Leica M9 vs Holga! Which is Best? What IS Best?

[CameraQuest]

Is the final image all about sharpness, clarity, and how well an expensive lens tests?

How much sharpness do you see in Capa's iconic D-Day images?
no lens test winners there!

Of all the camera comparison tests I've seen on the internet,
the one that I would love to see that I've never seen is

Leica M9 Vs Holga! which is best ??

Is it BEST to spend $15,000 on a M9 body and lens,
or is is BEST to spend $40 on a Holga
and still have money to buy food and pay the rent with?

What IS best ?

Stephen

 

[_goodtimez]

Oh man what a contest 🙂
I guess the longer lasting will be the Holga and also best value for the money.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

If buying an M9 and lens means you can't afford rent or food, then it would probably be wise to stick with a Holga (or something in-between)...

 

[Bobfrance]

Actually a tough choice. An M9 would be more flexible, but I'd probably enjoy the results from the Holga (and the spare cash) more.

 

[segedi]

Can this be made into a poll?

I'd vote for Holga.
No battery.
No wonky SD cards.
No dust on the sensor.
Oh and we all know that medium format is better!
Plus it better hides my deficiencies as a photographer.

 

[celluloidprop]

Holga w/ flash (I'll eat the extra $10) and three months of travelling around Europe in style?

 

[JonasYip]

I have an M9 along with lots of lenses ending in 'lux. I also have an arsenal of Holgas and Holga-esque Lo-Fi gear... homemade plastic lenses and such.

Both are great. But I must say that *all* of my "recognized" work, that is, work that is exhibited and that resides in museum collections, has come from the Lo-Fi camp.

I don't know if that makes Lo-Fi "better" per se, or even more interesting... I just happen to find my expression there. But I do know that sharpness, clarity, micro-contrast, resolution and all that are *not* the be-all-and-end-all .... for me, anyway.

YMMV,
j

 

[Jamie123]

I got a Holga as a present once. It's the fancy one with the glass lens and colored flashes. Never used it. I've no desire for an M9 but for me taking photographs with a Holga is like throwing rolls of film in the bin.

 

[Pete B]

These photojournalism photos look like they were taken on a Holga and I have to say they look better than the usual card-dumps on DPreview. Click on the photo to see the next.
Pete

 

[Griffin]

Define "best"...

 

[Nikonsnapper]

Is this a serious poll? Of course the M9 is better than the Holga. Could you really see a modern HCB using a Holga in preference to a Leica?

 

[f16sunshine]

Both get the shot (in different ways) I would have either over none. I have an M8 not an M9. It does get more use than my Holga but only because it's digital and cheaper to use. The holga gets a lot of use mostly with color films. I like photographs with some rough edges. The M8/9 is often just too perfect.... sorta boring.

 

[mto'brien]

I think it is high time for a $10 Lomo M-mount plastic optic lens. Mount it on your $8000 M9p and enjoy the apoplectic reaction of your peers...

 

[rlouzan]

It's the photographer, not the camera.

 

[celluloidprop]

I think it is high time for a $10 Lomo M-mount plastic optic lens. Mount it on your $8000 M9p and enjoy the apoplectic reaction of your peers...

Or a box camera with one shutter speed for you to mount your $10k Noctilux on!

 

[nighstar]

neither is better than the other, merely different.

but seriously, a holga + that much money saved? if you put it that way, screw the M9! money for traveling/nice housing and yummy food wins any day.

 

[Nikon Bob]

It's best to forget the term "best". There are so many variables that it means something different to everyone, as the poll seems to suggest.

Bob

 

[semrich]

I'm for the Holga, just because it's film and I've seen lots of good work with them, so much so that I may just go and buy one.

 

[andredossantos]

The "best" "camera" is your brain. What you choose to spend money on to record what your brain sees is beside the point, really.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

It's the photographer, not the camera.

I believe it is both the photographer and the camera...