Need convincing to buy my first Leica

[Gabriel M.A.]

I realise this isn't what you want to hear but if you have to ask that question the answer is "no".

Agreed. Like all "unnecessary" purchases, it is all a matter of choice and prudence.

A $4,000 pair of sunglasses may be necessary if, say, it really gives you an edge over your Olympic trial rivals; or clinical reasons. The salesperson at the Bali shopping center may help you to convince you if the case is otherwise.

Personal choices may need some personal encouragement. Convincing is for a different level.

 

[literiter]

Buy a Barnack!

The resale value on the things is such that you could consider the expense to be collateral placed on the loan of a camera. As it has been said here; If you don't like it, sell it.

A better camera is easy to find, for a lot less, but I suspect there are few cameras that will give you as much pleasure, if only for the joy of owning it.

My IIIf has a 50mm f3.5 Elmar lens. Because of the age of the lens I bought a FISON lens hood to reduce flare. This makes it difficult to change f stops.

The viewfinder is so squinty I bought a SBOOI finder.

So mine cost me about:
IIIf 400.00
Elmar 400.00
FISON 100
SBOOI 100

$1000.00 more or less.
I didn't need a CLA on my Barnack body or lens....but you might. Consider this cost as well.

 

[Ade-oh]

They are great cameras but a very different experience to a modern automated camera and they require a slightly more considered approach to photography. The thing I like about using Leicas is that they force me to think about what I'm doing and what I want the final image to look like before I take the picture. That isn't necessarily the case with a modern DSLR (or a highly automated film SLR, for that matter), where your pictures are always likely to be well exposed even if completely dull and boring.

IMHO, if you've got some spare cash, buy it and try it out: as others have said, the resale value is such that you will lose little if any money if you don't enjoy it and decide to re-sell the camera.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Hi,

I can't answer the question for you any more than any one else but you ought to ask yourself if you are buying it because it's there and cheap or are you buying because you've always wanted a Leica? If the answer's "yes" to the second question then you ought to be wondering if you want that model...

BTW, technology cannot be obsolete as the word means worn out. The camera could be worn out and I'll warn you they cost a lot to get sorted out.

Once sorted out you'll find them difficult to use and then you might grow to love them and end up with several and no money for film or food...

Anyway, the decision is yours and I'll wish you luck.

Regards, David

Dear David,

Are you sure? Etymologically, yes. In normal usage for several centuries,. no. Source: OED.

Cheeras,

R.

 

[Merumeni]

If Zen is the biggest lie on earth it is followed by a Leica. Get one. A challenge and a lie, a sweet, sweet lie...

 

[David Hughes]

Dear David,

Are you sure? Etymologically, yes. In normal usage for several centuries,. no. Source: OED.

Cheeras,

R.

Hi,

Hmmm, just checked in Vol 2 of the Shorter OED and I'm sticking to my version; or stuck with it...

But it's best to have a rant about it now and then as a lot of people use it to mean not advertised with a double page spread in "Knick-Knacks for Idiots Weekly" or simply replaced by a newer model. I expect some with the M9 use it (the word) for the rest of the M's.

More to the point, if all I was allowed to use was the old original 1925 version, I'd not complain.

Regards, David.

 

[David Hughes]

That's right. The technology is hardly obsolete: it is very useable. It is also true that these cameras are old and need attention from a professional repairman, or if you are very talented maybe you can do-it-yourself.

I don't think they are difficult to use (I have the IIIf myself), but some people like David prefer the more expensive, more advanced (and larger/heavier) Leica M cameras.

Hi,

FWIW, I prefer the CL more than any other camera but I like CW TTL metering and the choice of lenses (2) means life is simple. I've other Leicas from 1926 to a couple of years ago and like them all, but the CL comes first with the model II and Digilux 2 fighting over 2nd place. Then the M2 and IIIc and so on. The C11 comes last but the C3 is top of the heap for the P&S's.

In the SLR's I like the R5 but can't afford a decent one after my last one failed expensively and the Digilux 3 comes pretty close to the R5 but isn't the same: please don't ask why because I don't know. Probably it's because I'm comparing a digital with a zoom lens to film with primes...

FWIW 2, this year's resolution is to get all my elderly lenses checked etc, etc. Then the list might change as I'm thinking in terms of outfits and the pre-war stuff loses points for the 35mm and 90mm lenses.

Regards, David

 

[flip]

Hah! Read the title to this thread and thought:

No, you don't.

Sooner or later....

 

[tojeem]

OP here. Actually I'm a Zorki 1 user, so slow and fiddly camera set-ups aren't unknown to me.

In the end, I went for the practical option and bought a Nikon S2 which I found for the same price. The large viewfinder, coupled rangefinder, winding lever and fully detachable back (eliminating the need to trim the leader) sold it for me. Besides, one Barnack-style camera is enough for me.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I'm very pleased with my purchase (though I'll probably buy a Leica eventually. You know how it goes...).

Cheers

Stephen

 

[Benjamin Marks]

OP here. Actually I'm a Zorki 1 user, so slow and fiddly camera set-ups aren't unknown to me.

In the end, I went for the practical option and bought a Nikon S2 which I found for the same price.

Stephen: congratulations on your purchase. I suspect that if you had posed the question as "should a Zorki user switch to a Barnack?" or "Should I buy a Nikon S2 or a Barnack?" you would have gotten a very different tone of responses. The S2 is an amazing camera -- those Nikon engineers got so much right. Most important for me: the "hand feel" and the viewfinder. You know that you can put the camera to your eye with your non-focusing eye open and see the frame lines and RF patch "imposed" upon the world? Just amazing.

Hey, go take some great pictures with that thing and then come back here and share.

best of luck,

Ben Marks