Does the digital CL feel like a "real" Leica?

YouAreHere said:
If you're willing to tolerate a cropped sensor and need to have the Leica "feel" then buy an M8.
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A cropped sensor is no big deal. Just pick a 40mm to use as a 50mm.
If one is crazy about ultra wides, a cropped sensor may give some grief otherwise it´s just math.
What matters is the image, your vision translated to picture, If it´s made w/ a 35mm or a 28mm, does it really matter? :eek:
 
karateisland said:
Hi all--

...

I have been eyeing the CL, and seeing some wonderful results from it (Sara M Lee's "Tender are the Nighthawks" series is stunning), but the only question I have is this: If I mount a manual focus lens on it, will it feel like a "real" Leica? Will buying into a CL system mean that I am missing out on what makes a Leica special?

This question is about as subjective as they come, and there is probably no simple answer. But I thought it couldn't hurt to ask!

....
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First of all I don't own a CL. But I have considered buying one as I like the size being very pocketable with the right lense. Since I prefer the 35mm focal length my thoughts if I were to buy the CL, I would start with the Leica Summicron-TL 23mm f/2 ASPH. I think that would be the perfect kit. Unobstrusive and quiet.
 
I have been using M cameras since 1976. Yes, my CL feels like a "real Leica" with M lenses, but an EVF, good as it is, is quite different from a Rangefinder-Viewfinder. For me no problem at all, but that is a personal matter of preferences.

The cropped sensor argument is neither here nor there IMO. I have never seen anybody able to display "better" photographs based on sensor size.
24x36 is no full frame, it is as much a miniature format as APS. Full Frame is a camera that is used for contact prints. Like an 18x24 view camera.

The whole term is an invention by Canon Marketing when they brought out the 1D. Nothing more...

https://petapixel.com/2017/10/03/full-frame-vs-crop-sensor-shootout-can-tell-difference/
 
Someone lend it to me one for one day. A fantastic camera with a Leica feel, at least as far as luxury is concerned. If you have M-lenses and do not mind buying the M-adapter for an extra $ 395, perhaps a rangefinder alternative for you. Not for me: I have a few rangefinders and too many digital cameras as we speak. This said, I agree with jaapv...the crop/sensor size does not stand in the way of making good pictures.
 
jaapv said:
I have been using M cameras since 1976. Yes, my CL feels like a "real Leica" with M lenses, but an EVF, good as it is, is quite different from a Rangefinder-Viewfinder. For me no problem at all.
The cropped sensor argumenty is neither here nor there IMO. I have never seen anybody able to display "better" photographs based on sensor size.
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Nobody told it is better photos. Some, including me, wrote it is not giving M FOV.
Honestly, then 21mm lens gives 32mm it far from good.
If your are wide in vision, crop sensor is nothing good for wide M and other FF lenses.
If you are 50mm and tele then crop is fine.
 
My big surprise in this thread is that there are so many different views on what makes a "real" Leica.

For what it's worth, I'm pretty agnostic when it comes to VF. If the EVF refreshes quickly enough that I can snag a split-second expression, then it's good enough for me. I'm in my early 30s and I grew up looking at screens, so an EVF doesn't bother me. Besides, if I want a magical viewfinder experience, I'll just break out my Rollei! Nothing like it.

As for the FOV issue with APS-C sensors, I'm mostly a 50mm+ kind of guy, and rarely need something wider. Have been using an X100F for about a year, and most of the reason I started looking for a new camera was because the 35mm equiv lens on that camera feels too wide for the way I see.

I am also coming at this decision from an unusual position, at least for this forum: I currently own no M-mount lenses.
 
I own and use a M7 and a M8. Love them. But my CL with tl 18 and 23mm ln addition to
my M and Nikon lens is by far my preference. Really prefer the EVF. Waiting availability of
tl 55-135. Have used CL for almost a year.
Cheers, Dan
 
The real Feel comes from looking at the VF(whatever VF, optical, electronic, plastic, german, chinese, japanese, portuguese..) and taking the shot.

it´s all that matters.
Anything else is baloney.


PS: but the best feel of all comes from developing your film and printing your pictures.
 
ptpdprinter said:
The crop sensor is clearly "here or there" for manual focus lens selection.
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Only if you are hung up by numbers. The field of view is what you make of it by your own framing - the angle of view depends. And if you want to go wide - does 15 mm equivalent suffice? - There is a very nice Voigtländer 10 mm.
 
karateisland said:
My big surprise in this thread is that there are so many different views on what makes a "real" Leica.

For what it's worth, I'm pretty agnostic when it comes to VF. If the EVF refreshes quickly enough that I can snag a split-second expression, then it's good enough for me. I'm in my early 30s and I grew up looking at screens, so an EVF doesn't bother me. Besides, if I want a magical viewfinder experience, I'll just break out my Rollei! Nothing like it.

As for the FOV issue with APS-C sensors, I'm mostly a 50mm+ kind of guy, and rarely need something wider. Have been using an X100F for about a year, and most of the reason I started looking for a new camera was because the 35mm equiv lens on that camera feels too wide for the way I see.

I am also coming at this decision from an unusual position, at least for this forum: I currently own no M-mount lenses.
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The EVF is close to the SL one which is arguably the best on the market. Yes, you can catch any impression in good light :)
 
The CL is a digital camera with built in obsolescence..
A new model all the time, battery availability another means,
of killing a model. If your income has no problem with digital Leica prices, go for a full frame Leica..An M.
Lenses will be what designed for..
Film is alive and well and very competitive..
I love the slowness (no longer doing pro assignments),
the tactile feel of holding an image..
Only you the buyer can decide what you should do!
I have looked at the 28mm 1.7 summilux camera,
that never opens aperture more than f2.4 ?..
A cropped image at higher views..
The CL can never be a Barnack!
Those old cameras are unique and all the mods cannot compare!
I have used them, the results very interesting with old lenses..
 
Ko.Fe. said:
Nobody told it is better photos. Some, including me, wrote it is not giving M FOV.
Honestly, then 21mm lens gives 32mm it far from good.
If your are wide in vision, crop sensor is nothing good for wide M and other FF lenses.
If you are 50mm and tele then crop is fine.
Click to expand...
Please define "far from good".
 
leicapixie said:
The CL can never be a Barnack!
Those old cameras are unique and all the mods cannot compare!
I have used them, the results very interesting with old lenses..
Click to expand...

The more people buying expensive cameras for bad reasons.. the more pristine good cameras on the used market.

Yeah: buy a Leica M10, ME, MP, MA!!!
 
jaapv said:
Only if you are hung up by numbers. The field of view is what you make of it by your own framing - the angle of view depends. And if you want to go wide - does 15 mm equivalent suffice? - There is a very nice Voigtländer 10 mm.
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NOt to mention a cropped angle gives usually the best sharpness of any lens.

Otoh.. the more baloney around the M8, the cheaper it becomes. More power to shooters.
 
All of this hardware talk doesn't mean a thing. What matters is what you have captured...either with film, or digital, with a cropped or full frame sensor, or with a phone.
 
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