Leica M11 Review - The most enjoyable M-series camera yet?

The Leica M11 my look like all the M-series cameras that came before it, but it has some notable upgrades and changes. Find out why we think the Leica M11 is the most enjoyable M camera we've used to date.
Available to Purchase At: fave.co/4a4D7SW
See full resolution Leica M11 photos in our sample gallery:
www.dpreview.com/sample-galle...
0:00 - Intro
1:26 - Sample images
2:05 - Materials and weight
3:02 - Startup time
3:29 - Camera bottom
5:22 - Display and interface
6:07 - ISO control
7:27 - Shutter modes
8:05 - Internal storage
8:45 - Drive and buffer
9:31 - More samples!
10:33 - Image quality
14:37 - Is it right for you?
Music provided by BeatSuite.com
www.beatsuite.com
Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store
www.thecamerastore.com
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[@joefaracevideos]

You guys remain in a class by yourself with both the comprehensiveness of the content and the creativity of the video. That "night to day" walking shot: Amazing, Jordan. Thanks.

[@RzaNaziri]

agreed

[@craigman7262]

A bit dry at times

[@ConSocialist]

Man I sure do miss those newsprint size shutterbug magazines. I agree, Chris and Jordan are in a class by themselves.

[@joefaracevideos]

@@ConSocialist Thanks, I hear that from many people about the "old" Shutterbug

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I agree about Shutterbug. Also, that transition. 👌🏿

[@HeyImJWB]

You two make any camera review so enjoyable, I watch reviews of cameras I have no interest in just to watch you both. Thanks for the great content!

[@art_means_artificial]

overfuckingpriced!

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

It's the really funny thing about walking around with embargo gear. Anyone who would be able to recognize that it looks a LOT like an M10 is EXACTLY the person who would know it ISN'T an M10 😅

[@jlwilliams]

I don't know... from across the street or down the block, it wouldn't look that much different. Maybe once you noticed that the photographer wasn't changing batteries every 20 minutes, and that hesheitthey wasn't having to juggle a baseplate while doing it, that might provide a tip-off...

[@Ruylopez778]

I mean, if you see Chris being filmed by Jordan, it's quite likely it's a new camera...

[@jochenkraus7016]

@@Ruylopez778 It might be new lenses. Which doesn't make a big difference in this case.

[@patricksmith2553]

True, true! But man that USB-C port, you set this camera down once on the counter and there is a drop of water, you'll have a really pretty $9,000 paperweight! Plenty of people have accidentally fried and completely ruined their Nikon D810, D850 or Canon 5D Mark IV type camera's from getting water, even small amounts of water into the port for the vertical grip. Which is why those camera's have a rubber piece that covers the port. Yet people forget about the little rubber piece that covers the port and they ruin their camera's. Leica just does not even include a rubber piece to cover the port? That's a recipe for disaster!

[@art_means_artificial]

overfuckingpriced!

[@FranciscoRamirezAraya]

That transition in 10:20 was *chef kiss* Great work Jordan (and team!)

[@extremelydave]

Yup, that caught my eye too.... very slick.

[@michaelsidel8602]

Agreed. Wow.

[@aseancat]

Anyway to show such transition with stills?

[@mirrorlessny]

good lesson, much to learn from these videos

[@4g0tten4]

You could do a split side-by-side shot in stills or a full frame diptych to show a similar night and day shot.

[@falxonPSN]

The cinematography in this one is just superb. Great shots by Chris also. I think this is the best creative design of your videos yet.

[@Lowrode]

530gms sold it for me. Lighter than an M6, brilliant thank you Leica. As a working photographer the ‘aged brass edging’ has no appeal, but 20% lighter, I’m in.

[@JeffreyAK38]

Well done, great translation at 10:20. Can’t tell you how many times I rewound that segment to watch again….👍🏼

[@CarletonTorpin]

7:27 - Always great cinematography from your video reviews. Loved the lateral tracking shot with the background reflected in the windows and building-reflected bounce light.

[@erwin2912]

It's really a joy watching your videos. You are an extremely competent team with an excellent sense of humor.

[@paulasimson4939]

Great review, but that transition and music at 10:20 - wowzer! You can tell you guys are having fun being in a different location after such a long lockdown.

