacrilege to put an EVF in an M body. I think they can be labeled as purists.

Once again, those "people" have not been vocal here. In fact, I hardly remember seeing one. So why come back to this?

Oct 27, 2025 at 02:29 AM

Desmolicious
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p.67 #5 · Leica M EV1

Jimmy Cheng�s thoughts

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Oct 27, 2025 at 02:47 AM

johnvanr
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p.67 #6 · Leica M EV1

More about that comparison with the Hasselblad. From the use cases, it seems that many here use their M11 as a slowish camera, like a medium format camera, but in a smaller package. That's fine, of course.

To me, however, my M11 falls in the use case of fast cameras, using zone focus and shooting relatively wide angle lenses. I'm not married to ultimate IQ or corner to corner sharpness with my M11, because I don't shoot it that way.

So, to me, in my tests, most of my M mount lenses look just fine on my Canon R5 (NOT on the R6II) and the Nikon Z6III. But, more of a quandary to me, the shots I take with other lower res cameras also look perfectly fine when printed up to 13x19. So, to me at the moment, it's not a camera like the X2D II that's the alternative, but a Fuji or Olympus with lenses that offer both AF and zone focusing scales and low weight/bulk or a FF Canon or Nikon with adapters or MF lenses.

Oct 27, 2025 at 04:51 AM

flash
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p.67 #7 · Leica M EV1

The Hasselblad V lenses have DoF scales. Just as easy to zone focus as an M.

Gordon

Oct 27, 2025 at 05:00 AM

algrove
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p.67 #8 · Leica M EV1

flash wrote:
The Hasselblad V lenses have DoF scales. Just as easy to zone focus as an M.

Gordon

And I never liked focus peaking using an M since I found it not very accurate for fine focus.

But now with the X2Dii in manual mode with a V lens, I find I can put the focus peaking on cyan and find it very responsive, extremely visible and more accurate than the Leica M focus peaking with any color. Sadly Leica does not offer cyan, but friends say the Panasonic SL type of cameras do offer cyan and also use it.

Oct 27, 2025 at 07:35 AM

wolfloid
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p.67 #9 · Leica M EV1

Isn't a poser someone who pretends to be someone they're not - so isn't wanting a Leica M knockoff the definition of a posing snob? Leica Ms certainly have snob appeal but definitely not a posing snob.

No, not at all. With Veblen goods, it�s all about having the real thing and posing and showing off your purchasing power with just those goods - the worst of all sad, posing snobs. The people you describe who want the knock-offs to pose with are just wanna-bees - just as sad, in a way. Perhaps they exist in the silly Gucci, and Versace world - not people I know. I�m talking about a camera built for using, not for trying to show off your status, which, at least in my mind, is pathetic, and a very serious dysfunction in our society. So a small camera to use, and use effectively.

As for your other comments, I disagree with all of them. Your comment about L lenses completely misses the point of what many people on this forum are asking for, and were asking for with the M EV1- a small, well-designed, well conceived, well-built practical camera that they can use and focus elegantly with the small, fine M lenses. Not giant L lenses, not autofocus. Buy an SL 3 for that.

Unfortunately, they didn�t get what they might have expected. Instead, they got an unimaginative, lazy effort from Leica, with only peaking and magnification for focusing aids. Not good enough.

I would be very happy with a well-made M camera that had a manual focusing aid that was reliable, fast, accurate and intuitive. I wouldn�t care who made it, if it was reasonably priced and fulfilled those criteria. I use cameras, I don�t pose with them, and I don�t try to bolster my status with them. Do you?

Oct 27, 2025 at 07:45 AM

algrove
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p.67 #10 · Leica M EV1

In this vein, LLL started with a lens many M users wanted to try since is was originally a Cooke cine lens. Of late they have branched out offering lenses that directly compete with Leica lenses like the 50/1.2. Since many liked their quality and optics early o n it seems they now have a following with most priced 1/5th of a comparable Leica lens, if one nearly identical is offered.

Oct 27, 2025 at 07:49 AM

RoamingScott
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p.67 #11 · Leica M EV1

Desmolicious wrote:
If there was a legit FF M-Ev1 �copy� at a fraction of the price, it would do really well. Especially seeing the gigantic lens ecosystem out there.

There is, and it does very well at an eight the cost. It just happens to be a Nikon.

Oh, and it auto focuses M lenses too.

Oct 27, 2025 at 07:52 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.67 #12 · Leica M EV1

RoamingScott wrote:
There is, and it does very well at an eight the cost. It just happens to be a Nikon.

Oh, and it auto focuses M lenses too.

