MY LEICA M11 DECISION

[@TryingtoLearntheuke]

Thanks for the follow up video Dave. I have been toying with getting the M11. Just got the Q3 for my carry around camera but the M11 is still on my mind.

[@davidherring]

I’ve been very happy with the M11!

[@carlosmcse]

If the camera isn’t misbehaving and you’re switching systems then I agree just stick to the newest thing. (I would never switch mine though). 4:21 The problem there is “aperture priority”. Don’t shoot an M in anything auto. In that scene, you can’t point the M10R like that and take a photo on auto because it’s exposing for the window (it’s not spot meter, it is center weighted meter). You have to point the camera down and get a sense of the entire scene and then decide your settings and lock them in (or half press which isn’t as ideal as taking control of the exposure yourself). Then every photo will be exposed evenly. The M10(r) really teaches you and forces you to learn exposure well. But if the M11 is working easier for you then go for it. The M11 is definitely made to be an easier camera for those who shoot the SL or other mirrorless cameras. When I started shooting the M coming from Fuji I found the same thing. I didn’t know anything about exposure. I was always on some auto setting (mostly aperture priority) letting the camera decide everything. The M10 really taught me exposure. I have more control of my photo now. Even if I had the M11 I wouldn’t rely on it to decide the exposure for me. The problem most people have is they want to shoot the Leica M the same way they shot their other mirrorless cameras.

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing! I shoot A pretty often on the M because it’s just not button-efficient like other mirrorless systems. And 9/10 times it’s no issue.

[@carlosmcse]

@@davidherring I’ve learned to treat the ISO dial like film. So if I go out and it’s cloudy I stick it at ISO400. No sun ISO800. Very sunny ISO100. Etc. and then I just deal with the shutter speed and aperture. The meter I use as a guide. Sort of like the prints that Magnum has with all the numbers all over the print “+2, -1, +3” etc etc. as I approach a scene I look at the whole thing with the camera so I get an idea where my shadows and highlights are. Then I decide. It’s a slow very involved process which is why I like to stick to the M10R. The M11 is just ushering the era of more and more M automation which I don’t like. Before you know it it’ll be like shooting a Sony on manual focus.

[@bsmukler]

I’m with you on every point (including not really missing the old base plate). Another pleasant surprise for me, as an older photographer, was how easy it is to still get sharp photos, handheld, despite the high resolution. The M11 is so well balanced that camera shake is a nonissue.

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing!

[@carlosestrada8756]

I made the same switch, M10-R Black Paint to M11 Silver. All the reasons you mentioned are spot on.

[@davidherring]

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

[@SavedbybGrace]

Yep... sounds good to me and I get it totally. Sitting at the desk with my M11P. Best camera I've owned... after years of modern Pro DSLR's, Leica's M8/9, a couple of M6's, Nikon F4 and F3 back in the day, R series Leicas, Hasselblads... Some fabulous image making over a lot of years. The M11P eclipses it all!!!

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing! The M11P is beautiful. Love that top script!

[@SavedbybGrace]

@@davidherring No gaffer tape required either … 🤣

[@benjhaisch]

This video deserves more views just from the thumbnail alone

[@davidherring]

THE BIG REVEAL!

[@mandiworld]

Very happy with my m10-r and have not had the issues you’ve had.

[@davidherring]

Well my main issue was an electrical one that needed repair, and the M11 came as something to get me through the many weeks while I still have jobs to do. Otherwise the things I mentioned in this video aren’t issues, just things I felt the M11 improved upon.

[@mwales2112]

As someone that recently moved to an M10 from an M240 I miss the battery life. It would just go and go.....

[@davidherring]

Yeah the 240 and 11 have incredible battery life. They kind of missed this on the 10.

[@Reportageandart]

I bought a second battery for my m11 and I have never used it. The battery life is excellent !

[@davidherring]

I was tempted to but they’re so expensive and I wasn’t sure I’d need it. Turns out, I don’t haha

[@josephgotchy]

When you decide to sell off expensive equipment like the M10R, what route do you take to maximize the return on your original investment….in Seattle….or elsewhere? Thanks. I’m grateful for your commentary.

[@davidherring]

I typically try to sell locally OR to someone in the Leica community (via various groups) that I can 1) verify is a real person, 2) has references, and 3) will pay or split the PayPal goods services fee.

[@exalbino]

Congrats Dave! I was in a waiting list for the Q3 but ended up with an M11…best decision I’ve ever made.

[@davidherring]

Thank you! I'd take the M cameras over Q all day long.

[@Leicashootr]

When you removed the card and battery .Why does everything have to be done so abruptly and violently when it can also be done with care and love for the equipment, so you shouldn't complain if something breaks in a short time!

[@davidherring]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@quintonmckimm]

Glad you got over the Leica skeuomorph. When's the M12 coming out?

