Why Leica? - a confession of equipment junkie

And what's your Leica story? - Denis

Well mine is simple. I am/was an SLR guy, started with a Zenit 3M, then a Pentax Spotmatic, then a Nikon F3 which I still have (but don't use). I used to get the magazine Leica Fotografie mainly for the pictures, so when I decided I wanted something portable that I could take anywhere there was only one camera I knew about. I did a fair amount of research and decided on an M6ttl as the best value and bought one just over a year ago from a dealer in NYC (Rich Pinto, PhotoVillage - highly recommended). I had never handled or even seen a Leica before I bought one, so I was surprised (and pleased) at how small the camera was.

I've been through a succession of lenses and I now have a 21, 35, 50 and 90 with which I'm happy. I'm planning on getting a 135mm Jupiter-11. I think the Leica lenses are optically excellent but build quality/QC is poor in my experience. The best quality lenses I have used are the Hexanon-M series made by Konica and I'm surprised that there isn't more interest in these fine lenses here on the RFF. They are up to Leica quality in glass and way beyond them in build quality - Leica could learn a thing or two from Konica.

I have no interest in older Leicas. I understand why people collect things but it's just not for me. I would like to get a second body with AE and I'm very interested in the new CV R3A because of the low price but I'm worried about the shutter noise. I have no interest in the Zeiss Ikon so I might end up with an M7. I might also get a Canonet QL17. To me the camera is just a tool and I'm much more interested in the prints.
 
Simply put, it's the best tool I have used to get the results I want. Loved mine!

Todd
 
hey todd,

been thinking about ya. hope all is as ok as can be.
maybe think about dropping in on a chat one of these nites. there is no schedule that i know of but i just drop in and see if anyone is home.
might be a good place to 'vent'

joe
 
the leica is a superb, loveley, nearly perfect piece of equipment. and the lenses --- oh the lenses. wait a minute, most of you guys shoot black and white. i am a color shooter mostly - what you may not see shooting b/w is the leica lens ablility to render color. it is amazing. and reason enough to use a leica.

andcolor...maybe i should change my name to 'occasionally black and white'...
 
That looks like a rangefinder/top plate light leak to me- it would be on the right hand side of the negative, and that triangle shaped (inverted on the negatve) puts the light leak at the top of the camera, shining down on the film- again, rangefinder area. Just a guess, of course, but I'd try the flashlight trick too.

I've had three Leicas and each was usable in terms of photography, though all rather less so than any of my other camers.

1) IIIg. Pinhole leaks in the shutter. Elmar 50mm so fogged as to be quite noticable on film. I bought it to use, so I sent it back when I found the troubles, though I really did like the look of the replacement lens I bought, the CV 35mm f/1.7. Pinholes, as previously mentioned, were a bother.

2) Leica M3 (Sold to a forum member) and a Summicron 50mm (4th generation). Bought it with shutter capping problems (didn't know until I shot a couple rolls- Do'h!) and some rangefinder mis-alignment. Fixed the later, the former was never fixed. The B&W prints that I could print were very nice and sharp- I like the 50mm lens, except for the flare trouble. The color were nice too. Exceptional? Sadly, no. This camera showed me that for whatever reason, I don't have the ability to bring whatever-it-is to bear and create images that I'd call "outstanding."
3) Leica 6TTL (Black) Very pretty camera. had the 35mm Summi ASPH on it, and eventually bought a 90mm for it. I bought it "nearly new," the previous owner probably having not put more than a couple rolls through it. Black paint wore off the camera body in the corner where the ever-ready case rubbed. It was a "competent" camera, making nice images in black and white and color. Flare was horrible if I kept the UV on it, and removed, didn't make for "wonderous" images, like the M3 above. Perhaps it's true what's said about Russian cameras, the good ones are simply kept by their owners, the bad ones are sold off to someone else in an effort to get a better one. Or it's probably even more true that "I simply can't acquire the particular skills to bring out the best of these great tools." I can own that. 🙂 ("No bad Leicas," and all)

My experience with the Leica line has been marred by cameras with problems, or worse, by expectations that the images taken with them would be similar or better than the ones out of my G2, which simply produces more pleasing results to me.

