Leica recently officially opened a new chapter in its M-series camera history with the release of the Leica M EV1, a milestone in the brand's history. The most significant innovation in this camera is that it is the first Leica M-series camera to feature a built-in electronic viewfinder.
This means that the M system will no longer be limited to optical rangefinder models in the future. The addition of models with built-in electronic viewfinders will bring a completely different operating experience. The Leica M EV1 has a suggested retail price of NT$259,000 and is now available in Leica stores, online stores, and authorized dealers worldwide.
Combined with the advantages of electronic viewfinder, it lowers the entry threshold of M system
For more than 70 years, the M system's rangefinder has been its soul, but its unique macular overlay focusing mechanism has made it difficult for many new users or photographers with vision limitations to get started.
Leica said that the introduction of the electronic viewfinder design in the M EV1 is not only a response to long-term user demands, but also to expand usage scenarios and significantly lower the threshold for new users to enter the world of photography of M series models.
Focusing convenience will be the greatest advantage of the M EV1, especially when using large aperture lenses such as Noctilux or Summilux to shoot with an extremely shallow depth of field. The focus peaking and magnified focus provided by the electronic viewfinder will be more intuitive and reliable than traditional superposition. At the same time, when using ultra-wide-angle, telephoto, or macro lenses (such as M lenses with close-up adapters) for creation, the electronic viewfinder can also solve the parallax and framing limitations inherent in rangefinder systems.
576 million pixel electronic viewfinder with diopter adjustment and eye sensing
The M EV1 features a 576 million-pixel high-resolution electronic viewfinder, emphasizing clarity and true color reproduction. All shooting parameters (shutter speed, ISO, etc.) can be displayed outside the frame without affecting composition.
The electronic viewfinder also features a built-in diopter compensation function, allowing users to freely adjust the diopter between -4 and +2 diopters using an adjustment wheel to meet the vision needs of different users. In addition, the body is also equipped with an eye sensor that can automatically switch between the electronic viewfinder and the touch screen.
Introducing peaking and zoom focus, retaining the classic front lever
To enhance the manual focus experience of M lenses, the M EV1 has introduced focus assist functions that have been maturely applied on other Leica cameras (such as the SL and Q series):
• Focus Peaking:The current focal plane is highlighted in color to assist with precise focusing.
• Zoom Focus:Two selectable magnification levels are provided, which can be triggered automatically by rotating the focus ring or manually zoomed in using the function button.
It is worth noting that Leica has retained the classic lever on the front of the M series camera (used to switch the bright line frame on the rangefinder machine). On the M EV1, this lever has added new functions, which can be used to quickly activate or deactivate the focus assist tool or switch between 1.3x and 1.8x digital zoom.
Inheriting the core of the M11: 6000-megapixel sensor and content authentication technology
In terms of core specifications, the M EV1 is developed based on the M11 platform. It is equipped with a full-frame BSI CMOS sensor and features "triple resolution technology," allowing users to freely choose between DNG or JPEG formats between 6000 million, 3600 million, and 1800 million pixels.
The camera has a built-in Maestro III processor, 64GB of memory, and supports SD memory card expansion. In terms of connectivity, it supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and wired connection to the Leica FOTOS application.
At the same time, similar to the M11-P and M11-D, the M EV1 also supports "Content Credentials" technology. This feature complies with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and can add a digital signature to photographic works to verify the source of the image and ensure its authenticity.
The MEV1 retains the minimalist style and German craftsmanship of the M series, but features a new diamond-patterned leather covering to differentiate it from traditional M rangefinder cameras. Leica also released a leather grip for the M EV1, priced at NT$14,000.
