been playing with Leica

lostprophet · Oct 29, 2006

duncanp said:
:O i need ti get a job in camera shop somewhere.... if only i was a little older

[SIZE=-1]Patience, young padwan[/SIZE]

Illah · Oct 31, 2006

Why are Leicas so legendary? I know they're a premium brand but they seem to have an aura around them among photo people.

--Illah

Jeff Canes · Nov 1, 2006

Well they are one of few older German premium 35mm brand still around, the Japanese companies knocked most the of German companies out of photography in the 60’s & 70’s, today Nikon & Canon’s premium lenses and cameras are as good as Leica

But the Leica legendary you talk about is with their M series cameras, the “M” are rangefinder and not SLR, so you do not see thru lens as you do with an SLR, most companies stopped making RF back the late 60’s but Leica keep making them, both RF & SLRs have there pluses & negatives, the big plus with any RF is that they smaller and lighter that an equivalent premium SLR systems

W.Smith · Nov 1, 2006

Additionaly:
the rangefinder Leica's not only had/have (?) stunning optics and A-1 workmanship/build-quality, they also had an almost imperceptible click when the shutter opened and closed. You could hear it only if your ear was within 4 inches of the cam*. This made them ideal for photographing formal events – in those days silence was important during them – like weddings and such, because the photog would be almost unnoticeable. Which is how they wanted it then.

*what a difference with today's loudly clicking and clacking shutters and mirrors....!

Big Mike · Nov 1, 2006

Michael Reichmann has his hands-on review of the M8, up on his website...The Luminous Landscape

Christmas is coming up...just in case anyone needs a reason to buy me an M8.