I Bought The Leica M11-P (Dream Camera Setup!)

I recently bought the Leica M11p and 35mm Summilux. For those who've followed my 2023 content, you know I've loved the Q2. Many said the Q2 is a stepping stone to an M body, and they were spot on.

In this blog, I'll share why I bought it, my plans for it and first impressions, If you're curious about this setup, I hope to cover your questions.

Late in 2023, I went to the Leica store in London with my Q2, ready to trade it for the M11p and a 35mm f/1.4 Summilux. In my view, it's a dream setup.

Why the M11p?

I've eyed the M11 for a while. Initially, I considered an M6, but film costs and development hassles turned me off. I realized I wanted the manual, tactile rangefinder experience of an M body.

Why spend £9000 on a body and £3000 on a lens? I could've chosen slightly cheaper options for the Leica experience, But, having the chance to buy this new was irresistible. My business did well this year, and the M11p's timing was perfect. I adore its script text and lack of a red dot. Its content credentials intrigued me, though their value is debatable. The 256GB internal storage is a huge plus. Even without the P version, I would've probably gotten the M11 eventually. So yes, I had other, cheaper options, but the opportunity to buy this new camera was too good.

Plus, it was my 27th birthday, a perfect treat for myself.

I had other, cheaper options, but the opportunity to buy this new was too good. Plus, it was my 27th birthday last week, a perfect treat for myself.

Process > Results

The camera's feel and user experience are as vital as the results. For me, photography, especially street and documentary, is about the journey. Being outside, observing, and shooting for the sake of it. Great photos are just a bonus. I want to enjoy this process in the best way possible.

Think of it like cars. Both BMW and Porsche get you from A to B. But if you love cars, you'd likely choose Porsche for a better journey. That's how I see this equipment. While Fujifilm, Canon, and Sony make excellent cameras, Leica has a unique appeal.

Why 35mm?

It wasn't a big choice between 28mm or 35mm. I love both for storytelling and adding context in street photography. So, I chose 35mm, but might add a 28mm lens later. This 35mm Summilux and an M body feel timeless. I can imagine passing them down to my grandkids.

After using several M bodies this year, I love the tactile manual experience. Too much autofocus feels clinical, effortless and boring. (obviously auto-focus has its advantages, I’m not suggesting it’s pointless). However, with an M body, you slow down, which I'm excited about. It's about being intentional.

New Workhorse? Absolutely not.

I do a lot of video and photo work. This setup won't replace my workhorse cameras like the Canon R6. In professional settings, results matter most. But for behind-the-scenes, personal work, street photography and travel, the M11p will shine.

First Impressions:

I've had the camera for a week and used it daily. It's everything I expected, though I'm still in the honeymoon phase. The manual focus is a dream. The colors are impressive, with subtle tweaks needed at most. I'm spending less time in post, similar to how I approached Q2 files.

The dynamic range has been impressive. Unlike older models which I only heard through the grapevine. (clipped highlights on the M10?). I can adjust exposure easily in Lightroom, sometimes being 1 or 2 stops over and under exposed with no issue recovering. The sensor produces high-quality, user-friendly files.

Content Credentials is an exciting feature. Each photo has a digital fingerprint, verified from the shutter press. It's part of Adobe's content authenticity initiative, ensuring file transparency. The M11 - P is the first to include this. I'll link to David Imel's detailed explanation from The Studio here:

Below is my first few photographs taken with this setup in the first week.