Why Buy a Leica?

[Peter Black]

I have both Leica and Voigtlander R4M. It's like holding young breast in one hand and silicone implants in the other....

Well I don't have a Voigtlander to try this out, but having held my M3 in a variety of ways, I gotta say that I'm not getting the connection that you're getting!

 

[IloveTLRs]

I suppose we'll just have to take his word for it ...

 

[eddym]

On the contrary, I think this calls for empirical research! I'm in favor of the "hands-on" approach!

 

[Bob Carnie]

I print from many lenses and cameras, the best to my old eyes are rangefinder in 35mm and 120 , I think the Contax g2 is a very good choice, but I will buy a Leica Rangefinder with prime lenses for my personal gift.I have been saving up for this gift for many years.
I use the fuji 6x9 for most of my personal work and love the quality of this camera and the output.

For 35mm
Contax G2 for economical reasons, Leica M7 Rangefinder with a very fast lens for a complete photographic feeling.

Maybe I should stop now , one too may St Remys in the system.

 

[RoBBo]

I have both Leica and Voigtlander R4M. It's like holding young breast in one hand and silicone implants in the other....

Owning M6,M7,MP and R6 I have to say MP is state of the art.
Anyway, the most important part of the camera is that funny dude standing behind it

A cold metal young breast?
Personally, I'd rather not have any of my cameras have a breasty feel.
Film/boob flatness and all that blah blah blah...
Now a Konica HEXAR, that's one damn nice feeling camera, just the right heft and that texture is pleasing and gives a good grip.
I still wouldn't relate it to a breast though.
Personally, when I hold a Leica, I feel like it's worth to much to actually be bothered in taking pictures.
The R3M that I've used, a roomates, is a wonderful machine, built for abuse and finesse, and most importantly, picture making.
The ease of the meter, the grip in your hand, and of course, that damn 1:1 viewfinder, makes everything with that camera very enjoyable.
Though still not quite as nice as that HEXAR.

 

[David H. Bebbington]

Personally, when I hold a Leica, I feel like it's worth to much to actually be bothered in taking pictures.
The R3M that I've used, a roomates, is a wonderful machine, built for abuse and finesse, and most importantly, picture making.

Actually it's the other way round! A Leica will stand a lot of abuse (or simply many years of hard work) - abuse a Voigtländer (in particular by knocking or dropping it) and it will quit pronto!

 

[Mick Fagan]

David, I would normally agree 100% with you regarding an M Leica and the current Voightländer cameras. Over the years I have seen people with their M series of cameras drag them through all kinds of situations and have reckoned that they were pretty indestructible.

For some time I have been toying with getting one of the new Voightländer cameras myself, they being more affordable to me. So it was with great interest when I met up with two APUG members in Germany this July for a walk around an old German town, to find that one was running an M6 (?) whilst the other was running one of the Voightländer cameras.

Funnily enough, the M camera decided to play dead in the focusing department. We walked around to a genuine camera shop (they still exist occasionally), which was chock a block full of Leica cameras and stuff. I learnt about the innards of the focusing cam whilst there, quite fascinating, but it was not going to work properly anymore, until a service had been done.

Meanwhile the Voightländer and my F3, kept on firing away.

I really do agree with you regarding the sensitivity of the current Voightländer cameras to sometimes going off, because of an occasional knock or bump. I followed up from my German trip with a couple of Voightländer owners here; they appear to have become experts in getting the rangefinder mechanism working again.

Mick.

 

[jolefler]

I think the biggest testament to Leica durability is the fact so many circa 30's screw mount bodies are still functional (albeit, some with a relube). I wonder how many Voigtlanders will still be functional in 2070 and beyond.

On a trip to the wilderness I'll take my two Barnacks & selenium meter, thank you. (OK, maybe my Nikon F, too)

 

[John Koehrer]

On the contrary, I think this calls for empirical research! I'm in favor of the "hands-on" approach!

Silicon implants?

 

[kapro]

On the contrary, I think this calls for empirical research! I'm in favor of the "hands-on" approach!

It's better once to touch than three times to hear about that...

OK, I'll be serious now.

Having quite huge experience with Nikon F, F2,F3,F801S,F4,FM2,FM3A, Voigtlander R4M, Leica M6,M7,MP,R6,R6.2 I have to say M series are the best cameras (for my purposes) I have ever used followed by R6,F3 and FM2. For me is the most important I'm able to use long times with M models without tripod. very often 1/8,1/4, sometimes 1/2 and when I'm well trained 1s...I'm not able to manage that with any other camera. Neither with Voigtlander R4M.Friend of mine, street photographer, uses B! making 2-3 sharp pictures out of 5 with M6...I did not believe until I saw it.

 

[okto]

Has anyone ever seen a broken Leica? I don't mean malfunctioning, I mean fatally physically mangled, like basically destroyed. I've never seen or heard of one...

 

[DanielOB]

Roger Hicks
“It's a bit like religion. If you have to ask, you won't understand.”

