Leica M11: 1 Year, 50K Images Later. Definitive Review

[@GastonShutters]

Have you ever felt very inspired to shoot more and better by a particular camera? if so which camera was it? Love to hear your story👇

[@The_golden_charlie]

Lumix S5. Brilliant wee camera. Jpegs are straight superb.

[@Funktrainer]

Of course, Leica M8 and M9-P.

[@vinylisland6386]

The M10 Monochrom. For me this was and is a game-changing camera.

[@patrickmorgan5210]

Having owned the M-11 since launch, the only upgrade I’d like is a faster start up when turning the camera on. So many images missed waiting for it to wake up. All that said, I rarely use my Sony A7r(insert number here) system for the reasons you describe. The Leica system is small and simple. Well done!

[@GastonShutters]

Oh man that faster start up is ridiculous. 3-4 seconds is an eternity in street photography

[@zapfkopf]

you should try a different memory card, my M11-P is almost instant on

[@forsterdaniel]

brilliant. It really feels that you know what you are doing with the M. As a M user since 30 years, y couldn't agree more with your simple and direct choices. Even if the visioflex hurt some purists, it saved my shoots with longer focal (I abandoned the idea to go over 75mm). Everything between 24 and 50 is the kingdom of the M.

[@GastonShutters]

Glad you enjoyed the video

[@jameshoward9700]

Really good long-term review. Honest. Personally, I prefer the M10/P/R: minimal design, better colour science and no freezing. I'd like to see the M range split between 'tech forward' (IBIS, EVF, wireless charging, internal memory, flip screen) and 'pure' (as minimal as possible - basically a thinner M10R). As you say, simplicity is liberating and if Leica go full tech with the M, we'll find ourselves wishing it were simpler as with Sony etc. So, perhaps the 'tech' option would suit L-Mount better, effectively an L-Mount Q / 'rangefinder' SL.

[@GastonShutters]

Nice bucket list. They need to add better start up time too!

[@JohnRicard]

The one improvement every Leica M body has needed since the M8 is a faster computer for an overall more responsive camera. The cameras are slow to turn on, slow to review images, and several bodies have had an inadequate buffer.

[@GastonShutters]

Agreed. And faster startup !

[@IntrovertAmateur]

Awesome long term review Gaston! Really enjoyed your shots and edits from your Frankfurt trip. You are on point with these Leica lenses. Was searching for a 50mm Summarit, but now got a very good deal for a 50mm f2 Summicron v5 for the price of a Summarit and these lens breaths new life into my M6 and M9. Such a joy to use with my new lens. Lately I’m checking used M10s, since the M11 is out of my price range and my M9 has in some situations not enough dynamic range. But I’m still uncertain, perhaps I’ll keep shooting with the M9 and depend on good light instead of spending money again - I already have to many cameras 😀 Will check your presets tonight with my M9 files - sounds exciting! Thank you very much man!

[@GastonShutters]

Glad you enjoyed it man. It took me a few days to put it together. The M9 is a great camera. I would invest in lenses first. The Summicron V5 is a bette deal if the price is great. Faster aperture f2 and closer focus Summarit MFD is 0.8m Summicron 0.7. Read the file attached with the presets to ensure you can use them to their full potential.

[@danny_r27]

Really wish I could upgrade to this as my single digital M camera but all the issues that it has keeps me from getting one. I guess I’ll continue sticking with my old regular M10 and M10 Monochrom.

[@GastonShutters]

No more issues after latest firmware and I use this camera day in day out 8 days a week!

[@brusselssprout1]

Thanks for your video. I enjoyed it and really liked that back panel idea at the end. I fully understand your love affair with Leica M, but I feel that none of the digital versions deliver the same quality of experience as the film versions: M8 had its colour quirks and smaller sensor; M9 was bloated in size, very laggy in usage and limited by its CCD sensor; M10 was better in size but remained laggy; M11 is buggy as hell and still is laggy. I never owned a M240 (also bloated). Furthermore, as you seem to have also found out, the mechanical rangefinder cannot provide critical focus with fast lenses and high res sensors. It was already a real headache with M10's 24MP, never mind M11's 60MP. And using a visoflex (the solution you propose in your video) completely negates the M's uniqueness: it becomes a sort of Frankenstein mirrorless device, less competent and much less practical than systems at a third of its price. Remember you can use compact Leica M lenses on ANY FF mirrorless body, and they will work exactly as they do on a M+Visoflex.(corner smearing and cast are real world issues only with Sony bodies). Lack of IBIS at 60MP is anything but "liberating". In fact, it is suicidal except at very high shutter speeds or with a tripod (which again negates the Leica M 'raison d'être') . Remember: in the digital world, everybody pixelpeeps, including your grandma or your small kids. All this to say, I've decided to go on nurturing my love for the Leica M exclusively in the analogue space, where marginal focus errors or minor shake blur are hidden by grain and are considered tolerable anyway, as part and parcel of the film experience. And, in the digital world, i happily use my cherished summicrons and summilux on my extremely capable Zf.

