So, what's the best digital alternative when using Leica M lenses?

[Vickko]

So, what's the best digital alternative when using Leica M lenses?

Is it the M9 (lots of money tied up, and soon to slide down the devaluation curve).

M8?

Sony NEX?

Ricoh GXR?

Something else?

I'm thinking in terms of image quality, economy, ease of composing and focusing. I want to be keeping my M lenses.

Vick

 

[krötenblender]

Yes, the M9, it's made for that. Nothing else like it for good M-Lenses.

If you have no problem, using a non-RF, most EVF-cameras will do, they all have good focus-aid-mechanisms. You should try some to see, what type of focus-aid fits you best.

Another camera comes to mind: the R-D1. A real RF, digital and a beauty of a camera.

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

Maybe the Fuji X-pro 1?

 

[ark8012]

I heard lots of good comments on the Fuji X-pro 1 for it's image quality.

 

[jippiejee]

The real thing is still best: leica M8/M9. I didn't like the ergonomics of the other compacts much: they felt light en cheap, not too mention all the 'features' and clown modes. RF focusing is spot on again and again on the Leica M's.

 

[agfa100]

After a M digital I would go with the Ricoh GXR. I did.....
wbill

 

[rhl-oregon]

Vick, I speak as a GXR person who came to it (and the M mount) through the GRDIII. It's the the least expensive 1.5 crop camera body (I got mine with the p10 lensor for $369 new). I depend on the electronic viewfinder, having grown used to EVF on my Lumix G1, and I prefer to compose/shoot without my glasses (I also have diopters on my M4, OM4, and Pen FT). In my case, I have M + LTM (+ OM) adapters for the Lumix, so am not nearly as $$ invested as I would be with an M8.

As many other Ricoh users have testified, the GXR/GRD ergonomics are wonderful for right-handers, and the assistive manual focusing swift (even with the 85/1.9 Serenar I often M-mount on the GXR). The main M/LTM lenses I use on it are the Voigt 15, 25/4, 35/2.5, and Canon 50/1.8; a ZM 50 Planar is arriving later today.

 

[rbelyell]

it seems if money is no object there isnt a real alternative to m9, because its FF and a RF. if neither of those is important, then it seems the best option is the ricoh, as its sensor is optimized for these lenses and it has no AA filter. while the same is true of the m8, that cam requires those ridiculous IR filters be used on all your lenses, it doesnt perform well in low light and its twice as expensive as the ricoh.

of other possibilites, none are optimized for RF lenses, some like the xpro1 and nex7 have a variety of problems utilizing these lenses. because of these issues, imo the onlynother viable alternatives are the OMD or the nex5n. to only shoot M lenses, i'd pick the ricoh hands down.
tony

 

[wjlapier]

I didn't like the focus peaking of the GXR, but I do with the NEX-7. Obviously, if you can afford the M9, that's the way to go. In fact, I've seen the M9 under 5K a few times.

BTW, I'm a new Ricoh convert. Have the GRD IV, and the GXR with the 28/2.5 module.

 

[kzphoto]

When using Leica lenses, I still think the best alternative is the Ricoh GXR-M.

I have handled the X-Pro and I think it's a great camera system, but the camera seems to work best with it's own AF lenses.

The Ricoh GXR-M is designed to work with M glass right out of the box. The handling, use, and size of the system really go well with the smaller M-lenses. The color saturation and depth seems a bit deeper than the X-Pro as well.

Once a raw update has been released for Lightroom I think more people will be able to chime in with a response, but in the mean time, for me, the GXR takes the cake.

 

[huntjump]

M9
M8.2 / u
M8
Followed very closely by the R-D1, would be my list. But I'm sure the x-pro1 can fit somewhere on there, i Just havent used it to say

 

[jsrockit]

Though I have no interest in it, the Nex-5n appears to have many fans for this purpose.

 

[burancap]

Though I have no interest in it, the Nex-5n appears to have fans for this purpose.

I would be one of those fans.

Replaced an M8 with the NEX-5n. Wonderful little device for the $.

BTW, the M8 boomeranged back to me. I enjoy using it, but the Sony is hard not to grab on the way out the door.

 

[Pastor Chris]

The real thing is still best: leica M8/M9. I didn't like the ergonomics of the other compacts much: they felt light en cheap, not too mention all the 'features' and clown modes. RF focusing is spot on again and again on the Leica M's.

"Clown modes" I like that.

 

[MCTuomey]

if you want an optical viewfinder and best performance from M-lenses, then it's most likely an M9/M8/RD1, all of which are becoming more affordable.

But geez those sony and ricoh gxr-m sensors kick some a$$ ...

 

[ray*j*gun]

Would all these suggestions apply to LTM lenses with an M adapter?

 

[gilpen123]

RD1 no doubt.

 

[Roger Hicks]

M9. No real contest.

Cheers,

R.

 

[JMQ]

+3 on the M9. Just wait until after May 10, and and you MAY see a price adjustment.

 

[cincyMAT]

Another vote for the NEX 5n here. It's not a Leica M8 or M9, but it's very interesting just the same.