rpavich
Established
Wow...she's a keeper!
daveleo
what?
"Rational" ? . . . . I think probably 25% of my photographic purchases you would call rational. Maybe 10% !
Some things you just do and write them off as life's little adventures.
You don't want to die and look back and say ..... "I should have bought one of those years ago".
Some things you just do and write them off as life's little adventures.
You don't want to die and look back and say ..... "I should have bought one of those years ago".
B-9
Devin Bro
I couldn't pin it Rob, everytime I looked at the RD, it felt like something was missing.
Although the RD is a pleasure to hold and use!
It may be that the Epson looks so much like a Bessa R, you feel a little cheap (although cheap is not exactly a RF word)
Although the RD is a pleasure to hold and use!
It may be that the Epson looks so much like a Bessa R, you feel a little cheap (although cheap is not exactly a RF word)
rpavich
Established
I know..it's like when I played guitar.
Gibson is the top-o-the-heap in the Guitar world (electric guitar)
I always salivated for one, and have bought literally HUNDREDS of others that were worse, the same, or much better....
But the problem is when someone says: "oh...I see you play guitar...what i's that...a Gibson Les Paul?"
You have to say: "...no...it's not a Gibson..."
and they say "...oh....(with this look on their face like you just farted)
And as they are walking away you must say "...but it's better than a Les Paul! You aren't paying for the name..."
But they are already gone....
Michael Markey
Veteran
Yep so did I .. but then I don`t appreciate the dilemma because I never did care for the design of the RD.
Lss
Well-known
It's not the name, it's the camera. Anything better is considerably more expensive.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
I agree. The M8 is a bargain IMO and really a fine camera that does B&W better than damn near anything digital.
Also, however I do confess to the lust of the Barnack version of the magic. I own too many and am always on the lookout for another must have LTM Leica.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
My Leica M4 has no magnets.
Phil Forrest
Phil Forrest
Ronald M
Veteran
Leicas were cool. Much of the cachet is gone with digital as other cameras have similar to equal imaging.
They used to be quiet and reliable. They tend to be neither now. They are fattened up for sensors so the nice feel is gone. The electronics is garbage compared to my Nikons.
There be diehards who will buy an M because that is what we always used. I have an M8 and 9P.
I used to use film Pentaxes and switched to Leicas because of the image quality. They are definitely not the same. With digital the gap is considerably more narrow.
They are nice to carry as they are small.
They used to be quiet and reliable. They tend to be neither now. They are fattened up for sensors so the nice feel is gone. The electronics is garbage compared to my Nikons.
There be diehards who will buy an M because that is what we always used. I have an M8 and 9P.
I used to use film Pentaxes and switched to Leicas because of the image quality. They are definitely not the same. With digital the gap is considerably more narrow.
They are nice to carry as they are small.
Michael Markey
Veteran
I think that's a good summary.
Digital has certainly narrowed the gap and confused the issues too I'm minded.
aizan
Veteran
- they're well made and designed.
- a lot of great photographers have used them to do their work, so buying a leica means you have the equipment to do great work, too.
- they are a sign of wealth and taste.
- a lot of great photographers have used them to do their work, so buying a leica means you have the equipment to do great work, too.
- they are a sign of wealth and taste.
uhoh7
Veteran
Sounds more like a rare burst of logical thinking :bang:
The M8 is worlds above the perfectly nice RD1x, and both versions are among the best cameras in the world today, in the right hands.
M8 will never be a classic because of some loud film snobs who have never gotten over the initial shock of a digital Leica, and more important the crop. OK the need for external filters was a bit much LOL Funny enough, the slight crop makes the camera sensational with lenses like the elmarit v3, which the M9 hates.
This is to everyone's benefit as the camera is now a true steal.
giganova
Well-known
They invented the 35mm format and have been making high-precision mechanical/optical cameras for ~100 years. Many people simply appreciate these little mechanical masterpieces -- especially in this fast-paced digital throwaway culture we all live in. The high price points gives them the aura of exclusivity, which makes people who own them feel more "special".
dee
Well-known
I bought my M8 with an inheritance simply because I wanted a digital ANALOGUE vintage style camera !
I use it with a 1950s Summitar and adapted to a Contax Mounted 1959 J3 gifted by Brian Sweeney .
There is nothing remotely rational about this - rational was buying a Minolta XD7 with the excellent 50 f1.4 rather than the sexy Leica version.
I use it with a 1950s Summitar and adapted to a Contax Mounted 1959 J3 gifted by Brian Sweeney .
There is nothing remotely rational about this - rational was buying a Minolta XD7 with the excellent 50 f1.4 rather than the sexy Leica version.
mdarnton
Well-known
I'll be honest about it: for me it's the dorky early-1900s aspect of the system. Who else, until the last wave of stuff in the 90s or so, had a "system" where all the lenses looked totally different from each other and looked like they came out of someone's basement machine shop, for instance. When I started adding a lot of Nikon SLR stuff I started keeping my lenses in baggies, because I couldn't identify which lens I was reaching for by touch anymore as I could with my Leica stuff, which I kept in the cut and seamed-off tops of old socks. There's a certain charm to a system where you can look at the evolution as you can see the additions on an old farmhouse, and Leica is the last camera with that look, still.
As far as function goes, I don't care much. Give me something that feels good in the hand and has the basics of lens opening/shutter speed/focus/film, and I'm happy.
As far as function goes, I don't care much. Give me something that feels good in the hand and has the basics of lens opening/shutter speed/focus/film, and I'm happy.
Out to Lunch
Ventor
As a rangefinder user, the analogue Leica's are not my favorite: they are heavy; you can't see the ISO of your film on the camera; exposure compensation is a joke; bottom feeding film is a headache. The digital M-E produces good results but in comparison of the Epson R-D1X, it fails....the Epson produces many more keepers in ''AE'' mode than the Leica does.
MCTuomey
Veteran
and they're sexy as a camera can be
Buy an M8. Add a ZM biogon 28 and c-sonnar 50. The James Brown of Leica kits.
Range-rover
Veteran
I purchased one a few month a lovely M8 and I think it's terrific, all they did
was take a M7 and stick a digital back on it, and every time I go out and take
pictures with it, it's It's like a different photo experience less in the way of
taking that picture.
was take a M7 and stick a digital back on it, and every time I go out and take
pictures with it, it's It's like a different photo experience less in the way of
taking that picture.
tennjed
Newbie
I just purchased a 56 year old M2 that is in great shape. I do not know if it has had a recent CLA, but it feels and operates as though it is going to operate for another 50 years. My 50+ year old M3 is off for CLA. I expect it will be as nice as the M2 when I finally get it back. My grandchildren will be able to ponder this very same question, i.e. Leica mystique, as they fondle these very same cameras.
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I can shoot very fast with M rangefinders. I can compose, focus and shoot faster than anything else. With AF SLR I have to worry about focus points. I don't know why others choose Leica but for street there is no better alternative....for me.
Where are the magnets? Are they to keep film flat?
Where are the magnets? Are they to keep film flat?