Leica M11 – even better with new firmware 1.3?

The my first report about the Leica M11 I limited myself to a few of the camera's innovations. Since there are over 40 of these improvements compared to the previous models, there is now space and time for some additions and tips on how to use the M11.

I now have to send my beta test M11 back at the end of March, but since its release I have still had the opportunity to use the latest model of the rangefinder camera from Wetzlar. I was now able to convince myself of the high ISO quality of the Leica M11. I tested in advance the new firmware 1.3 in detail - this is now available to everyone. With this, the perspective correction known from the M10 is now also available in the M11. The new exposure metering method "emphasizes bright areas" is brand new. I have tested this one particularly intensively. Of course, the new firmware also contains some bug fixes, such as better comprehensibility in the memory selection options.

By the way, there will also be new firmware for the M10 models. The only addition is that the new Visoflex 2 electronic viewfinder works with these cameras. But please don't expect too much from it: the viewfinder is very power hungry and drains the M10's smaller batteries quickly.

Perspective correction

Perspective correction is not new for owners of the M10 series, but is now also available in the M11. The camera's position sensor automatically straightens the image. This is great for architectural shots. Logically, the effect can only be seen in the live view. A square box shows the resulting image. This is applied in the JPG directly in the camera. Only Lightroom can read this in RAW, Capture One cannot. Of course, manual correction is also possible later in RAW.

I like to use this option when I take a picture in places that are difficult to access - for example directly above the ground, when I don't always have 1% control over the camera position. I find it fascinating how quickly and error-free this option works. I would like this position sensor to influence the automatic exposure time in the future. Here I can only make fixed preselections, e.g. 4/4f, i.e. at least 50 times the focal length: with a 1mm lens I get 200/XNUMXs selected by the camera at the longest, unless this is not possible for the selected aperture and ISO. Such a selection is usually sufficient, but what if I'm on a boat that rocks a lot? The position sensor can easily determine this and could then preselect a shorter exposure time. So with a Leica I would have to think even less about the basics of photography :)

New firmware, new exposure metering method

Well, “emphasizes bright areas” does what it says: it emphasizes bright areas. The exciting thing is that this automatic function obviously makes optimal use of the ETTR exposure method. At least as far as an automatic function can. If ETTR doesn’t mean anything to you, I would like to refer you to my explanation here in the blog. In short, digital sensors can record more information in the light areas than in the dark ones. At the same time, the camera sensors tend to cut off the information when overexposed. It's a fine line to make the most of the sensor while retaining all the details. Because of this - and because the effect of lost information was much more pronounced with the CCD sensors used previously - users tend to prefer exposures that are too short rather than too long. However, this increases the noise.

Leica is trying to solve this dilemma with an automatic system. This works surprisingly well, also because the new sensor copes very well with overexposure. People who prefer to take photos in JPG will not be happy with this automatic option because it usually overexposes the image slightly. In the RAW converter, the DNG from the M11 often has to be corrected slightly downwards during exposure.

Since such an automatic system (as far as I know) only exists at Nikon, but since it works completely differently (and not so intelligently), users may be irritated at first. But give it a try. I was very happy with the results and impressed with the functionality.

In the example above, you can clearly see how "emphasize bright areas" works. It optimally exposes the image too brightly. It sounds a little crazy, but it's a really intelligent solution from Leica. This mode shows its advantages in the high ISO range, because noise is minimized.

High ISO with the Leica M11

At 60MP and high ISO values ​​I always think back to my Nikon D3. This was the first camera that achieved usable results at ISO6400. A queen of the night - with 12MP. Well, that was 15 years ago now. The Leica M11 creates significantly better results with its 60 megapixels. Of course, also because the viewing size has remained the same and the compression then minimizes the noise. Still, it's fascinating how technology has improved. Here's an example at dusk at ISO12500.

The fastest Leica M

Leica M models are not high-speed sports cameras. However, it may of course sometimes be necessary to create quick sequences of images. In addition to the single-shot mode, the Leica M11 also has two modes for fast series shooting. The faster of the two manages 4,5 frames per second. Of course, only if the exposure time is short enough and there is a fast memory card in the camera. In my testing, when using full resolution, I was only able to maintain this speed for the first two seconds or so, then the buffer size slowed down the shutter speed. With my set-up I still managed around 10 images within 30 seconds. This means the M11 may be the fastest M camera ever. Of course, it can't keep up with other current mirrorless system cameras. But that's not the job of a Leica M.

By the way, the Leica M11 has the new option to display a control image when you press the shutter button. Since I take photos with my left eye, I have the option of displaying the last image directly on the display, which has generally been switched off in all of my cameras so far. It would always shine in my right eye. Now I can still have the last photo I took shown on the display. All I have to do is hold down the shutter button. Normally the monitor stays dark and if I want to quickly see whether everything is as exposed as I want it, I simply leave my finger on the shutter button and take the camera away from my eye for a moment. The display then shows me the photo as long as I keep the shutter button pressed.

With this setting, it is also possible to re-trigger more quickly in single-image mode. So I can highly recommend this new setting.

Conclusion on the Leica M11 with firmware 1.3

The Leica M11 has been impressing me since the end of August 2021 and it has become even better with the new firmware. I really worked intensively with this camera and for me it is and remains the best rangefinder camera currently on the market. If you can handle this type of photography, this camera is definitely worth buying. It's a great piece of technology, but it doesn't focus on the built-in technology. Everything about this camera is optimized to support the photographer unnoticed. The M11 does not force itself between the eye and the object, but is the instrument that allows both sides to shine.

She reconciled me with the rangefinder system. Maybe I'll buy it after all...