Leica M11 Review - Is this the best digital M yet?!

[@abdozagloul]

Hi Adam 👋 Can you bring back the photo critique videos. I remember you doing that with Jared. I like your input on photos.

[@GrahamBridgemanClarke01]

I tried out the M11 in London last week and I was determined not to like it. But it blew me away. Again you didnt mention the in body magnification which can turn your 35mm lens to teh equivalent of a 50mm and I thin 70mm. I used that and images were excellent.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Nice to hear it. Cheers!

[@Bryan-lu4du]

Great review although I would have liked to see the photo you pushed 5 stops at 100% to get an idea of what the noise is like

[@justinleeimages]

this was a great review! Thanks for also providing the high ISO comparisons between the different ranges. I'm still shocked at how much you could recover on the m11!!!

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Thanks JJ! I was shocked too! That frame was a throw-away and I decided to give it a crack and was pleasantly surprised!

[@nunosantos8784]

Did you have any issue with shutter speed below 1/250 handheld? Also above f6.1 (limit for the DLA) you saw any reduction in quality due the difraction? ..and to finish, choosing a lower resolution, you know if impact directly the difraction positively?

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Didn't have any issues with camera shake / ghosting below 1/250 but i didn't test diffraction.

[@BleakVision]

‚It was incredibly frigid‘ Wears jeans jacket and no gloves. 😂

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

The wind was fierce!

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

You were inside the barber shop with 2 different lighting colors. One from the widow outside natural light and the led light inside. You cannot expect to have the right skin color that way.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Nope, but you can hope for decent color without color casts from the sensor

[@wobblycoastalfish1726]

Hi Adam, really enjoyed this review, thank you!

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

You're welcome!

[@tangosix5779]

great review man. deeply curious about the color science differences. I am considering the m11 precisely because I want the punchy leica look. I am shooting nikon now and the older leica color science is something that I am after.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

I own an M10R and GREATLY prefer the colors and look from the M10R. The M11 is an amazing camera full of some incredible features, but for me, I absolutely love the sensor on the M10R and am sticking with it.

[@gewglesux]

Adam.. gonna be at the new leica shop soon?

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

The new Meatpacking store is super nice!

[@gewglesux]

I stopped by one day but it was late and they were closed. I missed the Grand opening with the Nocti Girl- sorry i missed that one! Can't wait to get in there wanna hold that M11 or the M11p just not sure which one.@@AdamLernerPhoto

[@Walknbout]

Thanks for the review!

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@fededuran2523]

I've been on the fence between the M11 and a SL2-s with adapted m lenses. A lot of bugs going on with the former and ibis + viewfinder for the later with a very good size (if m lenses are your thing) and maybe better color science.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Here's my quick take. The SL2S will give you higher ISO performance, built-in EVF with focus peaking, IBIS, video capabilities, weather proofing, the ability adapt M glass, and the ability to use L-Mount Leica, Sigma and Panasonic glass if you need AF and an SL2S can be had for a fraction of an M11. The M11 has almost 3x the resolution, you can add the Visoflex 2 if you want an EVF with focus peaking, amazing battery life, and the M body size and experience. Overall, it does sound like you may be happier with an SL2S and if you ever feel you're missing the rangefinder experience, you can always add an M body at a later date. Let me know how it works out! Cheers

[@fededuran2523]

@@AdamLernerPhoto Well, I have a film M-A paired with a 50mm lux and the experience is gorgeous, but man, that SL2-S looks so promising that you can't go wrong if that's the pick. Every time I have tested a digital M (work as a photography journalist) , there was something wrong with the camera (odd processing in Capture One, misaligned rangefinder)... the exception was the M10M, maybe the one that I enjoyed the most. On the other hand, I love good solid bodies, IBIS, the viewfinder and the possibility of adding some SL glass in the future.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

@@fededuran2523 Sounds like you've made up your mind and you will love the experience adapting M glass on the SL2S.

[@gewglesux]

Great to see this!! Nice E46 Thanks for the upload!!

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Thanks dude!

[@gewglesux]

@@AdamLernerPhoto No worries!!

[@JoeLopez]

That battery design is interesting. Any chance of accidentally losing it while walking around?

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Nah it’s very securely locked in the camera

[@Jaxplode]

You totally forgot the much longer battery Life and 64gb internal storage while criticizing the new bottom design. These can be big savers and are major improvements.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

I mention the amazing battery life at 08:13. I cut the bit about the internal storage but it's definitely a nice convenience. Cheers

[@spyhardman]

Nice review, and good images.I have a question regarding the weird color balance that you report: are the colors similar in the DNGs and JPEGs? I wonder how the raws will look in Capture One; I’ve long found that their software gives a far more natural starting point with Sony cameras than Lightroom. It could be a similar situation here (I’ve seen a lot of theorizing that it’s a Sony sensor in this camera as well).

