Not so much a statement but a question ..... Read and find out

[Jarvis]

Now I’m not starting a pro/contra Leica bashing thread, but after having browsed this forum for the past months and having joined it a week ago I wonder what all the Leica commotion is about …. It has the name and the reputation as well as a number of famous photographers who swore by using Leica’s but90% of this is based upon history, I doubt that HCB, nor many others would of used a Leica if he had today’s current choice/range of cameras at his disposal. I have used an M6 and M5, both very nicely manufactured, they feel sturdy and look good, but that is about all. Film loading is, well rather time consuming, shutter speeds are not up to date, the lenses are good, but certainly not much better than my Contax G’s for instance. The bokeh of the 50 summi is subjectively good, again not much different than my 45mm (again subjective) the 35 is plainly worse than my G 35 and as for the 28 and 21mm (or close) I dare say that the Leica’s bite the dust. Leica metering on the M6 and M5 are “unadventurously” simple nothing special about this, here a Nikon F100 is much better, the camera sound as such is quite silent, but not extreme… Anyway one could go on, rest to say that it is a good camera but certainly doesn’t justify the required investment, I think most people will agree on that, (deep in their hearts, you wont have to say it out loud now!) ..
Now comes the real issue, knowing all what I’ve written in this thread I feel the strong urge to go out and check some leicas out at various stores and probably within time will spend (waste?) quite some hard earned cash on acquiring a leica … Why is that. What is it with this particular brand ? Why does it do this to people ?

 

[back alley]

do not discount history.

while i'm not a leica user, i love that the cameras that i do use have a bit of history attached to them.
more importantly for me, i love that my lenses have a history.
the past, either leica or another brand, has a pull.

joe

 

[GeneW]

Now comes the real issue, knowing all what I’ve written in this thread I feel the strong urge to go out and check some leicas out at various stores and probably within time will spend (waste?) quite some hard earned cash on acquiring a leica … Why is that. What is it with this particular brand ? Why does it do this to people ?

I believe it's called Leicalust 😀

I developed it after borrowing a friend's M3 for a couple of weeks. I don't know that it's mystique so much as simply the feel of a finely engineered machine in your hands. If I had enough cash, I'd probably own a Leica. My problem is I want to own one of everything -- straightforward, unadulterated GAS ...

Gene

 

[merciful]

I use Leicas because they do what I need them to do: focus accurately in situations with very small depth of field; and allow slow hand-held shutter speeds. Neither an SLR nor an AF rangefinder will do both of these for me. I also prefer old cameras to new ones: they seem more solidly made, even if they aren't; so I didn't bother with newer stuff like Bessas.

Perhaps you've been repressing a desire to have nice old-style camera, too.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

The interesting point that you mentioned often seems ignored or refuted by many, and that is what the photographers we admire from the past would be using today. When Capa used a Contax or a Leica he was using the most modern tool available to him at the time. I think that it's fair to say Capa would be shooting today with a Nikon D2 or a Canon 20D -- kind of takes a little of the romance away, doesn't it? 🙂

 

[richard_l]

Now comes the real issue, knowing all what I’ve written in this thread I feel the strong urge to go out and check some leicas out at various stores and probably within time will spend (waste?) quite some hard earned cash on acquiring a leica … Why is that. What is it with this particular brand ? Why does it do this to people ?

If Leica products are as mediocre as you claim, it is absurd to waste time and money on them! You need help.

 

[Jarvis]

I don't claim leicas to be mediocre, the only thing I claim here is that for a similar investment one could get a much better "total" camera if the/your bottom line is image quality ...

.. And just let me be awkward and have me help myself, I do have the ability to do so, but if this split personality get's worse ... I'll develop a third one which will solve everything .. !

 

[kiev4a]

I think just about everyone who uses older rangefinders has a history lover's streak in them. The Leica, and Contax to a lesser degree, are the original royality of 35mm rangefinder photography. Canon and several other Japanese copies aren't far behind. These cameras, which virtually started 35mm still photography still can produce very nice pictures in today's printed circuit, plastic lens world.

