In this video, I want to share my hands-on experience with the Leica M11-D, a camera that's a fascinating blend of digital performance and analog charm. If you’re familiar with Leica's history, you know they’ve always tried to bridge the gap between the tactile feel of film photography and the convenience of digital. With the M11-D, they’ve pushed that idea even further. But there’s a surprising quirk that I have to bring up right off the bat: as of now, there's no way to format the SD card. Yep, you heard that right. No formatting option, neither through the camera itself nor via the Leica app.

Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves—this doesn’t take away from the fact that the Leica M11-D is still a beast of a camera. It’s packing that **60MP sensor** based on the M11-P, and the image quality is stunning. It delivers the kind of detail and tonal range you'd expect from Leica, and the ability to switch between triple resolution modes (60MP, 36MP, and 18MP) offers flexibility for those who don’t always need to shoot at full resolution.

The M11-D brings back the experience that we got a taste of with the M10-D, where Leica stripped away the back screen to make shooting feel more intuitive, closer to a film camera. And let’s be real, it’s got that timeless design we all love—a sleek, minimal look, no distractions, and every shot feels like you’re crafting something special. It forces you to focus on the essentials: framing, composition, lighting.

But, yeah, no SD card formatting—that’s a curveball. I’m still a bit baffled by it. I mean, Leica's all about precision and thoughtfulness in their design, so it’s odd to see a feature like this missing. Formatting your SD card is something you expect to be able to do natively on any camera, especially in this class. If you need to wipe your card clean, you're currently stuck using another compatible Leica model or formatting it on your computer. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s definitely inconvenient if you’re out on a shoot and need to start fresh.

I’m confident that Leica will address this issue soon, probably through a firmware update. They’re known for listening to their community, and something like this should be an easy fix. But for now, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re considering picking up the M11-D. Personally, I can work around it—mainly because the rest of the camera is just that good. But if you're the kind of photographer who wants everything to work perfectly out of the box, this might be a small hiccup.

Outside of this SD card limitation, the M11-D is really all about the shooting experience. With no screen on the back, you’re encouraged to trust your instincts and your eye. It’s a different approach from most modern digital cameras that are loaded with distractions—touchscreens, menus, constant playback checking. With the M11-D, you’re just in the moment, fully immersed in the craft of photography.

The digital/analog hybrid concept is something Leica has perfected over the years, and I think the M11-D is one of their best executions of that idea. For those of us who love the tactile feel of a film camera but want the advantages of a high-end digital sensor, this camera is a dream. And despite the SD formatting quirk, the images it produces are undeniably fantastic. From sharpness to color accuracy to dynamic range, it’s everything you’d expect from Leica's top-tier models.

In terms of build quality, it’s exactly what you expect from Leica. The M11-D is robust, beautifully constructed, and feels like it's built to last. Every detail is thoughtfully designed, from the quiet shutter to the smoothness of the rangefinder focusing. Leica never skimps on the craftsmanship, and this camera is no exception.

**Battery life** is solid too. Leica’s moved the M11-D to USB-C charging, which is super convenient if you’re on the go. You no longer need to worry about carrying a separate charger, and the battery performance feels pretty efficient for a camera with such a high-resolution sensor.

All in all, despite the formatting issue, this camera has blown me away. It’s a powerful tool for any photographer who enjoys the process as much as the final image. Leica has a way of making you slow down, think more, and appreciate every shot you take. The M11-D takes that feeling to the next level.

So, while it’s strange that there’s no way to format your SD card at the moment, I still think the Leica M11-D is an incredible piece of equipment. I’m sure they’ll sort out that issue in due time, and when they do, this camera will be even closer to perfect. Until then, just keep in mind you might need to do a little extra work to keep your memory cards in check. And for those who can look past that, the M11-D is a rewarding, unique experience that you don’t often get with other digital cameras.

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