Red Dot Forum Camera Talk: Leica M11-D

[@amyscarfone]

As a fine art photographer, the M11-D is my dream system and I'm so thankful that Leica is committed to it. It's a tool that gets out of the way of my photographic experience in the same way that film cameras do. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful it is to be presented with only what is necessary to focus, compose, and expose. With the M11-D, I never have to worry that I've accidentally instantiated a "mode" or "view" that I cannot get out of while I'm in the field. In fact, I rarely ever change my settings in the app. It's not a camera for everyone, but it is a camera for me. And I love it.

[@RedDotForum]

Perfectly said!

[@dayzpast]

The MD262 is the king! Hardly slow, it offers the most efficient way to capture photos and is by far the best experience! I have the M10M leitz edition as a comparison and the images from the MD are still capable in today’s age.

[@PETETONI]

I ended up selling my M6 and M10 for M11-D and could not be happier. This is now my only camera for work and hobby. For work shoots I use the Visoflex 2 and tether wirelessly to a iPad. Perfect setup. Highly recommend.

[@RedDotForum]

Very cool! The Visoflex 2 is a very handy tool, especially so on the M11-D.

[@PETETONI]

@@RedDotForum Shooting experience is pretty much a M6, M10 & SL in one.

[@MeadowsWorkshop]

How do you handle using the Visoflex 2 and also needing to trigger lights at the same time?

[@PETETONI]

@ Continuous lights

[@umberto8383]

Compri una fotocamera senza display e poi usi il mirino elettronico?? 😅😅😅

[@pranispongwichit875]

got both m10d and m11d. Never disappointed. No distraction, just eye and RF.

[@RedDotForum]

So true!

[@FART-REPELLENT]

Use the original M10 and ignore the LCD, in doing so you will get the same experience as using a film Leica 🙄

[@pranispongwichit875]

@@FART-REPELLENT The TOUCH and FEEL are different and I tried that. It's up to people's taste, not the product.

[@JimmyCheng]

which one do you prefer?

[@pranispongwichit875]

@@JimmyCheng first of all, im so happy that you asked. I have been watching your channel !!! Great review for M-D !! Between these two. I pick M11-D in term of battery life, and easier ev compensation. However both are great camera to let us enjoy the process.

[@LeicaMD]

I have the leia M-D and don't know yet if it's an upgrade with the M11D.... I'm very happy with my M-D

[@RedDotForum]

M-D is still my favorite (Josh here), but from a functionality standpoint, it's hard to beat the M11-D.

[@TomWangArt]

When you’re remotely controlling your camera from an iPad f.e. You might want to turn USB charging off so the camera will not drain the iPad’s battery. I’m using my M11 connected to my iPad Pro for camera control & tethering all the time and sometimes it might be cruicial switching it off.

[@RedDotForum]

Aha! This makes sense. Thanks for the insight.

[@62smarty]

I own (M's) a M2, M6, M8.2, M9 and a M240. The M9 and M240 are my to go cams on daily use. No need for an M11 D. Maybe a M10R. I love the battery life of the M240. No need for a 2nd one. I would need to buy a new phone for the photos app 😮. Besides, the M2 is my goto cam for film 🎉. Good show! Thanks for your infos! Maybe I will be able to visit you once.

[@RedDotForum]

Please do come by if you're ever in Miami!

[@markturner7910]

I have the M10-d, the one problem I have with the FOTOS app is that for some reason the format memory card option isn't available on the android version ,only the IOS version ,so every time I need to format a card ,I need to use my son's iPad I have contacted Leica through the app and they confirmed it's not available ☹️

[@erikgrossman]

The M10-D was my first screenless Leica and I loved the thumb rest. I now own the M11-D and I love how they have replaced the EV dial with ISO for the back of the camera. I do wish the thumb support was still an option though.

[@RedDotForum]

Part of me wishes the M11-D had the thumb rest, but another part is grateful it doesn't, as it makes the M10-D retain even more "specialness".

