As Predicted, Leica drops a whole new camera (kinda). Let the feeding frenzy begin!!! Will I buy one? Probably not...

 

Leica M EV1

Leica took their basic M series rangefinder camera, took out the optical rangefinder entirely, and replaced it with an EVF. In one fell swoop they've taken what made one of their cameras totally different from just about everything else on the market and presented to the photography universe one more camera that uses an EVF instead of any sort of optical finder. Of course it works with 70 years worth of Leica M series lenses and that's a good thing but it's sure to stir up some temporary angst and controversy amongst the Leica faithful, and provide contentious fuel for the fires of legions of Leica haters. They will contend that you might as well just buy an XXX (cheaper camera) and put Leica lenses on it --- if that floats your boat. 

When I saw the flood of videos about the M EV1 from all the Leica toting influencers I immediately rushed  my favorite Leica store's website and added my name to the wait list to eventually be able to buy one --- but that's kind of a pro forma move since I am under no obligation to buy one when it becomes available. The retailer will just move on to the next person on the list...

Here's what the camera is in a nutshell: It's based on the existing M11 body design but uses an eyepiece that more closely matches that of the EVF enabled Q3. The big, optical viewfinder window has been totally removed and you are now going to compose and focus on a conventional EVF screen. The camera uses what we presume to be the same 60 megapixel sensor seen in the Q3 and SL3 cameras. It features the triple resolution capability that allows for raw files in smaller resolutions. (Nice). It comes with an SD slot and also 64 GB of internal memory. While I think the 64 GB is a bit stingy in this day and age I'm sure they limited it so that when the special edition version ("P") comes to market they can add more memory to that camera to enforce the difference between it and the stock version. Don't worry, you'll be able to tell the difference between models because Leica will remove the red, front logo on the luxe version. I meant "more luxe" version. One exciting feature for Leica lovers !!! No video. Oh boy! (not). 

I was prepared to be really excited about the new camera, after all I have a bunch of cool M mount lenses that would work really well on the camera and it sure will make composing on 28,24,21, and 18mm lenses a lot easier. Not to mention being able to use longer lenses than 90mm with more comfort and precision. But we've always been able to do that since the introduction of the M240 (2012) by attaching a shoe mounted, external EVF. So, hmmm. What's in it for me?

I found it delightfully humorous, and cynically disingenuous, to watch YouTuber after YouTuber get all exciting about the idea of an EVF on an interchangeable lens camera. As though this was brand new tech!!! Groundbreaking. Imagine, you can "PREVIEW" the shot you might want to take. Imagine, you can "REVIEW" the shot you just took, right there in the finder!!! Without even moving your eye away!!!!  You can see how your color temperature settings will impact the image you are about to capture!!!!! You can see focus peaking and, most amazing of all, you can magnify the frame you are considering shooting in order to focus the lens more accurately!!!!!! All things we've been able to do across many systems for many years. For well over a decade!!!!!!!!! 

If you don't need a full frame camera you could buy a Leica CL (the digital version) as well as an M to L Leica lens adapter and instantly be able to use all those cool M mount lenses in exactly the same way right now! No waiting for supply to catch up with demand. And as a bonus you'll save seven or eight thousand dollars into the bargain. As a second, added bonus you can even have video with a CL, if you want it. 

While I was getting all amped up while listening to the well oiled, Chris Nichols camera review machine I happened to reach over on my desk and grab my Leica SL2-S, the one I bought used this year for a little over two thousand dollars... Amazingly it already had an M mount lens attached to it via the Leica M to L adapter. Amazingly I could do things like: use focus peaking! accurately compose any focal length M lens with alarming precision! preview my exposure! check focus by magnifying the preview frame! see how different color temperature settings would affect the image I was about to take! when using Leica M lenses that are coded I could also have the camera automatically set accurate lens profiles! In fact, the only two things spending eight thousand more dollars would buy me would be a lighter camera (less weight) and a 60 megapixel sensor. I'd like the sensor but I am not yet so infirmed that the difference in weight between an M camera and an SL camera is so dramatic. Or that my current M cameras are not up to the task of....taking photographs.

