The Leica M EV1 ($8,995, body only) makes the first major change to the M series since it kicked off with the M3 way back in 1954, dropping the line's iconic optical viewfinder and rangefinder focus system in favor of an integrated EVF. It enters the luxury camera maker's lineup as a supplement, not a replacement, to the flagship M11-P ($9,840), which is a good thing because, while the pair look very much alike, the change in viewfinder makes for a vastly different capture experience—one that's not nearly as magical. If you're like me and have years of experience with an M camera, I suspect the EV1 will leave you feeling cold. The M EV1 proves to be every bit as competent a device for imaging as any other in the line, but if you want to experience the je ne sais quoi of a rangefinder, set your sights on an M11-P or the Editors' Choice-winning M11 Monochrom ($9,195).

Design: A Rangefinder-Style Body With EVF

Leica introduced its first M-mount rangefinder camera in the 1950s, a time when viewfinders were typically optical and manual focus was the standard. Stunningly, it has continued that tradition well into the 21st century. Its current line of M11 cameras all look and work much like the M3 that kicked off the series back in the '50s. Continuity is important for the brand, as devotees are willing to pay a premium for a fresh digital M that looks and shoots just like the others they've used for years. I speak from experience: I started my Leica journey with its first digital rangefinder, the M8, and while it's no longer part of my collection, I still use the M (Typ 240) and an M3 when I manage to take a break from other gear I'm reviewing.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The M EV1 uses the same body style as all others in the line, excluding the maligned '70s-era M5, which makes it one of the slimmest full-frame mirrorless cameras you can buy today. Its exterior dimensions are the same as an M3 or M11-P, around 3.2 by 5.5 by 1.5 inches (HWD), and since it doesn't have an optical finder or rangefinder focus system, the EV1 is the lightest digital M to date, weighing about 17.1 ounces without a lens, versus 18.7 ounces (1.2 pounds) for the black finish M11-P. Both are in the same league with other small full-frame cameras, including the Sony a7CR (2.8 by 4.9 by 2.5 inches, 18.1 ounces) and Sigma BF (2.9 by 5.1 by 1.4 inches, 15.7 ounces).

Leica is marketing the EV1 in black only, which helps it meet its weight requirements. Currently, the company uses anodized aluminum for the top and bottom plates of its black-finish M cameras. Its silver M11 and M11-P cameras use chromed brass instead, and are heavier because of it (22.6 ounces / 1.4 pounds). A lens will definitely add some weight; Leica loaned a Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 ASPH. (11.9 ounces) to use with the camera, which makes it a bit front-heavy. I also tried it with my '70s-era Summicron-C 40mm F2 (4.2 ounces) and was impressed by how well it pairs with the lightweight body.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The EV1 features the standard dust and splash resistance expected in a professional camera, but Leica does not assign it an IP rating, unlike the fixed-lens Q3 line (IP52) or L-mount SL3 (IP54). I enjoyed a patch of dry weather during my week with the EV1, but wouldn't hesitate to take it out in moderate rain. I'd trust the Q3 or SL3 more in a downpour, but the EV1 is safe to use outside the studio.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Leica sells the EV1 as a body only. There are a huge number of M-mount lenses available from stalwart brands, including Leica itself, Voigtländer, and Zeiss, as well as a number of recent releases from upstarts such as 7artisans, Light Lens Lab, Tyhpoch, TTartisans, and other less-than-household names. It's quite easy to adapt older rangefinder lenses that use the M39 screw mount (also called Leica Thread Mount) and manual focus SLR lenses to the system. I stuck with M-mount lenses for this review. In addition to the Summilux-M 50mm and Summicron-C 40mm, I used a Summicron-M Dual Range 50mm F2 and a 9 Element Elmarit-M 28mm F2.8, both 1960s vintage.

