First week shooting with my new camera...

#subscribe #Leica #abudhabi
This week I'm in Abu Dhabi taking photos with my new camera, the Leica M11. It's my first Leica M mount camera, and this trip seemed a good chance to do some street photography and landscape photography, as well as just seeing what it's like to work and live with. These are some of my thoughts...
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[@eorsjr]

James trying out a new camera with each video is quickly becoming a meme at this point.

[@rookie4619]

Honestly preferred it when he just repped m43 and focused more on the photography. When in doubt, talk about gear

[@ChadWilson]

Gear Acquisition Syndrome is a real thing. He is having fun!

[@eorsjr]

@@rookie4619 I get where you’re coming from. IMO, even if the video is more gear-oriented there are still some nice shots and his personality makes it worth-while.

[@eorsjr]

@@ChadWilson I know, right? I had to talk myself down from buying a lens that I would never have used that much anyway.

[@JimSamuel267]

Yep...He now looks like the other photo channels, who shill new cameras to build affiliate sales.

[@joe_a_photo]

Those minimalist photos were absolutely incredible. I LOVED so many of them

[@darrenleigh201]

Agreed. Great architecture. Great captures.

[@soundscape26]

Absolutely agree. Glad he took the challenge to photograph at a very different place.

[@neilstevensphotography]

Yeah always hope to come across such minimalistic scenes, but can never find them - Need to search better in the right places

[@vincephillips4331]

Do you really need an exorbitant priced Leica to get these images ?

[@MikeyCh09]

@@vincephillips4331Nope. But it does make it more fun.

[@ColbyRicker]

it's crazy because I have always loved your landscape photography but your street/architecture photos are absolutely stunning and definitely showcase a different style and I think I like them more.

[@lance_medul]

I love how the Leica m11 battery is actually more expensive than my whole camera gear that I shoot with daily 😅

[@YounanPhoto]

😂😂

[@JimSamuel267]

But power from Leica batteries is so much better than the power from ordinary batteries.

[@defqqq]

@@JimSamuel267 I tried taking similar photographs with my ordinary camera that has an ordinary battery and they came out blank. Do you think I should get a leica?

[@JimSamuel267]

@@defqqq Before you get a Leica, make sure you removed the lens cap.

[@SanTM]

@@JimSamuel267 ffs

[@abdekoj]

No boring stats, charts, and regurgitation of information confirmation - just a genuine photo guy with a lorry load of sarcastic undertones that keeps my adddistic attention span in perfect 2/3 harmony. Keep it up, gear boy!

[@futc.photography]

Maaaan the photos are sooooo good! Especially compositionally the shots are amazing 😍

[@ccoppola82]

Really lovely photography. It’s so interesting to see how tastes or processes change. These are so nicely muted/pastel but tasteful while older gen photographers like Webb or Gruyaert seem to have massive areas of black to pop their images.

[@aerisurvey4934]

These are probably the best pictures I see from you in a long time... just saying. Aside of your touch and eye for the art, the help to achieve this, can be the location, the camera, or the commitment to a paid job, but anyway, the photos are amazing. Congrats. ...just coming back to say, yeap, these are the best photos from you, period. Not probably.

[@StapediusReflex]

Great video and awesome shots as usual, James. I appreciate getting your take on Leica rather than the more common street shooter or film photographer reviews. The M cameras are likely going to be something I always want but will never buy as a hobbyist, but I always enjoy seeing the photos they produce. Especially from a photographer as talented as yourself. Cheers!

[@suttree666]

Well, those images were once again fantastic. Loved the scenes/subjects you picked and the way you handle colour is simply phenomenal, James! Great video overall. Thank you,

[@CalMukumoto]

I have a Sony A7r4, then I added the Fuji x100v, then a Leica Q2 mono, leading to a Leica M11 with a Voigtlander APO 50mm f2. I love the M11. Between the Q2 Mono and the M11, they have become my two everyday cameras. As for the screen protector, I bought a very cheap one on Amazon for $4.99. It has been there for about a year with no problems. Have fun with your new camera.

[@achimney29]

James: This isn't a gear channel Also James: Bought another camera lol

[@Dennisoneiljr]

Beautiful photos, really love the blues on some of those. I would absolutely love to see you do a little side by side shooting with X-PRO3 and either the 35mm f2 or 33mm 1.4 vs. your Leica with the 50mm. Both of those lenses are higher quality output than the 27mm. SOOOO many fuji/leica shooters often choose between one or the other it would surely be a successful video!

[@craigcarlson4022]

Yes, would second this request for a comparison with the X-Pro 3.

