Leica, what's all the fuss about?

TimboAA · 12-22-2007, 06:38 PM

I'll be the first to admit it, but my knowledge of photography equipment is not every high at all. When it comes to brands, I know brand names and thats it. I hear this Leica name thrown around a lot and my short research has told me everything from the Wikipedia article, they are ugly looking, and they are expensive.

So what is all the fuss about? Please do enlighten me!

Sideburns · 12-22-2007, 06:55 PM

Small, and sharp. I don't know much about them either...but they are quality.

I'd never buy one though.

skieur · 12-22-2007, 07:00 PM

Based on their lab report and personal view, one photo magazine and I don't remember which one since a lot of them sound the same, indicated that the best quality digital shot they could possibly take was using the top Canon Mark II but with an adapter and Leica lens on the camera.

Leica and Zeiss have maintained a reputation for top quality lenses for more than half a century.

skieur

bapp · 12-22-2007, 07:00 PM

Ohhhhh retract that statement or face my wrath......

Leica, ugly,are you insane??? they are the cutting edge of retro chique!!

They are also probably the most comapct SLR you can buy and made at a top standard. The M8 the latest model looks pretty top notch. REVIEW.

If you are into street photography the Leica is the perfect weapon of choice... Henri Cartier-Bresson says so!!!

Buszaj · 12-22-2007, 08:00 PM

We should get Iron in on this. The most likely reason that the Leica may seem "ugly" is because it is not shaped like the typical SLR, bulkier and usually black. The Leicas are usually rangefinder-ish shaped, but the quality is excellent I hear, and I have no doubt about that.

The Phototron · 12-22-2007, 08:29 PM

UGLY? Your face!

soylentgreen · 12-22-2007, 08:41 PM

OMG if Ironflatline reads this thread he is gonna hunt you down like a dog and tattoo the Leica red dot on your forehead..

You will be lucky if he leaves you with one good eye to still photograph with. Anyhoo, Leicas are like the Bugati of cameras. Highly refined, hand-made works of art. With a price tag to boot. If you read a bit more on them. You will notice all of their lenses are large aperature and insanely sharp from edge to edge. They have a multitude of rangefinders which is their mainstay and I believe a new dSLR on the way. Iron will be more than happy to divulge the full report once he gets a hold of this. Pray.

shorty6049 · 12-22-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by bapp

Ohhhhh retract that statement or face my wrath......

Leica, ugly,are you insane??? they are the cutting edge of retro chique!!

haha...
"cutting edge of retro chique" == "never updated the design, now its 'cool' again"

i'd never buy one either, even though they do seem to be quality

Helen B · 12-22-2007, 09:21 PM

They are simple, quiet, reliable cameras with very good lenses. Some people make a fuss, others just use them.

The M8 isn't an SLR, by the way. Almost all the models beginning with an 'M' are rangefinder cameras, not SLRs.

Best,
Helen

Sideburns · 12-22-2007, 10:38 PM

Yes, I was going to mention that also, Helen. Most of their cameras are NOT SLRs...
They are famous for their rangefinders.

**usayit** · 12-23-2007, 07:26 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by bapp

They are also probably the most comapct SLR you can buy and made at a top standard. The M8 the latest model looks pretty top notch. REVIEW.

Hehehe lol.. the fact that you call the M8 an SLR.... <i'll hold back further comment and have a beer instead>

<< Also a Leica lover.. R-D1s, M8, M3, and M6.. Btw... I'm selling EOS stuff to fund my Leica bug.

The best way I explain myself to my photog friends.... With the Canon DSLR, the joy comes when I'm at home seeing the fruits of my day out shooting. With the Leica, I am enjoying the whole process from beginning to end.

And no... Shooting with a Leica doesn't automatically produce photos better than my Canon....

Alex_B · 12-23-2007, 07:30 AM

They are certainly not ugly ... their design comes from times when ugliness in camera-design had not been invented yet

bapp · 12-23-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by usayit

Hehehe lol.. the fact that you call the M8 an SLR.... <i'll hold back further comment and have a beer instead>

Jeees Louise???? I didnt say the M8 was an SLR I said the Leica build some of the most compact SLR's The R range 35mm Film cameras for example I said the M8 looks top notch.