[@ronitsingh85]

@@RedDotForum wish it did, I did test one out at my local Leica store and it was a game changer, felt so natural in the hands and you could really feel the security it provided. I want it on Leica Ds for the soul purpose of usability.

[@FART-REPELLENT]

There is absolutely no need for MD series M cameras because you can ignore the LCD, and get the same experience as with a MD 🙄

[@settingofthesuns]

I got the IDS film style thumb grip for my M11-D. Only downside of course, it can't be used at the same time as the Visoflex 2.

[@ronitsingh85]

@@FART-REPELLENT Its not just about not using the screen but the clean look the M-D has, no LCD at the back replaced by an ISO dial, would have been nice if they had the top dial as an EV selector. And it looks more beautiful! To me this matters, yes if it did not, I would just use an M11 with LCD screen, better yet get a sony A series or Nikon at the fraction of the cost. It is all about looks and how it makes you feel, this is why the M-D are there. Leica knows its for the selected few and not many will be produced.

[@Manuparis]

Great video as always. Next Leica product : The M11D Monochrom. (Joking…) the niche of the niche.

[@OrangeBrick8]

Another informative and entertaining episode! Loved seeing the m60. What watch were you wearing, Josh?

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks! I was wearing a Baltic Tricompax x Peter Auto

[@delmav4358]

Watching this in 2024. Interested in M11-D and love the concept and had MD (262). Tried out the Startup time on M11-D for a few dozens of shots and it is absolutely above 3 seconds. Sometimes varying and shorter. Same thing when setting camera to sleep and waking up. It takes the same amount of time. Such a shame that for M11-D there isn't an option going back to metering from the shutter.

[@baladino]

Can i enquire if an apple thunderbolt 5 works great for image transfer and also for charging the camera ? Thank you

[@superkrell]

Does anyone know how many Leica MD 262 cameras were made...?

[@jchosw]

Does M11D work with Visoflex 2? I have attached it, the LCD did not light up.

[@simonkimber1152]

I’ve had my M11-d for about 6 weeks now, upgrading from an M10 P…. For me the biggest benefits are it’s much lighter, usb c charging and Amazing battery life. The app is far more useable. 2 negatives…. The camera has frozen on me once and long term the fundamental question is how long will support the app? Will you be able to use the app which is essential to change settings on say an iPhone 20 or 23?

[@RedDotForum]

Does your M11-D have current firmware? Have you tried using a different SD card?

[@simonkimber1152]

@ it’s with the updated firmware and the 128gb sandisk card provided by the Leica store. The freeze up only happened once and is related to pairing to the app. 8 times out of 10 the app will pair instantly, but a couple of times needed to repair the app and then it works. The 1 time however it caused the camera to crash. Pulled the battery out and restarted. Otherwise it’s all good, although it’s a learning curve as my first D Leica

[@thedailynugget]

Has there been any official word from Leica as to if and when they’re going to allow card formatting for the M11-D to come arrive? That’s literally the only thing stopping me from getting one now. Seems like a huge oversight.

[@m3photo726]

Oversight? Like the 256 Gb internal memory?

[@thedailynugget]

@@m3photo726 no not like that. More like not having the option to format your SD Card or the Internal memory via the app.

[@m3photo726]

@@thedailynugget Oh right. I’m not sure about this. Seems like a software update would be necessary …

[@ronitsingh85]

would have loved if the ISO dial at the back were silver or made both in silver and black. Either way i am all for no rear LCD screen, makes the digital body more pure and just more beautiful as a whole. Glad the M edition 60 is being featured here and getting its moment in the spotlight. I have one and I strap it from the 1/4 thread tripod screw mount. I made a special adapter with strap lugs and rings and to that you attach your choice of strap. The camera hangs upside down which is better because the strap is not interfering with your hands as you hold the body to shoot. Love the stainless steel material on it and the lens is just gorgeous. Also stainless is not much heavier than brass of which the older ones and some recent examples are made from.