Controls: A Minimalist Approach Matches Other M Cameras

As mentioned, one of the appeals of the M rangefinder series is its consistent approach to design and handling. The M EV1 has a very similar control scheme to its predecessors, one that is minimalist and straightforward. It is a flat front camera, which means there's no protruding handgrip. The leatherette exterior is comfortable, and I didn't miss having a grip when using the EV1 with small lenses like the 40mm Summicron-C. However, if you want more to hold onto, you can add a grip or a half-case. I've had a dark green leather half-case on my Typ 240 for years and think it's a worthwhile addition if you want a little more camera to hold onto.

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It includes a dedicated dial to set shutter speed on the top plate, along with a rear command dial that sets EV compensation by default. Aperture is set on the lens itself. Leica dropped the dedicated ISO dial found on the M11 series from this model, so you'll need to set sensor sensitivity via the touch screen. I don't mind that change, as I tend to use Auto ISO for most of my photography and only use a manual setting with a flash. The camera has a quick control panel to adjust ISO and other settings via touch (pictured below), which is just as convenient.

Looking beyond exposure controls, I was surprised to see a frame line selector lever on the front, a control surface that lets you preview the angle of view of different focal lengths on optical viewfinder M cameras. The lever on the M EV1 is configurable; by default, it toggles an in-camera crop mode or focus peaking, depending on which direction you pull it. It's easy to remap it if you'd like, as a long 2-second press takes you into a menu to reconfigure its function.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

That's the same story for the unmarked function button on the top plate, positioned just next to the shutter release. By default, it cycles through a full-frame view and two levels of magnification to support precise manual focus. The shutter is threaded so it works with a soft release button or mechanical release cable. The On/Off toggle collars the shutter.

The rear panel has just three buttons (Play, Fn, Menu) and a directional pad used to navigate menus and change the position of the focus magnification area. The aforementioned EV control dial is also on the rear.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

All and all, there are far fewer buttons and dials than you'll find on a professional full-frame camera like the Nikon Z 8. That's intentional as there's less to worry about with an M camera. The Z 8 includes autofocus, several high-speed capture modes, and video, while the M system is manual focus only and strictly a photo camera.

Displays: It Frames and Focuses Like Any Old Mirrorless

I call the EV1, a7CR, and other cameras that place their viewfinders in the top left corner rangefinder style, as a corner viewfinder is a hallmark of M-series and other rangefinder cameras. But an EVF camera is closer to an SLR on a technical level—when you look through the viewfinder, you are seeing an image that goes through the lens, to the sensor, to your eye. Optical rangefinders like the M11-P use an offset viewfinder with inlaid frame lines to show a rough preview of the frame instead. It's not as precise as through-the-lens viewing, but it comes with its own set of advantages.

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I like a rangefinder because I can see outside the confines of the frame, which is handy for anticipating a subject entering a scene, and good for documentary and candid photography. The M EV1 makes an attempt to simulate this technique. It includes 1.3x and 1.8x frame line markers that you can cycle through using the front lever, and saves a cropped JPG or a full-size DNG with the crop embedded in the metadata. The 60MP sensor means that you'll still have plenty of pixels to print photos if you opt to use this mode, but it requires you to use a wider lens than you would typically choose to take advantage of it. If you always use a 35mm Summicron-M for your street photography, you'll want to grab a 28mm and turn on the 1.3x crop to mimic the outside-the-frame capture experience to which you're accustomed.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Optical rangefinders always show a clear view through the finder, so there's no moment of blackout during exposure. With the M EV1, the viewfinder goes dark as an image is made, and there is also a lengthy delay (around 2.5 seconds) for the EVF preview to show after power-up. With an optical viewfinder M I don't have to wait to see through the viewfinder, something I miss with the EV1. I can't count the number of times I've flicked the power switch to "On" as I brought the camera to my eye, focused, and grabbed the shot with my Typ 240.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

I also love the way a rangefinder sets focus. Optical viewfinder Leica M cameras have a bright rectangle in the center of the frame that shows a double image when a scene is out of focus, and is properly focused when the two halves overlap. That makes it quick to set the lens and take an image, so you can more readily capture fleeting moments. A properly calibrated M rangefinder is good enough for me to hit focus consistently with a 50mm F1.4, and do so with speed.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

