Why did you decide NOT to buy a digital Leica M?

[Skiff]

Why did you decide NOT to buy a digital Leica M?

Because:
1. The price-performance ratio is too bad. Too much money for a camera with a quite limited (in comparison to a film M) life span.
A film M can be used for several decades, for the rest of your life.
That isn't the case with the digital Ms.

Considering that you can use a film M for 50, 60 or more years (and even your children will probably be able to use them), even a brand new film M is one of the cheapest cameras with the best value you can get (same is valid e.g. for a brand new Nikon F6, Rolleiflex, Voigtländer Bessa III).

2. After some years with a focus in digital imaging, I am now returning more and more back to film.

3. If I buy a Leica M ( I am tempted 😉), it will probably be a brand new M7.

 

[jaapv]

4) other reason ... [explain]
I do not trust in Leica's competence in producing high quality electronic products. An R-Leica of any age will most probably be faulty (I have tried 5 so far, all being junk). They weren't even able to implement a DX readout properly, decades after invention. And the DX coding is certainly not high sophisticated technology.

You have a big problem leaving your house then. The M8 and M9 electronics were designed in conjunction with Jenoptik, who are a big player in military design, avionics and road safety systems...🙄😀

 

[VertovSvilova]

You have a big problem leaving your house then. The M8 and M9 electronics were designed in conjunction with Jenoptik, who are a big player in military design, avionics and road safety systems...🙄😀

A classic non sequitur...🙄😀

But nonetheless, a 'big player' in certain arenas doesn't always equate to doing it right in other segments when contracting out services (i.e., digital camera electronics for Leica AG.) And anyway, the M8 and M9 have had electronic issues to where extolling the Jenoptik and Leica AG relationship doesn't really make all that much sense.

 

[jamais]

You have a big problem leaving your house then. The M8 and M9 electronics were designed in conjunction with Jenoptik, who are a big player in military design, avionics and road safety systems...🙄😀

No, I have really no problems leaving my house. I trust in a good implementation of any part in the products you have mentioned😉

 

[Rodchenko]

"Is that Mt. Kilimanjaro sticking up into the jet stream? I did not know it was so high."

"No, it is Godfrey's nose. Apparently he is dreaming so it is pointed straight up."

"I think some friends of mine are actually planning to climb it...."

"Oh dear...tell them to be really careful. I have heard it is very avalanche prone due to the snowpack being comprised of mostly Koolaid."

"OK, I will pass it on. It kind of looks like Mt. Fuji come to think of it."

"Yeah....don't say that to the climbers...they won't Leica it one bit."

Oh dear. I am reminded of Duane Michals. 😀

 

[JChrome]

I don't think I'll ever buy a Leica (digital or film), unless I find a tree that grows money.

Why shoot 35mm with a ridiculously expensive camera when there are medium format options that are so amazing and inexpensive?

 

[mfunnell]

I voted "other" rather than "it is too expensive" because, while it was cost that kept me away from digital Leicas, it was not that the cameras themselves are too expensive - though they are very expensive compared to other cameras of superficially similar or "better" specification. It was that although I could have afforded one, at a stretch, I had other things I preferred to use the money for - including keeping it in the bank at a time when I had considerable employment uncertainty (and repeated periods of unemployment) and felt I needed the buffer more than I wanted a digital Leica (and I did want one, rather a lot).

I kept looking, and kept wanting, and kept deciding not to buy because I felt I had better things to do with the funds. Then, when my circumstances changed, I did buy one. I think I made the right decisions under the differing conditions.

...Mike

 

[jaapv]

I don't think I'll ever buy a Leica (digital or film), unless I find a tree that grows money.

Why shoot 35mm with a ridiculously expensive camera when there are medium format options that are so amazing and inexpensive?

Tried that, too cumbersome. The Leica M has been my everyday and travel camera for a long time, supplemented with an R system ( and Canon whilst waiting for Leica to go digital DMR after that.) for wildlife.
Actually I even took a Mamiya 645 on safari (with 500 mm lens and TEX)- once and never again...
Now I can take just the M240 as a single system and a small Sony backup for travel; it all fits into the smallest Lowepro Sling backpack - and the M240, M9 and MM as triple camera system that can handle anything I want or need. Life has never been better 🙂 🙂:angel:

BTW, I handled the Leica S - beautiful camera, superb results - but you need a donkey to carry your gear....

 

[kossi008]

A combination of answers 1,2, and 4:
For what I do with digital, a digital M is way too expensive. Even a used M8...

 

[jsrockit]

BTW, I handled the Leica S - beautiful camera, superb results - but you need a donkey to carry your gear....

The ultimate Leica accessory.

 

[kuuan]

Why did you decide NOT to buy a digital Leica M?

by way of exclusion, never considered to buy one. main reason is the high cost, secondly the exclusivity, also anxieties, that come with it.

 

[jaapv]

The ultimate Leica accessory.

Yep - you just need to tape up the red dot on its behind....

 

[apostasiometritis]

You have a big problem leaving your house then. The M8 and M9 electronics were designed in conjunction with Jenoptik, who are a big player in military design, avionics and road safety systems...🙄😀

I am sorry but everyone is judged by the result of their efforts. In the case of digital Ms reliability has not been exactly stellar. I do own an M8, the only connection to anything military is the shutter sound. Reminds me of my HK G3's breech sound back in the day.

 

[gustavoAvila]

I would love to buy a digital M!

However, I also want it to be the same size as my M4 and as reliable as the average Canikon.

In any case, my immediate needs are very adequately addressed by current offerings from other manufacturers.

 

[trondareo]

No point in buying a digital M when I use a X-E1 and an M3, both with M lenses.

 

[Baby of Macon]

I gave up on the digital Ms because the combined system price of the camera and glass was just too much when taking the lack of versatility into account. I also didn't like the change in form factor post M8. I decided that if I was going to have to handle bulk, it might as well be ergonomically shaped bulk (e.g Nikon D3).

 

[Lss]

However, I also want it to be the same size as my M4 and as reliable as the average Canikon.

The Canon EOS system is not a great example of reliability in my experience. I have nothing bad to say about Nikon, having never owned one.

 

[jaapv]

I gave up on the digital Ms because the combined system price of the camera and glass was just too much when taking the lack of versatility into account. I also didn't like the change in form factor post M8. I decided that if I was going to have to handle bulk, it might as well be ergonomically shaped bulk (e.g Nikon D3).

😕The M8,M9 MM and Mtyp240 are all the same size....🙄

 

[traveler_101]

I don't think I'll ever buy a Leica (digital or film), unless I find a tree that grows money.

Why shoot 35mm with a ridiculously expensive camera when there are medium format options that are so amazing and inexpensive?

Such as what? It's an interesting point and I am curious. We recently had a post on RFF stating flatly that 35mm is more reasonable than medium format.

 

[KM-25]

We recently had a post on RFF stating flatly that 35mm is more reasonable than medium format.

Link? My Mamiya 6 is no Leica M but packed with all three lenses in a 803 satchel it plays real nice with my M3/50 in the other slot.

In the darkroom, medium format is leagues ahead of 35mm in so many ways....