michaelwj
----------------
Through my (relatively short) involvement with rangefinders and Leica specifically, it has occurred to me that there are two general and quite different groups of people.
1. Optics. These people hold the glass (especially Leica) above all else, and will quite happily do anything to get the best glass on the best sensor. Using M-mount lenses on an A7 body is the most obvious, but I suppose carrying around a Zeiss Otus is another (that thing is huge!). They'll put up with a lot of quirks, bad ergonomics, and clunky operations to get the best glass working.
2. Body. These people hold the handling of the body (and the whole combination) above the ultimate image quality. Not to say that image quality isn't important, far from it, it's just that the whole experience matters more. This group is more likely to use native lenses on a mirrorless system because they work better, rather than use adapters., and use a Leica body for their Leica glass because they values the rangefinder experience just as much as the images provided.
So, which are you?
Cheers,
Michael
1. Optics. These people hold the glass (especially Leica) above all else, and will quite happily do anything to get the best glass on the best sensor. Using M-mount lenses on an A7 body is the most obvious, but I suppose carrying around a Zeiss Otus is another (that thing is huge!). They'll put up with a lot of quirks, bad ergonomics, and clunky operations to get the best glass working.
2. Body. These people hold the handling of the body (and the whole combination) above the ultimate image quality. Not to say that image quality isn't important, far from it, it's just that the whole experience matters more. This group is more likely to use native lenses on a mirrorless system because they work better, rather than use adapters., and use a Leica body for their Leica glass because they values the rangefinder experience just as much as the images provided.
So, which are you?
Cheers,
Michael
YYV_146
Well-known
To me the A7 body (with half case) is much more preferable than any DSLR. Whatever ergonomic advantage of a DSLR is more than cancelled out by its weight. Same with digital M bodies. They need either a grip or a thumbie to be comfortably use. The M240 is also only marginally lighter than a 6D, and a bit heavier with the Leica half grip.
Different people prefer different handling, just saying...
Different people prefer different handling, just saying...
Corran
Well-known
Both........
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Yes, my M4-2 is mirrorless. And I use lens adapter for Leica lens.
I'm RF guy. Lens, body and mind
Hugs, no kisses,
Ko.
I'm RF guy. Lens, body and mind
Hugs, no kisses,
Ko.
kxl
Social Documentary
It's both... and more. It's also about the right tool for the right use and the preferred experience.
1) I use my ZI and ZM lenses for for some things. With the Leicagoodies Sling, it seems ike a natural extension of my hand and allows me to compose and shoot quickly.
2) I use my A7R for other things. With the grip and the FE 55/1.8, it is an AF shooting machine.
3) This week and next, I am in South Florida. Since I expect to use a tele especially in the Everglades, I brought my DSLR. Yes, it's bulky and heavy, but I'll be shooting birds and gators and need reach.
1) I use my ZI and ZM lenses for for some things. With the Leicagoodies Sling, it seems ike a natural extension of my hand and allows me to compose and shoot quickly.
2) I use my A7R for other things. With the grip and the FE 55/1.8, it is an AF shooting machine.
3) This week and next, I am in South Florida. Since I expect to use a tele especially in the Everglades, I brought my DSLR. Yes, it's bulky and heavy, but I'll be shooting birds and gators and need reach.
Darshan
Well-known
I am a combination of both.
Vics
Veteran
It's the optics for me every time. That's what the picture is made of.
Pioneer
Veteran
I have never been able to figure out how to get a photograph with just the lens. I always need a box between the lens and the film. However, I have managed to take lots of photographs with just the box, some film and a really, really, tiny, little hole.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Both and neither. The A7 is not necessarily the best sensor for Leica M-mount lenses, but it's sensor works very well with a lot of my SLR lenses. And it's kind of clunky overall, but has a good viewfinder.
The M9 and its siblings are slick to use and work better with more M-mount lenses. And if you want a rangefinder that is also a digital camera, they're the only game in town.
And there's something about pinhole, toy camera lenses, Polaroids, etc, that ring the right bells for me too.
There are more different cameras than I can remember around the condo. Each has its charm, its capabilities, and its use.
So... Both and neither. It's the photos that turn me on most.
G
The M9 and its siblings are slick to use and work better with more M-mount lenses. And if you want a rangefinder that is also a digital camera, they're the only game in town.
And there's something about pinhole, toy camera lenses, Polaroids, etc, that ring the right bells for me too.
There are more different cameras than I can remember around the condo. Each has its charm, its capabilities, and its use.
So... Both and neither. It's the photos that turn me on most.
G
Chris Bail
Regular Guy
I voted optics, but really it's both.
I want a body that's easy to handle and good glass on the front of it...in terms of my Leica RF's, that doesn't necessarily mean Leica lenses. I have some Leica lenses and love them, but I also enjoy my Canon RF lenses in LTM, adapted Millennium Nikkor 50, M-Rokkor 40 and 50, etc, etc.
I want a body that's easy to handle and good glass on the front of it...in terms of my Leica RF's, that doesn't necessarily mean Leica lenses. I have some Leica lenses and love them, but I also enjoy my Canon RF lenses in LTM, adapted Millennium Nikkor 50, M-Rokkor 40 and 50, etc, etc.
randolph45
Well-known
I have never been able to figure out how to get a photograph with just the lens. I always need a box between the lens and the film. However, I have managed to take lots of photographs with just the box, some film and a really, really, tiny, little hole.
My kinda guy
michaelwj
----------------
These sum up my feelings, so I voted body. Without a body that I feel comfortable with I don't enjoy the process and my images suffer.
It took me 5 years to work that out of course...
Cheers,
Michael
Tijmendal
Young photog
Optics are important of course, but for me, the body is much more important. If I don't connect with a camera, no matter how cheap or expensive but with great optics, I can't shoot with it. Some camera's just don't feel right.
pvdhaar
Peter
Handling.. so I voted body. There's no point in having a top notch lens on a camera that's an ergonomic nightmare. Been there, done that, collects dust in a closet.
Pete B
Well-known
I voted body, too, for the previous 3 posts' reasons.
Pete
Pete
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
I love bodies but i need my optics to admire them properly.
jmilkins
Digited User
I have a bit of choice in optics and bodies and am prone to mix n match. In the end I voted body because I'm coming to the conclusion that photography for me has a strong physical element.
I'm not as interested in ultimate resolution or sharpness as I am in story, told through a character (the lens) and a writing instrument that helps me to flow (the body).
Though in the end I seem to have trouble developing or printing the story I imagined.
I'm not as interested in ultimate resolution or sharpness as I am in story, told through a character (the lens) and a writing instrument that helps me to flow (the body).
Though in the end I seem to have trouble developing or printing the story I imagined.
daveleo
what?
For me, the handling experience is #1, so I voted "body".
You can get most lenses to work on most cameras.
You can get most lenses to work on most cameras.
oltimer
Well-known
For me in Wildlife photography; it's the optics as 1st priority. I can always get an adapter to fit the various high speed camera bodies for a second or third shot.
mike rosenlof
Insufficient information
I do love old mechanical things. For me there is a certain amount of joy that I get from using a nice camera body, and I've got too many of them. But the lens is vastly more important for the actual photograph.