[@RedDotForum]

It's awesome that you're putting your Leica 60 to use! It's such an beautiful set.

[@ronitsingh85]

@@RedDotForumthanks, I bought it used but in great condition, bought it for the lens but decided to keep the body. I did not want the thicker body style but you can’t get everything. The beautiful look, stainless steel construction and the rear ISO dial won me over. I was scared to use it but as soon as I did, the insecurity was replaced by great satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Loved that feeling! And I did buy a second vented hood for the 35mm lens in this set from Leica store Miami. I was surprised that it was being sold as a spare for a limited set as this. Always will be a unique set!

[@Thelustigclub]

You were kidding when you said you can put a small SD card to emulate an old film camera. Back in these days when you have 36 pictures on each roll you put more effort into taking pictures. Now we take 1000 of pictures all the time and then we cannot figure out which one to keep. I think one I will get a 11-D

[@RedDotForum]

128mb SD cards making a comeback in 2025?

[@Nicosalgadophotography]

love it

[@eloquentlight]

I've been a M system user for (goodness) 20 years - M6TTL, MP .58, M8, M10-R and now M11-D. I began with film, and it's the almost contemplative process of composing, etc, that appeals to me in the making of photographs. A screen, for me, detracts immensely from that, with the temptation to look at the screen, fiddle, adjust, etc - it takes me out of the place I am visually exploring. The M11-D, specifically, I like as it's simple to charge and one can use USB-C to transfer photos to Lightroom/FOTOS, etc. The connection with the M10 was just... not as good for me. I know a lot of folks look askance at both the M11 and the D variant, but that's my reasoning as to why I chose it.

[@FART-REPELLENT]

Utterly pathetic excuses to justify a MD; why don’t you dunces just ignore the LCD, or tape it over and keep it permanently switched off? 🙄

[@Kubilai-i6j]

Is it only me that sees the resemblance of these guys? Father and son or uncle and nephew? 😂

[@SnapJimmy]

To have the "D" experience how about getting a leather case with a back cover? That way you get a handling quality and inability to see the photos readily. For example.. for M10-R Black Paint since I love Black paint Leicas.

[@RedDotForum]

It wouldn't be quite the same, but certainly worth a try if you want to ensure you don't look at the screen.

[@SnapJimmy]

@RedDotForum I owned M10-D for several years, and after some time, I missed Black paint. That's all. I use Arte Dimano Leather case with back cover with Aventino grip is pretty nice!

[@arthurpeterson5273]

I'm glad for people who get their fun or happiness from the "D" cameras; but in answer to David's question, they're not for me. One of the recurring themes of your show, I recall, is the desirability of having a backup camera in case something goes wrong with, or gets damaged in, your primary camera during a once in a lifetime trip (to Bhutan, for example) or any unrepeatable experience. With a "D" camera, just as with the old film cameras, the "surprise" upon finding out later how your photos turned out that Josh cites as a positive aspect of the experience might very well unfortunately turn into shock, disappointment, and waste if, through some mistake of your own or the camera's, the results were somehow flawed. Of course one might say that there are ways to avoid that problem with the "D" cameras (e.g., the Fotos AP, or a Visoflex), but if you were going to resort to one of those preventive measures anyway, I would just point out that the far simpler, more elegant solution to the problem is simply the screen built into the backs of normal digital cameras. It is not there for no reason and is, in fact, one of the (several) great advantages of digital photography over film.

[@bernardlesperance742]

the guy on the right side of my screen (blue shirt) speaks way too fast - missed a lot of what he said - very frustrating

[@RedDotForum]

If you're watching this video after the live airing, you can easily slow down the playback speed if it helps!

[@benoitpiret9065]

never went back to screen since my 11D. plus my vision dropped a bit so I got tired to have to put glasses on to see the screen anyway lol. became useless.

[@TheVFXbyArt]

No safari?

