Why the EVF? – A Guide to the Leica M EV1 

What makes the Leica M – The Leica M? Is it the camera body? The optical rangfinder? or is it the feeling and user experience of the camera?

We try to answer these questions by putting the Leica M EV1 to the test to see if the EVF is a worthy addition to the Leica M system!

Understanding the Optical Rangefinder:

The Leica M has been the foundation for Leica Cameras since 1954 with the introduction of the Leica M3. With its distinct and iconic design, the Leica M3 served as the blueprint for all its future iterations. Each model succeeding the Leica M3 introduced a specific upgrade in terms of practical features such as wider viewfinder magnifications, more frames lines, and internal light meters as well as cosmetics and user improvements like the angled film advance and rewind knob, LCD with live view functionality, or internal memory in order to adapt to the ever changing need of modern photographers.

While many camera manufactures have made the switch to Electronic View Finders (EVF), the Leica M system is one of the last current productions cameras, both digital and film, to feature an optical viewfinder for over 70 years. So why introduce the EVF to the Leica M?

The optical view finder or more specifically an optical rangefinder, has stood the test of time and is beloved by many photographers. The simple yet intricate design of the rangefinder allows photographers to connect with their cameras through an uninterrupted photographic experience. There is a steep yet rewarding learning curve to the optical rangefinder. In the viewfinder, frame lines are displayed with the corresponding focal length (28/90, 35/135, and 50/75) attached to your camera, allowing photographers to see approximations of their images in real time instead of viewing through the lens and focusing with a translucent focusing patch in the center. By spending enough time with one focal length, photographers are able to pre-visualize their field of view allowing for decisive and swift reactions in fast paced environments or compose their images without looking through the viewfinder.

With that said, the optical rangefinder does have a few drawbacks and limitations:

• Minimum focus limit on mechanical rangefinder is 0.7 meters.
• EVF or LCD is required for critical focus on newer close focus Leica M optics.
• Hard to achieve critical focus with certain optics when shot wide open (though not impossible)
• Viewfinder blockage from certain optics.
• Certain frame lines can be difficult to compose images.
• External viewfinders or electronic viewfinders are needed for accurate framing for optics wider than 28mm.
• Additional accessories such as diopters or magnifiers are required for focusing aids.
• Not looking directly through the lens.

Please note that these drawbacks and limitations can be subjective and vary from photographer to photographer. These are just a few examples that I have observed with my own experience using the optical rangefinder.

Why the EVF?:

As mentioned earlier, significant upgrades are added with each new iteration and addition to the Leica M. These upgrades are typically introduced in direct response to the previous models shortcomings. So the idea of integrating an EVF in to the Leica M doesn’t seem far fetched. For example:

• Leica M2 – Introduction of the standard 0.72 view finder magnification and addition of 35mm frame lines.
• Leica M4 – Standardized the rapid film loader and featured an angled film advance lever and rewind crank for quick and efficient film advance and rewind.
• Leica M5 – First attempt at built in TTL light meter and integrated a hot shoe.
• Leica M4P – Introduction of 28mm and 75mm frame lines in the viewfinder.
• Leica M6 – Reworked design of TTL light meter and later integrated TTL flash metering.
• Leica M7 – First M with electronic shutter, film DX code reader, aperture priority, HSS flash capabilities, and exposure compensation. *This camera was the blueprint for digital M cameras.
• Leica M8 & M9 – First digital CCD crop sensor (10.3mp) and full frame (18mp) M cameras.
• Leica M 240 – Introduced live view and focus assist through the LCD and switched to 24mp CMOS sensor.
• Leica M10/ M10-P/ M10-R – Pioneered app connectivity with Bluetooth and wifi integration, simplified user experience, slimmed down body design to match the film M, standardize touch screen functionality, introduced 40mp CMOS sensor to the M.
• Leica M11 & M11P – Introduced 60mp BSI sensor, triple resolution technology, electronic/hybrid shutter, internal storage (64gb & 256gb), Content Credentials (LCC), redesigned battery and bottom plate, and USB-C connectivity and charging.

The Leica M EV1 introduces a 5.76M dots Oled EVF with a 0.76x magnification, -4 to +2 diopter, eye sensor, and a 60fps refresh rate similar to Leica Q3 & SL3. The EVF directly address the drawbacks and limitations to the optical rangefinder mentioned above, allowing photographers to fully utilizes their M lenses or any adapted optic without any hinderance.

