You say you don't like the crop sensor of the Fuji system, but the X-Pro2 really is the closest thing to a digital G2 on the market. It's really stunningly similar, conceptually and design-wise. ...
If not, though, I'd say go for the digital M.
Definitely going to look into the X-pro2 more, thanks.
You won't. The editing is also super easy. Believe me. It may take you about 30 minutes the first time to figure out how you want things to look. Go with the less is more philosophy and don't over-cook the images (the way some like to crank on the clarity and saturation) and you're done. But I'm pretty sure you've already got that figured out!
M240s are now in the $3k range or less. So worth it compared to stuff like M10s, M9s etc.
Where are you? If you're in LA you can swing by and try out mine (I'm not selling!) just to see how you like it.
Yeah, M240 seems like a fairly sensible purchase in the spectrum of digital Leicas at this point in time.
I'm in Atlanta, I appreciate it though! I've got a former photo professor who offered to let me try his sometime, so I'll try to do that soon.
Keep the G2, you’ll only regret it... and you can’t get it back. You can get a Leica digital anytime.
Yeah, this is my worry...
I've never owned a G2 so cannot comment on that dilemna, but I tried the scanner route and it didn't really work out for me. Even though the maths financially was there in terms of the cost of the scanner + a bunch of films + processing vs. a digital Leica, I found the overheads in terms of time were acting as a dis-incentive to shooting. Finding the time to sit and make proper scans, plus all the little bits of time sourcing decent film and sorting processing, plus the delay just waiting for the lab, meant that I was using other lesser cameras to take pictures for more immediate results.
In the end I kept my M6 and a handful of lenses, and sold the stuff I really wasn't using, to get an M262. I did think about the M-D 262, but in the end decided that the extra flexibility in terms of setup, which is possible because of the screen, was beneficial, plus I liked the idea of the slightly lighter camera.
If 35mm film is high enough quality for you, buy a Pakon 135. If it isn’t, I’d consider looking at modern(ish) medium format options, such as a Fuji GF670 or Mamiya 6.
Truthfully if I had more time/better time management skills, I'd just invest in a scanner and spend more time in the darkroom. I just don't. This is probably the main reason I've avoided investing in a scanner so far. I appreciate the input, thanks.
Buy the M262. Decide about the G2 and/or M4 after you determine that you'll never want to shoot true monochrome again or after you realize that it makes sense to have both the M262 and "(Type 246)" variants.
If I had the disposable income, I'd buy it and decide later. Going to have to settle and rent one to see how I actually like it.
In terms of "keepers" my least used camera is the star.
A Rolleiflex Automat!
My Leicas are great but when i was pro, it was SLR to the bank.
Period of PJ and portraiture.
Fashion was always my medium format, 60's to 80's.
I have almost never sold equipment unless not used!
My Pentax 6x7 the one I disliked the most!
Selling the G2 will never get you much cash!
Keep it!
Enjoy!
I never allow film to accumulate!
Two films max!
I don't shoot more film, till all are processed.
Right now shooting K-1000 and Ilford Pan 400.
Color in Chinon K-mount! ($10 with 50mm Ricoh lens).
Good advice, just hard when I don't have time to process stuff and it gets backed up. Same thing could happen with digital, I know, but at least it's a matter of sorting through images vs driving to the lab/studio to process them.
Thanks for the input!
I would get a decent scanner as a pakon or noritsu. Eats a film in little time in "auto" and the results are great. Its like shooting good jpegs.
If you want to get some "digital-security" why not one of the fuji x100? I guess you wont get more pleasing results with a digital M and you have to look after the digiM all the time because its precious...
You mentioned that turnbacktime is a major disadvantage of film for you... so a decent lab-scanner would solve that. In about the resolution of th v700 (2000x3000) it takes you ~10min. per film, complete with negative convertion and auto-whitebalance and -exposure is 99% spot on. Certainly no 40 films on the row anymore... (In 4000x6000 the Noritsu takes then about 45min to an hour for a film of 36, though you dont have to sit in front of it that time of course)
You mentioned further, that you like the one-handed- and auto-usabilty of the G2. It think thats really a good point while traveling, because when traveling you dont want to be concentrated on shooting 100% but also on the traveling. So one handed use and some auto comes in very handy. You can not use a digital M one-handed, its even more dificult then on a film M, so better go for a lighter and more compact rangefinderstyle body as a fuji x100. I find it to be a perfect travel camera. Same zero-need for postproduction as with a pakon/noritsu-scanner if youre not into it, the jpegs are very good.