[@davidgilmore2565]

Many thanks Chris and Jordan. Once again, the best overview and presentation of a new product with fair and balanced commentary.

[@prismaticfire]

Have to say, the colors and the video quality coming out of that Olympus E-M1X were fantastic. All kudos to the lovely cinematography of the talented Mr. Jordan Drake! While low light showed the limits of that older M43 sensor a bit, and bright backlighting (the ship) revealed the limits of it’s dynamic range, everything was overall quite natural and beautiful. Oh, and the new Leica was pretty alright, too.

[@davidb9682]

I agree. Imagining a still from the Olympus video, the quality looked better than the shots from the Leica. Weird!

[@jordanfish]

I noticed that too! It really has a very solid color rendition and sharp yet organic image. Really interesting.

[@epambos]

Second that! Excellent night cinematography... Well Done Jordan!

[@markpollon3138]

Is it wrong that I came to the comments mainly for the reaction to the M1X performance?

[@mirrorlessny]

@@epambos Jordan the video king, every video I hope for his appearance with insightful video info

[@MgarrKid]

One tends to forget that aside from the top notch vlog style videos and great chemistry between the two, Chris is an increadibly talented and unique photographer. New York and the Leica really brought out the best in him!

[@niccollsvideo]

It's comments like that which keep me going. Thank you!

[@jonaswicker6188]

Great review as always! Extra respect for 10:18!

[@williamgoss4691]

The amount of informed professional dissection of this new M11 Leica is superb. Plus, ofc, u get a thick slice of humour which is fantastic. (Plus some lovely images, with shooting dets !!). One the best photo YT’s around. 👍👍

[@scroy65]

Great review guys, I'm excited to see what the M11 looks like to older glass - need to pop by the Leica Store Boston with some Mandler glass.

[@gerryphilpott9766]

I've had my eye on the red dot (in particular the Range Finder) for a few decades and just couldn't pull the trigger. I have a great mirrorless set up now, but this M11 is the one to finally make me open the wallet. Very different uses and since retiring soon, why not? Great review - very thorough and nice seeing a fan of the brand talk about the features. Pre-order is in, thanks for pushing me over the edge!

[@Loud_Thinker]

Honest reviews, straight to the point! Thanks Chris and team!

[@bsmukler]

Thanks for this first look and for the great video from New York, including the stills and the music. There’s a reason I, like so many, go to your and Chris’s videos first when there is a major new camera release. I’ve used Leica film and digital M bodies for decades and currently have the M10M alongside my SL2 kit. I love the rangefinder design and the classic, dense feeling of the wonderful construction. It’s a step away from tradition, of course, but it made sense to finally omit the base plate. The aluminum top plate on the black version is in keeping with their other bodies, although the resulting change in weight would present a serious choice between silver and black, since many users are inured to that classic “brick” feeling as well as the eventual brassing. I think the M series will and should always remain without IBIS but that brings up a sad fact that many long time users are getting older and do not obtain the same sharpness due to focus or stability. Thus the SL, Q, and other series. I look forward to your in-depth review!

[@GrahamBridgemanClarke01]

Watched several reviews and yours is by far the best Chris.

[@FerEste]

Loved the Brooklyn bridge night to day cut! Great stuff, great review!

[@bdssoaz]

Amazing photos Chris! Loved the Oly footage also, it's such and underrated camera in my opinion... Great work Jordan! 👌👍

[@Ryan.Matlock]

Just want to echo everyone else for their praise of the cut around 10:19. Great work as always!

[@williamglevy]

This was the best review of a new camera, battery, jitter in a handheld, resolution etc. I have had all Leicas since the M4 and learned photography on the 2F 3F.

[@joangilisuarez7090]

Great video it is a really a delight to watch your reviews

[@ryanehoward]

Dude! That transition at 10:18! So well done.

[@jorgegalepos]

Came for the Leica review, and stayed for the quality of the Olympus video!

[@d-entrecasteaux]

Why did you shoot the video on the Olympus? Whatever reason - glad you did... I was more interested in the Olympus footage than the Leica!

[@craigcompoliphotography1235]

Great video! The best among so many I’ve seen on the M11.

