First things First

After spending some time with the new Leica M EV1, I’ve come away both impressed and a little unsettled, but in the best possible way. It’s a fascinating camera, one that’s managed to catch even the most seasoned Leica followers off guard. For full transparency, I work closely with the Leica brand on various projects, but I did not work on this one, so these thoughts are my own, without any input from the brand, and I have written this to address the many questions I’m receiving about this product - especially from my dear friend Pieter. Also I have had limited experience shooting with the camera, but I feel my experience and understanding of the system should cover a lot of points people are curious about.

All product images used are from Leica Camera, minus any credited to myself.

If you’re seeking a full standard review, you can find Jono Slack’s M EV1 Review here - he does a great job as always.

For some background, I shoot with the Leica M11-P as well as the Leica SL3 and SL3-S system. The M11-P is my go-to for more personal and documentary-style photography, while the SL3 and SL3-S serve as my main workhorses for professional assignments. The M is the camera I reach for when I want to observe quietly - to capture moments as they unfold, the kind of scenes that feel more like lived experiences than staged photographs (like my commercial work).

In photography, we often say that a great image doesn’t give you the answers right away; it sticks with you, asking questions you didn’t expect and leaving you with more curiosity than conclusions. The M EV1 feels exactly like that - a frame caught somewhere between tradition and transformation.

By now you would have seen all the sensational headlines and clickbait attached to the camera’s articles and videos on YouTube. There’s no doubt the M EV1 is intriguing, disruptive, and for some, almost impossible to categorise. But this isn’t just another camera; to me, it feels more like a statement - a reflection of how Leica sees not only its products, but the people who’ve been shaped by the 35 mm format for the past century - most likely all of us!

Credit: Kristian Dowling 2025 | Leica M EV1 | Summilux-M 28/1.4 ASPH at f/1.4

And that’s what makes it so interesting. It’s not just another M, nor is it a manual-focus Q or an SL dressed in familiar clothing. As many of you know, the “M” in Leica M stands for “Messsucher,” the German word for rangefinder. While it’s clear Leica doesn’t see this as an M11V or part of the M11 lineage, they’ve still chosen to give it the M title - and for good reason. It shares the same silhouette, the same mount, and, perhaps more importantly, the same spirit. It’s not an imitation; it’s an evolution, one that rightfully earns its place within the M family - or at least ‘will’ earn over time.

It challenges everything we’ve come to expect from an M camera - and that’s exactly why it’s so intriguing. It has everyone asking the same question: where does it actually belong? Or maybe the better question is: does it need to belong anywhere at all? Leica has already categorised it as an M - full stop.

Leica hints at this through its tagline, “You Belong Here.” Maybe it’s not about where the camera fits, but where we do. That’s a connection worth exploring.

You don’t need to hear that from Leica’s marketing team - the message comes through clearly in the introductory film (see blow).

We see legendary photographer Joel Meyerowitz doing what he’s always done best: being fully immersed in the moment, chasing light, motion, and those fleeting gestures that make life worth photographing. The film isn’t about specs or technology; it’s about connection - showing how the EV1 bridges Leica’s classic M heritage with the creative rhythm of today’s photographers.

Transcript:
“This is more than a product.
It's an invitation.
To those who seek more than function.

Who seek feeling, connection, purpose.
This is about fitting in.
It's about belonging.
You belong here.”

To me, I feel the line “You Belong Here” goes beyond mere branding. It feels like an open door, reassuring the purists that the soul of the M remains, while inviting a new generation who see through an EVF instead of a rangefinder. And in the final moments of the film, when the camera passes into the hands of a younger photographer, there’s this quiet but powerful exchange - a simple transition where the image itself becomes the inspiration, indicating, that no matter how great the camera is, it’s the photography that we all live for. It’s a reminder that Leica’s story isn’t ending; it’s evolving, finding new hands and new eyes to carry it forward. More than an invitation from Leica, it’s Joel’s hand extended - a chance to walk where he once stood and take photography beyond what’s been seen.

