Thursday, October 23, 2025

THE NEW LEICA M EV1




By Heinz Richter

My first digital Leica was the Digilux 2. It was a huge departure from the Leica M cameras that I had used up to that time and it brought up the idea of a Leica M camera, digital, with similar features, including the electronic viewfinder and, of course, the interchangeable M lenses. That was in 2004. Since them we have had several digital Leica M cameras and along with them, the call for Leica to offer an electronic viewfinder Leica m camera as well.

That day is now with the introduction of the Leica M EV1. Technically, the Leica M EV1 builds on the foundation of the M11, featuring its 60 MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor with Triple Resolution Technology – one of the world’s most advanced. Precise color rendering, remarkable detail, and a high dynamic range lend images the unmistakable Leica Look, with vivid depth and striking presence. Images can be captured in DNG or JPEG format at resolutions of 60, 36, or 18 MP. The powerful Maestro III processor handles data swiftly and reliably, storing it either on the 64 GB internal memory or an SD card.

Future tests will reveal how well the electronic viewfinder works in comparison the time-proven rangefinder. To a long-time Leica rangefinder user, at first glance the camera does require getting used to.  The missing viewfinder gives me the impression of something missing. But I am sure that will change with time.

Let's take a look at this new addition to the Leica M range of cameras:



The big difference, of course, is the viewfinder. Acfcording to Leica the M EV1 offers a seamless entry into the world of M photography. This makes manual focusing a matter of pure precision. Focus peaking highlights the active focus plane with a colored overlay, offering real-time guidance to help you frame your composition. Used separately or additionally, the focus zoom with two levels of magnification ensures precise control. Particularly when using fast Summilux and Noctilux lenses with shallow depths of field and at close range, you can achieve sharp focus with the help of focus assist. 

The high-resolution 5.76-megapixel EVF delivers brilliant colors and outstanding clarity, capturing every detail of your subject. All shooting data – shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation – can be shown outside the image, allowing you to maintain full focus on your composition. An individually configurable eye sensor enables smooth transitions between the viewfinder and touch panel, while the diopter adjustment from -4 to +2 fine tunes the viewfinder image to suit your vision.

Yes, no autofocus. That would have required an entirely new camera and lenses. One of the big advantages of the M lenses is their size. Adding autofocus would necessitate the incorporation of an autofocus mechanism and electronics, which would greatly increase the size and weight of the lenses.

The Live View exposure preview displays every nuance – from brightness to image framing – in real time. Whether you’re working with ultra-wide-angle or super-telephoto lenses or creative photo filters, you maintain complete control over your composition, without ever taking your eye away from the camera. All settings are instantly visible, unlocking new creative possibilities with the Leica M. Using advanced tools like digital zoom, level gauge, and perspective control, you can compose your images with precision, freedom, and intuition.

The frame preview lever for the rangefinder would have no function with the electronic finder. Rather than eliminating it, another function has been created. It can be individually configured to activate one of the focus assist functions or the digital zoom for the EVF. Moving the lever to the left or right allows you to switch swiftly and intuitively between functions, ensuring your subject remains in view as you compose. Through this considered refinement, the M EV1 combines classic mechanics with contemporary functionality.



Thus, the new Leica M EV1 is a logical addition to the Leica M line of cameras, building on the far-sighted design of the Leica M3 from 1954.

For more info go to Leica M EV1



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Wednesday, October 22, 2025

ERICH SALOMON – THE FIRST MODERN PHOTOJOURNALIST


By Heinz Richter

With the introduction of the Leica in 1925, many photographers were enabled to approach photography like never before.  The small size and speed of operation of the camera allowed photographers to work in a much different manner than what was possible with the slow, large cameras before.  The Leica literally allowed photographers to create an entirely different type of photography, modern photojournalism.

Erich Salomon is credited of being the father of modern photojournalism.  His candid photographs of important events in the early 1900s are masterworks that even today are important examples of excellent photographic work.

 
 Mussolini, left, talking with a delegation of German diplomats in 1931.

Erich Salomon was born on April 28, 1886 in Berlin.  His father was a banker; his mother came from a line of prominent publishers. He first studied zoology and then switched to engineering before finally settling on law.  He got his degree in 1913.

At the outbreak of World War I Salomon was drafted into the army.  He was captured during the first Battle of the Marne. He spent the next four years in prisoner-of-war camps, where he served as an interpreter. He became fluent in French which later proved to be invaluable in gaining entry to conferences.