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Hey J.D. I spoke with Leica and it looks like I had a pre-production model. I did open the files in Capture One. C1 22, build 15.1.2.1 natively supports the M11 whereas Lightroom does not, and even though the files looked better in C1, it didn't resolve the issue. They're sending me another M11 and I should be good to go and will post a follow-up video after having a chance to use it. I also reached out to a few photographers using the M11 and they didn't have the color discrepancies, so we think it was directly related to the copy I was using. Thanks and stay tuned!

[@spyhardman]

@@AdamLernerPhoto that’s promising news, thanks for the update and general thoroughness.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

@@spyhardman Sure thing.

[@chapsibnnoel3626]

Good Sir, first and foremost, thank you for your incredible reviews. It was your review that encouraged me to purchase the M10 Monochrome. Now I’m considering the M11 and was all over the place until I thought to check your channel and hear your thoughts and conclusions. I currently have the M9 when I want color. My situation: Right now I have a line on a Brand New M10R Black Paint or I can stay in the que at Roberts Camera for an M11. All of my cameras are Black. I also own an M3 Black Paint. I am not overly enamored with the non-brass top plate of the M11. I am also not a fan of the SL line. Owned the SL2 and returned it. So now I’m cautious. Are the images from the M11 more like the M10 or the SL? I found the SL images to be not have rich in tone and color depth as the M. Please share your thoughts. Appreciate what you bring to my photography awareness and education. Be Blessed, Chaps US Navy.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Hi Chaps, your concerns are very real and many M shooters are in a similar situation. The M10R Black Paint is the most beautiful digital M ever made. 40 mpx of resolution is more than enough for most things. That is a gorgeous camera with an incredible sensor but at the end of the day it’s a digital camera and unlike your M3 which is timeless, the M10R will have its place but ultimately become obsolete. However for now it’s incredibly viable and will remain so for a long time. So about the M11. You cannot compare it to the SL2. In fact I would compare the M10R to the SL2 and the M11 to the SL2S being that the M11 and SL2S both use BSI sensors which have a very different look than other sensors that Leica uses. The M11 files are incredibly robust. The sensor seems to gather light that isn’t there. I’m finding that the performance is really good and very different but than the M10R. I shot both the M11 and M10R together on a the shoots in this video in hopes of making a comparison video. I can say that once you get accustomed to the M11 shooting experience it’s hard to go back to the M10R. The M11 files seem colder but mostly that can be remedied and with a WB adjustment. Maybe when Leica releases the special variant of the M11 it would be more appealing, like an M11-P or Black Paint edition. So in summary, your M10R is an amazing camera is so many ways but the M11 will give you a much more modern experience.

[@chapsibnnoel3626]

@@AdamLernerPhoto I waited for this reply with great anticipation and once again, you have not disappointed. I agree with you on both points. First the M10R is a dual threat. Beautiful and great tech. Secondly, it’s a digital wonder that may in many ways already be obsolete. A corner has been turned and the M11 isn’t just the new kid on the block, but in all likelihood - the new direction. But that’s the real beauty of the M system I think. It’s an intellectual experience driven by an emotional connection. Your response however has simultaneously allowed me to walk away from the M10R Black Paint while allowing me to also take a step back from the first iteration of the M11. Leica may even restore the beloved brass top plate on future Black iterations. And an M11 Black Paint would be a beast! Good Sir, thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time - your time - to assist me in my photography evolution. Continued happiness and success to you and yours. Be Blessed, Chaps

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

I’m a bit of a tech nerd and was attracted to the new tech. I also got a chance to demo the M11 while I owned the M10R and had the chance to make the comparisons in how the cameras felt in user experience as well as how the files performed. You have the greatest classic digital M ever made. The M11 is an evolution. So maybe just hold on and enjoy it as much as you can. The ability to shoot with extremely high shutter speeds with wide open apertures on the M11 is very special. But maybe not enough to trade your even more special edition 10R for. Thanks!

[@chapsibnnoel3626]

@@AdamLernerPhoto Good Sir, clarification please. When you write that “(I) have the greatest classic digital M ever made.”, are you referring to the M9 or the M10R BP? Be Blessed, Chaps

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Both amazing. M9 is a unique beast and a beautiful camera. M10R BP is also stunning and way more versatile. So you basically have the best of both.