[@BenjaminBphotographer]

Wow you're eye was really in the zone in Abu Dhabi! Great selection of photos. Inspired to get out with my camera now.

[@suew6307]

Absolutely amazing photos! Great video. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!

[@davidpipeline]

Great photos, James. Love all those colours and the geometric patterns. Some nice textures too👍

[@rexgigout1472]

Well-done presentation, with wonderful images! I added the Leica M system in 2018, following a brief financial windfall, buying a new Leica M10, which may remain the only Leica camera I will ever be able to afford to buy new. It is good to see yet another professional photographer giving a positive assessment of the Voigtlander 50mm APO Lanthar, which appears to punch well above its price point. I have been more interested in 50mm lenses with “character,” but if I ever need to acquire a superbly-optically-corrected 50mm lens, this Voigtlander option is the leading contender.

[@SamiPaju]

I recently got a used first gen Leica Q, and last weekend did a trip with that + X-Pro3 and a 27mm f2.8 on it. That proved to be a fantastic travel combo! Leica Q especially for tighter spaces and when there was less light, Fuji otherwise for weather resistance and supremely versatile focal length, which I definitely prefer to 35mm, but is a bit more forgiving compared to a 50mm equivalent.

[@fzrewagfzaerfer]

Wow wow wow.... pretty camera and extraordinary pictures!!!

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

Loved those shots of Abu Dhabi , your photography is great regardless of camera brand, but hey it's a nice camera 😊

[@leezbtv]

Nice to see one of my favorite photography wonks visiting the city I call home--definitely gave me some inspiration on how I see things around here next time I'm out with my camera.

[@seandamolaris1055]

I’m not ganna lie I have been following for about a year and to me your one of the best photographers Iv seen on KZbin! Keep on the grind!

[@babaarcuszatir]

Loved the minimalist photos, great job!🙂 With 61 MPs you have the freedom to crop from 28mm to 35 or even 50 (equiv. FoV), or from 50 to 85. So great lens choices, many applications.

[@reinhardpfaff2562]

Wow! Great video and even greater pictures! Very nice work!!

[@shannonsnow8298]

Stunning photos!!

[@filmweshoot]

I've watched tons of your videos and these are literally my favourites yet. They look incredible

[@Valdormar]

Hella good job on the edits James. Love the feel of these images.

[@oldad73]

Stunning architecture and stunning images by you. Well done James - enjoy your sleep.

[@LuisArcadioDeJesus]

Wow, the photos are amazing.

[@ArchiesLens]

Wooo. These images are *chefs kiss* 🌸✨

[@alistairsedgwick8295]

You are the Abudaddy❤,clean shots mate, truly my biggest inspiration!

[@gashead2]

Love the photos, in my opinion some of the best I have seen of yours

[@littlehippo5004]

I usually don’t comment, but every one of the pictures from this trip were just spectacular. Seriously, I would get a print in a heartbeat

[@Goalieswede]

Incredible photos. Some of my favorite that you've ever taken. I'm curious how you feel shooting with the Leica vs. the Fuji. I have an X100V and an M10, and pretty much stopped using the X100V after getting the M10. I simply don't enjoy shooting with a non-rangefinder anymore

[@masaytaka]

Isn’t the X100V a rangefinder? 🤔

[@Goalieswede]

@@masaytaka no it’s got an EVF. You can make it an OVF but it doesn’t have a rangefinder patch like the M10

[@08yankeefan]

I would love to see the x pro line of cameras give you the option for a full rangefinder experience. Not giving my hopes up….

[@Narsuitus]

I have a Leica M10 with 90/35/21mm lenses and a Fuji X-Pro2 with 56/23/16mm lenses. When I purchased the M10, it was supposed to replace the Pro2 as my main camera. However, to my surprise, I prefer shooting with the Pro2.

[@JimSamuel267]

If you shoot with Leica, it does not matter how you fell. It's how impressed others are that you shoot with Leica.

[@Zacheldridge]

Man, these photos look so good! Amazing camera, amazing photographic eye!

[@Atokinox]

you have a new camera for each week of the year ahahaha

[@johncfaust]

I've been wanting a m10 for years now and after seeing your m11 images, it just makes me want the m11 haha! Great video man!

[@akcine]

Gorgeous photography and very nice editing.

[@MatthewRaifman]

Well done! These images are really wonderful.

[@kevins8575]

Sounds like an interesting trip with your "pretty good" camera. I'm sticking with my R5. Although I'm not going to Abu Dhabi. ps. I sold all my old cameras and lenses to MPB and am very happy.

