Just gotta ask...

[back alley]

That's correct Joe, on both fronts: the gushers and the bashers.

well, hopefully, i don't come across as either...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

This is venting.

as far as cheap shots at Nikon- there is a youtube video about the price of the D3s.

 

[DamenS]

First of all, somebody expressing an opinion which differs from yours is NOT them taking a "cheap shot".

Secondly, you mention that Nikon and Canon cameras don't have "perfect" reliability, with the inference being that your beloved Leica cameras do, when even the most cursorary glance at the various threads on this particular site should have disabused you of this erroneous notion long ago - and yet this has clearly has not occurred.

What this means is that you have a clear bias (nothing wrong with this provided you are able to see it and understand it as being such for yourself), which may very well prevent you from being able to understand the answer to the question you pose. I would suggest however, that it would be worth looking beyond just the camera bodies (though no unbiased party could dispute the features and specifications of the Nikon D3x are far beyond those of the Leica M9) to understand the view that Leica is expensive (which is far less subjective than calling them "overpriced"), and look at the pricing of lenses as well.

 

[back alley]

let's keep it civil...

 

[gb hill]

I remember as a tow truck driver in the Atlanta area in the 80's the most towed cars with the highest # of breakdowns were Mercedes Benz's. Leica's are like Benzs, people love them but they do have their problems & upkeep. Leica's are the same way. I'd bet the're are more Leica related problem threads than any other camera mfg, Nikon, Canon, etc. except perhaps FSU's. But this doesn't mean I don't like Leica's I think they are ok. But I will say this & I'm not a Nikon shooter but that Nikon SLR (can't remember model) that was so popular that reporters carried in Vietnam? I'd put that up against any Leica anyday as far as quality!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

And you think $2600 is not a lot of money?

For a high end camera, no. I paid that for a Nikon SLR back in 1994. An F4s, which I still have. I have seven Nikon AF Nikkors, all primes, not the cheapo zooms. I can never afford that many Leica lenses, they're just too expensive.

 

[monochromejrnl]

I don't understand why anyone should care what others think about the camera they use... or car they drive, computer they use, watch or clothes they wear etc...

use what you want, how you want when you want... no need to justify it to anyone else...

it's the pictures that matter... and even then, as long as I like what I create I'm content...