A Review of the New Leica M11 Camera

The Leica M11 is here, and it brings with it a bevy of new features and improvements that have captured the attention of Leica fans and general photographers alike. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and if it can keep up with the legendary standards set by its predecessors. 

Coming to you from Matt Day, this great video review takes a look at the new Leica M11 rangefinder camera. The M11 comes with a variety of new features, most notable being a 60-megapixel back-illuminated sensor that puts it near the very top of full frame resolutions, just behind the Sony a7R IV. The sensor is quite versatile, offering 36- and 18-megapixel modes that show better noise performance and dynamic range as one uses the smaller resolutions. With an eye toward f/0.95 lenses, the electronic shutter fires at up to 1/16,000 s. The viewfinder features automatic parallax correction and frame selection with options for 35mm/135mm, 28mm/90mm, and 50mm/75mm focal length pairs. The camera also features live view electronic stabilization when using the rear LCD. Of particular note is 64 GB of internal storage, a real boon, particularly when paired with the camera's USB-C connectivity. I have to say that for a company that is traditionally thought of as rather conservative and focused on pure photography, I am thrilled to see the M11 with features that I wish other companies would have implemented a decade ago. Check out the video above for Day's full thoughts. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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11 Comments

I do wonder with the M series, given the look and feel of their rangefinder film camera's, how much more innovating can Leica do? Already some have been complaining about the removal of the baseplate which shows how it must be a challenge adding new features and keeping the purists happy. How does Leica keep a camera true to it's rangefinder roots whilst continuing to innovate? Haven't Leica pretty much created the perfect digital rangefinder already? On another note is the internal 64GB enough to store a sizeable number of full res photos if you are a working pro?

I think the only innovations left for the M would be blazing fast performance and a truly unlimited buffer. I had a chance to play with the M11 today and although the improvements may seem minor, it does feel like a major upgrade. But the problem that Leica will have moving forward -that there is nothing left to innovate, is something that Sony and Nikon are facing with the A1 and Z9 models. How much more improvement do we need when photography is more about what you are shooting than what are you shooting with.

That said, it's inevitable that we will get an EVF version of the M at some point. But that isn't exactly moving the M forward but rather creating an entirely different camera.

I did some buffer tests on my new M11. 8 DNG's. 40 mDNGs. I stopped at 80 frames for sDNG. Not bad for a rangefinder.

That is good to hear for the 36mp setting. I expect to shoot 90% of my stuff there when I eventually get an M11. I picture only using the 60mp setting for a true client job where I know the images will need retouching. 40 raw files is the equivalent of an unlimited buffer for me.

Don't forget, though, all the "special editions" (or whatever Leica calls them) that come out as a variation on a base model. Think M11 Safari edition, Q2 combat edition or whatever. Maybe that's not innovation, but it is..well I don't know what it is..but they keep doing it. Which is a little like cars I guess, with models having different "trim" levels.

Looks great. I still can’t afford one but I’d buy one if I could - although I might hold out for the inevitable black paint, monochrome version 🤣.
I had an M3 many years ago and have always loved the M system.

The dentist's camera

I know at least one dentist who has an M10 and takes really good photos. He loves the rangefinder style and has worked hard enough to be able to afford one. I also know an eye surgeon who loves his Monochrom, lovely work.

Yep, some hobbyists take really good pictures.

My dentist uses a Nikon. Maybe I should change dentists?

Yep, not a real dentist