[@FriendsFan4ever]

Great vid thank you! I currently own both M11 & M10 in hand & have been comparing them for about a week now. (I’ve been shooting with M10 for about 3yrs) But I’m thinking that the difference in improvement is relatively small for a casual shooters like me. I am thinking of selling off one of them. I can sell M10 for about 4000USD & M11 for about USD8500. Maybe it’s a personal thing, but I’m leaning to sell off the M11. In your opinion, what factors make the M11 worth that extra 4500 USD ? Much appreciated!

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

One of the biggest is being able to shoot at wide open apertures in bright conditions using the electronic shutter. If you've got an f/1 or even f/1.4 lens and it's super bright out, it's no problem using the e-shutter. and you also get an extra stop with the native ISO at 64. Otherwise, the color and look from the original M10 still holds up beautifully. CHeers!

[@FriendsFan4ever]

@@AdamLernerPhoto

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

An original M10 is still a fantastic camera that is capable or producing beautiful images. Even an M240 can do great things. The M11 is a significant evolution from these earlier CMOS digital rangefinders now that the M11 has a BSI sensor. The cost is definitely a factor as well as supply. Right now you can easily find a used M10 and an even better buy is a used M10-R because it’s a significantly improved M10 and the prices have settled into the Mid 6’s. For now. M10-R prices will go back up once the supply of M11’s improves however with the current state of things in the world the supply of M11’s looks to be scarce for the foreseeable future. The M11 is an evolution. It is by far the best digital M to date. The sensor is incredibly robust. The electronic shutter gives flexibility. The battery life is outstanding. The internal storage, new menu system, and so on. And native tethering via USB C to capture one is coming soon. I’m also interested in testing the new Visoflex 2 as it looks to offer some interesting functionality and greater flexibility with using different lenses and shooting in varied conditions.

[@carlosmcse]

The electronic shutter is mostly a gimmick for static objects. The rolling shutter is really awful. The M10 is great. Keep it. For you The M11 is just the iPhone 13 and you own the iPhone 12. Sort of meh! 😀 A huge jump from the M10 was the M10R. Especially the highlight recovery. I shot the 10P and the 10R was a huge improvement in IQ. But if you have the M11 and it really doesn’t make a difference for you, that’s Leica. It’s a mechanical rangefinder. Just use it until it breaks. Then you can sell or repair. You can stop worrying about gear and just go take pictures. The lens, skill, light, and composition will make more of a difference.

[@MarcS4R]

great review Adam

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Thanks Marc

[@jimsullivan8423]

Nice review Adam

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Thanks so much bro!

[@alhOOO2O]

In the last scene, was the camera person stood on a boat??

[@frankartale1026]

I wish i could get an M11. Im a fuji xpro1 user. Ever since i saw this model. I really think this thing is a game changer. I cant spend the same money on a camera that i paid for my car 😁

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

xpro1 is nice. probably the nicest color sensor fuji ever made.

[@frankartale1026]

@@AdamLernerPhoto you are right. I agree

[@paulmiles9388]

too many people whining about the bottom plate. It is so much easier to get at the battery now. Get over it!!

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Yes that is one advantage haha

[@BenjaminSandness]

From the outside (not shooting M), it seems like a difficult time to release new cameras. Sensors have all been quite excellent for the last several years. Other males have been making their greatest strides in speed/AF/connectivity to sell new bodies and these areas just don’t apply. With very little flexibility available to itself in form factor, Leica needs to be creative if they want to roll out new bodies every few years. Interesting.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

Leica has been updating their digital M cameras with new sensors about every 4 years with the exception of the M10-R that was a mid-cycle upgrade but to the same M10 body. The M11 is a bit of a departure. It’s a significant evolution with the 60mpx BSI sensor, however Leica has managed to fit it into the same M body form factor. Leica is such an enthusiast brand and they occupy only a fraction of the market compared to the big brands and will likely continue to have a loyal following by maintaining the the manual rangefinder experience.

[@xaviercopeland2789]

People will buy Leica no matter what’s in them because of the brand.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

@@xaviercopeland2789 That's true, however Leica still wants to appeal to a wider audience and grow it's brand. The success of the Q, Q2 and Q2M has proven that by putting one of their best lenses on to a compact camera, they've taken out the nuance of manually focusing, which has gotten more people to try Leica.

[@likeris2]

Yes. Best frozen camera. Fuck that.

[@yangwang6818]

I bet my Sony a74 can also do this shadow recovery.

[@jim6099]

The pictures look exactly the same

[@karimnasser9226]

The last and best Leica M is the M10-R. M11 electronic shutter? Really?

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

100% agreed. M10R is the best digital M ever made.

[@karimnasser9226]

@@AdamLernerPhoto Thanks for the clarification, best Digital M.

