Is There Life After Leica?

[narsuitus]

Early in life, I used an Argus C3 rangefinder and a Leica M1 on a microscope. I never used a Leica rangefinder (the M1 was not a rangefinder). I still use Argus C3 rangefinders and I also use Canon, Minolta, and Fuji rangefinders.

For some time, I wanted a Leica MP (the 1956 or 2003 version) with a fast 35mm and a fast 90mm; however, I was never able to justify the expense. Instead, I met my need with a Nikon F2, a Nikon 35mm f/1.4, and a Nikon 85mm f/1.8.

I had hoped that Leica would produce a dependable digital rangefinder for a reasonable price but was disappointed with the offerings. Instead, I purchased a Fuji X-Pro1 with fast 23mm f/1.4 and 56mm f/1.2 lenses.

https://flic.kr/p/8XWPLh
https://flic.kr/p/r24W1V

 

[Pioneer]

Did anyone have a life before Leica?

Somebody will have to try that one next Bob. 🙂

 

[JustPlainBill]

Hi,
I have not sold any of my Leica equipment since I traded in a pair of IIf bodies on my M4 iate in the 1970s. Still use and enjoy my film Leicas. Have added a Nikon D60 kit as a digital outfit. Also bought film equipment on eBay that is making me (look like) a collector.
JustPlainBill

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I sold all of my Leica gear, two M6 bodies, a 50mm Summicron, and 28mm and 35mm ZM lenses, last summer. Didn't want to, but that was the summer after I had a stroke and had to leave my fulltime teaching job. Needed the money to survive that summer till the school year began again when I went back to work as a substitute teacher.

I'll never replace them, I don't make enough money anymore. I make enough to survive, so I can't complain too much, and I still have my Mamiya 6 and Canon digital systems, which work well for me. Haven't shot any 35mm since selling the Leicas.

There is certainly life after Leica. My photography has not changed or diminished from lack of gear.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Did anyone have a life before Leica?

Absolutely. I didn't have a Leica for my first 20 years as a photographer, and built my career long before I owned one. Only had Leicas for a few years before having to sell them, and my photography continues.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Did anyone have a life before Leica?

Dear Bob,

Sure. When I was 19 I had a Pentax SV and an utterly gorgeous girlfriend. Then (on my advice) she bought a Leica (a black II, a conversion from a 1929 Model A): I can't remember if we were engaged by then or not. A few weeks later she wanted her Leica back, so I had to buy my own. We stayed together another two or three years. I still have the Leica but I never married Dail... There's even a picture of her at http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/leicaphilia.html

Given the choice of being in love or running a Leica, the former wins every time. Fortunately Frances likes Leicas too. We met 34 years and 4 days ago (May 14th, 1981).

Cheers,

R.

 

[robert blu]

... We met 34 years and 4 days ago (May 14th, 1981).

Cheers,

R.

Congrats! 🙂
robert

 

[leicapixie]

I cannot think of NOT having a Leica.
My Leica M3, named ziggy has been my companion since 1967..
It made family pix, birth of my daughter, fashion and then photojournalism.
In the streets of a nation going to Democratic process..
Now in my retirement, it's small enough to carry daily.
Weight a big problem as my heart aged!
The SLR pro kit unused for almost 20 years.
Use a SLR body and 1or at most 2 lenses sometimes..

 

[f16sunshine]

The Fuji gf670 is my best Leica.
It is my rf life after Leica.
I have an M here again for the 2 lenses I can't seem to part with.
The M is about to go with one lens. The other is LTM...
The other I'll keep for digital use.
Life after Leica feels just exactly like life before it.... Only now I'm older (working on wiser and dumping the Leicas may be a good way towards that 😛).

 

[Range-rover]

I had Leica's my last was a M4 in which the shutter died after that I sold
it all and I have a bit of regret selling it now, but who know what the rest
of 2015 will bring.

Range

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Odd, isn't it? This started with a statement "there seem to be such polarizing attitudes toward Leica cameras" and - as if to prove him right - the response has been very polarised with everyone talking about Leica's coupled RF's as though nothing else was made by Leica.

So for what it's worth, I miss my R5 but I've other Leicas and other SLR's. Some of the Leicas are P&S's some EVF's and so on.

Just my 2d worth.

Regards, David

 

[Pioneer]

Hi,

Odd, isn't it? This started with a statement "there seem to be such polarizing attitudes toward Leica cameras" and - as if to prove him right - the response has been very polarised with everyone talking about Leica's coupled RF's as though nothing else was made by Leica.

So for what it's worth, I miss my R5 but I've other Leicas and other SLR's. Some of the Leicas are P&S's some EVF's and so on.