Beyond the products, photographers, and history that define Leica, many believe it’s the community that truly draws people to the brand. Sure, the feeling of a Leica in hand is incomparable to many - perhaps only matched by that of a fine watch - but it’s the camaraderie that makes the experience of owning and using a Leica special. It begins when you become part of the ‘Leica Family’ not with a purchase, but the moment you open yourself to the idea, the question: What would it feel like to use a Leica?

Credit: Kristian Dowling 2025 | Leica M EV1 | Summilux-M 28/1.4 ASPH at f/5.6

Familiar Form, Different Feel

At first touch, the M EV1 feels unmistakably like an M. The body, the dials, the weight (aluminium version only currently) - it’s all familiar. However, the moment I raised it to my eye, my muscle memory from years of shooting rangefinder-style started to work against me. Having used it side-by-side with my M11-P, I found my brain wanting to use it in exactly the same way - only to experience a very different behaviour The EVF introduces a learning curve that, while not steep, challenges long-time M users who are instinctively connected to the optical rangefinder experience.

The Electronic Viewfinder Experience

The EVF itself is functional and accurate, but for someone coming from the Leica SL System, it’s clear the SL still sets the benchmark. While the EVF specifications are almost identical, the EV1’s finder simply doesn’t offer the same eye-relief and immersive feel. That said, it’s more than capable for those transitioning from cameras like the Leica Q or other mirrorless systems - especially if you no longer have the patience for manual focusing through a split image.

Where the EVF truly shines is in framing precision, exposure preview, and focusing accuracy - especially when using lenses that can challenge the limits of the rangefinder, such as wide-angles (16 mm, 18 mm, 21 mm, 24mm, 28mm) or longer telephotos. It also unlocks the full potential of close-focusing lenses - many of the newer generations now feature extended focusing ranges that don’t couple to the rangefinder, yet work seamlessly with an EVF. It’s a freedom that rangefinder shooters have always had to work around - until now.

Rangefinder vs EVF: Two Different Rhythms

The speed of using a camera is often half the battle. Leica photographers tend to operate at two extremes when it comes to depth of field: wide open for portraits, or stopped down to f/8–16 for street photography.

With a rangefinder, there’s an undeniable advantage in responsiveness - it’s bright, immediate, and doesn’t rely on technology. The mechanical directness of the optical viewfinder can make shooting feel instinctive and fluid, especially in fast-moving situations – and with no blackout during exposure.

However, when it comes to focusing accuracy and framing precision, the EVF wins without question. Offering 100% coverage, what you see is truly what you get - from framing to edge detail, from colour and white balance to exposure. It fulfils that SLR promise: “what you see is what you get.”

The Element of Imagination

Shooting with a rangefinder has always required a degree of imagination. You’re not looking through the lens itself, but through a bright window onto the world. There’s no depth-of-field preview, and focusing is an interpretive act - one that rewards anticipation and experience. Depending on your style and preferences, that can be an advantage or a limitation.

For street and documentary work, both systems can feel equally capable. But when accuracy becomes critical - particularly when shooting wide open, the EVF’s focus-peaking and magnification tools are far more precise and invaluable.

For intuitive, reactive photography, the rangefinder still offers unmatched immediacy.
For exacting focus and framing confidence, the EVF delivers with precision and reliability.

Both approaches can be fast - just in very different ways.

Who It’s For

The M EV1 is a welcome alternative for photographers who love the M system but have found the rangefinder less practical over time - especially those who wear glasses, or who find manual alignment increasingly difficult with age. In that sense, it’s not replacing the traditional M; it’s expanding the family.

For anyone who’s been shooting with a Q and has always admired the M’s form factor, this camera will feel instantly comfortable. You get the timeless ergonomics of the M body paired with the convenience and precision of a live view experience.

For strictly M shooters, using the two together will be a change for your muscle memory, as it did with me. I am confident over time it will become second nature, and the advantages of the framing accuracy and live exposure especially will outweigh any learning curve you may have initially.

