p.5 #1 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
For iso, just hold the back wheel down and program that to be your iso button
I also have mine programed so that if I scroll it without pressing it in, it zooms into wherever the cursor is on the screen.
Its all right there at your thumb
Ive tried all the systems...countless times. The m is just what I like the best. And also my favorite photos were taken with leica M's
I have the visoflex 2 but never use it
Also id encourage you to take note of the distance scale on the lens. You can train yourself to eye distance if you try
Easy example, if I want a selfie with someone I just set my lens to 0.6 and then extend my arm. Always hits for me
I do not enjoy traveling with this. It immediately marks you as a photographer at best and a theft target at worst. These pro bodies with their massive L-shaped bodies and lenses are recognizable and draw way too much attention for my comfort.
p.5 #3 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
flash wrote:
A7CR….
Matter of taste. Tried it, but do not like the viewfinder for instance.
Same with the excellent Fuji XE-5.
I would really like a compact camera, say Pen-F, XE-5 or A7C (R or II) with a top of the line viewfinder and excellent AF...
Without AF, a well designed EV-1 with IBIS and Nikon level focusing aids would do.
p.5 #4 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
pmeheut wrote:
Matter of taste. Tried it, but do not like the viewfinder for instance.
Same with the excellent Fuji XE-5.
I would really like a compact camera, say Pen-F, XE-5 or A7C (R or II) with a top of the line viewfinder and excellent AF...
Without AF, a well designed EV-1 with IBIS and Nikon level focusing aids would do.
Recently, I’ve been surprised how much I like the Canon R8. Throw on the Shoten M-RF adapter and you’ve got a small, FF package with excellent MF aids.
p.5 #5 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
johnvanr wrote:
Recently, I’ve been surprised how much I like the Canon R8. Throw on the Shoten M-RF adapter and you’ve got a small, FF package with excellent MF aids.
p.5 #7 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
flash wrote:
A7CR….
Gordon
I had high hopes for a7cR; however, the viewfinder experience is very important to me. I just cannot gel with its viewfinder.
In general, I much prefer to shoot with the OVF than the EVF, but the cameras with the best OVFs are quite large (S3, H6D). In my view, the rangefinders on digital Ms offer a more enjoyable viewfinder experience than those on other EVFs. The intimacy, dynamic range, and authenticity of an OVF cannot be matched by EVFs. I understand that others are less bothered by the difference.
p.5 #8 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
johnvanr wrote:
It’s the “complemented” part that gets me when we’re talking travel gear. I’ve got drawers full of gear and most of it has its purpose, but I can only use one camera at the same time and I can’t pack all of my stuff for travel. So, why limit myself to a travel system that limits me? If I were happy shooting from 21mm to 50mm and often at f/5.6 or f/8 and don’t expect to be rained on or see fast action, I’d be happy with the M as a travel system. But that’s just not me and it’s why I often take a versatile relatively low-res MFT kit over any of my larger high-res gear when I travel....Show more →
I enjoy my MFT system as well. However, the M11 is incredibly fun to shoot with, as long as you can work around its limitations—namely the lack of autofocus, IBIS, and weather sealing. Weather sealing is my primary concern. The other factors are less critical for my travel photography. Since a backup camera is essential when traveling, a Q3 or a lightweight MFT system makes an ideal companion to the M11.
p.5 #9 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
This is why M makes an amazing camera kit for travel. It is my kit for my 3 week Eastern Mediterranean trip that starts on Wednesday. This is what I put on to go out exploring and shooting for the day. This super small light kit includes everything I will need to capture industry leading IQ images.
Two bodies:
M11- Digital IQ at the highest FF IQ level
M6- Analog film photography at the highest FF IQ level
6 World class optics lenses 21mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 90mm. Thanks to Leica's commitment to heritage and compatibility all my lenses fit either camera including my character rich LTM L39 lenses.
Also in the kit are two extra rolls of film, filter set for the lenses, cleaning and maintenance kit, and a small manual Godox Flash just in case.
Everything fits in, this small leather Oberwerth bag.
I am thinking that no other line of cameras can do this, at this compact size, and with this image quality. So yes, Leica M is my prefered kit for this kind of travel where sports, and wildlife are not anticipated.
