Why do we persist with the M cameras?

@ jsrockit ...

Thanks for the smiley faces, js.

Just trying to inject a little levity into a fraught situation before bloodshed breaks out amongst the brotherhood... !
 
The heft, the balance, the location of the controls, the smoothness of operation. The appeal a Leica M has is not much different than that of a firearm.

I remember the first time my grandfather let me fire a handgun. He was a former cavalryman from the days when the cavalry still rode horses and carried sabres, his title being "stable sergeant" His Colt Army revolver was quite old even when he acquired it, and I had always lusted after it when I was young.

When I was allowed to handle it, I remembered how heavy it was, the way the grip felt in my hand, the natural balance it possessed, and how wonderfully smooth the cylinder turned upon it's spindle. It was a wonderfully designed and made device, supremely effective in operation and use. Much like a Leica M.

In my grandfather's day, the old single-action Colt was already obsolete, being replaced by semiautomatics. But many troopers, like my granfather, much preferred it.
 
For me its because along with great results, I enjoy the process and activity of using my M2. The tacital enjoyment gets more photography accomplished than would otherwise happen.
 
In my case, with the perpetual "sky is falling" state of film, I have chosen to shoot as much as possible with the body that means the most to me.

The M3DS is the same as my favorite pair of old shoes. It is molded to my hands and the way I "see" photography. It is my mind's definition of "camera."
 
Why? I like the basic mechanical nature of my M4-2, no fuss, just three selections; shutter-aperture-focus. Same for my OM-1 or Pen F or even an old Kodak Tourist II (except I have to re-spool 120 onto 620 spools, why do I put up with that?)

But sometimes there is no "why", no logic, no higher reason. You just get a kick out of it. That's why there are lots of hobbys, something for everyone.
 
Shot and processed three rolls today. They're hanging in my shower alcove drying right now.
So I'll be scanning in the morning. :)

Great day out. We are in the middle of our festival season. Lots of people out and about.
And... Ms are still discrete and go virtually unnoticed. :cool:

There is nothing like knowing you're doing what is right for you.
 
Because the whole analog proces gives me more satisfaction.
Because i do not like most, if not all, digital camera's.
Because i love most, if not all, old analog camera's
Because i think for B&W film still rules and looks way better than digital.
Because i prefer to spend more time in the bathroom instead of behind my computer.
Because i want to be different and feel good about it.

Hope i did not offend anybody by sharing my personal feelings :)
 
FrankS said:
Because pretty much everyone from soccer moms to pros are using digital these days. Haven't you heard? Film is dead.
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I guess in my circle of friends film is more popular. Different with regard to the mainstream but not within this community.
 
FrankS said:
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.
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I cannot think of anything that would be more true about myself.

Its the blood, sweat and tears that matter to me.
 
Using film today is different for sure. I have co-workers who have never used it or seen it used in real life.
 
J. Borger said:
Because the whole analog proces gives me more satisfaction.
Because i do not like most, if not all, digital camera's.
Because i love most, if not all, old analog camera's
Because i think for B&W film still rules and looks way better than digital.
Because i prefer to spend more time in the bathroom instead of behind my computer.
Because i want to be different and feel good about it.

Hope i did not offend anybody by sharing my personal feelings :)
Click to expand...

Um, TMI? ;-)

I do not do photography 'to be different.' I do photography because I enjoy the challenge of making fine photographs.

The joy of photography is that there are a diverse number of ways to pursue the endeavor to your individual satisfaction.

Two rolls of Minox film on the counter to process.
Forty-seven new exposures in the M9 to process.
Twelve new scans of ACROS 100 from the Bessa III to process.


​

Enjoy the diversity, enjoy the cameras, enjoy the images.

G

"Equipment is transitory. Photographs endure.
 
I use M's because they are nearly as nice to hold as a beautiful woman and very nice to use, very quiet, small
 
Simply because it is more fun. From start to finish, I greatly enjoy every aspect more then any other camera.
 
Because deep in the mechanism of each Leica M camera there resides a tiny part of the eternal soul of Henri Cartier-Bresson. This enters the subconscious mind of the well-attuned photographer via the shutter release finger and whispers "Maintenant, mon ami." very softly at each decisive moment.

Of course, Leica M3s possess a larger trace of HCB's spirit than other Ms, and thus his whisper is louder and more urgent. Which is why M3 users take better photographs than anyone else.
 
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