Of course i write from my experiences and i mostly travel (when traveling light, i guess backpacking would fit that...) with a x100 or a light m-body as a Bessa or even both... (a Contax G2 would fit that too ; ))
So this is at least a tested and proved solution for your demands.
All M-Bodies, Medium format, fullframe digital etc... stay at home. Just a body and a 35mm is plenty enough. Especially enough space besides for your mind to also enjoy the trip.
Enjoy your trip, be pragmatic about the gear and dont overestimate the importance of the photography in the trip.
I guess I'm not really too concerned about the "preciousness" of the Leica in the sense that insurance should hopefully cover anything that could happen to it, but also the fact that I already walk around with a Leica M4 without any trouble. Scanner is definitely a serious consideration at this point.
I was going to say, the one handed usability sort of applies to the M-D or the M-P 240, right? Aperture priority and zone focusing beforehand, with no shutter to worry about advancing? My experience with using the G2 on the run also tended to include using TTL flash to help ensure sharpness, which could be done with the digital Leicas as well, so long as the zone focusing is done beforehand and flash power is sufficient to cover the distance. It's really just the manual focus vs autofocus argument at this point, I guess. Do you find it more difficult to use one handed because it's heavier? Or some other reason?
The key is to be pragmatic though, you make a good point. X100 series is on the list to check out too. Thanks for the advice.
Yes, most definitely keep the G2.
Leicas and everything that goes with them cost a kidney to buy for each bit, but for all the GASsing and heaps of $$ you will spend, I'm willing to wager that you won't get any better results than you do now with the G2 and those wonderful G2 Zeiss lenses.
If you feel the urge to buybuybuy, why not get a second G2 or a G1? I use the latter. Have two, and five lenses. With a G1 around my neck, the rest of the kit (less film) neatly fits into a small bag. Couldn't be simpler.
So just what is wrong with being a "lazy" photographer? It means you concentrate on the image above all else, and let the camera do the fiddly bits for you. Most of us go this way. A pox on the guilt-trippers who tell us to go manual manual manual. Go off with you and play with your Kodak box cameras... oops, they were made for lazy photographers too!
Leicapixie's thread is well worth noting as a very apt viewpoint. Well stated, mercifully brief. She has it right.
Scanning can be as a PITA, but do you really have to scan every negative? Keep your processed films is archival plastic sleeves, keyword everything, date and caption the sleeves, file in a good dated sequence. Scan what you intend to work with.
The damn Leica GAS. I'm not really concerned with getting better image quality with the digital Leica, as I'm happy with the image quality I have now and if I can recreate that digitally with a Leica, that would be cool. They are so expensive though.
You make a good point as well - the price of a M-D or MP240 would easily cover 2 or 3 backup G2 bodies, and maybe even some lenses. And maybe a scanner hahaha. My concern with buying more into a dead system I guess is answered with that.
You right about the lazy thing, it's only helped me make better images. I just romanticize the idea of shooting full manual and getting great images (don't get me wrong, my M4 has certainly achieved that for me) and worry that I'm not doing enough to truly own that image if I didn't "work" for it. It's stupid, I know.
And yeah, leicapixie's point rings true - I'd keep it all if I could.
Another thing that would help not having to scan everything is making contact sheets, but that's even more time consuming cause i've got to set up chemicals and bust out the photo paper and dial in the exposures just right. I really do need to do better at archiving everything properly, luckily I'm only two archival negative binders deep and may be able to do it all in a day or two.
Good and easy. Life is too, too short. Drink good wine, good traveling, shoot more film, make love more often. All more fun than cuddling up to a darn scanner.
It's all about apply the KISS principle to your life - in every way, photography included.
These are probably the most insightful words so far, I really appreciate it. Thanks so much.