So that I don't worry about accidents or theft everything is fully insured for replacement cost World wide against all risk as scheduled items on my Homeowner's policy. Worry free shooting makes it all more fun.
p.5 #10 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
pmeheut wrote:
Matter of taste. Tried it, but do not like the viewfinder for instance.
Same with the excellent Fuji XE-5.
I would really like a compact camera, say Pen-F, XE-5 or A7C (R or II) with a top of the line viewfinder and excellent AF...
Without AF, a well designed EV-1 with IBIS and Nikon level focusing aids would do.
---------------------------------------------
SrMi wrote:
I had high hopes for a7cR; however, the viewfinder experience is very important to me. I just cannot gel with its viewfinder.
In general, I much prefer to shoot with the OVF than the EVF, but the cameras with the best OVFs are quite large (S3, H6D). In my view, the rangefinders on digital Ms offer a more enjoyable viewfinder experience than those on other EVFs. The intimacy, dynamic range, and authenticity of an OVF cannot be matched by EVFs. I understand that others are less bothered by the difference.
Oh, I absolutely agree on the EVF. My A7CR hardly gets any use for the same reason and really the A7R5 isn’t than much bigger with no compromises. And I choose a larger again SL3 over any Sony for travel. When I do carry the A7CR it’s with a couple of Q3’s. I much prefer an EVF over an OVF. Too many benefits regarding framing and playback for me to not use an EVF now. I’d be quite happy with no rear screen and just an EVF. Especially if it tilted. But yeah. The A7CR EVF is a let down.
Personally my favourite travel system is still my X2D2. Af is perfectly fine for travel and street and manual focus with the V lenses is so easy. The grip is sublime. The IBIS is the best available and the EVF is sensational. It’s a somewhat bigger but not really heavier kit than an M. Camera over the shoulder and two extra lenses in a hip pack. I’ve been all over the world with this kit and except for wildlife it’s all I’ve ever needed. I just need a 100-2xx zoom and I’m done.
I spent 20 years shooting, processing and printing from film. I have exactly zero desire to go down that rabbit hole again.
I guess I’m at the point where the gear isn’t an issue anymore more. I’m happy with an M11-P and a few lenses or a X2D2 and a few lenses. Or a SL3 and a few lenses. I mostly pick user enjoyment over peak performance. Most camera will get the job done pretty easily nowadays. While I do appreciate the benefits of the latest greatest gear (my wildlife kit is built around A1ii’s) generally I don’t yearn for it for travel photography, unless there’s wild life. No matter I end up packing, be it Sl, X2D or even M, I don’t generally come home regretting the gear I took.
p.5 #11 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
The elephant in the room for me with having the love/hate with Leica is that the RF system is a slloooooow system. I loved Nikon for super fast AF “wide open” photography. Challenging with the RF experience and for the longest time, I was thinking I wanted to do the same with a M camera. Being discrete with stopped-down photography really became a new appreciation.
p.5 #13 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
pmeheut wrote:
Nice indeed. No IBIS.
FWIW the Nikon Z5II has IBIS (VR) and a 3.6Mil EVF versus the R8's 2.36Mil EVF. Also 24MP.
The Z5II weighs 100grams more than my EV1 and it also needs the Techart AF adapter or another adapter for using M glass which also adds to its excess weight over the EV1.
p.5 #14 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
If the market were healthier, it'd be fun to see a CL-style collaboration between Leica and Sony on a small rangefinder with IBIS. Four small (APO?) Summicrons, 28, 35, 50, and 90, and an UW that's a bit slower to keep the size down. Leica makes manual versions of the lenses with ROM chips and distance encoders to maintain the IBIS and give EXIF, and they make a version of the camera with a hybrid VF but no AF or video. Sony uses the same optics but makes the lenses AF and packs in the tech like they did for the C series. The cameras use the same mount and sensors, so the lenses are interchangeable. That would push the nostalgia button nicely and set up a classic vs. new tech competition between the two.
p.5 #15 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
All of the points you make are true!
I’ve got some Ms; (M11P, D, M and EV1, MP, MA) and some non Ms; Q3, Fuji XT4, Xpro3, X100vi, Canon 5Dm4, R5m2
All of those cameras have their pros and cons. However 99% of the time I pick up an M. Once you learn to work with it they are for me simply the most pleasurable and successful cameras.