From a marketing point of view I am certain that Leica is doing exactly what they should be doing as a "for profit" company. They are opening up their M "tent" to a much wider audience; one that was never going to buy into the rangefinder mystique. They've goosed up their aspirational product line with one that more firmly aligns with a much bigger target market. At the same time they are lowering the cost of producing more machines for the epic M product line. As we all know, if you can replace a complex mechanical/optical mechanism with an electronic package that is mass produced by Epson (the EVF screen) you cut so many costs while eliminating points of failure from mechanical shock, etc. Less warranty repairs? Greater reliability? Less manufacturing costs? More money in Leica's luxe pockets?

So, a more accessible product, less production costs, same high prices = higher profit margins and more inventory moved out the door. A win-win-win for Leica. 

I stated that I probably will not buy one. But I have been known to change my mind. So, please don't pillory me if you see me out and about with an M EV1 in my hands. I am only human and subject to Veblenistic behaviors like any one else. 

In the long run it's obvious to me that no matter what Leica says (and they have stated that they'll be making real, rangefinder M cameras till the end of time) within five, at the most, ten, years they'll quietly discontinue the optical finder Ms and let everyone know that EVFs have "gotten so good" that they've "eclipsed" the usefulness of the optical rangefinders and so, have discontinued them ---- except for special editions. $$$$

Now heading to the Hermés store on South Congress Ave. to buy a thousand dollar camera strap for my SL2-S. Just trying to feel better after finding out today that all my current camera tech is becoming obsolete. What's next? More complex menus?

Taking a breather to walk around with an ancient M240 and its EVF-2 finder. Who knows? Retro digital might be cool again.

No sweat, they are all just cameras....  As Roland says, it's just the punctum that matters...

Funny though to hear from influencer/people who swore that their optical viewfinder Leicas were the compelling differentiation from all other cameras only to see them swill Italian wines and gush about the potential of EVFs at an all expenses paid "vacation" and have them swoon because the brand (and product line)  they professed to love the most just adapted decades old technology. The surprised looks on their faces about the efficacy of the "new" EVFs seemed....inauthentic. 

My problem, as usual, is not the product but the junket and the flood of day one, "first look" testimonials. Almost like a religion...

The Rumors about the Leica M EV-1 are arriving fast and furiously. Is it the next great thing in the M world or a wholesale betrayal by the brand?

This is NOT a photograph of the M EV-1 Camera. 

It's an older film model. But one can assume the overall body 

style will be much the same...

The very first Leica M camera was announced in 1954 and became widely available in 1955. In an evolution from previous Leica rangefinder cameras the rangefinder and the frame lines were incorporated into one window from the two separate window versions. The distance between the two rangefinder windows was much bigger which allowed for greater focusing accuracy and was a logical improvement that allowed for good focus with faster and longer lenses. That model was the M3. Named the "3" because the viewfinder switched between three bright line frame lines automatically when the appropriate lenses were attached.  That was 70 years ago. And for most of those 70 years the basic design of M series bodies was largely unchanged. The design exception being the M5 cameras which are love em or hate em body designs... And, of course, the shift from film to digital sensors.

The current top line Leica rangefinder is the 60 megapixel M11 series with 60 megapixels of resolution but even this current body is visibly closely related to the original M3 in overall design and operational details. 

The current M11 uses a .73 magnification viewfinder while the M3 offered a .91 magnification viewfinder. Maybe that's why, among film photographers, the M3, at 70 years old, is still a sought after choice for use with classic 50mm lenses... So close to the photographers unaided vision.

The M11 is a 60 megapixel camera using the same classic, triangulation based, mechanical, rangefinder focusing mechanism as nearly all previous M cameras (exception are scientific bodies which are meant to be used with adapters and have no rangefinders). To many Leica enthusiasts the rangefinder focusing is the main reason to use these cameras but....

What the popularity of the Q series cameras showed Leica is that adding an EVF to the mix instead of a traditional rangefinder resulted in the most profitable line of camera models in the company's recent history. The Q series of cameras has been the gateway drug into the system wide catalog but a huge number of enthusiasts have been so happy with the Q camera's implementation of a "modern" viewfinder that they've stayed with their Qs and have felt no need to upgrade to a classic M rangefinder. 