Just my 2d worth.

Regards, David

That is an interesting observation David. I do feel that most of the attitudes do revolve around the M cameras. I could be wrong but I don't recall seeing as much of this regarding the SLRs or the S series medium format digitals.

I am probably just part of the wrong groups to pick up on it though.

 

[bobkonos]

I will never know. Because in the end, when I sell all of my collection but one camera and one lens, they will be Leica. Film Leica. Period.

 

[Doug]

Yes, I think when one thinks of "Leica" one generally means an M series camera. An SLR can't be a "real Leica". The P&S folks might be reticent to talk about those "lesser" models ("badge engineering, why didn't you get the Panasonic??"), and the S guys might be reticent to discuss buying a $23,000 camera ("that dreck justifies the silly cost??")! There, I think I've insulted them all... 😱

 

[Nokton48]

Sure.
I liked looking at it but couldn't stand >$1500 invested in gear that I didn't prefer using. I then acquired an OM2n with a 50 & 28 and it's been great so far. Love it's handling and the giant VF. Best of all, it cost me <$200 and I don't think I have seen any deterioration in the quality of my photographs. It's built is very solid and I haven't had any issues in 4+ years of using it. Sold the M4 and lenses and I am enjoying it.

^^This makes good sense to me and fairly closely parallels my experience. I can't say whether I preferred the Leica (a tool is a tool as long as it works, there are many ways to hammer a nail), but as above I haven't seen any deterioration in my photographs with what I am using now. And I am completely comfortable with the change.

And I do like looking at all of my exotic Minolta stuff 😀

 

[ChipMcD]

I got into various Ms and Barnacks. I will probably sell off an M6 and a IIIf and keep an MP and an M3. I'm on the fence about the M9, but at this point, my digital photography is all Nikon and Olympus, so the M9 will probably go and not be replaced. I love its simplicity, but the M9 sensor problems have not inspired confidence, and the lack of a few features like self-cleaning sensor plus the high price doesn't make for an attractive value proposition to me. I've also been shooting a lot more medium format film again and liking the results.

 

[ChipMcD]

The reason I still use Leicas is because I never used them exclusively. Always had other kinds of cameras as well. I've got hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches in my toolkit. Never seemed sensible to have only one tool in my camera kit either.

Excellent comment, and true.

 

[hepcat]

That is an interesting observation David. I do feel that most of the attitudes do revolve around the M cameras. I could be wrong but I don't recall seeing as much of this regarding the SLRs or the S series medium format digitals.

I am probably just part of the wrong groups to pick up on it though.

That's because most of the "R" line were rebadged and tweaked something elses. And frankly, the R line wasn't really distinguished from anyone else's SLRS. The M cameras are what set Leica apart.

And is there life after Leica? Sure! I'm a slow learner... and I've had several lives after Leica. And always bought the Leica gear back. This time I'm not selling. It just works for me. My M9-P is in New Jersey awaiting a sensor transplant, and they were kind enough to furnish me a loaner M-E. I just shot a job for a magazine feature yesterday with the M-E and even used my Visoflex III and the Viso-200 f/4.

So, yes, I've taken my turns with Canon EOS1 film and Olympus digital in between rounds of Leica, but I've always come back. For me there's no reason to worry about life after Leica.

 

[Gid]

Of course there is life after as well as before Leica. I've owned, used and passed on an M2, M4P, 2 x M6, M7, MP, M8 and M8.2 plus various Leica and non Leica lenses. I enjoyed using them all, but the results I got are no better than with my Canon FD or Olympus OM kits using film or most other digitals. I like Leica for their engineering - simple things done well, like a Rolex chronometer for example (insert your own example). However, I don't think the price point matches capability, especially in digital, YMMV and probably does. I may get another just because they are nice to fondle, not because they make one a better photographer. I am now enjoying using old and new Nikon primes on a Df and getting just as much enjoyment and in most cases better results than I did with Leica for a fraction of the cost.

 

[thegman]

I used to use Leica, now I don't. I think I'm moving more towards smaller cameras, Rollei 35, Minox 35GT, that kind of thing. I moved away from Leica because I wanted to focus on medium format though, which I did for a while, but now I think I prefer the simplicity and more lo-fi approach of 35mm again. Lo-fi is a relative term of course, but I find myself looking at my backlog of snapshots rather than the 4x5 or 6x7 on a tripod type of shots.

Really, I like the photos which I've taken with a simple 35mm camera, taken in a way that people use their phones these days. A more relaxed type of photography, not trying to make that amazing photo, but just recording history.