Just released! The much anticipated EVF only Leica M. Dubbed the M EV1, this is a new branch of the Leica M cameras, the first digital M without a rangefinder. We got our hands on a pre-release sample, and tested it over a few days to bring you this review.
Breaking news: Hands-on review of the Leica M EV1
The Leica M EV1 has a retail price of SGD 11,950 inclusive of GST.
The camera Leica M with no rangefinder
My first impression when handed the camera is that the body is very light. But yet, this is a Leica. So, the build quality is beyond reproach. This still feels like a superbly well engineered piece of German workmanship. The heft is still there, but the camera body feels quite a bit lighter because I was expecting it to feel like the M11. Leica states the M11 weighs in at 530g for the body with battery installed. We weigh the M EV1 with battery and SD card installed at 502g. The specifications sheet has the weight as 484g with battery.
But put a lens on, and the camera feels very well balanced and nice on the hand. The same balance remains with any of the lenses I have on hand mounted.
With my Summaron-M F2.8/35mm or with any of the lenses loaned to me by Brighty, namely the Summarit-M F2.5/35mm, the Super-Elmar-M F3.4/21mm or the Summilux-M F1.4/50mm, it feels very nice and well balanced. Only with the Elmarit-M F2.5/90mm, did it feel a bit front heavy when mounted. But only a tad so. This is not unusual, as the Elmarit 90 is rather long.
Next, I noted that the skin around the body is very similar to the one on the Q3 43 released earlier this year. And then the lack of a rangefinder finds itself into my consciousness…not that I had forgotten about it. Nay, not at all, the lack of one is, after all, the raison d’etre of this camera.
The sensor remains the full frame sensor found on the Q3 series as well as the SL3 and the M11. This is a BSI sensor with 60.3 Mp with a pixel pitch of 3.76 µm. The processor is the Maestro III, but unlike the Q3 and SL3 brethren, and like the M11, it lacks In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS). This is a magnificent sensor, capable of very good resolution and high dynamic range. The ISO runs from 64 to 50,000. I found the usable range to top out at about 12,800 in practical terms. I prefer to limit the ISO to 6,400 for best results. Though in situations when a grainy photograph is better than none, the full 50,000 ISO can be put in use.
From the bottom of the body, gone is the classical M removable bottom plate, replaced with a plate which is more reminiscent of the Q series. The battery remains the BP-SCL7 which is used in the M11. I found the battery life to be good. The battery has to power an EVF, but it does not need to power the IBIS or any autofocus system. Typically, it lasts some 300 shots, which for me is an entire day of shooting. For those who fire off more frames on a regular basis, a second battery is recommended. The USB-C port allows for the camera to operate on external power.
On removing the battery, the SD card reader is found within. The camera comes with a built-in storage of 64GB, and can shoot without an SD card.
Why EVF?
As mentioned, the main difference between the M11 and the M EV1 is the lack of a rangefinder in this novelty. This is not the first time Leica M has omitted a rangefinder, even though the M in Leica M stands for “Messsucher” which translates to “Rangefinder”. The M1 which came after the M3 and M2 did not have a rangefinder, though it had a viewfinder with frame lines. These cameras were intended to be used in scientific equipment, for example mounted on a microscope. The Leica MD series later was also released sans rangefinder for the same purpose, though the MD also lacked a viewfinder, and was sometimes nicknamed, the blind M camera. However, photography enthusiasts have found that by using a technique called zone focusing, it can be used for general photography. And because it was simpler, it was more reliable, and found a use case in the street photography community.
The EVF is a top of the line one, similar to the one in the Q3 and SL3. It features a resolution of 5.76 million dots at 60fps, at 0.75X magnification. Coupled with and diopter adjustment range of -4 to +2, it is very bright and clear. I found the EVF to be as good as it comes. The rear LCD can also be used for composition, and is a 2.95″ Active Matrix TFT panel with gorilla glass showing 2.4 million dots. This rear LCD is not articulating and is fixed (same as the M11). The button layout is similar to the M11, so the familial characteristics continue.
Leica is all about the basics. Return to simplicity. But everything one needs is there. Ergonomically placed, and with menus which are easy to navigate. Remove all distractions, and focus on what is important to capture the image. Technology should serve the purpose of image taking. And such is the case with M series of cameras. The EV1 espouses this philosophy, but yet takes it to a different direction, so to speak. It introduces technology which can help those who need it. In this case, those who have difficulty focusing with the rangefinder. Either because of eyesight, which can make aligning the rangefinder patches a challenge. Or due to the need to use very wide aperture lenses like the F0.95 Noctilux. When shooting wide open at F0.95, the depth of field is miniscule. But with the EVF, zoom into the image, and it becomes much easier to nail focus. For very wide lenses like the 21mm lenses, or even 28mm, the lack of frame lines in the viewfinder becomes irrelevant. Just attach the lens on the EV1, and the EVF shows the entire frame. No fussing. No need for an accessory viewfinder to compose the image. In these use cases, the EV1 is perfect.
Comparisons
The EV1 is a neat package. Here is a side by side comparison with its 62 year old “uncle” – the M2. Like the M2, the EV1 is highly engineered to last a lifetime. The materials chosen are very high quality. The design is simple, but effective.
However, being an electronic device, the EV1 will eventually succumb to electronic failure, while the fully mechanical camera, like a mechanical watch, can almost always be repaired by a competent technician. However, as with all Leica products, the lifespan of the electronics is expected to be very high. Many of the early digital cameras produced by Leica are still in regular service today. I have friends who still use their M8 (2006-09) and M9 (2009-12) cameras on a daily basis with no problems. Noted the sensor problem which plagued the M9’s CCD sensor, but Leica made good with free replacements and exchanges. M9s which have had their sensors replaced have shown to be reliable.
Handling the EV1 versus the M2 or M11 is very similar, and familiar to those who have used the other M bodies. Unlike the M11, the top plate now lacks the ISO dial, which some prefer to be gone. But the controls are all laid out logically and very ergonomically. Though, I do find that in my 4 days with the EV1, muscle memory has not set, and I tend to knock one of the buttons on the D-pad accidentally.
Concluding thoughts
This is a handsome camera. The look is like a cross between the M11 and the Q3. Some sources say it is actually an M11 with its rangefinder mechanism replaced with the EVF taken from the Q3. We have no way to verify that, but it uses the exact same sensor. And the exact same Maestro processor. Like the M11, it does not have IBIS or autofocus. The EV1 and the M11 is not weather sealed. This is not a requirement as M mount lenses are not weather sealed, and thus there is no need for the body to be. And as it takes all M lenses in present and past production, the Leica user gets protection of their investment. The sensor and processor is the same as the one in the M11 and Q3, so we expect the image quality to be exactly the same.
In terms of pricing, it lies between the price of the Q3 43 and the M11.
But the Leica M EV1 is not for everyone. It is not meant as a replacement of the M11, which still remains the icon of the maison. Leica will continue to support both the M lines. The rangefinder lineup for those who want the classical M experience. And the M EV1 is there to provide an elegant technical solution to those who want to shoot their M mount lenses in the specific requirements discussed in the paragraph above.
The Leica M EV1 is a beautiful camera. Feels very nice to hold, satisfying to operate and able to create beautiful images. Next week, I will showcase some photographs I made with the M EV1.