What a number of Leica users have wished for since the introduction of the original Q camera has been for an M camera body that features the ability to interchange lenses (and almost all M series lenses made in the last 70 years are interchangeable with all of the latest Leica M cameras; digital or film) while being able to take advantage of a built in electronic viewfinder. (Add on EV finders have been available at least since the M240...).

And there are a number of advantages to an EVF starting with being able to see the full view of any attached lens, no matter how wide or long without the need for auxiliary optical finders or add-on EVF modules. An EVF means that one is focusing and viewing through the taking lens so there is no parallax -- which can be an issue for optical rangefinder cameras since the focusing and viewing window is located at a different place than the taking lens. The finder sees a slightly different, offset view. No parallax is especially great when taking close ups! And, one can finely preview the images they will get by using the EVF.

The benefit for Leica is that an EVF module is a global commodity part, mostly made by Epson, and can be incorporated into a camera at a much, much lower cost and with much less skilled manual assembly than a mechanical precision rangefinder instrument. Lots cheaper. And because the finder is solid state instead of depending on moving mechanical and optical parts, it is more reliable and doesn't require re-calibration from time to time. Not as subject to failure from shock or environmental extremes.  And cheaper. Lots cheaper to make. 

With all of this in mind the web is right now on fire with rumors and pre-previews of what everyone is calling the Leica M EV-1. Rumor mills were calling the impending camera an M11-V but I'm now convinced the the new M EV-1 nomenclature will be closer to the final name. And some of the bigger names in the Leica influencer community are taking serious notice. 

Other than the fact that the new camera will use an EVF no details or confirmation has been divulged by Leica or other sources. Most pre-preview-reviewers are claiming that because of cost savings from the change from mechanical to silicon tech the camera will debut for about $2500 less than an M11 (original/optical) camera. That would peg the price of the new EVF M to about $7500. I think that's optimistic but I guess we'll see soon enough since everyone is predicting the big announcement by the end of October. Just in time to pre-order for my 70th birthday! Maybe I should wait for the Safari Edition....

Does anyone need this new camera? Well, people who wear glasses and have an issue seeing the full finder on a current M Leica would certainly be a ready market. Same with people who want to use their current Leica M lenses but are having vision issues (usually arriving with advancing age) focusing a traditional rangefinder. And then there are rangefinder fans who will find the EVF very useful when using very short focal lengths or focal lengths longer than 50mm (which have a smaller frame line in the optical finder and so are harder to compose with). 

In all honesty, will I rush out an actually buy one? Probably not. I'm currently pretty happy with the M cameras I own but I am more interested in the Leica Q3-43 with its APO corrected 43mm lens, the 60 megapixel sensor, the image stabilization, and the autofocus. It's more squarely aimed at the way I would like to photograph and makes for a nice partnering with the basic, 28mm Q2. 

Let's be frank here. There is no logical reason to spend the money buying Leica cameras and lenses if you are looking at the usage for everyday, normal photography. Fuji, Sony, Nikon and Canon make perfectly good cameras that equal the technical specs of even the best Leicas. Same with the lenses. If you are a rational person who likes to make budgets and buy things based on equivalences buying Leica gear makes no sense at all. But... if you think certain intangibles are meaningful to YOU and you have the ability to afford something different then you might find value in the industrial design, the menus, the interfaces and even the visual character of the Leica lenses. You won't necessarily get BETTER but you will get DIFFERENT. And some people like that. 

Stay tuned. I have a blog post coming which I wrote after my friend, sometime video producer partner and seriously skilled post production guru told me about the results he saw after spending a full month doing very complex post production on images from a series of shoots. The post production was on images created by three different photographers. One shooting with a Canon R5, one shooting with a Sony A7R5, and me shooting with a Leica SL2. Each photographer using the premium standard zoom lenses for the respective systems. His observations made me stop and think. More to come.

 For now I guess Leica nerds are are waiting for signs from Wetzlar re: the M EV1. More sure to follow.