By Heinz Richter
April 1, 2023. Today Leica announced an addition to the M line of cameras, the long-awaited model with an electronic viewfinder, the Leica M11 EV. It is not certain yet if that designation is final. After all, the M stands for Meßsucher, the German word for rangefinder. As such, a Leica M with an electronic viewfinder is a contradiction of terms. On the other hand, the camera has the unmistakable look of the Leica M cameras since the introduction of the Leica M3 in 1954.
The camera is based on the current Leica M11. The only major change is that the optical, mechanical viewfinder/rangefinder has been replaced by an electronic viewfinder. This is a newly developed finder with a noticeably higher resolution. Viewing quality is supposed to be very close to that of the standard optical finder in the M11.
Besides the viewfinder, the only visible changes are cosmetics. In principle, the finder is very similar to that of the Leica Q/Q2. It features a similar, relatively large eyepiece. Being an electronic finder, it does not require any front windows. Those have been eliminated. The standard red dot logo has been moved to the area of the previous, large viewfinder window. That exposed the cover screw for the rangefinder adjustment, which once again is clearly visible.
Starting with the M3, the top plate on the viewfinder side of the camera has always had a bit of an extension toward the bottom of the camera to make room for the relatively large viewfinder window. That has been eliminated and the top cover is straight from left to right.
Besides the large ocular, the new electronic viewfinder also has a diopter control immediately to the right.
All accessories for the M11 can also be used on this camera, including the Leica R adapter M. However, unfortunately one feature has been eliminated. The electronic viewfinder for the M11 could be tilted upward for easier viewing and focusing at low levels. Obviously, the electronic viewfinder would be redundant on the M11 EV.
Many Leica fans will be glad to see this addition to the Leica line of M cameras. It is also one more example of the far-reaching basic design of Oskar Barnack’s Ur-Leica from 1913.
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April Fools??
ReplyDeleteConsider the date.
DeleteApril 1st.
ReplyDeleteLol
ReplyDeleteIn regard to this article: Please realize that it was posted on April1. I was surprised to see that in spite of being clearly marked as such, about half of the readers that left comments here, or on Facebook, overlooked that fact. In addition there was another little bit that made no sense at all. This was only recognized by one individual. The screw covering the access to the rangefinder adjustment absolutely makes no sense. I was also surprised to see how many readers took this camera as a replacement for any of the current Leica M models. Nowhere was that mentioned in the article. If a Leica M type camera with electronic viewfinder ever sees the light of day, I am certain it will be an additional model. It is doubtful that there will ever be a Leica without the optical rangefinder.
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