Why do we persist with the M cameras?

S

sc_rufctr

Leica nuts
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So there I am loading film into a truly vintage camera... Doing everything manually and loving it.
Little light meter in hand with a stupid grin on my face.

So why do we do it?

There are so many really good modern digital cameras out there.
Affordable and reliable with the most diverse features and yet non of them are desirable to me.

So I love my Ms. My M4-P does the most work right now but the M3 gets some good usage as well. Maybe 3 rolls to 1 respectively.

At the end of the day they get a wipe over and placed back in the cabinet ready for another day.
One thing that I really appreciate about our "old" cameras is that there here for the long haul. Well built and most importantly repairable when needed.

Enjoy!
 
Because there aren't many good cameras out there.
The new digital cameras are all junk. Even the fujis are nothing but recycled supermarket plastic bags, if you ask me.

And of all the good cameras (nikon S, Nikon F, olympus...), the M is simlmy the most refined in the most important ways. The human connection Holding a nice mechanical device is as strong as the connection that a human has while holding a Chicken Drumstick. There is something about life itself into it.

I would venture to say that the Nikon S are even sexier and better in some aspects, however theybare far less intuitive as soon as you lok through the VF. The Ms are simply perfected in so many little aspects.
 
sc_rufctr said:
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So why do we do it?
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You implicitly ask about film M cameras, by asking why we don´t use all the "many really good modern digital cameras out there".

We use film Ms for all kind of reasons I gather. You mention some yourself. Some of my reasons are:
# My first rangefinder (Konica Hexar RF) made me feel like coming home. The next (Leica MP) enhanced that feeling.
# I don´t trust digital media as much as film.
# I feel confident that I can have my MP maintained and repaired decades into the future.
# So far, I haven´t been able to afford a digital M and furthermore, only with the latest (M type 240), are they beginning to resemble the camera that would make me invest in a digital M.
 
"The human connection Holding a nice mechanical device is as strong as the connection that a human has while holding a Chicken Drumstick. There is something about life itself into it."

This made me smile this morning. Thanks Troy!

I've longed for a Leica M body for a several years, but so far my R3a has kept me pretty happy. I'm hoping 2013 will be my M2 year - very much because of what Troy has stated above.
 
I'm a recent convert, but there are numerous reasons why I choose to shoot a vintage M. First off is the simple fact that I appreciate the simplicity of operation of the camera. I have never used a camera that is this intuitive before, and it's refreshing. Everything just works and feels incredibly solid.

Similarly, I have owned many digital cameras, and with only two exceptions, none of them have ever offered the gestalt that I appreciate in a camera. The two exceptions are the Fuji X100 and X-Pro1, both of which, while not perfect, begin to approach what I need from a camera. I assume the M9 is similar in this regard, but alas I will not pay that much money for a camera that is, at the end of the day, a disposable object with a finite (and short) lifespan.

Finally, I enjoy shooting film.

The older I get (and I'm only 34, to be fair), and the more I shoot, the more I realize that the experience of photography is as important as the end product. I take photographs not only because I want to make nice images, but because I enjoy the process. And photography is really the first thing in my non-professional life where I valued to process as much as the output. To that end, shooting with a vintage M is a process I very much enjoy.
 
IMO:
The more effort and input (hands-on) one has in a process, the more satisfaction one can obtain from the results.

This is why I persist with manual cameras, film, and the wet darkroom. Lots of satisfaction there for me.
 
Because its hard. I use digital for 80% of what i shoot because its easy in many ways. But film is hard to me and i want to do it when i get the 2 maybe 3 good pictures out of a roll u know the one that needs no post processing, then i feel like ive accomplished something.
 
FrankS said:
IMO:
The more effort and input (hands-on) one has in a process, the more satisfaction one can obtain from the results.
Click to expand...
Nicely said: Yesterday was a very stressful day in the morning (a combination of things) I took the afternoon off and went and sat under a beautiful wooded pagoda at the beach (82 degrees). I shoot 2 rolls (36 exp) with my M3 of all the interesting folks out and about. When I left I was totally stress free (Ok, the ocean air and sun helped)
:cool:
 
Clint Troy said:
Because there aren't many good cameras out there.
The new digital cameras are all junk. Even the fujis are nothing but recycled supermarket plastic bags, if you ask me.