Im going to leave the comments to you techno junkies and stick to learning about "photography"

**usayit** · 12-23-2007, 08:17 AM

Several Leica early R SLRs were built with a partnership with Minolta. By today's standard, the R8 and the R9 are HUGE. The most compact SLRs of that time were by far Pentax... not Leica.

But... ok.. I misunderstood.. Apologies.

btw... My M6 Titanium is for sale... (lens is NOT included)

Helen B · 12-23-2007, 08:33 AM

I also misunderstood, so please forgive the two of us. As well as the pile of Ms, I have an R6.2 and although it is small for the R range it is nowhere near being "probably the most compact SLR you can buy", so I hope that you treat it as an honest misunderstanding on our part and do not consign us to the dreaded 'techno junkies' wastebin.

I'm doing a little comparison between the M6 and M7 with the more expensive Nikon D3 at the moment. The functionality of the Ms appears to be superior to that of the D3 in certain situations. Focusing in low light is one of them. The D3 struggles or fails, the Ms are as good as they have been for decades.

Best,
Helen

12-22-2007, 06:38 PM	#1
TimboAA No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 87 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Leica, what's all the fuss about? I'll be the first to admit it, but my knowledge of photography equipment is not every high at all. When it comes to brands, I know brand names and thats it. I hear this Leica name thrown around a lot and my short research has told me everything from the Wikipedia article, they are ugly looking, and they are expensive. So what is all the fuss about? Please do enlighten me! __________________ Tim Olympus OM-1 Olympus Evolt E-330

12-22-2007, 06:55 PM	#2
Sideburns TPF Junkie! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Windsor, Ontario Posts: 2,797 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Small, and sharp. I don't know much about them either...but they are quality. I'd never buy one though. __________________ Flickr!: www.flickr.com/markumbenhower

12-22-2007, 07:00 PM	#4
bapp Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Blackpool Posts: 114 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Sacreligious!!! Ohhhhh retract that statement or face my wrath...... Leica, ugly,are you insane??? they are the cutting edge of retro chique!! They are also probably the most comapct SLR you can buy and made at a top standard. The M8 the latest model looks pretty top notch. REVIEW. If you are into street photography the Leica is the perfect weapon of choice... Henri Cartier-Bresson says so!!!

12-22-2007, 08:29 PM	#6
The Phototron I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 948 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	UGLY? Your face! __________________ My Flickr.

12-22-2007, 08:41 PM	#7
soylentgreen I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 689 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	OMG if Ironflatline reads this thread he is gonna hunt you down like a dog and tattoo the Leica red dot on your forehead.. You will be lucky if he leaves you with one good eye to still photograph with. Anyhoo, Leicas are like the Bugati of cameras. Highly refined, hand-made works of art. With a price tag to boot. If you read a bit more on them. You will notice all of their lenses are large aperature and insanely sharp from edge to edge. They have a multitude of rangefinders which is their mainstay and I believe a new dSLR on the way. Iron will be more than happy to divulge the full report once he gets a hold of this. Pray. __________________ Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D, Olympus E-P1 EF 400 f/2.8L EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS EF 24-105 f/4L IS EF 100 f/2.8L IS Macro EF 50 f/1.4 Voigtlander Nokton 35 f/1.4 http://www.flickr.com/photos/roninstudio/

12-22-2007, 07:00 PM	#3
skieur TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 2,561 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts My Gallery: (30)	Based on their lab report and personal view, one photo magazine and I don't remember which one since a lot of them sound the same, indicated that the best quality digital shot they could possibly take was using the top Canon Mark II but with an adapter and Leica lens on the camera. Leica and Zeiss have maintained a reputation for top quality lenses for more than half a century. skieur

12-22-2007, 08:00 PM	#5
Buszaj I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 493 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	We should get Iron in on this. The most likely reason that the Leica may seem "ugly" is because it is not shaped like the typical SLR, bulkier and usually black. The Leicas are usually rangefinder-ish shaped, but the quality is excellent I hear, and I have no doubt about that.