And let's not forget the FSU clones. They may not be a smooth as the originals but in some respects they have even more "historical brokeh." After all, they are the product of a political culture that no longer exists.

And most of us would appreciate a Leica, Contax, Canon, Leotax, Nicca, FED, Zorki or Kiev just because they are mechanical rather than circuit boards and sensors.
If I

 

[Jarvis]

I realize it'a a bit like a classic car thing, I own a 1962 mercedes, certainly not a collectable but just old and in perfect condintion, appart from the laquer., I could certainly afford a more modern car but I like the '62 mercedes, it has style and it has a touch of beauty and it's well made, made to last, it also applies a certain status to the owner ... is this what Leica does too ?

 

[Jarvis]

Manolo: "Who's gonna be using a D20 in 2049? "

Probably a limited number of people who will have their own forum pretty much like this one 🙂

 

[rover]

the only thing I claim here is that for a similar investment one could get a much better "total" camera if the/your bottom line is image quality ...

Quite a subjective statement

 

[rut]

i'm not sure i get "better total camera"...?
lots of photgraphers shoot large format...they certainly don't need matrix metereing, motor drive or "modern" shutter speeds. will an F100 necessarily take a better picture than a Leica...i guess it depends on what you're shooting and what "better" is.
i shoot RF's(Leica), 4x5, 120 SLR's etc....but my Leica is my choice for most of the photography i like to do. as for investment...it seems to be less of a "con" these days with the price of pro-digital.

 

[RObert Budding]

"The Leica, and Contax to a lesser degree, are the original royality of 35mm rangefinder photography."

You should reread your history books. Contax to a lesser degree? Contax was ahead of Leica for a number of years. The integrated rangefinder/ viewfinder that we now take for granted was gracing Contax cameras years before Leica jumped on board. And the Zeiss lenses of the 40's and 50's were fantastic. In fact, the ones that I own still are!

All the same, Leica is a fine camera.

Robert

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Who is going to use a D20 in 2049? How many people still use their 10 year old Kodak DCS200's? Never mind that Kodak does not support them anymore. Leica still supplied parts for my M2! I still use it! But my DCS200 is dead.

I suppose that I am a Nikon Fanatic. I have most Nikon's from the Nikon M Unsync to a D1x. I have used Nikon SLR's for almost 30 years, and RF's for almost 10.

So why do I like the Leica so much? The viewfinder of the M3 is the clearest and easiest to focus on any camera that I have, the shutter is whisper quiet, and the film advance is buttery smooth. I like the look of the '50s lenses. And sometimes, on occasion, I like using my brain and not rely on a computer.

 

[Jarvis]

With large and midformat photography I agree, different sort of photography alltogether. 90% of these users choose image quality over camera size and handling.
35mm image quality and handling are a total different thing, budget-wise and quality wise. What turns out better with a Leica that can't be done with a FM3a or a Bessa, or a Contax G .. and that at a fraction of the price ?

FM3 for instance ... a total camera solution with any add-on lens type for any application ... the difference being that it's an SLR, so what ? Smaller viewfinder ... not a big issue really now is it .. I use a contax G which has a viewfinder smaller than tom or jerry's rectal glands, a hassle .. yeah, in the beginning but you get use to that ... doesn't limit me in taking good pictures.

 

[back alley]

What turns out better with a Leica that can't be done with a FM3a or a Bessa, or a Contax G .. and that at a fraction of the price ?


substitute the camera of choice for leica and the answer for me is...the quality of my shooting experience.

that's what turns out better.

 

[Jarvis]

Who is going to use a D20 in 2049?

Yes agreed, but at a price of a current day 5 MP digital camera ....


(wrong quote, I meant the one on Leica still supplying parts ...)

🙂

 

[Jarvis]

Yeah, shooting experience is important (to some) but subjective ....

 

[Jarvis]

Do you think that people who have to make photos for a living take shooting experience into account ?

 

[Jarvis]

... Mechanical shutters vs Electronic shutters .. and accuracy of time ?