Leica M EV1 review: An alternative – and controversial – take on a classic

The Leica M series features some of the most esteemed cameras of all time, having been used to take some of history’s most recognized images, which has won it a cult-like following. And with such dedicated and impassioned fans, the pace of change has been deliberately slow and measured, with the swap from film to digital being the most significant change to the series in half a century of incremental refinement.

But right now, the M series is facing another momentous milestone with the introduction of the Leica M EV1 – the first M camera not to feature an optical viewfinder. Instead, the M EV1 will solely be relying on an EVF.

The M series is hallowed ground for street photographers, so it's definitely going to be divisive – but just remember this is an alternative to the Leica M11, not a replacement. And this is far from the first Leica camera to use an EVF; the Leica Q series is an incredibly popular option that has never featured an optical viewfinder.

But for me, there is one nagging question. While there is a range of over 80 M-mount lenses, will the Leica M EV1 most likely just be used with either a 28mm or 35mm lens stuck permanently to the front? Therefore, with the OVF gone, I'd question if the better buy is a Leica Q3 or Leica Q3 43 – both of which offer a fixed lens but the same EVF and sensor, while adding so much more to the package with autofocus, video, and image stabilization – and for a lower price.

However, for the frequent lens changers out there or those who like the stripped-back simplicity of an M camera over the more complex Q – how does the Leica M EV1 compete with the other M11 cohort?

Leica M EV1: Specifications

Leica M EV1: Price

This is Leica so, of course, the Leica M EV1 is still reassuringly expensive, costing $8,995 / £6,840 for the body only (Australian pricing to be confirmed). Although this is actually slightly below the M11 with its optical viewfinder, which costs around $/£1,000 more. It doesn’t exactly scream bargain, but it is a substantial saving if you prefer an EVF.

There is also a hand grip with a matching leatherette cover for an additional $460 / £340, which might be worth looking into if you find the M EV1’s grip a little lacking, as I did.

The camera is not yet available in the US due to waiting on Federal Communications Commission authorization, which has been delayed due to the government shutdown. Leica has a waiting list for US photographers to be notified upon availability.

Leica M EV1: Design & Handling

The elephant in the room with the Leica M EV1 is the new EVF. It's a slightly slower EVF than the one used in the Q3, topping out at 60fps instead of 120fps – but it matches the 5.76m-dot resolution, and it's really very nice to use.

The only issue I had was that the lack of hood or protection around the EVF meant that it very easily picked up grease from my face or fingers – I also don't know how vulnerable it would be long term to scratches or other damage.

The main benefit of an optical viewfinder is the ability to frame a shot while still seeing a little of what's happening around the frame. You do lose that with the EVF, which only shows the area that will be captured in the image – and for many street photographers, this will be too invaluable to your process to let go of. But if that is your preferred way of shooting, Leica’s optical M rangefinders aren't going anywhere.

But the EVF has some significant benefits that I think probably outweigh the arguments for a traditional OVF. Look, we can't all zone focus flawlessly, so having a clear screen for focusing is a godsend for manual focus cameras – especially for anyone whose eyesight might be poorer.

The EVF enables you to magnify the screen by either 1.3 or 1.8 times, and get in close to nail perfect focus. You can also adjust the screen by -4 and +2 dioptres to accommodate different vision impairments. The EVF (and rear screen) also support Leica’s focus peaking, which highlights the in-focus area with a particular color to aid focus.

The other EVF benefit is you can see exactly how your image will look, live in the viewfinder – and correct flaws in exposure on the fly rather than through trial and error or in post. Commendations for anyone who has never missed an exposure but, for many of us, a little assistance sometimes doesn’t go amiss.

I usually use a Fujifilm X100VI and its hybrid viewfinder. And as much as I love the optical element, if I’m risking missing a shot, I regularly switch it to the EVF to make sure that I'm nailing everything before the chance is gone.

Lastly on the EVF, who am I to criticize Leica design, but I do wish Leica had moved the logo to the big gap where the viewfinder used to be. Traditionally, the Leica dot does sit in the middle of the M series cameras – and that’s where it is on the EV1 – but I almost feel the open space draws attention to the fact that nothing is there. It’s a change made on the Q3, although perhaps this is a subtle way to visually separate the two models.

Apart from the missing viewfinder on the front, the Leica M EV1 is pretty hard to tell apart from the rest of the M11 cameras. Although that’s not a complaint. It features the same beautifully designed magnesium and aluminum body with a leatherette cover – it's one of the most luxurious cameras I have handled (although to be expected at the price).

It comes in regular black only, with no silver brass version as of yet. The Leica M EV1 is also slightly lighter than the M11, weighing 484g against 530g.

As beautiful as the camera is, I found handling a little bit of an issue (as I have with other Leica models). There is a small nub of a thumb grip on the rear of the camera, but the camera has no front grip, so it's not the most comfortable to hold for long periods one-handed.