For travel or fast moving events if lack of autofocus or at night for my eyes lack of contrast (not general scenes but low contrast eye lashes in a dark restaurant for example) makes rangefinder focus a challenge, I’ll ensure I have a second camera. For the restaurant scenarios the EV1 I find excellent with a 50mm summilux. If I’m going to want dependable focus in out of control portraiture (motor racing events, shots of competitors working on their bikes etc) I’d likely have a Q3 (along with M11P with 50mm and EV1 with SEM21) and for actual racing it would of course be the 5D or more likely the R5 -but I find racing shots as dull as ditchwater so it stays at home! The Fujis never get a run out and I should sell them!
Having said the above though, I still think in all of those scenarios except actual racing shots the majority of my best photos are via the M series. An M doesn’t work as well for portraiture (I don’t mean candids obviously, anything will work for that) unless you’ve connected with the subject and that proper connection is probably the path to a better photograph than a more rapid but less invasive snap via something like the 5D or R5 etc.
If I was going to have a hate it’s the lack of shutter speed etc in the viewfinder. M7 style info is preferable to me and I’d rather see that in all of my M’s.
p.5 #16 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
RomanMF wrote:
I think a lot of people feel the way you do, which is why the Q series blew up. Most of the Leica system advantages without any of the downsides.
Q system is okay if someone doesn't change lenses often. Otherwise, the M EV-1 is IMO the better option. Main culprit here is the very high price tag hard to bear for amateurs.
p.5 #17 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
For travel carry the Q seems great for what it is and although the lens is wonderful it is the one lens. I have both an EV1 and M11P and I find if I want to go light the EV1 is often my choice. I often center my lens use around a nearly perfect 50 apo summicron and then add other smaller lens(es). Next will be something with character, I have been using a steel rim to keep it light and 35 is a different FL, then maybe a colorskopper 28 or 21 to also keep it light that have different wide FL or even a 90 colorskoper. After that there are many other lenses I could reach for that are small and light, my LLLs... 1950s Leica or Nikkor LTM glass, etc. Unless I am out at night or indoors then I pick one a Nokton of some FL or the Leica 0.95 and just have that. My usual bag is a Domke F5X a small bag that does not scream expensive, I have 2 osprey waterproof bags inside at bottom in case of wet. The same kit can go film instead with a Leica M or Bessa. If I am touring about, and it is a mostly Human sites and their things with some landscape background, the M and 2-4 lenses mix and match from what have and what I expect is enough and it is light enough to go all day without weighing me down. The M does indeed have it limits, but it rewards patience and going slower, and it is not my big Nikon kit I use for wildlife that carrying all day is more than a burden.
p.5 #18 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
EV1: 495g; Sony a7cr: 515g. Sony makes precious few marketing mistakes, very few own goals. They nobbled the now three-year-old a7cr three years back, as a deliberate move, then let it sit.
The average gap between a7 and a7r generations is about 16 to 19 months. Within that three year time frame since Aug 2023, we saw series releases in: A1, A9, FX2, FX3A, FX5, a7V and a7rVI.
'consensus across photography forums and blogs is that a direct successor (such as an a7CR II) is not expected until a later date.' And, an M-mount, proper EVF a7crII - so easy for Sony, think of the impact moving forward. 'Industry estimates typically place Leica's market share of full-frame mirrorless cameras at around 8.6%.'
p.5 #19 · Leica M11-P as a Travel Camera: A Love-Hate Experience
freaklikeme wrote:
If the market were healthier, it'd be fun to see a CL-style collaboration between Leica and Sony on a small rangefinder with IBIS. Four small (APO?) Summicrons, 28, 35, 50, and 90, and an UW that's a bit slower to keep the size down. Leica makes manual versions of the lenses with ROM chips and distance encoders to maintain the IBIS and give EXIF, and they make a version of the camera with a hybrid VF but no AF or video. Sony uses the same optics but makes the lenses AF and packs in the tech like they did for the C series. The cameras use the same mount and sensors, so the lenses are interchangeable. That would push the nostalgia button nicely and set up a classic vs. new tech competition between the two.