[@GastonShutters]

Awesome extensive comment. Thanks for all the feedback and sharing your experience. I got to love the Camera as is and how customizable it is. I wouldn’t mind a built in EVF neither. And the lack of ibis is only a problem in low light for me.

[@Funktrainer]

I can not find any lagginess in the performance of the M8 and M9-P.

[@j.f.7509]

What framelines do you use with the the Summicron-C 40mm?

[@GastonShutters]

Don’t really pay attention to any particular one. I average the whole rangefinder and I eyeball the framing in my head

[@xiiiconcepts]

I sense a 75 summilux mandler special in your future ❤ another note, that is what your m11 mono is for low light 💯

[@GastonShutters]

That would be so nice to have!!!😊

[@laurapodrasky9687]

So nice, For some reason I had trouble with the M11. I love my M10M and love to create with it. I know have added the SL3, keeping the SL2 as well. I am finding that the SL3 is becoming my go to for everything, except maybe straight street shooting. The M10M is still my go to for street shooting. 28 Cron zone focusing. thanks for the long term review. Really need to use a camera for more than 2 weeks to really create a review.

[@GastonShutters]

Yeah I carry this camera and alternate with the M11M day in day out. I will be doing a long term Review of the Monochrome as well soon. Stay Tune.

[@laurapodrasky9687]

@@GastonShutters I will be adding the M11M as well. When I shoot with the .95 during the day I do not want to use neural density filters and need the electronic shutter. Works great on the SL3, however prefer shooting it in true BW

[@GastonShutters]

Yes shooting with the monochrome is a different approach. From Exposing, working with the files and through the whole experience. there is so much dynamic range that I don't miss having color channels to tweak my BW images.

[@macsprotte1436]

Frankfurt! On your way to Wetzlar?

[@GastonShutters]

No this time

[@rf8221]

I'm curious how you use that 40mm with 35mm frame lines. Ive been eyeing that lens but have a hard time not knowing how my image will turn up.

[@GastonShutters]

I take a picture looking at the frame lines and then review it and gauge the difference with the range finder frame lines and I’m good to go. I’ve done it so often now that I can eyeball it pretty good. This lens is such an underrated gem. It has become one of my fav.

[@camerafusion]

You carry your camera everywhere?! Good to know I’m not alone. My family thinks I’m crazy for doing the same thing 😂

[@GastonShutters]

You are not cray. You are committed!

[@sneakingelephant]

Same here. The only person who is fully accepting of it is my wife. Me and her both agree that if I’ve spent so much money on my photography hobby I may as well take it with me more often

[@GastonShutters]

@sneakingelephant my wife met me that way so if I stop carrying she may thing that I found another woman or something 😂

[@sneakingelephant]

@@GastonShutters 😂

[@GastonShutters]

😂

[@garymc8956]

Good synopsis. I need to work with my Visoflex more.

[@GastonShutters]

It’s just a tool that comes handy when needed. While others hate it I like that we can strip down this camera to the bare minimum or configure it as needed

[@JW-vx6zc]

Dont think Leica will want to kill their Leica "D" business with the flip in/out screen :)

[@GastonShutters]

😂

[@ThomazMartinez]

Im confused you talk about M11 but i think you are holding M11p? so does M11P also have megenta / worse colors?

[@GastonShutters]

M11 and M11P same color science and camera. Same color science. The M11 p just had the Content authenticity feature, sapphire glass on the screen and 256g of internal vs 64g than the M11. And the usual cosmetic difference.

[@r423fplip]

Love my eye autofocusing.

[@GastonShutters]

Hahaha INDEED!

[@kdb8039]

Having owned 9 Leica cameras so far, I can say it is the LESS RELIABLE brand and the absolute WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!! - Leica M9-P and MM1: cracked sensor. - Leica S2: corroded sensor. - Leica S007: video card failure on the first shoot. It took 6 months to Leica to fix it and it is only after a long ranting post on GetDPI and LFI that they fixed it. Leica doesn’t like to be trash talked… All bought new, of course. The Q1 and M246 have been quite reliable though and I still love my M6 Titanium and my M5 with modified lugs. I have never had ANY problems with my Nikon D3X, Canon 5DmkIV, Nikon Zfc or Zf (FANTASTIC CAMERA!!!) My personal experience here.

[@Funktrainer]

The M8 and M9-P are the most reliable cameras I ever used.