[@keeganoconnellphotography]

Entertaining as always, great photos!

[@PrinZsuN1]

Absolutely loved the pictures !

[@joycady8325]

Beautiful photos as always!

[@ruff1draft]

Excellent colours with your photographs

[@REMY.C.]

For the screen protector to stick you need to put the whole camera in the oven at 270⁰C for about 47 minutes. Works like a charm.

[@twotone3070]

I thought they were iron on? That must be where I went wrong.

[@2DogAle]

Yah, not anything I can relate to or afford, but I like you and your personality so… I watched it. Thanks for another great video of you not taking yourself to serious and fun to watch.

[@tylerdrickenbach]

One of my new favorite KZbin videos!

[@mariahezra]

I am blown away by your photography + color grading - wow! love it!

[@brianmckeever5280]

Looks like a great spot! Very different. Glad you're enjoying the Leica.

[@glennsak]

Good lord, stunning images!

[@santuraki]

these are some fantastic photos wow

[@CrueLoaf]

I’ve got an M10-P (Reporter), with two batteries! Love it. Not sure I can justify moving up to a M11. Your images look great!

[@sharonhaasbroek7464]

Love the images!

[@masaytaka]

Great photos from the trip! 👌😃 Summarizing your remarks about the camera: rubbish 😛 Or at least full of quirks solved in other cameras a long time ago 😃

[@istvanbally2817]

Amazing photos!!!

[@joelowthianYT]

Some genuinely beautiful photos, James!

[@TMM6900]

Loves the images. The symmetry is fantastic

[@Tewac7051]

Very interesting story and wonderful pictures! Did I mention that the pictures are wonderful?

[@bsmukler]

I love those photos! The light there is magical, as is the architecture. I have the M11 as well. I suspect your finicky charging experience was due to the cable. One reason for the high cost of some Leica batteries (SL and Q series as well as the M11) is that they are and have to be bespoke because they act as part of the weather sealed bottom plates. As for dual card slots, I doubt there is room for a second slot. If you look at an exploded diagram, you’ll notice that compact body is absolutely crammed full of electronics and the rangefinder.

[@The_Hero_Is_Back]

The minimalist urban landscape photos were really good. Although they looked a bit Fuji to me. But I was watching on an iPad so it was more about colour and composition (as it should be) than “Ooh! Look at those pixels!!”

[@suhangyin8872]

Amazing photos!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Great photos. Nice pastel colours

[@slothsarecool]

the colors look great!

[@endah08]

loved the shots in this one

[@hanumanguy]

James, I am here for the photos as there is as much chance of me buying an M11 as buying a Ferrari. I loved the photos, just stunning. Amazing how good photos a good camera can take, just kidding, you have great artistry in your photos. Now back to you 50 pound GX7 video for me :-).

[@lpauline]

Gorgeous Abu Dhabi photos ..

[@boldrys4500]

Those shots are lovely!

[@richardbarakett4163]

Excellent sharing . Thank you !

[@just_eirik]

Dude that shot at 0:20 is so nice! Don’t know what it is about it, but I love it. Actually paused to look closer at it.

[@petermcginty3636]

Thank you, Nice photos.

[@HolybasilYT]

This makes me really regret selling my Leica gear. I couldn't afford to keep it, but still. The experience is something else. The photos this week are some of your best (at least in recent memory). So bright and airy, seems like you really found your groove in the post-processing.

[@ste528]

Some of your best photos right there James !

[@TheYuhasz01]

Really excellent photos, thanks for sharing.

[@jxkvb3434]

these photos are amazing !

[@JerryGao1025]

The photos are brilliant! Really like your edits

[@davidroberts6766]

James, all that I have to say is that the images you captured were beautiful.

[@lyndapassey2752]

Love the images and the colour. I remember you from back in your LUMIX days.

[@dinot7889]

Lovely photos 👍🏼

[@PhilKnall]

Always enjoy your videos. Great change of scenery in this one. Also just bought a GX1 because of you 😅

[@tdemask]

I guess you don’t buy a Leica for the value, you buy it for the images it can produce in the right hands. And your images are stellar. In spite of the numerous compromises of the camera, which would be intolerable in anything but a Leica!

[@JimSamuel267]

Other brands have compromises. Leica has features!

[@defqqq]

I wish I had more money to buy Leica, but I will have to wait. At the moment I'm saving to buy a new computer screen, my old one is utter rubbish. The other day I compared photographs taken by Leica I downloaded from the internet with similar photographs taken with my old camera, that I bought on ebay with one battery and a charger for about as much as Leica battery and a charger would cost and the pictures looked the same to me, I couldn't tell the difference, that's how terrible my screen is.