[@josh885]

The internal storage was a genius way to solve the problem of people wanting dual cards, especially for instant back up, but not having room for two slots without making the camera bigger.

[@Chris-ey7zy]

Exactly. Keeps the camera small and give you backup in case of corrupt cards

[@alma175w]

Such an enjoyable review, incredible cinematography, Jordan. And Chris says he hates 35mm - those are some quality photos.

[@exploresouthwest]

Great video. You can almost see Jordan's thought process on seeing a nice scene and how he wants to frame it up.

[@baladino]

What no Jordan in the video at all ? Guess the M11 took the spotlight ! Seriously you guys by far do the best gear reviews without sounding like the manual read out aloud. Great transition from night to day and Chris is as great as ever ! Thank you to both of you.

[@itsmejoric4180]

I'm not sure if it's NYC or the Olympus cam but the video looks good! So is the review :)

[@hankroest6836]

10:10 Just want to praise the EXCELLENT SOUND EDITING as well as the BEAUTIFUL visual work that went into that cut JD. Kudos. 7:30 And speaking of Rolling Shutter in front of those leaning "verticals" was HILLARIOUS, BTW. 4:10 And love all that GORGEOUS DEPTH OF FIELD from the MFT lenses letting us see MANHATTAN, eh. ;-)

[@jshanni2066]

The most fascinating thing is that you chose an E-M1x to shoot the video. Interesting option.

[@franzjosefstakes]

I think Jordan later said that he wasn't able to bring his monopod, so he chose the camera with the best video-IBIS implementation.

[@reversemyopia]

That masterpiece of a shot at 10:20 combined with music🔥🔥

[@tchin2020]

Great review guys, and thanks Chris for showing off my home town via the south street water front area…moving up from the m240, I hope the M10 prices drop a bit now with the M11 intro…

[@TheTS1205]

10:19 That smooooth transition from night to day

[@Azeemmerchant]

❤🙌

[@matthewparriott]

Jordan just a fantastic job shooting and editing.

[@Alan-Zorro]

As usual, another great review!

[@omniart5714]

I am more amazed by video quality from the Olympus... Are you SURE you did a review of it???

[@krolldavid]

Love the photos you took for the review

[@Neopulse00]

Learned something new with Leica. Thanks guys.

[@davidshinn9016]

Great Review! Jordan, I really liked that transition from night to day on the Brooklyn Bridge. Chris, wonderful images, and your daughter just keeps getting cuter

[@hansorzy90]

Just brought m10r, happy didn’t wait for this one.

[@Herkulez1981]

Well down with the photos Chris and really enjoyed jordans filmning in the end of the new your segment

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

The M10-R was everything I wanted in an M-series camera: 40 MP resolution; a very quiet shutter, and the look and feel of the original Leica M3. I've gotten used to the M10-R and its 1/4000 shutter speed and pop-up ISO dial. It weighs a ton. It has a traditional base plate. I love the thing.

[@anta40]

Sound like my ideal 35mm camera. Except the price tag...

[@Fluterra]

Totally. I see no reason to upgrade.

[@CountLaszlo]

Agree why Leica ruined perfection is beyond me. The M11 is a fail, flop!

[@shadowblack1987]

@@CountLaszlo that's why they sold more in a shorter time...

[@Shunto99]

i'm not understanding how it's a fail@@CountLaszlo

[@stephenfox5133]

That Oly video is damn good for such a maligned system.

[@pruett89]

I love NYC and especially that part of town! I saw many spots I’ve been to before which made the video even better.

[@2071photo]

The shot at 3:05 is so clean I feel like I’m actually there 😄👌🏽✨

[@zguy95135]

Internal storage, larger battery and on board charging is a big upgrade and would be REALLY nice to have while traveling. Plus more function buttons is great like you said for ISO adjustment, the new back layout is nicer looking and I guess the higher res too (I dont care about that personally). If you have the money its a really nice upgrade from the M10 series. I can't afford nine grand for a new camera though and my M10 does everything I need it to, so I'll be sticking with that.

[@alexsem490]

Excellent film-making and shots in New York. Great review too :)

[@safemode8598]

I love the Juxtaposition of the camera companies, Leica and Olympus, great job guys.