For SL owners, I wouldn’t necessarily go trade in without giving it some thought. The SL is Leica’s professional powefhouse with so much on offer. However, if you only use the SL with M lenses, and really prefer the M form factor vs giving up the incredible larger EVF in the SL, then….

Lastly, for those with weaker eyesight or who wear glasses and have experience using the Leica SL with manual focus lenses, I’d strongly suggest trying the M EV1 before rushing to trade. The EVF on the M EV1 is smaller and has lower resolution with a slower refresh rate than the one found in the SL, which makes for quite a different experience. While this type of finder works wonderfully in the Leica Q when using autofocus, relying on it for manual focus magnification may not deliver the same level of precision or comfort you’re accustomed to.

Personal Take

For me personally, as someone who also uses the SL, I find less need for the EV1. The SL already gives me the best EVF experience when using wide angle and telephoto lenses, with all the other bells and whistles of having an autofocus system with the L-Mount Alliance. Plus, when it comes to using an M camera, I still prefer the pure optical interaction of the M rangefinder, which I have been using for 32 years now. If I didn’t have the SL, though, I’d likely buy the M EV1.

Final Thoughts

Don’t overthink the M EV1 - it isn’t just another iteration in Leica’s storied M lineage; it’s a mirror held up to how photography itself has changed. Just as the original Leica I once redefined what a camera could be, the EV1 challenges what an M should be in the modern era. Yet I don’t see this as a change in direction.

The only area where I think we’ll see a potential shift is among those currently using or considering the popular Q system, who may now wonder whether a move to an M with an EVF makes more sense for them. After all, it opens the door to not only the classic M lenses, but also to countless legacy lenses through adapters - and of course, that unmistakable M form factor and the prestige that comes with owning a Leica M camera.

Don’t get me wrong, the Q remains an outstanding choice, and for many it will continue to be the better option - with its exceptional autofocus capabilities, compact integration, and superb fixed-lens performance. However, for photographers seeking a deeper connection to the act of image-making, more creative flexibility, and the tactile satisfaction of interchangeable lenses, the M EV1 might just represent the next logical step.

At its core, the EV1 isn’t replacing the rangefinder; it’s expanding the conversation. It acknowledges that photography today takes many forms - from spontaneous moments on the street to quiet, deliberate storytelling, and that every photographer deserves the freedom to connect with their subject in their own way. Whether that connection happens through glass and mirrors or pixels and sensors matters far less than the emotion it evokes… or does it?

The film’s closing line, “You Belong Here,” echoes this sentiment. It isn’t about where the camera fits within Leica’s catalogue, but where we fit within Leica’s evolving world and community. I view it as a reminder that belonging has little to do with tools and everything to do with intent - with being present, curious, and engaged with the world in front of us. That’s something I sometimes struggle with, which is why my camera has become a tool that encourages me to understand a world I sometimes don’t recognise.

The M EV1 isn’t a complete departure, nor is it a typical continuation. It opens the door for a new generation to experience what Leica cameras have always stood for - a tactile connection to the act of seeing. And for long-time M users, it’s a chance to rediscover that same feeling from a new perspective - not through compromise, but through choice, opening up a world of untapped potential in Leica’s family of legacy lenses.

Leica’s story has always been about people - those who saw the world differently and chose to capture it that way. With the EV1, that story continues, only in a way that empowers M users like never before. It’s not the end of the rangefinder era, nor the beginning of something entirely new. It’s a continuation - a dialogue between past and present, between the hands that built Leica and the ones now holding it. I see the M system now more as two parallels that coexist - serving the same purpose in their own similar yet uniquely different ways. It lives in that familiar space of tension between heritage and innovation, instinct and technology - and that’s exactly what makes it so polarising.

In that sense, the M EV1 may not be asking to belong. Maybe its simply reminding us that we already do?

If this hasn’t quite quenched your thirst for M EV1 information, I’d recommend checking out Bobby Tonelli’s great video here.

Take care and shoot in the best of health,

kD.