A Leica M's OVF is limited in other ways, however. For one, its angle is fixed, so the widest frame preview lines in most M cameras are for 28mm lenses, and the tightest are for 135mm. When I'm using an M I like to pair it with a lens that's in between, typically a 35mm, 50mm, or 90mm, so I can get a good view of scene and still see outside the frame lines. With a 28mm lens, I'm often peeking at the corners to see the entire angle of view of the lens, and with a 135mm, the frame is so small in the viewfinder that it's difficult to gauge.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The M EV1 is precise thanks to its resolution and support for frame magnification, so portrait photographers can get a perfect view of a subject's eyes when using exotic lenses like the Noctilux-M 75mm F1.2 and Noctilux-M 50mm F0.95 at maximum aperture. You can set magnification to kick in automatically when you move the focus ring on the lens, or toggle it manually using the top function button. As the name implies, magnification zooms in to show a portion of what the lens sees, so you can be sure focus is right where you want it. One complaint: The camera is slow to move the zoomed-in area after magnification kicks in, so you'll want to make sure it's over the intended point of focus prior to punching in, either by using the d-pad or tapping on the rear display.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Focus peaking, which highlights the parts of a scene that are in sharp focus with a bright color, is also available as an assist, but it's less precise than magnification or a rangefinder patch. I don't find peaking reliable enough for every scene, however, as it only highlights areas with strong contrast. It's good for getting focus set on the edge of a dark object set against a lighter background, but not much else.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

I realize that it's a matter of personal preference when it comes to using an optical rangefinder or an EVF, along with the type of photography you enjoy. Leica tells me the intended audience for the M EV1 includes landscape photographers who regularly use ultra-wide lenses, macro photographers who want to get closer to a subject than is possible with a rangefinder (all optical viewfinder digital M cameras are limited to 0.7m focus through the viewfinder), and creators who may want to try out lenses from the Leica R or other SLR systems. To try out the M EV1 for macro photography, I placed a 10mm OUFRO macro extension tube between the lens mount and my 40mm Summicron-C. With the extension tube, the Summicron-C focuses very close to its front element, but it does not work for subjects further away.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Of course, the M (Typ 240), M10, and M11 series all support live view via the rear display and support external EVFs, so they work for these types of photos too. The Visoflex 2 for the M10 and M11 line is an expensive addition ($955), and isn't quite as sharp (3.7 million dots), but supports a 90-degree upward tilt, which is helpful for taking images with the camera set low to the ground. And pretty much every other mirrorless camera on the market works with M lenses via an adapter, and includes similar magnification and peaking focus aids. It's harder to justify paying Leica prices when you don't get the full M camera experience.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Despite my complaints, the M EV1's viewfinder is excellent. It's decently large given how small the camera is (0.76x magnification), and sharp at 5.8 million dots. That makes for a bigger, clearer view versus a compact full-frame mirrorless like the Sony a7CR (0.7x, 2.4 million dots), though it isn't quite a match for the Sony a7R V's best-in-class EVF (0.9x, 9.4 million dots).

The EV1's 3-inch, 2.3-million-dot rear display is the same as on the M11-P. It supports touch input, provides good off-angle viewing, and is bright enough to see as long as the sun isn't glaring right off its surface. The screen doesn't tilt, so if that's a feature you're after, you'll have to consider an alternative platform for your M lenses. Again, I'll point to a Leica SL3 or SL3-S, or nearly any recent full-frame mirrorless camera if a tilting display is a must-have feature.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Power and Connectivity: Decent Battery Life and 64GB of Onboard Storage

