That’s without a lens and over $2k more thanthe M10 at launch.
And yet it will probably sell as well, if not better, than ever.
Leica knows its core audience is more interested in rendition and looks than in high-tech.
Leica
They love that these old-style rangefinders can look and handle just like Leica’s old film cameras.
“[You] buy an M body for the luxury.
Small Changes
Its a hard problem.
Leica
Change nothing, and why would anyone replace the old model?
Especially for the price of a small car.
But change too much, and youre messing with the fundamentals.
Leica
At the center of this is the pretense that a Leica is a camera that will last a lifetime.
This was true when we all used film, and is a huge part of the Leica branding.
But in the digital age, thats just not true.
The answer has, until now, been to make small internal changes.
The M11 has bigger changes than most, including one utterly radical external changethe bottom no longer comes off.
Its the usual Leica thing, where you buy self-imposed limitations for the creative sake of it.
M11 in 2022
The M11 may be Leicas best digital M-series body yet.
The silver version has Leicas usual brass top plate, but the black painted version uses aluminum.
This reduces the weight by 100 grams (3.5 ounces), or around one-fifth the total.
And then theres the bottom plate.
That means taking it off a tripod and also risks dropping and losing the plate.
Now, you get a proper doorand a newer, bigger battery because of it.
The M11 can shoot up to 1,700 photos if you use only the optical viewfinder.
Speaking of that viewfinder, its getting to be a liability.
A rangefinder uses a separate window to view and focus the image.
This is fast, immediate, and works well in any light.
But its also way less accurate than autofocus or focusing using the electronic screen of a mirrorless camera.
And the M11 has a stabilized live-view on its screen, which makes the rangefinder even less appealing.
But if youve ever used a Leica, digital or not, youll get the appeal.
Theyre beautiful machines that deserve their status.
Which many people do.
