What's so fantastic 'bout Leica M?

J

jacema

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Last week I bought an M2 - HNNN!
It's in OK condition - a little scratched and it'll probably get much more scratched and bruised and dinged - that's OK - it's only a camera, not the Holy Grail.
It's not big so you can always have it with you - but that goes for all 35mm rangefinders.
It's got a totally ridiculuos rewind knob.
The myth says that it's whisper quiet - compared to what? A Nikon F2 w/MD1? Sure all other cameras a extremely quiet compared to such a one. Compared to a Fed2 or a Yashica GS? No they are just as quiet, and in fact it's rather noisy compared to a Rolleiflex TLR. BTW rubberished silk burns really good.

Why did I buy it? Because I could afford it!
(Everybody can't - Leica M's are for rich amateurs - there is a bit of show off to it - you can brag about your wealth.)
And the M2 (or M4 or M5 or M6) shows the field of the 35mm lens in the viewfinder, so it is possible for me to get some kind of idea what'll be included in the picture when I use my Jupiter12 - that's nice.

That's about it.

It's a good camera but not the greatest camera in the world - it's not particularly good when it comes to astro-, macro-, bird- or wildlifephotography.

So even I've got one I'm not gonna join the religious cult - I'm just gonna use it.
Should it be stolen, well then I call my insurance company - I could paint it orange or purple then no one would steal it - - - maybe I'll do it - why not?

It's just a camera.

Jacques.
 
It is just a camera, true...however the more you use it, the more it will grow on you. It has a feel of a fine instrument, and in general for many photographers the ergonomics are almost perfect. The loading and rewinding issues were fairly well delt with starting with the M4.

It IS one of the quietest cameras made with interchangeable lenses. Normally quieter than a Fed.

But....no camera makes a picture, it is the photographer that makes a picture, and I have photos in my gallery made with horrible cameras, which I consider a challenge to use. That is the fun, to make a wonderful image IN SPITE OF the equipment.

I also have and use Leica cameras, and love them.
 
I agree, the whisper quiet thing is vastly exaggerrated. When I need utter silence, I'd prefer digital over anything, even leaf shutters, which still carry in anything but a very large room or outdoors.

Rangefinders are good for people photography, or anything you'd scale/zone/hyperfocal focus for. It's also pretty good for wide field astrophotography, actually. Very bright viewfinder and all that.

But it ain't no SLR, that's for sure. SLRs aren't rangefinders, either. No...my ultimate camera will be a digicam with an RF style viewfinder. I've yacked on about that before, so I won't go into details. :)
 
No reason why an M2 couldn't be used well for astrophotography. Especially mounted piggyback on a scope, the fact that the shutter is not electric would be to its advantage. Mount a 35 or a 50 on it, f/8 for a 10-15 minute exposure, and you would have fine images of star fields or whatever you choose to shoot.
Try it!
Regards,
KZ
Member, Texas Astronomical Society
 
Leica as universal camera.

Leica as universal camera.

Krasnaya_Zvezda said:
No reason why an M2 couldn't be used well for astrophotography. Especially mounted piggyback on a scope, the fact that the shutter is not electric would be to its advantage. Mount a 35 or a 50 on it, f/8 for a 10-15 minute exposure, and you would have fine images of star fields or whatever you choose to shoot.
Try it!
Regards,
KZ
Member, Texas Astronomical Society
Click to expand...

You are absolutely right. And other unique applications should be easy for a Leica "M" if you take into consideration all the accessories made for the "M" system over the years, including the Visoflex reflex attachment, and bellows and short mount lenses for use on the Visoflex. then there is the Dual Range Summicron, and the close up gear, and motor drives, and Leicavit stuff and gosh it is almost endless.
 
All those noisy M cameras are so overrated; you should not endure such hype. I'll send the FedEx guy to go and pick them up. Just let me know where to send him! ;)
 
congrats on the M2, not really sure how to read your opinions on it though, almost sounds like you are trolling for a response.
Are you angry with yourself for buying a crappy old leica? Did you buy it sight unseen? Did you try the rewind knob before you bought it, sounds like you got a raw deal....send it to me! :)

You are correct in saying it's "a good camera but not the greatest camera in the world - it's not particularly good when it comes to astro-, macro-, bird- or wildlifephotography", did you honestly think you were going to shoot wildlife with it or count the rings of Saturn?

