Leica M11 Long-Term Review: Still Worth the Price in 2025?

The Leica M11 is not just another digital camera. It’s a tool that forces you to slow down, commit to a process, and engage with your work in a more deliberate way. Whether you’re using it at a wedding, traveling abroad, or making everyday family photos, this camera asks you to be intentional. That alone makes it worth considering if you want to create images with more care and attention.

Coming to you from Benj Haisch, this thoughtful video looks at the Leica M11 after years of regular use. One of the main upgrades from the earlier M10 models is the 60.3-megapixel full frame sensor, which offers far better dynamic range. For situations where highlights would blow out or shadows fell apart with the M10, the M11 files hold together. The flexibility in post-production makes it easier to recover detail without compromising image quality. Haisch points out that the sensor is the same one used across several premium cameras, and it continues to perform at a very high level.

Another major highlight in the video is the internal memory. The M11 includes 64 GB of built-in storage, which gives you backup options that many other expensive cameras still don’t offer. Haisch explains how he sets the camera to save 18-megapixel JPEGs internally while recording full-resolution raw files to the SD card. It’s not meant to replace your primary card, but it’s peace of mind for once-in-a-lifetime moments where a corrupted card could otherwise mean losing everything. This kind of backup is the sort of feature that becomes important not when things go right, but when they go wrong.

Key Specs

• Sensor: 60.3 MP full frame CMOS

• ISO Range: 64–50,000

• Continuous Shooting: Up to 4.5 fps

• Shutter Speeds: 1/16,000 s (electronic) to 60 s

• Internal Memory: 64 GB, plus SD card slot (UHS-II)

• Display: 2.95" fixed touchscreen LCD

• Wireless: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2

• Weight: 1.2 lbs (body only)

Haisch also emphasizes the value of ISO 64. While not something you’ll always need, it allows you to shoot wide open in bright daylight without resorting to ND filters. For wedding work or environmental portraits, it’s a small technical detail that can make a big difference. Then there’s the sheer resolution. With 60 megapixels, you can crop aggressively and still have plenty of detail left. That’s especially handy when carrying only one lens and wanting multiple framing options. The files are big, but the flexibility they offer makes the weight worthwhile.

The video doesn’t stop at specs. Haisch discusses practical use: carrying the M11 with a 35mm Summilux as an everyday kit, relying on the internal JPEGs as a safety net, and how the camera performs in low light. While not a low-light monster, it’s a stop or two better than the M10, which makes it more dependable for evening or indoor shooting. He also covers lens options, both Leica and third-party, showing how adaptable the M system is for different styles. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Haisch.