[@ronitsingh85]

for me the M body should be without a rear screen, just looks ugly and awkward. It’s all about that clean look. An ISO dial there is all I want to see. A digital version with all the essence of a film body and don’t tell me to ‘yeah then why don’t you use a film camera then?’ I don’t want to, digital makes so much sense but there is nothing stopping a camera manufacturer from making a body that had no rear lcd screen. Leica has done it. No screen means you can’t chimp even if you wanted too. And Leica the guys at red dot forum said you eont be able to stop yourself from chomping and f you had an LCD screen, well I should say that’s besides the point, of-course you are focused more on shooting but the main reason is that it just looks right, clean and beautiful.

[@jeremykeller211]

A quick perusal of KZbin will yield perhaps a dozen Leica vids. The clear implication is that in order to take a fine photo only a Leica will do.

[@KBFM2564]

No need to get a D version if you just take a regular M10 or M11 camera and put black gaffer tape over the screen. If, for some reason you want the screen you can pull the tape off. Best of both worlds. Never understood the reason for the D models … why pay extra for a severe limitation???

[@oshanefa]

YOU DONT GET USB-C cable in box . not the one it should be - not for DATA transfer . what we got is Chinese crap for charging only . but who cares WE have all kind off cables these days and buying 11000+ camera with tax and viso2 who are bothered with buying 90usd thunderbolt 4 cable from Apple - not me or any other normal person .

[@richarddenise3886]

SL 3 Monochrom ..... sign me up !

[@TheVFXbyArt]

10:07 Not around your neck….. no lugs! 11:08 Ok, you can strap it on!

[@RedDotForum]

It's a funky way to use a strap, but it works!

[@qnetx]

If I had money to burn, I could see myself with an M10-D

[@michaelwhiles5282]

Tasty 😋

[@kaskoPhoto]

Chasing your co-host away twice was awkward. Then came the gloves. 😂 If only Leica cameras were made well enough to be touched.

[@RedDotForum]

Our fans love it when I wear the gloves. I would hate to disappoint!

[@kaskoPhoto]

@ completely understand!

[@michaelacedeno]

If you met Josh in person, you would understand lol

[@oshanefa]

ps as usual nice video . people who watch you for years , I bet on it , feel by now as though you're part if not their family than part of friend's circle ;) one thing always bothered me - your grade of video its way to conttrsaty for your faces it is fine but for gear not - all black items look a lot blacker not true to life - no details in black . minute details and shades are gone with the wind

[@dans.8198]

Any M11 can be upgraded to M11-D with some black electrical tape.

[@distreall]

You won’t have all the info in the viewfinder, and you will have to use the gimmick ISO dial of M11. Holding and shooting without M without the screen is also much nicer. I had three digital M’s, which never clicked with me like M6 did. This one is what I was looking for. And I can’t stress enough how different it is to shoot with a camera that won’t let you preview images while shooting.

[@mgscheue]

47:00

[@oshanefa]

@@distreall tru tru tru . I remember first day of 11d after any other shot I was looking at the back of camera . and after 20-30 times at one instance inner voice asked myself - what you are looking at - I was like ' uuuh ...the camera . why ? and then it hit me there is nothing to look at . after that my eyes were always locked on street and all in it .

[@RedDotForum]

Should we start a petition for Leica to launch their own line of black tape?!

[@ronitsingh85]

@@RedDotForum ha ha! 🤣

[@David-my3uu]

Yea, and the 60 is even more special because it will soon just be a door stop since Leica refuses to make batteries for it....and every other 240-base. 😡

[@RedDotForum]

Not true! M (Typ 240) batteries are hard to get, but still available. You can pre-order them online with Leica Store Miami. We get batches a few times per year.

[@David-my3uu]

@ That's fantastic news; 5 other major Leica distributors told me they stopped manufacture and only some old ones came to market occasionally - with unknown capacity prospects. Yours are newly manufactured then?

[@ronitsingh85]

@@David-my3uu with the m edition 60 you should get 2 batteries. One leading lasts a few days worth of shooting