Leicas are nice cameras, don't get me wrong, but for me they are so expensive as to be unapproachable, at least for one that works well, provides nice images, and doesn't fail to function when need for it to do so. I would say that I'm "non-plussed" by them. I've not experienced any "mystique" that would make me at all enthusiastic about the line. I'm looking forward to the new M mount camera from "Zeiss-Ikon," and with that, I might have better luck. We'll see. Lens butts are less important to me anymore than the lenses themselves, especially when I'm spending time to shoot them wide-open, where their character is out there for all to see.

I'm not giving up on the Leica line, as I do wish to be a convert to the best of the best, but from my perspective and experience, I just can't "get it."
 
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"Perhap it is true what's said about Russian cameras, the good ones are simply kept by their owners, the bad ones are sold off to someone in an effort to get a better one"

In my case, I think the odds of me finding another really good Russian camera are about the same as finding another Leica in a $50 camera grab bag.

I agree about the Leica lenses used with Color film. i have used Nikkor's for over 25 years. The they have great contrast, and produce Picture Postcard Colors. But the Leica lenses pick up subtle variations in light and color that is lost by high contradt lenses. I love my Summarit as it has a personality that is distinct from everything else I use. I had both of them CLA'd at Essex; otherwise the "fogged" elements would really affect the pictures.

I use the Leica and Other RF's as "the Family Camera".

BTW: At the Fall festival in fairfax Virginia yesterday, most people were using Film Cameras. No RF's going down the Giant Slide (but my M3), but lots of SLR's and P&S. About 2:1 in favor of Film vs Digital. Many families with kids. A lot of Young Moms using AF SLR's for shots of their kids.
 
I ran into a guy with a Leica at the bookstore Saturday night. He was passing through town and happened to stop there on his way back from taking photos in Galveston. We chatted for a bit and I got to handle his M6. It had a CV 15mm on it. It was really nice, had a very solid feel to it and was very quiet. I'd probably buy one if I had that kind've money to throw around. But I'll wait to see how quiet the R3 is, if its quiet I may get one of those. I'd like to have something a bit quieter than my G1 and bessa-l.

He said he lurks at the leica forum on photo.net, I told him about our site and hopefully he'll be joining us here soon.
 
"Why Leica? - a confession of equipment junkie "

I don't have a M series, only a IIIa w/ 50/3.5 Elmar & 50/2 Summar and a few Zorki's, but I'm an equipment junkie also.

I've only been serious about photography for about 2 years now, with my main systems being Minolta MF SLR's & the DReb, SLR's being the more versatile choice for nature shots. Rokkor primes being so much cheaper than brand new EOS glass.

The RF's are mostly fixed lense models with very good glass and all old and cheap 🙂... which leads me to the Russian Zorki's & Kiev. The Leica, just looks beautiful and feels great and also fits in my pocket. I must admit that the Canon GIII QL17 has been the user due to it's small size, fast glass and working meter.

I'll probably be trying a few more rolls on the IIIa with HP5 pushed a couple of stops in Microphen this weekend.
 
Well, I am new to this forum, (a bit older at the photo.net one), but I figured I would share my experience.

In 2001, I graduated college and went to live in Vladivostok, Russia for a year on a Fulbright. I knew nothing about photographry other than what I picked up from my dad. He is a very good amateur photographer; he pointed out to me things like the quality of light at different times and places, the rule of thirds etc. I started with an Olympus XA when I was in 8th grade, but it was stolen when I was in high school. That pretty much ended it until Vladivostok. I bought a canon S30 to go there and took a number of photos. I did not really feel they measured up in quality though.
When I got back, I remained interested in photography. My dad offered me his SLR setup. It was Canon FD: a T90, F1-N and 3 lenses -- 24/2, 50/1.2L, 85/1.2L. My photography got MUCH better. Not so much because of the much better cameras and lenses as the TTL viewing, manual focus and so on. I entered graduate school and shot all the time. I moved to Japan the next summer for research and took this system. I loved the quality of the system and I took the whole setup with me everywhere I went, but the weight wore on me. I also wanted a camera that was not so incredibly loud (the F1 and T90 are both very loud cameras). After getting back from Japan, I decided to shell out for a Leica. I wound up with an MP and a 50 cron. I have had it for a year now, and it never leaves my side. I still love the FD setup, but the Leica is just phenomenal. I love the simplicity, the incredible image quality, small size and quiet operation. It is just a joy to use.
Sorry if I am rambling on...
 