[@tdemask]

@@defqqq well, do your photos look good? If so, you’re golden!

[@defqqq]

@@tdemask they look great to me, but I'm sure it's because my broken computer screen cannot render those images produced with Leica. Professional photographers wouldn't spent so much money on it, if they could take as good looking pictures with cameras that are still too expensive for me, but cost 5000-6000 less than Leica

[@JimSamuel267]

@@defqqq I would also buy a Leica but I am saving to buy a Lamborghini so I can be a better driver.

[@vandalton4948]

incredible pictures 👏

[@Picplosions]

That bus shot is so cool!

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

Your pictures are amazing, BRAVO.

[@TobiTheHuman]

1:43 is such an amazing photo to describe your "about something" mantra. Appart from the shapes just being pleasant, the woman in the photo immediately make me ask several questions! What is the weird structure the woman is standing on? Why is she standing there? Where is she pointing? Who is she looking at? Love it!

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

Very nice images.

[@mattiascastillo9458]

lol, I think I remember you saying “nah” to the m11 at first, after weighing its price and contrasting its lack of in-body stabilization. And now you own one. 😂

[@matthydephotography9742]

This guy flip flops constantly. Full frame was a waste of time not that long ago 😂

[@jmackultra]

​@Matt Hyde Photography that's what you call growth.

[@JimSamuel267]

@@jmackultra Growth is building technique and vision, not chasing status from camera brands.

[@defqqq]

@@JimSamuel267 But all the famous old master photographers used Leica, everyone says that, and many modern ones too are using it, especially here on youtube and they teach photography courses to people and are very popular on instagram. One photographer with a smaller channel recently posted video how buying Leica fulfilled his dream, I think he's going to be successful.

[@JimSamuel267]

@@defqqq Yes. But what those You Tubers ignore is that when the "famous old master photographers" used Leica, there were not as many high-quality alternatives as there are now. Many of those photographers used other cameras too - Exakta, Rolleiflex, Contax, Speed Graphic, etc. Those photographers did not become "famous old master photographers" because of the cameras they used. It was because of their vision and technique. It's always interesting to me how one person on You Tube posts a video and in a matter of days, every other You Tuber on that subject is saying the same thing.

[@sue.Hoo123]

Abu Dada 😂. Not a place I’ve ever wanted to go, but your photos are amazing 👌. I definitely wouldn’t buy a camera without an evf.

[@michaelwplant]

USB-C charging is great on the M11 and the battery is actually quite good on the M11. The choice of usbc cable is important and that usb cable will also let the camera connect easily to your iPad or iPhone so you can check and share images quickly.

[@donsoley746]

Lol! Do it now - before I forget…! Tell me about it. Great video!

[@TechWithBruno]

Classic James video, loved it eheh

[@gumdocga]

Ok. So James is sharing his experiences with a camera most of us don’t own, but find interesting and intriguing. In addition to the camera, he is sharing his work with candor and humor, and he is taking some great shots. And, as one person here mentioned, he is having fun. That’s enough for me. I hope he keeps it up.

[@davidligon6088]

Beautiful shots! I took a 28mm and 50mm with my Pentax MX for a year in Europe in 1980. Probably the most fun I’ve ever had with a camera. I guess no viewfinder would be a show stopper for me, though.

[@sexysilversurfer]

There is a viewfinder but it is an optical one so you can’t review photos you have already taken in bright light.

[@bastian.michel]

Ill put a reminder in my calender: 2 weeks 3 weeks 4 weeks 5 weeks ... Looking forward to your reports. 😁

[@mpearce888]

Beautiful shots

[@f__e__e__l__e__e__p]

I like the pastel colours ! 🙂

[@JoeLopez]

Great photos. Nice job on the video, subscribed

[@EmmaKAlexandra]

I'm not gonna talk about Abu Dhabi, I'm gonna talk about the M11. But again, this is absolutely not a gear channel. Can't emphasize that enough.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

😂

[@_willfunk_]

Love to see a review on the Voigtländer 50mm APO. I’m strongly considering it to pair with my 28mm when I pick up the M11 this summer.

[@RichardRostant1]

Absolutely gorgeous photos. Love the high-key. I think these are some of my favorites of yours. The Leica? I'm about to pull the trigger on an SL2. I know you wanted to downsize but wondered if you considered the SL2.

[@Russellhawker]

Great video, amazing images. The closest I'll come to a Leica is the lens on my Panasonic body.