Not really even close to a copy. It is a lot bigger. It has a much lower resolution sensor, which is not optimized for Leica M lenses. It is shaped like an SLR instead of a rangefinder. Not really the same thing as a FF-EV1 clone at all. I think there is still room for a FF EV1 clone and especially one that has a native M mount to take advantage of the huge lens ecosystem.

Oct 27, 2025 at 07:58 AM

wolfloid
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p.67 #13 · Leica M EV1

I totally agree with you Steve.

Oct 27, 2025 at 08:16 AM

algrove
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p.67 #14 · Leica M EV1

Steve Spencer wrote:
Not really even close to a copy. It is a lot bigger. It has a much lower resolution sensor, which is not optimized for Leica M lenses. It is shaped like an SLR instead of a rangefinder. Not really the same thing as a FF-EV1 clone at all. I think there is still room for a FF EV1 clone and especially one that has a native M mount to take advantage of the huge lens ecosystem.

Think, another PIXII model perhaps.

Oct 27, 2025 at 08:17 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.67 #15 · Leica M EV1

algrove wrote:
Think, another PIXII model perhaps.

Perhaps, they have made progress, but a well functioning camera still appears to be a fairly long way off from them. I wish them godspeed, however.

Oct 27, 2025 at 08:46 AM

stgrove
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p.67 #16 · Leica M EV1

I use my tools as best I can, but I wonder how difficult it would have been for Leica to incorporate the Nikon Zf focus system into this EV1 or even a Viso3?

Oct 27, 2025 at 09:04 AM

retrofocus
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p.67 #17 · Leica M EV1

algrove wrote:
Think, another PIXII model perhaps.

Not successful if their pricing is aligned with current Leica M pricing. Such EVF-based M camera has to be substantially lower in cost to make it successful in the market. Western based manufacturers are not able to handle this IMO. If we ever see such camera hitting the market, it will most likely - I know I repeat myself here - coming from China.

Oct 27, 2025 at 09:27 AM

LBJ2
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p.67 #18 · Leica M EV1

stgrove wrote:
I use my tools as best I can, but I wonder how difficult it would have been for Leica to incorporate the Nikon Zf focus system into this EV1 or even a Viso3?

From what I read (I don't know) there are limitations of processing power. The M EV1 is an M11 variant and uses the M11's previous gen processor from 2022. However, I do expect Leica might be able to tweak a few things as they are known to do with firmware updates as we see with the M11 as recent a last week. I'm not expecting Nikon MF aid level but maybe there is something else Leica can improve the overall experience based upon customer feedback.

However I think those that are already skilled RF photographers but for failing eyesight, this new M EV1 will be a breeze for many willing to adjust to the new approach. My guess is this is the customer base to include LSI members that will generate the first sales of the M EV1.

Edited on Oct 27, 2025 at 09:41 AM · View previous versions

Oct 27, 2025 at 09:29 AM

stgrove
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p.67 #19 · Leica M EV1

LBJ2 wrote:
However I think those that are already skilled RF photographers but for failing eyesight, this new M EV1 will be a breeze for many willing to adjust to the new approach. My guess is this is the customer base to include LSI members that will generate the first sales of the M EV1.

I put myself in this camp even though I did not join LFI.

That said I think the price should be at least $2k less and find it not giving me more than my M11+Viso2 except for the built-in EVF factor, but with the Viso2 tilted up 90 degrees I have shot people at around 4-5 feet and they had no idea I was taking a picture of them.

This one taken with the 50/0.95 Noctilux at f0.95 at less than 4 feet.

Edited on Oct 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM · View previous versions

Oct 27, 2025 at 09:57 AM

quantumloop
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p.67 #20 · Leica M EV1

The selling proposition of this camera is not difficult to understand. I think some are overanalyzing it.

You have to start with the market of Leica users. Most can easily afford it and use Leica for more than its technical specification. Leica has never been about some value proposition. People buy Leica for its pride of ownership, build quality and feel, and brand heritage. If you just go by specs alone, Leica usually doesn't make any sense for the money.

There are many who want the M experience but don't like using the rangefinder for various reasons. It could be they find it difficult to learn and master, it could be vision related. In fact this is one reason why the Leica Q series has been so popular.

Here they have the full range of M lenses to use. With an EVF. They aren't analyzing it comparing it to all of the other cameras out there, because this is a Leica.

I read one commenter on another forum who was a Leica dealer. He said that when the Q was released, people didn't think it would sell because it was an expensive fixed lens camera, EVF, without the classic M experience. Of course that was wrong as the Q is probably Leica's best selling product series now.

Time will tell how well the M EV1 sells. But I think it will do just fine.

Oct 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM

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