[@davidherring]

Ha

[@Dan_photo]

“I’m going to stick it out with the M11”. Haha. I’d literally give an arm for an M11. Great video Dave! Love the regular updates.

[@davidherring]

Ha, thanks!

[@masa-pw6rd]

…it would be difficult to nail focus with only one arm though 😂

[@rexgigout1472]

Battery: I agree! I need more spare batteries, when shooting with an M10, than whan using an M Type 246 Monochrom. The battery made for the 240-series is, usually, an all-day battery, plus some. Baseplate: I tend to be fumble-fingered, so might well be better-served by a camera without the traditional base M plate. This one is related to your Reason #1, because the M10 battery is the leading reason, for me, at least, to have to remove the base plate in field/street conditions. I actually bought a spare 240-series baseplate, to keep in my spare parts. Metering: I agree that metering with older digital M cameras is a challenge, compared to my DSLRs. (I have yet to use an M11 or an M10-R, so, my frame of reference is the original M10 and the M Type 246.) While the challenge of metering light with a M10 or a 246 is part of their charm, the “easy button,” when I anticipate challenging light metering conditions, and need to produce good results, with efficiency, is to bring a Nikon D5 or D850, rather than “suffer for my art.” (Nikon is a system I share with my wife, who is the more-senior photographer, by far, so, we are not quitting Nikon, especially with nature/macro being so important. I am thankful that she does not make a fuss about what I have spent on my Leica equipment.) Well-done! Enjoy your M11, and keep doing good work!

[@davidherring]

Thanks so much!

[@IntrovertAmateur]

Congrats on landing on the M11, Dave! :) Since the Q3 got the same sensor like the M11 I agrees on your ISO performance observation. Blows my mind everytime and with the Leica Look B/W contrast I enjoy high ISO images 😇 Just keep going on your journey. Really enjoy your YT journey so far and try to learn as much as possible from a pro like you to improve my photography :)

[@davidherring]

Thanks so much!

[@benjhaisch]

what are we accusing the shutter of? ;)

[@davidherring]

Shutting with wonderful authority

[@314LA]

what's about X2D ? Did you try it? liked? or m11 better?

[@davidherring]

I have never tried the X2D.

[@Deetroiter]

I've been wrestling with the idea of an M240, M10, or M11...each one has it's pros and cons. m240, older but affordable with technical limitations. M10 is kind of a sweet spot but why not spend a little more to just get the newest camera. M11 is obscenely expensive with reports of numerous issues by widespread amounts of owners but it's also brand new.....For myself, my biggest factor is if I'm going to spend that much money, I want the one that's going to last the longest, in terms of years of ownership. I'm talking about keeping for at least 10+ years of constant regular use. That puts the m240 out of my list because by that point it'll already be a near 20 year old digital camera. M11 is the logical choice for me. Brand new and should easily last 10+ years from now with constant use and travel around the world. The thing that gets me is I just can't pull the trigger due to the freezes, the resets, need just the right SD card but not THAT SD card, etc. I find it interesting that the M camera just now have the USB-C charging when I've had it on my Leica TL2 for years. Regardless, I love the idea of being able to just plug it into to the laptop, phone charger brick, etc and being able to charge it instead of having to pop the battery out or carry an external charger for the wall

[@davidherring]

I think the earlier production M11’s had issues in hardware, as well as firmware. But at this point, firmware is fine tuned and hardware production issues have been resolved. I’ve been shooting mine daily for over a month. It’s a newer production camera. Not a single freeze, or any other issue. I think you’re safe going M11 at this point.

[@Deetroiter]

@@davidherring Thank you for the feedback, sir! Is there any recommendations on how to make sure you get new stock? Also one question I have, if you don't mind, is I've heard something about the M11 that you can use one lens, but make it act like three different focal lengths? I'm not sure I understand how that works. I was going to get the Summicron 50mm F2 v5 to go with the M11, but if I can do different focal lengths internally on the camera, maybe I'll look at a 35mm lens instead. Thanks for your time!

[@davidherring]

@@Deetroiter If you're buying a new one, it will likely be a more recent production. You can also simply call Leica in NJ (in you're in the USA) and give them the serial number of the camera you're buying, and they'll tell you when it was made. I've checked every used camera I've bought with them to make sure it wasn't stolen. Regarding the one-lens philosophy, it's really just about crop modes. If you put a 35mm lens on an M11, it has crop modes to make it 1.3x or 1.8x, which translates to 45mm and 63mm respectively. But all it's doing is pre-cropping for you. The data is still there, as if it was 35mm, but you'd have to go into crop mode to see it all. Otherwise, it will look as if you shot with longer lenses. This plays out more extreme with longer focal lengths. For instance, my 90mm could be 117mm or 162mm when digitally zoomed. But it's still actually just a 90mm, cropped. Make sense?