12-22-2007, 08:59 PM	#8
shorty6049 TPF Junkie! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,906 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by bapp Ohhhhh retract that statement or face my wrath...... Leica, ugly,are you insane??? they are the cutting edge of retro chique!! haha... "cutting edge of retro chique" == "never updated the design, now its 'cool' again" i'd never buy one either, even though they do seem to be quality __________________ Be sure to visit my flickr Sony Alpha A700, Minolta 50mm f/1.7, ROKKOR f/1.4 Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6

12-22-2007, 09:21 PM	#9
Helen B TPF Junkie! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hell's Kitchen, New York Posts: 1,723 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	They are simple, quiet, reliable cameras with very good lenses. Some people make a fuss, others just use them. The M8 isn't an SLR, by the way. Almost all the models beginning with an 'M' are rangefinder cameras, not SLRs. Best, Helen __________________ No longer posting. Here's why: link. I'll still be reading PMs from time to time. Some of my snaps are here and here.

12-22-2007, 10:38 PM	#10
Sideburns TPF Junkie! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Windsor, Ontario Posts: 2,797 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Yes, I was going to mention that also, Helen. Most of their cameras are NOT SLRs... They are famous for their rangefinders. __________________ Flickr!: www.flickr.com/markumbenhower

12-23-2007, 07:26 AM	#11
usayit Sharkbait!!!! hoo ha ha Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North New Jersey, United States of America Posts: 6,154 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 31 Times in 30 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by bapp They are also probably the most comapct SLR you can buy and made at a top standard. The M8 the latest model looks pretty top notch. REVIEW. Hehehe lol.. the fact that you call the M8 an SLR.... <i'll hold back further comment and have a beer instead> << Also a Leica lover.. R-D1s, M8, M3, and M6.. Btw... I'm selling EOS stuff to fund my Leica bug. The best way I explain myself to my photog friends.... With the Canon DSLR, the joy comes when I'm at home seeing the fruits of my day out shooting. With the Leica, I am enjoying the whole process from beginning to end. And no... Shooting with a Leica doesn't automatically produce photos better than my Canon.... __________________ Woohooo!!! <exits stage left> My equipment: Right Eye and Left Eye. Last edited by usayit; 12-23-2007 at 07:31 AM.

12-23-2007, 07:30 AM	#12
Alex_B TPF Junkie! Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 13,521 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	They are certainly not ugly ... their design comes from times when ugliness in camera-design had not been invented yet __________________

12-23-2007, 08:13 AM	#13
bapp Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Blackpool Posts: 114 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by usayit Hehehe lol.. the fact that you call the M8 an SLR.... <i'll hold back further comment and have a beer instead> Jeees Louise???? I didnt say the M8 was an SLR I said the Leica build some of the most compact SLR's The R range 35mm Film cameras for example I said the M8 looks top notch. Im going to leave the comments to you techno junkies and stick to learning about "photography"

12-23-2007, 08:17 AM	#14
usayit Sharkbait!!!! hoo ha ha Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North New Jersey, United States of America Posts: 6,154 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 31 Times in 30 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Several Leica early R SLRs were built with a partnership with Minolta. By today's standard, the R8 and the R9 are HUGE. The most compact SLRs of that time were by far Pentax... not Leica. But... ok.. I misunderstood.. Apologies. btw... My M6 Titanium is for sale... (lens is NOT included) __________________ Woohooo!!! <exits stage left> My equipment: Right Eye and Left Eye.

12-23-2007, 08:33 AM	#15
Helen B TPF Junkie! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hell's Kitchen, New York Posts: 1,723 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	I also misunderstood, so please forgive the two of us. As well as the pile of Ms, I have an R6.2 and although it is small for the R range it is nowhere near being "probably the most compact SLR you can buy", so I hope that you treat it as an honest misunderstanding on our part and do not consign us to the dreaded 'techno junkies' wastebin. I'm doing a little comparison between the M6 and M7 with the more expensive Nikon D3 at the moment. The functionality of the Ms appears to be superior to that of the D3 in certain situations. Focusing in low light is one of them. The D3 struggles or fails, the Ms are as good as they have been for decades. Best, Helen __________________ No longer posting. Here's why: link. I'll still be reading PMs from time to time. Some of my snaps are here and here.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode