A lot of discussion in the Leica M EV-1 thread. Many refer to it as a major disappointment for various reasons. Some indicate over priced, others hope for a EV-2, some interested at a much lower price. Where do you stand?
If I'm able to find an excellent price overseas, I could see myself designating it for solely 90mm usage.
I want the EV1 to fly in sales though because a Monochrom (EV-M) with 120fps would be awesome though, I think that Monochrom theme accents would temper the red logo weight imbalance without the RF enough. Name would sound much better too.
I'm one of those that have lusted for an M camera with EVF, but I don't see the point of making it as large (yes, large) as the rangefinder models when there is no rangefinder to take up space. I also don't understand the pricing when an EVF is extremely less expensive than a rangefinder to produce.
I would probably get one if the price was reasonable. Which will never happen with Leica.
It would be nice to have a camera with sensor stack optimized like digital M, so that I could use my rangefinder lenses on it with optimal results, but I think the price of entry is too high compared to other mirrorless options and the specs are weaker in some important areas too (such as no IBIS, battery life, slow start-up etc.). It's also nice to have electronic communication, EXIF and closer focusing capabilities with the native mirroless manual focus lenses etc.
In Japan the new M EV1 is 1327150 yen at Map Camera and it's about 5-6 times as expensive as my A7CII was at launch (I paid around 200K yen though I did have some discounts). it doesn't help that Leica prices in Japan are relatively high whereas Japanese cameras are usually strategically priced for the local market. Those price differences are too huge if one is not strongly committed to the Leica brand and I'm not at all.
Also, I already have 14 native E-mount CV lenses + 6 in X-mount and my rangefinder lenses (lots of MS-Optics + a number of adapted CV, Kistar + various Japanese legacy lenses) are almost all decent performers on thicker sensor stacks too (I've been trading away those that were not).
I also think that the price of Leica EVF models will never be at a point where I would buy one, but those would definitely be much more appealing to me than the rangefinder versions of the same cameras, as I've never been drawn to rangefinder focusing and I much prefer manual focusing with EVF (I'm fully satisfied with using focus peaking and selective magnification as that's how I got into manual focusing in the first place and enjoyed it a lot from the start).
Oct 25, 2025 at 06:09 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
I am personally very satisfied with magnification as the primary and even sole focus aid. I find it really easy to use. I do think that a joystick is super useful, however, if you only have magnification. Assuming the EVF is basically the same one as the EVF in the Q cameras I also think it is better than the EVF in any small camera and I appreciate that a lot. I also appreciate having a Leica M mount and a very good sensor designed for the Leica M mount lenses. I do wish this camera had IBIS, however, and a tilting back screen which are both features I find really useful. That said, I would buy the camera if it was a lot cheaper (say $3,000 or maybe $4,000) but that is so far off the listed price that I don't expect it to be the price for a very long time. I might well pick one up, however, when the price drops to that level.
Primarily shoot film Ms, mostly B&W. EV1 could be a nice complement for scanning the negatives, travel, using longer focal lengths and rare events, fashion or studio. The price is a deal-breaker though, when something like Sigma BF can be had for less than 25%.
burningheart wrote:
A lot of discussion in the Leica M EV-1 thread. Many refer to it as a major disappointment for various reasons. Some indicate over priced, others hope for a EV-2, some interested at a much lower price. Where do you stand?
For those interested a good M EV1 user experience read from the LUF community:
I am in the camp "would buy at a lower price". And this means significantly lower and as used EV1. Reason: I enjoy using my rangefinder M cameras, but I often find myself shooting wide und ultra-wide lenses. I have used M lenses 10 years ago adapted on my Sony A7R which also only relied on focus peaking and magnification focusing tools. It worked fine - rangefinder focusing is often faster, but since I am not an action photographer, I am fine using the EVF-based focusing tools (doesn't mean that I would have appreciated some improved manual focusing in the EV1, too!). I applaud Leica for making this camera filling a niche between fixed lens Q and OVF-based M cameras. I would use the EV1 in parallel to my existing traditional M cameras situation-dependent but almost certainly for all my ultra-wide photography - for example using the TTArtisan 11/2.8 fisheye lens I really enjoy using - and for everything related to close-up photography. Big advantage of the EV1 is that no adapter is needed for M lenses - big positive for me.
I've already bought one (waiting on the govt to approve the wifi before it can ship). My logic is simply that I love the 18 and 21 SEMs, and the 135 APO. Having an EVF that shows me the real image without need for the Visoflex is a major plus for me.
Yes, it's expensive. But a Sony A1 is $7k. Yes, the Sony does "more" but I buy Leicas because of the heritage, hand built nature, size, materials, lens quality, and simplicity. You don't need fancy computer-aided features to take great pics. I have other digital cameras that have all those features. But I just love holding the Leicas I own and they're a pleasure to use.
My only concern is whether I can get efficient focusing with the focusing aids. If I get along with that, I'll have found my ideal M.
I intend to buy one, I have M4, M4-2, and MP and as I passed 70 and health I love my film range finders with the click and film advance but focus that has become another issue, I do a lot of zone now, and I miss more than I like to admit limiting my use of some great glass. I have a M11P and an EVF and the same issue, I find myself using the EVF crutch more and more and especially if I use a 135 or noct it is almost essential. So at this point I am not gving up on my RF film or M11P but there are far too many times an EVF camera will just be better for me, and I might as well not have the big box in the way at the top. The M EVF will be small I can carry E39 lenses when I want to be light carry, or I can use it with difficult glass like the 135 or 0.95. It is an in addition to rather than an instead of for me. Maybe I am the person types that Leica intended to be one of the adopters, it seems that way to me.
not for me. I’ll stick with my M11P for the rangefinder experience that I enjoy (especially after cataract surgery), and will use my visoflex 2 either for low light or when I want to look down for stealth.
My question is if the m-ev1 focuses as quickly and accurately as the SL- starting with the 601 and on down.
The SL has been my go to and failsafe technique for focusing with m mount super speeds, as well as any other m mount lens. Popped to 100 % the image is so clean and crisp that I can easily nail focus no matter how wide open.
To anyone who has shot with both.. could you share your experience in this regard? Thanks-
If the camera had focus aids like Nikon or Canon it would be a lot more attractive. Without them I might as well use manual lens with cameras I have when I feel like it.
I have an interest in getting one, but if so, it will be after more people gain experience with it and the price comes down for buying used. An EVF rangefinder is actually something that I would appreciate as it is extremely difficult for me to use the rangefinder for focus - my eyes often cannot make out the alignment on the patch, and I would enjoy looking through the camera at the rangefinder eye point rather than through a Visoflex mounted on the hot shoe. I also really like the M camera bodies. That said, my SL2 and SL3 are fantastic for manual focus and are among the easiest to manual focus that I have ever used (the other being Fuji XT series when I used to shoot those). While the new M EV-1 is of interest and would be desirable, I don't feel that I need it but would enjoy using it. So, time will tell on whether or not I end up getting one.
I'd consider one if they used their founder's name: Leitz. A strong German name, similar to Zeiss.
Leica - Lei (tz) + ca (mera) only became the firm's name in 1986. It's always sounded feminine in a Hollywood kind of way, with odd aural permutations such as 'like her' and 'like car'. Mind you, ZEISS (shouters they are) should have remained as Carl Zeiss. It happens, but names do matter. I like the idea of honoring the founders more, a link to the past, to the beginning.
If this were twelve years ago, and I were still deep in the throws of red dot fever, I'd shove money at them to get one. The form factor's never been my favorite, but I could've added a grip and thumbs up and been reasonably happy. If it had come in the M10-R era, my interest would've been reduced, but I did really like that sensor, so I would've given it serious consideration. Now, since they're using the same sensor and same resolution EFV as the a7rIV, I'd rather just have one of those modded.
My armchair product management opinion; they should've given it the same launch price as the Q3 and hit the current MSRP kitted with the Elmarit 28.