[@Old-School-Liberal]

I agree with you I have the M10R and 3 batteries and always having to charge the batteries

[@davidherring]

Yeah it’s always been a bit of a tension point.

[@Millicente]

Should add a note or comment to your "Why I chose the M10-R over the M11" video. It's just got the same energy as another video I saw that was about never letting go of X Leica, then 2-3 months later, "I sold my X Leica.". Nothing wrong with updating opinions or changing minds, just a bit of transparency and update for people watching those videos for the first time. Even if 99/100 points about how the M10-R is good are still valid, the conclusion has changed, the M11 was better, enough to warrant the cost.

[@davidherring]

Thanks for the feedback! I’ll update that in the description!

[@forgottenamericana]

You go Dave. Great choice bro. Now it’s time to make images and shooting videos.

[@davidherring]

Thanks!

[@BrandonTalbot]

Eyeing that M11p. I tried the m11m but I didn’t enjoy the shutter, I know it’s a small thing but it’s made me pause on purchasing

[@davidherring]

If I could have planned a transition, I probably would have gone that direction, but having the M10R issue arise and needing to quickly make a decision, I couldn't wait for the M11p. But I hear it's going to be awesome.

[@BrandonTalbot]

That totally makes sense @@davidherring

[@rumblestar5771]

Nice video and congrats on your decision. I’m with you on the big benefits of the M11. I’d rank the weight savings of the M11 black version over the M10r up there as well.

[@davidherring]

There is a noticeable difference! But if you’re coming from a mirrorless system like Sony, Canon, etc., even the M10 feels light!

[@Bar_out]

Yeap, I bought a silver version and I think it was wrong decision

[@Holl.Mvrk.]

Sheeesh three batteries in a day ? Curious…how many photos were getting through those 3 batteries ??

[@davidherring]

If I have a full day (8hrs+) of shooting whether it’s commercial or personal, I typically shoot 100-200 photos within an hour. Of course when culling this goes way down. But the M10R batteries will get me around 300 shots or so. That is with no live view.

[@Holl.Mvrk.]

I see so about 900(ish) photos in total between the three batteries. I’d be interested to see how many photos you can get when using the M11 in the same way off of one battery.

[@davidherring]

My first day in Olympic (last video), I shot around 600 photos that day. At the cabin that night, I checked the battery.... 80%. I was shocked.

[@Holl.Mvrk.]

@@davidherring wow, that’s insane ! I’ve been really looking into the M246 and the biggest draw beside the mono sensor is the battery life. Plus the price is a lot more affordable than an M11M for myself as a street photographer hahaha

[@davidherring]

@@Holl.Mvrk. If you're a monochrome shooter than I think the M246 would be great. The M10M and M11M are insanely awesome too, but you'll trade battery life (M10M) or price (M11M) for it.

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

A good friend of mine has both the M10R and the M11. I have the M11. We’ve both had the M11 replaced as they both failed. Now though 6,000 shots later my M11 is magnified in black and is showing brass around the shutter button… super cool. My dream machine would be a M11 black paint.

[@davidherring]

Glad you have your cameras working now! I’m excited to watch the M11 age.

[@PeterHartland]

Welcome to the M11 you need now to borrow a M11M but beware you not be able to return it, I couldn't & now own both.

[@davidherring]

Haha I definitely DO NOT need to do that, then!

[@CalMukumoto]

I shoot the M11, your reasons are all true and good. 🎉. Although, I have wondered about the 10R, and your video answers those questions.

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ElecBrane]

Right before the new version will be released

[@davidherring]

The M11 is already more camera than I needed, and while I'm sure the P will be awesome, the 11 will be more than enough for the work I do.

[@wisionphoto]

these are exactly ALL the reasons why I switched from my M10 to M11!!!

[@wisionphoto]

Need to see more M11 photos from you Dave!

[@davidherring]

Nice!

[@FlorianJohaenntgen]

True, not a suprise at all 😅

[@davidherring]

Yep. Everyone called it haha.

[@Anatol19066]

I would sell both m10 and m11 and accumulate resources to buy new sl3.

[@davidherring]

Nah the SL experience is not what I’m after. M for me!

[@Bar_out]

Oh, so, let’s compare m11 and a7rv 🍽️

[@davidherring]

I’ve got a fun video coming soon to see if the rumor that the M11 sensor is the same as the A7RV 😬

[@Bar_out]

Wow, great idea!

[@MatthewFling]

Spoiler aleart! I'm 40 seconds in and he's keeping the M11 😂

[@davidherring]

I put it on the very front of the video for a reason

[@marcisroaming]

Accusations??? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@davidherring]

🤷🏻‍♂️😂

[@davidherring]

Sometimes you just misspeak and then don’t feel like redoing it 😂😂