[@zenrand688]

Am I the only person that’s really bothered by the fact that he never extends the hood on that 50mm lux? Must be my OCD ;-)

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

haha, then you may miss the lux flare!

[@zenrand688]

@@AdamLernerPhoto Hi Adam! Haha - was wondering if that’s what you were going for. My M11 arrives today and your video was really helpful - I’m curious if you’ve profiled the color and if that’s improved for you? I have an M10-R and love the colors from this camera but the battery life is a real problem for me. I was expecting the color to be even better on the M11 with the thinner cover glass so your experience surprised me. Hopefully the Adobe profiles will improve and perhaps future FW updates too. Thanks for a very helpful video.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

As it turns out the M11 that I was testing was an early production model and likely had older firmware. Leica sent me a newer black M11 and the color was spot on. In fact it’s truly excellent. The M11 is by far the best digital M but the M10R is still excellent. The major reason the upgrade is functionality and features and not really resolution. I know that shooting that two it’s hard to go back to the R once you’re accustomed to the 11. And I’ll be putting out another video soon comparing the M11 to M10R. Enjoy your M11!

[@zenrand688]

@@AdamLernerPhoto Ah that's good to hear about the color! I got the M11 for the improved dynamic range, the electronic shutter capability, and the battery life improvement (this part probably is what cemented my decision). I may put up the M10-R for sale as it's hard to justify keeping both of them but I do really like the M10-R - the output has a film like quality which is really impressive. If the M10-R had better battery life, I probably wouldn't have gotten the M11. Keep up the good work - looking forward to your comparison review - I assume it will be with the production model of the M11?

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

@@zenrand688 After having had a chance to take the M11 on a bunch of varied photo shoots as well as compare it to the M10R, I would say that the look will come down to preference at this point. I do think that the M11 is more versatile. Being able to shoot wide open apertures in bright sun without the need for an ND filter is a huge bonus. The files also hold up amazingly well in low-light conditions. That's where I saw the dynamic range excel. And to give you an example of battery life M11 vs M10R, when I shot the BMW outside, it became extremely frigid and windy. We were probably out for about 3 hours. At the end of that shoot, my M10R battery was at 80% and the M11 at 95%. The battery life of the M11 is way better but it's not overwhelmingly better, especially if you're like me and have a couple spare batteries.

[@carlosmcse]

The greatest digital M is the M10R. Can still be bought new. Hurry and get one before you can’t anymore. The last true Leica digital M. I know the photos from the M11 are good. But they’re identical to the Sony A7RIV. Because they’re using the same sensor. The resulting images are really indistinguishable from each other. The A7RIV is way cheaper than an M11.

[@carlosmcse]

@@AdamLernerPhoto They are. I can send you a raw file link to a folder full of A7RIV and M11 RAW files. They are indistinguishable. The M11 is straight up using the exact same sensor. Even if Leica put their own color array it produces exactly the same results. The 10R really is the last great M for me. You don’t have to buy a preowned M10R. It is a currently produced camera. You can get it brand new for less than the M11. If you don’t want a classic RF experience, why even buy the M11? Just get the A7RIV and you get all the new technology and exactly the same RAW results. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@streetinvertphoto963]

This is true, there are few reports regarding the similarities of performance and IQ from both. They are the same sensor.

[@carlosmcse]

@@streetinvertphoto963 I didn’t go by reports. I just looked at the raw files. They’re identical.

[@streetinvertphoto963]

@@carlosmcse that's the thing with the M11. I did not get into Leica because its image is the best, one can argue other mainstream brand are better, I got into it because it is unlike anything else, but seriously when they decided to go with Sony sensors, not that it is bad, (in fact the best sensor there is) but still it feels like buying a German car with a Toyota/Lexus engine.

[@carlosmcse]

@@streetinvertphoto963 Yea. Nothing bad. It’s just the fact that the images are identical to the A7RIV. Leica Raw files were always unique. Their color and the way they look when you’re editing. It’s like nothing else. With the M11’s sony sensor; the images are fine, some say maybe great; but I think the last true great M was the M10R. Luckily they still make it and sell it new so people can get it before it gets discontinued. That 40MP color sensor version from the M Monochrome is incredible when paired with the APO.

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

Sceptical ? This is a Leica sir. Not a Japanese 185 setting pages.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

this makes absolutely no sense? why leave comments if you have nothing to add

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

@@AdamLernerPhoto Sony menu is a mess.

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

Not true. The silver is not more rare than the black one. It is the opposite.

[@AdamLernerPhoto]

The silver is brass, the black is aluminum

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

@@AdamLernerPhoto exact but not more rare.