Personal Opinions
The Leica EV1 Journey is my independent and personal journey launched in July 2026. To be clear, I am not compensated for this content or any links here, and as such, these opinions are my own. If you subscribe today, you'll receive occasional email newsletters containing available new content as I write it. Otherwise, feel free to come back and read the latest part of my journey!
Journey, Exploration, and Practice
I have had journeys with many cameras, film and digital, 35mm and medium formats. Each journey has brought me further to creating images that speak to me. I have used the Leica M system for over 20 years, starting with a Leica M4 and M6.
While I also spend time on the South Carolina coast with the Leica S medium format system, it remains slow and intentional, but rewards me with some incredible imagery. The Leica SL system is weather-sealed and remains a perfect second body for my work, with adapters that fit S, SL, M, and R lenses. Coupled with the in-camera stabilization, it travels with me to places like Antarctica, Alaska, and the South Carolina Coast. Yet, when I walk out the door every day, it is the Leica M that is in my hand.
New to me, the Leica M EV1 represents a significant departure within the M system: familiar M lenses and image quality, but an entirely different way of viewing and focusing. I’ve decided to embark on a year-long journey. This journey follows my experience of learning the camera, refining its setup, exploring what it can do, and making photographs that matter to me.
More importantly, I want to share this journey so you can explore with me and put what I find into practice for your own photography!
-David.
Connecting
One of the best resources I have had in my photography life has been connecting with others who love photography. If you have questions or thoughts, please reach out to me! I check my Instagram messaging and my email, so please be patient, but I will respond!
40 lpmm (or minutiae)
If 40 lpmm doesn’t mean much to you, that’s ok! (I did put a quick discussion of MTF graphs in the Glossary if you want to read it). These are simply details about my testing and the site in general if those things matter to you. I could also call this section “extremely fine details,” and it isn’t necessary to enjoy this journey.
Full Disclosure and Transparency
I am involved in Leica Photography in several ways, and to be fully transparent, I’ll put them here. I test Leica Camera firmware for the M system, the SL system (and the S system when it was active), including the Leica FOTOS app. I am a past President of the Leica Society International and have a special passion for this group and the members in it. I also have strong relationships with people inside Leica Camera A.G., worldwide. Regardless, I have not been asked to create this journey; the camera and equipment are my own, and any links I provide do not result in payments to me. This is truly my passion and one of my contributions to photography. Feel free to reach out and ask me questions if you wish.
Free Subscriptions
First, this site is free, and subscriptions are free. The whole point is to share my journey with the Leica EV1 to see if it might be of interest to you. So it doesn’t make sense for you to pay me to get access! If you want to help support this work (it does cost me), then feel free to send a donation when you subscribe.
Planned and Unplanned
I make a list of things I want to try out. I also listen to others’ comments on areas like the Leica Camera Forum to get ideas of things to try. I have extensive EVF experience, having used all of the Leica SL camera systems, so I have my own “wish” list. However, there are many times when simply using cameras has taught me lessons about what works really well and what doesn’t. If you have something you are struggling with, reach out and let me know!
Slow and Methodical
This journey is about enjoying photography with a Leica camera. It happens to be the EV1 right now. In the future, it could be another Leica camera, but regardless, I will slowly put together my experience. There is no point for me to write a book on the first post! So, while reading this, if you think I should have discussed a whole bunch of things, it is likely I chose to keep it simple, not that I forgot. I am going to spend at least a year doing this, so I need to have plenty to write about over that time!
Journey (Journal)
Journal is derived from the Latin word for daily. But it evolved from the Old French word jurnal which meant a day’s travel or work. It seemed only fitting to work in daily and traveling to get Journey. I use that theme here because for me, it is a journey in my photography. Forgive me if I go too far sometimes with the idea of traveling; it’s just part of my personality!
Future Pages
This journey really is a work in progress. There are several sections I hope to add over time as things collect. One will be on the camera setup, and one will be on tips. I’ll add those things in areas as I write, but I’m sure a collection will be valuable over time.
Feedback to Leica
During my career, I have always valued feedback. As my experience here draws me to recommendations, I will provide that feedback to Leica Camera. We can then let the development team determine what makes sense for them!