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two bodies...the T90 and the F1N. Yeah, he bought the T90 when it came out and used it for years. I still think it is the most ergonomic camera I have used. My dad is very much a proponent of buying quality things once, and then not buying anything again until they break. He bought the F1 as a backup several years ago in case the electronics ever fail on the T90. Three super-high quality lenses and two excellent bodies. They still take fantastic pictures.
 
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He is not shooting that much anymore, but when he does, he uses an M6 classic and a 50mm summilux. They are now his only camera and lens.
 
My Leica Story:

I've owned several, used, and never did I ever find one that didn't need a complete overhaul. M3, M6ttl III-g, several lenses, all needed major shutter work (M3, III-g), finder work (M6ttl) or had lens problems with the included lens (III-g).

I've given up.

I bought one. A couple days a go. An MP, black, .72 finder, with two lenses, the 35mm Summilux ASPH and the 90mm Summicron.

I spent too much. Income tax and bonus time play havoc with desire and wishes!

I'm going to sell off a bunch of stuff to help afford it. I've not bought a new camera in 20 years- this was exciting, frightening, and fun. Anyone want a Voigtlander Prominent kit, or a Canon 10D (with lenses!)? How 'bout a Moskva 5? Mamiya 645?

🙂

I'm keeping the G2 with lenses. I've finally got the dream set (minus Very Wide Angle Lenses) in 35mm, all in black; Leica and G2, I'm spoiled!

Now, if I can just figure out how to coax decent images from the Leica, I'll be ahead of the game. Yes, I'm trying again. The MP just feels so nice, doesn't need finder work shutter work, or have any other problems. It's competent. We'll see.
 
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Oooooohhhh nice! I even like the knob rewind. What an elegant machine. And those two lenses should be incredible. Same focal lengths I've had for my M2 since the 60's, but a stop faster on each, and of course more modern optics. Anyway, a good combination I think. If you don't get comfortable with this outfit, then you'll know you needn't try again; Leicas just aren't for you! Otherwise, something to keep for life, and pass on to future apprectiative generations!
 
"I've been through a succession of lenses and I now have a 21, 35, 50 and 90 with which I'm happy. I'm planning on getting a 135mm Jupiter-11. I think the Leica lenses are optically excellent but build quality/QC is poor in my experience. The best quality lenses I have used are the Hexanon-M series made by Konica and I'm surprised that there isn't more interest in these fine lenses here on the RFF. They are up to Leica quality in glass and way beyond them in build quality - Leica could learn a thing or two from Konica."



I at least would love to get some of the Konica lenses, but where are they being sold? Can they be bought new? Anyone got a 50/1.2 they don't really need anymore?
 
ddimaria I'm reading through your post and I'm saying geez I really agree with this guy and then I say wait a minute - I wrote that!! 😀

I don't think there are many M-Hexanons being sold new any more. I posted a link last year of a dealer in NJ who was selling a new 90/2.8 but I assume that is long gone. I think Konica Minolta have washed their hands of the Hexar and the M-Hexanon lenses. I had both the 35 and the 90 and both were optically excellent. The other one I was interested in was the dual 21/35mm, not a zoom but a dual focal length lens. About a year ago there was a dealer in California who sold a succession of those dual lenses on eBay. I think prices have risen because of the scarcity of the lenses (a 50mm sold on eBay the other week for $540) and the main places to look now are eBay and the FS and Classifieds on photo.net.

BTW, did you have any luck with the 21/2.8 from that dealer in NY?
 
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