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Why get the M11D?
- Thread starter algrove
- Start date
Paul Spinnler
Well-known member
Some people just dont want to deal with film anymore and the absolute reduction of the camera to an analogue on location experience is rewarding if paired with a slow and thoughtful approach to composition.
Ie when using this camera you carefully look through the viewfinder, take your time focusing correctly with the rangefinder, double check the frame for the composition and then, after waiting for the right moment regarding people, things in the scene ... – click. Ie you take your time looking through the glass viewfinder as if you only had limited shots because effectively without being able to double check you need to do it right with just your eyes and feeling for timing.
You don't do a hundred pics, you do a few. When you come home you open them up and are happy to see some keepers.
The lack of screen helps you in focusing on getting it right in camera, manually, withough double checking anything digitally - it slows you down.
For many this is the key to nicely composed photographs and rewarding in and by itself.
Ie when using this camera you carefully look through the viewfinder, take your time focusing correctly with the rangefinder, double check the frame for the composition and then, after waiting for the right moment regarding people, things in the scene ... – click. Ie you take your time looking through the glass viewfinder as if you only had limited shots because effectively without being able to double check you need to do it right with just your eyes and feeling for timing.
You don't do a hundred pics, you do a few. When you come home you open them up and are happy to see some keepers.
The lack of screen helps you in focusing on getting it right in camera, manually, withough double checking anything digitally - it slows you down.
For many this is the key to nicely composed photographs and rewarding in and by itself.
pegelli
Well-known member
I think it's a small niche in the overall not too large niche of M-cameras.
Paul describes well how you can use this camera, but with a bit of discipline you can operate exactly the same way with any other digital M camera (or even any other brand/type)
And if you really want the "film experience" with an M11D you should not put the SD card directly in your computer when coming home, but send it to a lab and have them mail the images back to you on a CD
.
Paul describes well how you can use this camera, but with a bit of discipline you can operate exactly the same way with any other digital M camera (or even any other brand/type)
And if you really want the "film experience" with an M11D you should not put the SD card directly in your computer when coming home, but send it to a lab and have them mail the images back to you on a CD
.
pegelli
Well-known member
+1, taking your time for careful composition and focussing is in my mind not contradictory with chimping to see the result of your efforts "in the field".
Knorp
Well-known member
We'll know for sure soon enough, but from the manual I'd say: 'yes'
Interfaces
ISO accessory shoe with additional control contacts for Leica flash units and Leica Visoflex 2 viewfinder (optional accessory)
USB-C cable for data transfer and battery charging
Erwitt, Bresson, Weston, Brandt, Seliger, Adams, Lieter, Karsh and many many more would likely be using an M11P if they were around today, not a D. They used modern tools. Even Gibson is shooting digital now.
A decade or so ago when you could buy a roll of Arista Premium 400 (tri-x) for $3/roll and develop yourself in Rodinal for a $0.25/roll, or buy a roll of Kodak Colour film from Costco for $2.50 and have it developed and printed for $2.99, that's when it made sense to shoot with film. Now film is $20/roll plus another $20/roll to have developed and scanned. That $9k Leica Camera body price can be justified fairly quickly given today's cost of film.
Chimping (Check image preview) became a very useful practice in improving your hit rate. Being able to check if you nailed focus or exposure means you can identify your errors and improve the shot right away because you have immediate feedback.
A decade or so ago when you could buy a roll of Arista Premium 400 (tri-x) for $3/roll and develop yourself in Rodinal for a $0.25/roll, or buy a roll of Kodak Colour film from Costco for $2.50 and have it developed and printed for $2.99, that's when it made sense to shoot with film. Now film is $20/roll plus another $20/roll to have developed and scanned. That $9k Leica Camera body price can be justified fairly quickly given today's cost of film.
Chimping (Check image preview) became a very useful practice in improving your hit rate. Being able to check if you nailed focus or exposure means you can identify your errors and improve the shot right away because you have immediate feedback.
...furthermore. We're seeing some incredible growth in AI tools for imaging. Within a few years, we'll be able to photorgraph a scene using our phones, and then leverage computational photography systems to reRender the scene we photographed. The AI platforms will build us an entirely new pixel perfect scene - based on what we saw in the scene. We'll be able to print that image using any of a hundred print services and have the image printed, framed and delivered. Or we just add the image to our new bezeless 80" super flat screen TV that looks like a painting/photograph on the wall.
Enjoy your gear, have fun, but know that production level tool growth will be in software and less so in the hardware.
Enjoy your gear, have fun, but know that production level tool growth will be in software and less so in the hardware.
Photon42
Well-known member
I read that the M11 metering is done on-sensor, as the sensor in the M11s is always on. Whether that is bette for not depends quite a bit on how well you can operate the classic M strong center based metering.
I have had two (sigh!) D models in the past - the first 240 based one and the one with the faux advance lever. In hindsight, I was probably taken too much by nostalgia and looks (I still think these screenless Ms look wonderful). It is cool to use them but I found myself missing the LCD at times. I thought it would be better with the second version, as that allowed for the Visoflex to attach, but then the flash port is taken (no idea why the Visoflex does not loop through a simple flash contact ...).
I have had two (sigh!) D models in the past - the first 240 based one and the one with the faux advance lever. In hindsight, I was probably taken too much by nostalgia and looks (I still think these screenless Ms look wonderful). It is cool to use them but I found myself missing the LCD at times. I thought it would be better with the second version, as that allowed for the Visoflex to attach, but then the flash port is taken (no idea why the Visoflex does not loop through a simple flash contact ...).
I guess you have hit the nail on there head with my concerns about getting an M11D. So it seems to M11P might be the preference between the two.
I like using my M6 when wanting a film experience, but all too often finding myself using an M11 where I can use the EVF if fine focusing important to me. Also I have 2 close focus newer lenses and that is why I keep an EVF handy which is a must for close focusing with these lenses.
Just wonder if getting an M11D for investment would be my only reason for getting one on day one. Or just get it, not break the seal and sell it immediately at about my cost so that I stay on a most favored status at Leica. Choices, choices.
I like using my M6 when wanting a film experience, but all too often finding myself using an M11 where I can use the EVF if fine focusing important to me. Also I have 2 close focus newer lenses and that is why I keep an EVF handy which is a must for close focusing with these lenses.
Just wonder if getting an M11D for investment would be my only reason for getting one on day one. Or just get it, not break the seal and sell it immediately at about my cost so that I stay on a most favored status at Leica. Choices, choices.
The M11-P I got has highlight metering which has been great to use. Could you do the same with an M6 and your brain, sure! I've never considered a digital M body an investment. The lenses - sort of an investment. But I don't buy the limited series. Though I did have a dream last night that I bought a used Safari 50mm collapsible. (This is not a real lens, only exists in dreams).
no doubt, the look of the "D" models is a work of art. But not practical anymore. The romance of film and CCD's is overrated and emotional, and I started in a darkroom in the prepress space many decades ago. (Back when Linotype-Hell was relevant!!!)