The M EV1 uses the same BP-SLC7 battery ($240) as the M11-P, but doesn't get as many shots per charge as its EVF draws power while the M11-P's optical finder doesn't. Because of this, the M EV1 is CIPA-rated for 244 pictures per charge, versus around 700 for the M11-P. CIPA ratings tend to be conservative, and I noted a 25% drop in charge status after taking 80 exposures, which extrapolates out to around 320 images on a full battery.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The battery charges in the camera via USB-C. Leica includes an A-to-C charging cable with the camera, but you'll need to provide your own AC adapter. The USB-C port also works for data transfer. You can use a UHS-II SDXC card for media storage if you prefer, but since the camera has 64GB memory built in, you can take plenty of photos without adding a memory card. It's a decent amount of storage and on par with the M11, though not as ample as the 256GB included in the M11-P and M11 Monochrom.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

There's no built-in flash, but the M EV1 works with Leica flashes with TTL metering and supports automatic metering with Profoto lights via the ConnectPro wireless transmitter. Other third-party flashes may be used in manual power mode.

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Like the M11-P, the M EV1 includes hardware encryption that digitally signs photos using Content Credentials tech. You can take any signed image from the M EV1 and view it on a website to track edits and compare it with the original out-of-camera image.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also included, and the M EV1 connects with the Leica Fotos Android and iOS smartphone app for wireless transfer. It also supports wired connections to compatible smartphones and tablets for speedier transfers.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Image Quality: Designed Just for M-Mount Lenses

The M EV1 uses the same 60MP BSI CMOS sensor that Leica puts in the M11 and M11-P. It is similar, but not identical, to the chip used in other Leicas like the Q3, Q3 43, and SL3, and by Sony in the a7CR, a7R IV, and a7R V. The M EV1 supports 14-bit DNG and 8-bit JPG capture, with an ISO 64-50000 sensitivity range, and an option to save both DNG and JPG images at 60MP, 36MP, or 18MP, which is a good option for photographers who find 60MP to be excessive.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Image quality is identical to the M11 and M11-P, as all three cameras use the same sensor and image processor. The chip snaps photos with the cleanest detail and most dynamic range (15 stops) at ISO 64, and captures clear detail without excessive smudging or grain through ISO 12500. Pictures have a rougher look when pushed to ISO 25000-50000, and DNG photos provide less leeway to edit exposure and color without further compromising picture quality.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The version for M cameras includes microlenses around the edges of the sensor that effectively suppress the vignetting, smudgy corner detail, and red and green false color at the corners (referred to colloquially as Italian Flag Syndrome) that certain M-mount lenses may show on digital sensors. You won't have to worry about this with every lens, but many optics, including the present-day Summilux-M 35mm F1.4 ASPH. and vintage lenses like the Super-Angulon 21mm F3.4, suffer when adapted to other camera systems. This is because they have deep recessed elements that are quite close to the sensor, which makes light at the corners come in at a steep angle. In the film era, this didn't matter, as celluloid doesn't care about incoming angles, but digital sensors require light to hit the sensor straight on, so the microlenses are beneficial for select optics. If the rear element of your lens protrudes past the M bayonet mount, it will likely benefit from the M EV1's sensor.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Digital M cameras have used microlenses since the start, but I'm stressing the point again here because the EV1 more directly competes with mainstream mirrorless cameras. It's no problem to find an adapter to use Leica glass with a Canon R, Nikon Z, or Sony E camera system. I have about a dozen M-mount lenses in my camera collection and have used them with film cameras, digital Ms, and my Sony a7R IV regularly. I can see some differences in detail and color cast with a select few on the Sony, notably my 9-element Elmarit-M 28mm F2.8 and the first version of the Voigtländer Super-Wide Heliar 15mm F4.5, but most work just as well with a modern Sony (and benefit from its in-body image stabilization and 4K video, features not found on any M camera).

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

If you're doing critical work for clients or gallery display, then I'd say use an M digital camera for M lenses, but enthusiasts who use M lenses shouldn't count out other options when considering an EVF camera. If you're committed to sticking with Leica cameras, the SL3 and SL3-S are "designed to take full advantage of the M lens lineup," according to a company representative.