It rested a little too much weight on my pinky finger supporting the camera, which became uncomfortable after a time. You can buy an optional grip from Leica, but this will set you back an additional $460 / £340.

Like previous models, the battery is accessed via a switch on the bottom, which pops the battery out but requires a little further press to unlock the mechanism. It's a clever way of doing it without having a battery cover or door, and it's quick to get used to.

However, the USB-C charging port is on the base of the camera, which means it can't sit flat when being charged, which is a bit awkward and leaves the camera either balancing precariously on the end of the charging cable, or you have to lay the camera down on its screen.

The single SD card slot is also behind the battery, which means the battery has to be taken out each time you want to remove the SD card. This is a minor annoyance but, again, it enables the M EV1 to keep its clean lines without accommodating a separate SD slot door.

The Leica M EV1 does, however, come with 64GB of built-in SSD storage, which is easily accessible via the Leica Fotos app or USB-C – so you might not need to take the SD out as often. However, I still find the easiest and fastest way of accessing my images is just putting the SD directly into my MacBook’s reader.

Leica M EV1: Performance

The Leica M EV1 packs in a 60.3MP sensor, but employs the company's Triple Resolution tech to shoot either 36.5MP or 18.4MP images using the whole sensor area for smaller RAW (DNG) or JPEG files, with DNGs ranging from approx 120-20MB depending on the size and JPEGs floating between around 30-5MB.

The camera can also make use of digital cropping modes during capture, which crops in either 1.3x or 1.8x, saving the cropped image as a JPEG, but the DNG as the full uncropped file – with the crop data accessible in editing software like Lightroom. When using the crop mode, the camera displays a box in the EVF or on the screen to show the cropped area.

Photo performance is excellent, sharpness (when focus is perfectly nailed) is very good, especially in large images, which have a lot of cropping potential. The dynamic range is also very impressive, with a good amount of scope in RAW files to pull detail out of the shadows or highlights.

ISO performance is also very good; I was comfortable shooting up to ISO3200 without being concerned about grain, with it only starting to become visible from 6400 onwards.

There is no mistaking photos from the M EV1 as being distinctly "Leica". Leica images have their own look, more contrasty, that leans a little more into cooler tones with exaggerated colors.

The Summicron-M 35mm f/2 Asph lens I was using renders photos with a distinct subject separation, with the kind of unique bokeh these lenses are renowned for. This is down to the lens, but vignetting was a little bit of an issue wide open – though these were easily cleaned up in Lightroom – and I am sure many would argue that it adds more character to the images.

I shot most of my images in either the natural profile of the camera, which I found the most balanced for color, or Leica’s high-contrast monochrome setting for punchier black-and-whites. But the camera has other profiles for different looks for different tastes, including a more colorful Leica Vibrant and a more neutral Leica Monochrome.

Battery performance is acceptable but, rated at 244 shots via the LCD, or 237 shots using the EVF, longevity isn’t its strongest suit. However, the nature of the Leica M EV1 and its manual focus lens made me a bit more careful about how I was shooting, which actually meant the battery lasted easily through a day of wandering around London shooting – but heavier shooters might want to carry a spare.

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Leica M EV1: Verdict

The Leica M EV1 might prove to be a little controversial to diehard Leica fans, but I think it's an alternate take on the M11 that, for many users, will be the better option.

Optical viewfinders certainly have their place for a lot of street photographers, but I think the benefits of an EVF weigh out. The ability to focus perfectly is made much easier by the 5.7m-dot screen with up to 1.8x magnification – essential to so many photographers with poorer vision – and exposure compensation can be seen live in the viewfinder.

Images themselves are every bit as good as Leica’s other M cameras, with the same 60.3MP sensor providing excellent sharpness, reliable and accurate colors, great dynamic range, and alongside M-mount lenses – Leica’s distinct look. The camera is also as luxurious and beautifully designed as ever, although I still find the minimal grip isn’t as comfortable for a long day as I’d hope.

My only lingering doubt is whether this is a worthwhile purchase over a Q3, which features an EVF, the same sensor, but so much more with autofocus, video and image stabilization, for a lower price. How much the Leica M EV1 will appeal to you really depends on how much you want to switch out lenses or value the simplicity of the more stripped-back M shooting experience.

Leica M EV1: Alternatives

The Leica M11 is the latest generation of Leica’s legendary line. It shares the same sensor, processor, lens mount, and design as the M EV1, but features a proper optical rangefinder design – which, for some street photographers, will be a necessity.

Read more: Leica M11 review

The Leica M11 Monochrom is basically the exact same camera as the M11, but it’s sensor is developed to only shoot in black and white – a design that allows for higher quality results than converting color photos. It's a big decision to make, but if you despise color photography, then this is the M11 to get.

Read more: Leica M11 Monochrom review