[@PaulB-gl1ix]

Solid review and enjoyable too!! I just got back in the Leica camp with the M11P. It's the best camera I've used, and I've had plenty over many years of owning a portrait studio. From Blad and Leica film cameras through to the best of the pro DSLR's. The M11/M11P is truly unique.

[@56floorer]

What a way to spend a day, you lucky, lucky people. Some excellent shots too, thank you.

[@chrisbaudeg3233]

Fantastic review of the Leica M11. YES! Now convinced the M1X is the way to go.

[@Nuri-Gedik]

love this dudes reviews!

[@mattdebyl8806]

One correction for DPR / TV (somewhat incorrectly stated on both). The M 240 had metering off the sensor as well which gave the same options using the live view for metering. But you had the option in that camera of doing classic Leica shutter metering and sensor metering. So it’s not ‘new’ for M11. Though from memory they did remove that function in the M10. So it’s the ‘return’ of that feature.

[@sunesnigel]

Does the song around 9-10 minutes have a name? Great video as always. This camera is deficiently not on my radar but I do enjoy there are companies like Leica out there, mixing things up.

[@swaspc7618]

Great content, like always! Do you have any more info about the reading delay that you comment on at 03:05?

[@sebastiaanvanwater]

EM1X is the real star of this video.

[@tjmanou6422]

Great review AS ALWAYS. The only channel I take seriously ;) to me as an M10-r owner the only real difference is the battery life really. When i put visoflex on it sucks the battery big time.

[@marinrealestatephotography]

Forget the M11... the Olympus E-M1X looked GREAT!!! What picture profile did you use, Jordan? I am guessing neutral (or possibly flat). Gotta start using my E-M1 II more and my Panasonic and Sony bodies less I guess...

[@NeverToBeSeenAgain]

the reason they made the color determine the metal is so they can release a black one in brass a year from now as a special edition and charge and extra couple grand for it.

[@hotlippsmartin]

Very helpful review - Thank you

[@bertnase9933]

Make a jazz noise here... love the DPReview reviews. Ordered a M11 black but am always struggeling to have ordered a silver one. Oh boy...

[@marlon.iraheta]

Great review thanks for the content :)

[@paulbeckmann]

Great review! Thanks!

[@unn4medfeel1ng]

How can a camera with minimum functions be so slow? It kinda ruins the point of having only essentials

[@CianMcsweeney]

Bad software probably, which leica outsources to panasonic

[@DRUmat404]

Interesting you guys shot on em1x. I assume that's because there's a lot of walking and you were traveling so you wanted to do so without a gimbal?

[@aneeshbanerjee5297]

Love your content ❤️

[@jos_t_band3912]

That backdial you can press in. Love it.

[@alanplatt888]

Fantastic review thanks

[@JeffreyHauser]

Hi Chris, you & Jordan make for a very good team! Really enjoy your videos. Leica cameras are not in my budget, but I really do like the classic style of the Leica cameras & their small form factor of their lens line up. I can afford the Wotancraft Pilot Camera bag that you previously reviewed & is present in your Leica 11 video. I have ordered same. Cheers!

[@JeffreyHauser]

@WHATSAPP ME ➊➍➊0➏➒➐➋➒➏➋ Hi Chris, responding to your reply regarding an appreciation gift. Your videos are informative, entertaining & humorous. Best wishes to you & Jordan.

[@niccollsvideo]

Thats not me Jeff. That's most likely a scam. I appreciate you but I'd stay away from whatever that whatsapp thing was

[@JeffreyHauser]

@@niccollsvideo Thanks for the heads up, regarding a possible scam!

[@jasonkempin]

You guys are always insightful and awesome. Thanks a ton. I wish the black model was brass though, I love the extra weight and feel. Very curious why Leica chose to make two different bodies?

[@londonlionel]

Maybe Leica will bring out a special brass model with black paint.

[@nazmusshadad7155]

The quality of this video is just 👌🏼

[@abefroman5437]

the sample photo movie montage was awesome!

[@gewglesux]

FINALLY!!! What a beauty!! I've enjoyed this this one a lot!! I just got an MP so i don't have any money for this.. maybe next year.. I'll see if Soho has one to play with.

[@jeffdrew625]

Way cool assignment…and escaping Calgary! 👍. Nice teaser for the M11.