"So even I've got one I'm not gonna join the religious cult - I'm just gonna use it."
come on man...drink the koolaid!

"I could paint it orange or purple then no one would steal it - - - maybe I'll do it - why not?"
You could also paint titties on it and call it Melba, so what!

"It's just a camera."
Yes it is just a camera, I hope you grow fonder of it as you use it, lets see some pics soon eh?

Most of us here are users, not collectors nor cultish about our cameras....unless you consider fondling my nooky hesum and irooa a cultish act :D.

Ease up man, were a fun crowd, welcome to the RFF!

Todd
 
cp_ste-croix said:
ok i actually laughed out loud for that one.
Click to expand...

So did I... :D

And sorry Jacques, but it does sound like trolling. You won't get a bite here, though.
 
jacema said:
Why did I buy it? Because I could afford it!
(Everybody can't - Leica M's are for rich amateurs - there is a bit of show off to it - you can brag about your wealth.)
Click to expand...

We all have our reasons. Often, that determines the derived satisfaction and happiness.

Welcome, Jacques.
 
RayPA said:
And sorry Jacques, but it does sound like trolling. You won't get a bite here, though.
Click to expand...

BTW, anyone have good shots from the opening of the fishing season? ;)
 
i had a leica years ago, nice camera it was. i'm not rich now wasn't rich then either.
cameras are tools that sometimes get put on altars by people who prefer stats and mtf charts and maybe like to show off a bit or feel like they belong, somewhere.

i like the canon p camera myself. i like the feel of it. i have on occasion, when the weather was lousy and no one was looking, fondled it too. like i said it feels good in the hand.

some would have you believe that the tool equals the talent. hogwash!
some people drive very expensive cars...badly.

if you are looking for an argument try the forum down the road. i hear it's very exciting there with lots of opinionated people who do not bleat.

joe
 
I've been using Leicas for about 35 years. They aren't perfect, but they are very good: compact and with some of the best lenses in the world. Like you, I have quieter cameras, and Ms aren't as reliable as my old Nikon Fs. Mine all show signs of real use, because that's what they get. I'm told by Leica themselves that about half their customers treat their Leicas like holy relics and the other half just use them.

Personally I'm very grateful to the 'religious' faction because they help keep Leicas in production: if it were down to users, many of whom are notorious tightwads (I do not exclude myself), they probably wouldn't sell enough Leicas to stay in business.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com -- and Photo School is now up and running)
 
I bought the M2 in a shop - paid $600 and there is a 2 year warranty. I don't think that's a raw deal. The glass in the viewfinder is clear and the mechanism/shutter functions - so the important parts are in excellent conditions - and to me it's an advantage that the outside is a bit scratched and dinged -it doesn't look like it's an very expensive camera - I won't get mugged.

Todd it was an interesting suggestion - paint titties on it and call it Melba - but NO!
And to those of you who did suggest that I should send it to you, I'm sorry I think I'm gonna keep it.

I knew that I could say those things here - BUT we all know that there are other places on the net where I would have been hunted down and crucified for even thinking something negative about Leica's.

Another thing is that I like old used cameras with patina - they have got character and what did they see and shot during the years .... Melba is from '58 so she's seen a lot!

BTW some of those Leica things you can get, haven't they got rather peculiar names - booze, geese, farts, ooops, zzzyx etc.

Thanx for the welcome - now I'm gonna go out and shoot with my Leica.


Jacques.
 
Heeeeey! What's wrong with a pink Leica?! Or a gold one for that matter?!
 
I have suffered, SUFFERED through ownership of a black paint Leica M-2 since 1971. . . Worse, I compounded my first error by equipping it with Canon glass (35 F:1.5, 50 F:1.2 , 100 F:2.0) Worst of all - I inherited my father's 20mm F:4 Zeiss Biogon fitted with an M- adapter . . . what a DOG!

Seriously. If it seems noisy - it might need a good CLA.

The rewind knob . . . really IS ridiculous.

I LOVE my "shooter" M-2 and will never willingly part with it.

For shooting available light discretely - nothing beats an "M." We rule the night.

Paul C. Perkins
Ohio

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=476664
 
More accurately " share the night with the 50/1.5 Sonnar and Contax IIa :)

I've shot with that combination too. . . but not since 1968. My brother has one. Utterly amazing piece of glass.

Paul C. Perkins
 
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