Leica's Latest M Camera Drops The Rangefinder In Favor Of An Electronic Viewfinder

When you're trying to support Leica's integer camera lineups straight, nan M-System was ever nan 1 pinch optical rangefinder show (and high value tag). However. nan institution conscionable upended that precedent pinch nan M EV1, a 60MP mirrorless camera pinch a classical M creation but an physics viewfinder (EVF) successful spot of nan rangefinder.

It whitethorn upset purists, but it's a move that makes consciousness from a income constituent of view. Leica's old-school movie cameras utilized its M equine lens strategy and, successful bid to support nan bodies compact, didn't person reflex mirrors for illustration SLRs. Instead, they utilized an optical rangefinder, which provides a weird, offset and inaccurate position of nan scene. Leica kept nan rangefinders erstwhile it launched its integer M cameras, moreover though it could person switched to an EVF.

In 2014, Leica launched a much modern mirrorless camera lineup pinch nan caller SL equine that did usage physics viewfinders. However, they person ever lacked nan cachet, compact size and gorgeous looks of nan M-System, truthful don't entreaty arsenic overmuch to well-heeled buyers that want nan afloat Leica experience.

Enter nan M EV1, which looks precisely for illustration you want a Leica to look but boots nan rangefinder successful favour of an EVF. "Designed for some devoted Leica enthusiasts and those caller to nan M System, it makes capturing beautiful, intentional photographs easier than ever," nan institution wrote. Leica astir apt noticed buyers who wanted a beautiful camera were drawn to nan M series, but past put disconnected by nan wonky rangefinders.

Handmade successful German, nan M EV1 is decidedly beautiful, pinch nan classical rounded rectangular M style and a caller diamond-patterned leatherette to springiness it a unique look compared to nan rangefinder models. Leica besides eliminated nan dedicated ISO dial (the mounting is now done via different control), which helped make it 1.62 ounces lighter than nan M11-P. It has a caller civilization usability lever that lets you activate focusing immunodeficiency and integer zoom options while looking done nan viewfinder.

That viewfinder is decidedly a bully one, pinch 5.76 cardinal dots of solution for a crisp view. The rear surface has a crisp 2.32-million-dot display, but is fixed successful spot and doesn't tilt.

Otherwise, nan M EV1 has akin specs to nan M11-P. It has a precocious solution 60MP sensor pinch support for 14-bit RAW images processed utilizing Leica's fantabulous colour subject and burst speeds up to 4.5 fps. You tin sprout pinch nan mechanical shutter astatine up to 1/4000th and 1/16,000th successful silent mode (flash sync is 1/180th). Focusing is strictly manual, pinch magnification and attraction peaking assistance functions. Naturally, it uses Leica's celebrated and tremendously expensive compact M equine lenses. There's nary support for video.

Though immoderate features are aged school, nan M EV1 lets you link to Leica's Fotos app via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi aliases a cablegram for speedy sharing connected societal media and elsewhere. It besides supports Leica's Content Credentials system that enables nan root and history of an image to beryllium intelligibly traced to debar copyright theft aliases AI spoofing. Other features see 64GB of built-in retention on pinch UHS-II SD paper support, and a meager 237 shots connected a artillery complaint erstwhile utilizing nan EVF.

Seeing nan value is ever a nosy acquisition pinch a caller Leica camera, and nan M EV1 doesn't disappoint. It's now connected pre-order for $8,995 (black, assemblage only) pinch shipping group for later this year.