[@m1k3e]

Goddamn Jordan knocked it out of the park here. Wow. You guys really nailed this one 👍

[@davidecastagno3607]

The video b roll were actually very very cool, my compliments

[@maze400]

Chris I wish I knew you were in town, I would have joined you for the shoot. Enjoyed the vid. The pixel binning on the M11, is that the same as it is on the D850?

[@roryjacobs6817]

Thanks for the review. When can we get a review of the 35mm Summicron-M APO lens?

[@peterferry1646]

Love those reviews of amazingly expensive cameras it's like watching a rolls Royce review

[@jschoonj]

Lovely to see some video work on the E-M1X! Looks great, Jordan! Any specific reason to use it?

[@MichaelRichards983]

Video looks really good.

[@gepetto6266]

I have the same question :-) Looks really stable

[@jschoonj]

@@gepetto6266 world class IBIS 😉

[@natashanicole7408]

Maybe the weather

[@dpreview]

I didn’t have luggage space for a monopod, so I needed a camera with excellent IBIS, weather sealing and battery life. E-M1X checked all the boxes. Jordan @ DPReview TV

[@andalusia7457]

Hi, thanks for the great review, do you think it's better than Iphone 13 pro camera and Sony v1 ?

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

Wonderful review as always… but is that a bit of winter timber Chris is sporting?

[@afcampo1]

Awesome video! Feel like you’re harnessing your inner Al Borland.

[@puredistancegolf]

Love the menu color and font.

[@leehargreaves7473]

Literally the only feature I'm jealous of is the 64Gig of internal storage. That's really useful and there's no excuses for not having it on all cameras given how cheap storage is nowadays. It probably costs Leica less than $10

[@CoffeeD_1]

high end mirrorless cameras should have at least 500GB of nvme level storage.

[@RickGrant1959]

Great review.

[@dillank3240]

I want one now. I am not going to get one, but I want one. Great music on this one!

[@crissignori7482]

Such a really nice and enjoyable review. I used the Leica M system in the past having had the M4-2, M4, and M6 Wetzlar and loved all these cameras. A few years back I sold all of them and my lenses as I was just enjoying the convenience of digital so much. Now I am reconsidering the M system for doing some street photography but I find myself so divided - The idea of shooting with a new M film camera carries a lot of romance with it but one has to weigh the cost of that romance in the purchase price, the cost of film and developing, and all the inconveniences of dealing with film. While this new digital camera is obviously a wonderful tool to use, it cannot offer the flexibility of the latest mirrorless systems currently available. Are the optics that much further ahead ... maybe if one is to fork out for the latest apo - aspherical lenses but I am not sure I want to do that. In the end a used M film body might be the way to go simply for the flavour that only film seems to provide.

[@kimfarrelly]

Nice to see the Irish flag making the cut! I miss that city, hope you guys had fun there with that staple of NYC street photo life.

[@thephotodl4455]

Omg this is what you guys were shooting when I ran into you 😁

[@glenjo0]

Nice work!

[@tangosix5779]

ready for you guys to tackle a more in depth review of the m11.

[@carbondragon]

Good video, thanks. My own lenses for my Ms are the 35/2 ASPH (not apo), the 90 APO, and the 50/2 Summicron (pre APO). These aren't the latest and greatest but still pretty good on my M10, 9, and 8). Yet, it seems like every time an M comes out (8, 9, 246, 10, and now 11) the reviewers always say ... oh the digital M8 won't look perfect with Leica lenses that came out prior to their first digital, or the new camera won't get maximum advantage out of the sensor (18MP, 24MP, 24MP, 40MP, or now 60MP) with less than the absolute latest lenses. Maybe that is true, but as you say we mostly take them handheld so you'll probably never prove it without very careful tripod testing. Course by the same token, how useful is 60MP for a handheld camera? Not sure I'll buy an 11 and if I do I typically buy the camera after the 11P or 11R gets made so the price takes at least a tiny hit. And after the M9 sensor corrosion debacle, I'm more reluctant than I used to to buy $8000 cameras that may not be warrantied by Leica against major design defects.

[@MgarrKid]

Why use the OM1X for this video? Any particular reason - looks great as always, thanks to the little Jordan of course!