[@ThomazMartinez]

M11 does have magenta yes but what about M11P?

[@GastonShutters]

Identical colors.

[@bubbachua]

My wishlist for the M12 would be: IBIS, flip out screen, a return to brass plates for black colour, bigger screen, kill the 3 buttons at the back but add a couple on the right side with a touchpad or joystick 😊

[@GastonShutters]

Joystick? The M line is manual.

[@ABarrera]

Great video! Makes me want to pick up the M again…

[@GastonShutters]

I don’t know what you are waiting for!

[@blazeboy777]

still the only camera I could not say goodbye to. 1 M camera is a must :D take it from someone who really tested: GFX, alpha, canon, x mount, hasselblad (new x2d is lovely - medium format M camera for me)

[@GastonShutters]

Agreed

[@ThomazMartinez]

is that fake blur on the first example? f11 but looks like shot with 50m 2.8 or something and not 28mm

[@GastonShutters]

At the intro? No that’s long exposure.

[@ThomazMartinez]

@@GastonShutters i mean the one with sitting old man

[@GastonShutters]

Yeah You may be right. That was the first photo I took and after reviewing it that seems to be at f 4 or so. Good Eye. Hope you had enjoyed the rest of the video

[@anotherguycalledsmith]

How did you like _Frankfurt am Main_ ? ;-)

[@GastonShutters]

Very much !

[@LearningWithAlek]

Very Informative…Thank You

[@GastonShutters]

Glad it was helpful!

[@miextheone]

Totally agree on IBIS. They need to fix this or add real Pixelbinning. Cant go under 1/180 without blurr on my 50mm - no matter which Resolution. My r5 can do 1/8. Thats a 5 stop difference (in other words ISO 6400 instead of ISO 200)! No nighttime/lowlight recomendation with the m11.

[@GastonShutters]

On the SL3 I can go up to 1/2 Second SS hand held. That powerful!

[@p13579a]

With you on all the M12 update recommendations. Great review!!!

[@GastonShutters]

Glad you enjoyed it !

[@ahmadalazme3106]

2:00 are you sure f11 ? looks like f2

[@GastonShutters]

I checked and you are right that image was at f2. The one image after I realized I bumped the aperture and corrected it.

[@sijilo]

😊

[@GastonShutters]

👌

[@FrankDavalos]

The most unreliable camera I’ve ever owned

[@GastonShutters]

Sorry it did not work out for you. Once the freeze with my 50mm Black chrome stop with new firmware I am loving it each day and even with the freezes all needed was a battery removal and I was up and running. But we shouldn't have to go through this when this camera fetch 9K!

[@killa-kitty]

@0:08 FIFTY of FIFTEEN !?

[@GastonShutters]

50k

[@killa-kitty]

@@GastonShutters Thanks! I also use the same m11-p model, mechanical shutter box is okay? or sometimes use hybrid shutter?

[@GastonShutters]

Hybrid. It switches automatically if needed

[@killa-kitty]

@@GastonShutters It doesn't have Electronic shutter priority option so when slower than 1/4000 it always uses mechanical shutter. I would like to ask that while using for 50k, you have preferred to use Electronic shutter prior to the mechanical if it is not under the circumstances like artificial light or for the fast moving subjects. I haven't imagined I would use it for 50k of shutter before I see this video.

[@GastonShutters]

Always mechanical preferred. You get some weird lines in certain light conditions. But it’s a good back up when the mechanical limitation is reached.

[@Red-xz1gk]

Flip screen for M? Go get an Q please. Don’t ruin the M’s aesthetic.

[@GastonShutters]

Have the Q3. I think it can be implemented like an M6 film door with the hinge at the bottom. Just a thought!

[@IDaumI]

I stuck with my M10P because of the brass body and bottom plate. This dude wants a flip out screen? What's next video? 😂. Haha really the only thing I would like to see in an M is weather sealing and possibly an OVF/EVF system like Fuji has on the X100. This will replace the Visoflex. I agree the M8 colors are nice hell, even the M240 is better than my M10P, so you're telling me the M11 is worse? Ouch! The M10 is too cool for me.

[@GastonShutters]

This dude shoots also a lot with Q3, SL3, Fuji and Sony and I make great use of the tilt screen for low angle shots. We never thought they would do that on a Q body and SL and here we have it. Regarding colors, the colors are not worse, I simply stated that they are slightly different science. I grade all my photos so this is not an issue after all. The M11 is my favorite camera of all. Yes IBIS would be amazing allowing us to shoot at lower shutter improving sharpness and low light performance.

[@venividivici1982]

I never understood why so much talking and less showing of pictures of what the camera looks like, absurd,I want eventually want to buy the camera not the KZbinr