Other additions in the M EV1:

• Content Credentials – This is the third camera along side the Leica M11-P and Leica SL3-S featuring this functionality.
• 46g lighter than black M11 – due to omitting the mechanical rangefinder but still has a lens coupling arm present.
• 64GB Internal Memory instead of the 256gb found in the Leica M11-P.
• LED on the front of the camera for the self timer.
• Frame preview lever now serves as a Dual Function lever, adding 2 more custom function settings (left fn1 and right fn2) to the current 4 fn buttons found on the M11 series,
• Leatherette features a diamond cross pattern, matching the Leica Q3 and SL3 cameras.

Putting the EVF to the test:

I photographed with the Leica M EV1 over the course of a week with 5 lenses that I though represented weaknesses in the optical rangefinder.

Lens #1: Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux-M ASPH III (Close focus)

This first lens on the list is the well rounded Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux-M ASPH III (Close focus). I thought this lens was a perfect candidate for the M EV1 because you can utilize the close focus functionality directly through the EVF. This lens was extremely gratifying and intuitive to use on the M EV1. In hindsight, the addition of closer focus M optics could have been alluding to this camera all along.

Lens #2: Leica 50mm f0.95 Noctilux-M ASPH

The next lens on the list is the Leica 50mm f0.95 Noctilux-M ASPH. This is one of Leica’s shallowest depth of field optics that can be difficult to nail critical focus through the optical rangefinder, though not impossible. The circumference of this lens is quite wide and is visible in the viewfinder, blocking the lower right corner of the 50mm frame lines. The combination of focus peaking and magnifier in the EVF gave me two point of confirmation and confidence that I was achieving critical focus in most lighting conditions.

Lens #3: Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux-M Steel Rim Reissue

For this next lens, I was more curious how vintage optics would display through the EVF. The Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux-M Steel Rim is a reissue of a classic 1960’s optic that is known by its distinct character that can be difficult to predict in certain lighting conditions. This issue mostly pertains to film M cameras since you can use the LCD on the digital M to predict how the lens will react to the light. Nonetheless, seeing the lens flare and character through the EVF felt like I was using its character with intention rather than chance.

Lens #4: Leica 135mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt-M

The next lens is Leica longest focal lens with the smallest frame lines, the Leica 135mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt-M. Since this lens has the smallest frame line, an optical magnifier is sometimes needed to enlarge the 0.72 magnification in the optical rangefinder for accurate focus and framing. Much like my experience with the f0.95 Noctilux, the EVF’s focus assist and magnifier was extremely helpful in executing any photo I wanted to make with this lens.

Lens #5: Leica 21mm f1.4 Summilux-M ASPH

Lastly, we have the Leica 21mm f1.4 Summilux-M ASPH. This lens presents a few obstacles for the optical rangefinder. First, there are no built in 21mm frames lines in the viewfinder and an external viewfinder is needed for accurate framing and sense of depth. Second, this lens is Leica’s largest wide angle lens and blocks a good chunk of the optical viewfinder and the bottom of the external viewfinder. Using this lens on the M EV1 was a breeze. I could frame accurately and instantly achieve the type of image I wanted to make with no guessing or hesitation.

Is the EVF a worthy addition to the Leica M?:

After photographing with the Leica M EV1 for about a week, I can confidently say the integrated EVF changed my user experience with a Leica M. As I mentioned, the EVF is a not new concept for most contemporary digital cameras but it is a game changer for the Leica M. Each lens I mounted on the camera felt intuitive from the get go. From landscape, portraits, street, and even night time photography, there was no learning curve or hesitation about using any focal length because I could see the results in real time. Occasionally I would miss focus due to misreading the focus peaking in certain lighting situations and the black out delay between images would take me out of the moment for a split second. In these instances, I felt a disconnect with M EV1. The Leica M EV1 is familiar yet uncanny – a cross between a Leica M and a Leica Q, but by no means does the EVF replace the optical viewfinder.

This leaves the question, what makes the Leica M – The Leica M?

With over 70 years of innovation to the M system, the Leica M has always maintained a minimal yet simple approach to photography while only implementing upgrades when deemed necessary. The M EV1 feels like a natural deviation adapting to todays fast paced demands and environments while preserving the essence and benefits of its predecessors. Despite momentary snags in the U.I. due to human error, the EVF confidently stands next to the optical rangefinder by offering a level of precision, variety, and accessibility for photographers wanting the Leica M experience. The Leica M EV1 is a fine addition to the current line of Leica Cameras and a worth evolution of the Leica M.