Getting started with the Leica M11: between classicism and revolution

Five years after the M10 (and as many different versions), Leica begins the year 2022 with the M11. If, in appearance, this brand new model does not upset the codes of the brand in terms of rangefinder camera, it nevertheless has a 60 Mpx sensor capable of using the pixel binning, such as smartphones. By “combining” the pixels when shooting, the device gains sensitivity, reduces the presence of electronic noise and improves rendering in low light. The definition of the images is seen in return modified (without cropping), to the detriment of the level of detail.

Just before the official announcement, we had the opportunity to try out a pre-series model for a few days. So here are our first feelings. Note that, in the absence of firmware final, the performance of the device does not necessarily reflect that of the final product.

An almost identical device from generation to generation

Anyone who has already had a Leica M in their hands will not be confused with the M11. The device is well finished, with noble materials. It feels like having a very high quality object at your fingertips. You really have to try the three differences game to distinguish it from its elder. There, a button has been moved from the front face to the upper edge, here, the sole used for changing the battery has been replaced by a more conventional ejection system. Finally, a USB-C port makes its appearance, a great first for an M case!

A USB port on a Leica?

This USB-C port allows you to charge the device and facilitates the transfer of images, especially to a smartphone. Moreover, if the M11 is flocked with a “Made for iPhone and iPad” certification, full and complete compatibility with Apple terminals (via the Leica Fotos application) will not be operational before a planned update. for the second half of 2022. That being said, it is quite possible to control your M11 from your iPhone: just, when synchronizing the application, select as the box… an M10.

During our tests, we were quite naturally able to retrieve our shots in this way or use control by telephone. Under Android, it is not even necessary to go through an application. The terminal indeed recognizes the case as a conventional storage device and makes it easy to move the captured snapshots.

Photography and that’s all

Regarding shooting, we are only talking about photos here, because the Leica M11 does not record videos. You should also know that with a Leica M, you don’t machine-gun like with a modern body. Do not expect to shoot 20 frames per second with autofocus eye and face tracking. And for good reason, cameras with a rangefinder, such as this one, do not have autofocus.

To take stock, you will have to refer to the remote viewfinder thanks to the dedicated ring on the lens. In the viewfinder, two small rectangles are present. One represents the aiming plane while the second corresponds to the focusing plane. To obtain a sharp image, the two rectangles must be perfectly superimposed. It may seem a little confusing for those who have never tried it, but there is an organic and playful side that allows you to get a taste for it, while taking your time.

For those who would have been fed only with classic hybrids (or smartphones), it is quite possible to use the touch screen to aim. To make your task easier, the M11 also has a magnifying glass as well as the focus peaking, which makes it possible to be even more precise than the rangefinder.

The mechanical shutter is also surprising. We know that Leica is working to make the latter ever more pleasing to the ear, and that of the M11 turns out to be soft and pleasant. It then becomes totally silent when you opt for an electronic shutter, which allows you to push the exposure time from 1/4000 to 1/16000s. Note that the shutter automatically closes to protect the sensor when the camera turns off.

A very defined sensor

The main asset of the M11 is therefore its 60 Mpx sensor. It becomes – at the time of writing and like the Sony Alpha 7R IV (A7R IV) – the 24×36 hybrid with the most defined sensor on the market. This makes it possible to capture ever more detail and also offers strong possibilities for cropping. In fact, during the few tests that we were able to carry out with a pre-series camera, we were more than satisfied with the image quality offered by this M11.

Released with the Summilux-M 35mm F/1.4 ASPH, we are just waiting for the M11 with its firmware final to really analyze its image quality. If it seems excellent in full definition, these are the settings accessible thanks to the pixel binning which concerns us particularly for low-light photography.

The other interest of pixel binning is to gain momentum. According to Leica, we would go from a range of 14 IL at 60 Mpx to 16 IL in 18 Mpx. Difficult to see at the moment, but we will be sure to verify this in our labs with a definitive model, like all the other features of this very promising Leica M11.