The Leica M11 Explained in Three Photos
LAST CALL: December $300 Moment Contest
I’ve owned the Leica M11 for three years. After getting one on launch day, I would find the time to share my first impressions, compare it to my previous solution, drop a review, discuss my favourite lenses, drop another review, talk about how I use it for my work, share my thoughts on its peers, and even drop a third review. Well, we’re not gonna start the year with another one of those.
In fact, I won’t be writing any reviews moving forward, but that’s another story. Here, I’m gonna share three photos. These three photos are gonna help me explain why the Leica M11 series—100 years removed from the first Leica camera ever made—continues to be my most favourite photography tool to date.
The Footprint
It’s been a dream of mine for many years to travel to Kolkata. The history and colour of this city has stood out in ways that many other places just don’t. But what I didn’t expect to was capture so many moments of haircuts in the streets.
The colour. The layers. The story. There’s an essence to this photo that captures social realism for me. This subject permeates a lot of what I photograph for my street and documentary work. The conditions of the working class—often in poor conditions—that looks to question the very system in which it exists. One could argue that you could capture this moment with any tool. For me, it was only possible on the M11.
Kolkata gets very busy in the morning. There’s a burst in human movement that starts to congest every street corner. It’s especially when things start to feel claustrophobic that a camera like the M11 shines. Being able to have a very nimble solution, that can range focus—and allow for much of your face to be present in the world—that’s an invaluable feature. This camera keeps things compact in a way that most solutions simply can’t match.
When I caught this scene taking place in the midst of the chaos around it, I knew I had to create a still. I also knew that I didn’t have the luxury to be hanging around for several minutes, because there was a constant shuffle of bodies walking around me. I set my aperture to F5.6, pre-focused to roughly a 4-feet, metered largely for the centre of the frame—given that’s what was most darkest—and looked to jump into the scene when there was a moment of relatively clear traffic.
Looking through the rangefinder, I had an unobstructed view of my frame with zero latency. There’s no electronic viewfinder wait for. I framed my shot, fired a few quick frames, and got out with a smile.
This process of jumping into congested spaces, framing a shot, capturing it, and moving to the next, it’s a cycle that makes the M series so enjoyable. And with the M11, you’re spoiled by the results. Pairing such incredible image quality to a footprint of this size is so much of what makes this my favourite camera. And this photograph underscores that pretty well.
The Optics
Let’s stay in Kolkata a little longer. If you get out early enough, you’ll see pockets of workers that are preparing to tackle the day. And there’s one ritual that I always enjoy watching.
When you own a lorry in India, it’s a point of pride. It’s not uncommon to see drivers washing their vehicles every morning. And this moment right here, captures that scene while from an alternative perspective.
The soap suds across the windshield start to change what we’re looking at. And when you juxtapose the faces you think you see with the religious imagery within the vehicle, well, there’s suddenly a different direction the photo starts to move in.
When I was testing the Leica M11 Monochrom, I wanted to try a lens that I had never tried before and opted for the Summilux 21mm F1.4. Let me tell you, this lens is truly top class. To be able to shoot at a really fast aperture, this wide, while resolving this much detail, and mitigate almost all distortion? That’s rarified air.
When you own a Leica M11, you have a deep history of lenses to explore and in that process, you’ll find options that surprise you. When I look at this photo, I am reminded of the moment I really started to appreciate what a 21mm focal length can add to my storytelling. And three years removed, I’m feel like I’m still discovering new story options, month after month.
The Experience
If 2020 was the year I learned what I planned on doing for the rest of my life, then 2022 was when I started doing it. And there’s one photograph that captures that feeling.
I know for several people this may just be another portrait. But to me, it symbolizes so much more. During my second trip to Chennai, I had the opportunity to stop by a welfare school and take portraits of all the students that went there. It was an experience I’ll ever forget.
When I reminisce about that moment, I’m reminded of the experiences that happened around it. My assistant setting up the backdrop with me. The teachers letting me use the tables and benches. The surprise on the kids’ faces. And inevitably, the experience of capturing the photos.
What makes this camera a favourite of mine is also what may disqualify it for many others. It’s the experience you have because of the quality of what’s in front of you. The camera feels incredible. It doesn’t feel like a cheap piece of plastic that’s gonna crack as soon as you drop it. The buttons. The dials. The leather. Hell, even the ‘pop’ of the battery ejecting. It all feels premium and in turn, delivers an experience that keeps you coming back.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: the best feature a camera can have is the ability to make you want to pick it up. Of all the cameras I’ve owned and used, there’s none that have delivered that feeling as much as the Leica M11.
I’ve travelled over 300,000km with this Leica M11 right here. It’s been with me even when the job didn’t require it. Although it wasn’t my most used camera last year–I’ll get to that in another story—this is the one the brings me the most joy. And that’s really what this week’s story is about. If there’s one thing you should take away, it’s that you should find the tool that most inspires you to shoot. Whether it’s brand new or a several years old, make sure it’s something that sparks your creativity.
With that said, this is a perfect opportunity to pass the dialog back to you. What is the camera that most inspires you to shoot? I read all the comments and love hearing about all the unique solutions people use to chase their vision. So let me know what you’re working with in the comments and let’s continue the conversation from there.
Previous Favourites
December Contest
This month, I’m be giving away a $300 gift card to the Moment Shop where the winner can save big on their next camera, lens, bag, or courses. Moment has so many creative products to choose from and $300 can absolutely make for a better deal.
How am I picking the winner? All you have to do is be a free member of this community and leave a comment on this post. As with every contest, I’ll be randomly picking one person, confirming they meet the requirements and contacting them directly before announcing the winner publicly.
Once again, this contest is void where prohibited by law. Good luck!
My thanks to the team at Moment! Not only for this contest but for being the longest supporter of my work online. They’re a lean team of passionate creators that truly believe in supporting other creatives on their journey. Whether it’s a new camera, lens, workshop, or just some great articles, visit ShopMoment.com today.
What’s Next?
I spent the bulk of 2024 creating some of my most ambitious work and 2025 is all about sharing that with the world. For those of you that have been following the journey on this Foto Club, I can’t wait for you to see what my team and I have been working on.
GB
Those are nice M11 photos. What is your primary lens on the camera? If you could only use one lens on your M11, what would you pick?
The camera that inspires me the most to shoot is my scrappy Ricoh RZ-800 point and shoot that I found at thrift store sold as is without any testing. It leaves a signature fringe at the edge of the stills it takes so I always know what camera I used when I get my rolls back.
I don't mind the imperfections as I am not a professional photographer. I can afford to have a few missed shots here and there. To me what matters is the feeling of the mechanical whirring as the lens extends from the body. The texture of aged plastic as I grab it to capture the moment knowing full well that the frame might not turn out when I go to get the roll developed. And the reminder of how old the camera is when I take the battery out and the default date is set back to the date the camera was manufactured.
It reminds me that what I am doing is capturing memories. The camera has a history and I am adding to it's history by bringing the camera with me. It's artifacts and quirks are reminders that this camera has been around for a while. It inspires me to be in the moment and pay attention to the world around me.
I look forward to reading more of your posts!