And of all the good cameras (nikon S, Nikon F, olympus...), the M is simlmy the most refined in the most important ways. The human connection Holding a nice mechanical device is as strong as the connection that a human has while holding a Chicken Drumstick. There is something about life itself into it.

I would venture to say that the Nikon S are even sexier and better in some aspects, however theybare far less intuitive as soon as you lok through the VF. The Ms are simply perfected in so many little aspects.
Click to expand...

I'm going to agree with this.

I won't go so far as to say all digital cameras are junk, but I will say that I am tired of reading about better technology this, better technology that. Who gets to say what is a better technology? Of course, manufacturers, that's who.

What exactly is it about $7000 worth of Leica, Nikon or Canon that makes it the better camera than my Zeiss Ikonta III? Resolution of images? Probably not. Colour? Debatable. Convenience? Well, to get the images, yes, but portability? No.

As it happens I have not persisted with M cameras, I have a IIIf as my only Leica, and the rest of my cameras are medium format. Why I persist is that I much prefer the experience. If my reasons were for technical image quality, combined with ease of use, then I'd still use medium format.

There is of course the engineering principle of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) that basically says that it's best to keep an engineering solution as simple as possible. Film cameras are of course a lot simpler than digital, and therefore, to me, the superior engineering solution.
 
Why do we persist with the M cameras ?

Easy.

Because we who own them treasure them and love to use them constantly - the M2, M3, MDa and several of the Barnacks in my case.

No other manufacturer of 35mm rangefinder film cameras has ever matched the qualities of the Leica - its simplicity, its ease of servicing and repair, its reliability and longevity, its sheer mechanical beauty.

And on top of all that, they enable you to take bloody good photographs... !
 
dabick42 said:
No other manufacturer of 35mm rangefinder film cameras has ever matched the qualities of the Leica - its simplicity, its ease of servicing and repair, its reliability and longevity, its sheer mechanical beauty.
Click to expand...


Until I bought one none of that mattered. Now it matters. Film bodies are more affordable now more than ever. No excuse not to drink the KoolAid if you are an RF fan these days.
 
I think Fuji deserves some credit for being able to convert "recycled supermarket plastic bags" into a full body made from magnesium alloy.
 
Clint Troy said:
Because there aren't many good cameras out there.
The new digital cameras are all junk. Even the fujis are nothing but recycled supermarket plastic bags, if you ask me.

And of all the good cameras (nikon S, Nikon F, olympus...), the M is simlmy the most refined in the most important ways. The human connection Holding a nice mechanical device is as strong as the connection that a human has while holding a Chicken Drumstick. There is something about life itself into it.

I would venture to say that the Nikon S are even sexier and better in some aspects, however theybare far less intuitive as soon as you lok through the VF. The Ms are simply perfected in so many little aspects.
Click to expand...

do you go out of your way to be an ass...rude and insensitive. are you 12 years old or something?

joe
 
I no longer use film, but if I did, I would use a M. To me, it is just the pinnacle of design, simplicity, ergonomics, materials, and I love the smallish lenses with short focus throws. Ms just feel right. I guess it's why I can't bring myself to stop using my M8 despite having more modern cameras.
 
Why do we? That's actually a good question because I recently never regretted having a fast digital camera to get the work done but I did regret to get my M sometimes. I still find that I work better with the restriction of using few primes, so I avoid zooms whenever possible, but that's me and has nothing to do with the M. Despite all this I still use my M, getting almost always worst results except for the bokeh, sharpness, large print scrutiny which nobody cares for when looking at a picture except the photographer who got it and those who lust a better lens but cannot afford it. I guess that sometimes handling a nice object has its fascination. After all I wear a mechanical watch most of the days despite the fact that my radio controlled quartz is a few thousand times more precise, lighter and more resistant.

GLF
 
I sincerely apologize to whom I may have hurt with my comments in regards to digital cameras and the digital culture. I didn't realize that some people could be hurt.
At the same time, this is a M cameras forum so my comment was still in the right place.
 
Clint Troy said:
Joe, rude towards a camera? Rude towards fuji?
Does my comment really necessitate moderation or censoring??
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rude to other members here who have digital cameras and enjoy them, having paid out their hard earned cash to buy them.
you don't have to agree with or like digital but some common courtesy would be nice.
read the rff rules...we like harmony here...
 
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