After the war Salomon began to work for Ullstein publishing house in 1925.  At Ullstein, Salomon immediately was fascinated by photography, and soon began shooting feature pictures for the Ullstein dailies. He began to experiment with the technique of shooting indoors by existing light and, after mastering it, had no trouble convincing Ullstein to let him cover the headline-making trial of a police killer for Berliner Illustrierte.

 
Ermanox camera with Ernostar 100mm f/2 lens

Erich Salomon with his Ermanox camera

 
Erich Salomon, Self-Portrait on Board of the Mauretania, 1929

 
Erich Salomon, right, using a Leica camera, and E.O. Hoppé photographing each other, 1936

The camera Salomon used was the Ermanox, a 2 1/4 x 1 7/8 glass plate camera with a 100mm lens of the then sensational speed of f/2.  Later on, when the Leica too offered lenses of that speed, Salomon switched to using the smaller and easier to operate Leica cameras.

Photography in courtrooms was forbidden.  Any pictures taken would have been a major scoop for the paper, but the ones that Salomon returned were extraordinary. Salomon had accomplished this by hiding his camera in a bowler hat, cutting a hole for the lens. On the last day, when a court attendant finally realized what he was doing and demanded his negatives, Salomon resorted to a trick he used time and time again. He handed over unexposed plates, and left with the exposed ones still in his pockets. Salomon was known to have rather droopy coat pockets.  He was using glass plates in his camera at the time, unexposed plates in one and the exposed ones in the other.  In 1928, only one year after he had become interested in photography, Salomon´s career was launched.

 
Krantz trial. Hilde Scheller in the witness box, Berlin, 1928

At another murder trial Salomon concealed his Ermanox in an attaché case which contained a set of levers to trigger the shutter. When these pictures were widely published throughout Europe, he left his staff position at Ullstein to become a full-time professional. That same year, he covered his first series of international conferences: the summit meeting in Lugano, a session of the League of Nations in Geneva, and the signing of the Kellogg-Briand disarmament pack in Paris, where he calmly walked in and took the seat of the absent Polish delegate. In his free time, he frequented diplomatic and social events in Berlin.

 
Five Gentlemen Conversing around a Table, c. 1928

 
 Albert Einstein with British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, Nobel Prize-winner Max Planck, far left 
and other German political and business leaders in August 1931

Because of his persistence, unobtrusive manner, and dramatic results, Salomon found little objection to his presence at events where all other photographers were excluded. Indeed, many statesmen began to develop a good-humored acceptance of his presence. At the opening of an international gathering, the French Foreign Minister, Aristide Briand is known to have been looking around saying, "Where is Dr. Salomon? We can´t start without him. The people won´t think this conference is important at all!"

 
Aristide Briand pointing to Salomon, shouting: "Ah ! le voilà ! The king of the indiscreet !" (1930)

 
German Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann en route to Paris for signature of the Briand-Kellogg Pact, 1928.

By 1931, Salomon was at the top of his career.  But Salomon´s celebrity in his homeland was short-lived. Only a year later, after returning from his second trip to America, he found Hitler gaining power in Germany.  The Weimar Republic was soon to come to its end.  Salomon began making preparations to leave.

Salomon decided to settle in Holland, his wife´s native country. They moved to The Hague where he still covered many important events. He also continued to travel. Britain especially fascinated him, and he made frequent visits to photograph government and opposition leaders and members of the royal family.  In the late thirties he was invited to come to America by Life magazine.  They had published many of his photographs. He considered emigrating, but kept procrastinating. Soon it was too late to leave. In May 1940, the Nazis took Holland in just four days. The famous photographer from Berlin was now forced to wear a yellow star. In 1943, Salomon and his family went into hiding. They were betrayed by a meter reader who noted an increase in gas consumption. According to Red Cross records, Erich Salomon, his wife and their younger son died at Auschwitz in July 1944, a month after the Allies landed in Normandy.


For other articles on this blog please click on Blog Archive in the column to the right

To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.

All ads present items of interest to Leica owners.

_______________________________________________________________________

EDDYCAM - the first and only ergonomic elk-skin camera strap     
 www.eddycam.com        

      



Buy vintage Leica cameras from 
America's premier Leica specialist 
www.tamarkin.com

 http://www.tamarkin.com/leicagallery/upcoming-show


Click on image to enlarge
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

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