I May Have Become "That Guy"

[chuckroast]

As I have noted here previously, after 50 years of shooting Nikon, Hasselblad, various other MF and LF systems, I went down the Leica rabbit hole in a big way earlier this year. It's been tremendous fun learning the M system, adapting lenses from my Barnack (that I already had) for the M bodies and so forth.

I try to shoot at least twice a week even if I have no specific reason to. Today I went at lunch and shot a short roll of Fomapan 200 on my good old Nikon FtN Apollo. I wanted to use the 35mm f/1.4 and 85 mm f/1.4 that have been glaring at me since I started with my Leica downfall. The camera was like an old friend. Everything was insinctive but something seemed ... odd. Then I realized what it was. The Nikon felt unpolished and crude compared to the whisper quiet shutter and film advance of the M bodies. The negatives are washing right now and look great - those Nikkor 1.4s are just monster performers but I wonder ...

Have I become "That Guy". I am now irreemably scarred by- and addicted to the Leica RF experience?

P.S, Just kidding, I still love my Nikons, but when I do decide to shoot 35mm, what to use will be a much harder choice.

 

[ktmrider]

You are not alone. I used Nikon F's all through college and professionally for a couple years thereafter. I still have a soft spot for an F body and professionally, it beat the pants of Leica and Canon and every other 35 available in the early 1970's. My first Leica was a CL in 1975 quickly followed by an M3 a year later. The viewfinder is the cause of the addiction. To this day, my favorite body is the M2. Leica just got something right with that camera.

I purchased a new MP a few months ago and the meter is useful and the black paint gorgeous. But if I could switch out the viewfinder to the 35/50/90 of the M2 and it would not cost another fortune, I would in a heart beat.

 

[boojum]

I understand your dilemma being a reluctant Leica fan myself. I think they invite criticism. OTOH I know what is going to happen when I pick one up.

 

[JohnWolf]

You are not alone. I used Nikon F's all through college and professionally for a couple years thereafter. I still have a soft spot for an F body and professionally, it beat the pants of Leica and Canon and every other 35 available in the early 1970's. My first Leica was a CL in 1975 quickly followed by an M3 a year later. The viewfinder is the cause of the addiction. To this day, my favorite body is the M2. Leica just got something right with that camera.

I purchased a new MP a few months ago and the meter is useful and the black paint gorgeous. But if I could switch out the viewfinder to the 35/50/90 of the M2 and it would not cost another fortune, I would in a heart beat.

I sometimes consider an M-A, only because I’d like the experience of a new film M. But I’m pretty sure I’d prefer my M2. People always say get an M3 for 50, but I just love the 50/M2 experience.

BTW, there’s a Leica repair shop in Portland that will mask M framelines for pretty cheap.

John

 

[kshapero]

Been both places. Currently a Leica M10 is always with me.

 

[chuckroast]

I sometimes consider an M-A, only because I’d like the experience of a new film M. But I’m pretty sure I’d prefer my M2. People always say get an M3 for 50, but I just love the 50/M2 experience.

BTW, there’s a Leica repair shop in Portland that will mask M framelines for pretty cheap.

John

I'm with you there. I love my M2. That finder is what I bought it for because I mostly shoot with a 35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH. I also have an M5, but that's a rather different experience - not bad in any way - but very distinct from the M2. To me, the M5 feels like the better 50mm camera, but I may just be imagining things.

 

[wlewisiii]

In 2023 I had my D810 with me constantly.

This year I'm doing a photo a day project with my M 240 and my sonnar lenses.

Who knows what next year will bring 😎