Leica just dropped a twist on the M formula that swaps the optical rangefinder for a built-in EVF while keeping the familiar M body and a 60 MP full frame sensor. If you’ve loved M lenses but fought framelines with 21mm or 90mm glass, this will change how you work in the moment.
Coming to you from Benj Haisch, this concise video walks through the Leica M EV1 mirrorless camera and shows where it fits between a classic M and Leica’s Q line. Haisch shows of the EVF is a 5.76-million-dot unit that mirrors what you’ve seen on the Q series, with instant magnification and peaking tied to the front lever for quick checks on focus. The internals track closely with the M11-series, including the 60 MP sensor, 64 GB of internal storage, and Content Credentials, so image quality remains at the top of the full frame pack. You’ll see why longer lenses and ultra-wides become easier when you compose through the lens instead of guessing around framelines.
Haisch also calls out what you trade. Startup and wake times feel slower than an optical-finder M because you can’t pre-focus while the camera boots, which will cost a shot if you’re used to lifting an M11 and shooting as power comes up. Battery drain is higher when you live in the EVF, so a spare is smart if you’re covering a long day. If you’ve already dialed in rangefinder technique, you may still be faster with a split-image patch, but the EVF helps confirm focus on fast glass and shows flare or glow from vintage lenses before you press the shutter. That preview alone saves cleanup time when a lens throws odd artifacts into backlight.
If you’re cross-shopping bodies, the comparison is clear. A used Leica M11 plus a Leica Visoflex 2 keeps the optical option and gets you an add-on EVF for critical work, usually at a lower out-of-pocket. The Leica Q3 stays cheaper with a fixed 28mm and modern AF and video. The EV1 answers a different itch: staying fully manual with M lenses while gaining an integrated, high-res finder that makes 21mm, 24mm, 90mm, and 135mm less of a guessing game.
Key Specs
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Mount: Leica M
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Sensor: 60.3 MP (9,528 x 6,328) 35.8 x 23.9 mm full frame BSI CMOS
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Stabilization: None
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ISO: 64–50,000 native
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Still capture only; no internal or external video
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Media: Single SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II), up to 2 TB; 64 GB internal storage
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EVF: 5,760,000-dot OLED, approx. 0.76x magnification, diopter -4 to +2, 100% coverage
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LCD: Fixed 3" touchscreen, 2,332,800 dots
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Shutter: Mechanical 1/4,000–60 s; Electronic 1/16,000–60 s; 1/180 s sync
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Burst: Up to 4.5 fps; ~15 DNG or ~100 JPEG
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Connectivity: 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0; USB-C (power/data)
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Battery: BP-SCL7, rated ~237 shots
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Body: Magnesium alloy; 5.5 x 3.2 x 1.51 in; 14.6 oz body-only, 1.1 lb with battery
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GPS via Leica FOTOS app on Android/iOS
Price is the friction point. Street expectations hover around $8,995 in the U.S., which puts the EV1 above a used M11 plus Visoflex 2 once you add an M lens. If you want manual-focus purity with live exposure and focus aids always in view, the premium makes sense. If you prefer the optical window and occasional EVF work, the modular path still wins on cost.
Handling choices matter more than specs here. The EVF’s instant punch-in from the front lever becomes second nature, especially when you’re wide open or shooting into the sun and want to spot flare. Close-focus modern M lenses benefit too, since you’re composing through the lens at actual focus distance rather than relying on framelines that drift as you move in. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Haisch.
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