Probably the best description of Leica ever made.
-----------------
The best value of Leica cameras is possibility to fit Leica lenses. Today I would really question that value.
Consider
1. Nikon F6 + Zeiss Arri-Macro F2/100 mm = $3500
2. Leica R9 + Leica Apo-Macro F2.8/100 mm = $7000

Probably the best in photography money ever could buy.
It can say a lot. I would take the first one (if I already have the second one).

Also consider that Leica is no more what used to be. To get somethig now made is very bad. They turning to mass market, adapting digital media as "photography" for survival reason, and many complains on latest MP and M7. Look at M4 to M6 is the best I think, or R6 (R6.2) or R8 for reflex one.

Daniel OB

 

[Nokton48]

Regarding the original post, the R3A user was contemplating getting a Leica. I bought into the Voigtlander Bessa system as it was being closed-out, and as a consequence, have two L-bodies, two R-bodies, and a T. I've recently been thinking back to experiences when I had a Leica M-2, and how quite often I'd have almost a "zen" experience using that camera. Perhaps it was that using it seemed to be intuitive and fluid-like, that there was an unmistakable "edgeiness" to the resulting take.

So I've picked up a recently completely overhauled nice M2 at a really excellent price, and souped it up with aluminum rewind lever and Rapidwinder. It's the Leica I've always wanted, and I know I'll get some very special pictures with it. Considering price, if I live another forty years, the costs per year are nearly nothing. And the camera will still be working, to pass down to my family.

I'm keeping the Voigtlander L's, and the Bessa T. But I'll be selling the Bessa-R's. As much as I've enjoyed using them (they are great) I am gravitating back unmovingly to the siren call of the wonderful Leica M2.

 

[Jarvman]

I feel like I don't enter the same state of mind taking photos with the Voightlander as I did with the now sold M6. It's strange, there really is something about those Leicas. I'll have go get another m6 one day. The rangefinder is out of alignment after dropping the R2a from my lap to the ground in Germany, can't say whether the same thing would have happened with the leica. Then again I would have never dropped it not even accidentally!

 

[Larry.Manuel]

Photo of Leica melted during Hindenburg explosion

Has anyone ever seen a broken Leica? ...

In his New York times article of Sept. 24, 2007 [about Leica], Anthony Lane wrote that at least one Leica was recovered from the Hindenburg wreckage. A bit of web-searching lead me to this: http://tinyurl.com/2fesr7 - where three damaged Leicas are on display, one from the Hindenburg.

I laugh at the original posting: " ....after all, a camera body is merely a light-tight box."

see also: http://tinyurl.com/yso5s7 - "Trashing your Leica"

 

[okto]

So in answer to my question: no, there is no such thing as a destroyed Leica.

 

[pelerin]

Has anyone ever seen a broken Leica? I don't mean malfunctioning, I mean fatally physically mangled, like basically destroyed. I've never seen or heard of one...

Yes,
A customer where I work recently had his 24mm lens replaced under warranty. The item in question was run over by a car and, "fatally physically mangled, like basically destroyed," would be an accurate description. (although the word "like" in that phrase makes me think of a certain Zappa song) The body was likewise mangled but not covered under passport.
Celac

 

[peter_n]

The Passport warranty is very good and includes such things as improvements to the product after purchase. Leica NJ replaced the VF in my M7 with the MP-style one earlier this year for free. It did make a difference.

 

[Fintan]

Having access to a loan of a Hasselblad Xpan has taken the edge off my major want for an M6, but boy would I still love one.

How would you guys rate the Xpan aside from the fact theres so few lenses available?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Having access to a loan of a Hasselblad Xpan has taken the edge off my major want for an M6, but boy would I still love one.

How would you guys rate the Xpan aside from the fact theres so few lenses available?

I only need one lens at a time. Send it to me for a good home.

Steve

 

[Fintan]

Not likely Steve

 

[Donald Boyd]

Has anyone ever seen a broken Leica? I don't mean malfunctioning, I mean fatally physically mangled, like basically destroyed. I've never seen or heard of one...

Yes, I have seen them hidden away. In fact, one such example is hiding in my closet.

 

[rpilottx]

Well, I have been in and out of every major camera system (Nikon, Leica, Contax, Canon, Hasselblad) more times then I care to admit. If I had the money I have spent over the years switching from one to another and then back, I would be . . ., well you get my point.

I started photography in high school in 1966 and paid my way thru college as a photojournalist using Nikon. In college I wanted a Leica but could not afford one. Now I can afford anything I want and am back to a mint M4 with 35/50/90 lenses and a unmetered NikonF for macro/telephoto.

I have decided the original cameras from my youth are the best (or perhaps I am simply trying to regain my youth) but I love the Nikon and think the M4 is the best camera Leica ever made (like the M2's as well but the M4 was THE Leica during my college days). Anyway, I enjoy using non-metered bodies with an incident meter. And I just shot my first roll of black and white film in 30 years so things are looking up.

And Leicas really are like religion. Am thinking about a Leicaflex SL/SL2.

 

[Fintan]

... And I just shot my first roll of black and white film in 30 years so things are looking up.

Hey good for you, enjoy!!!

 

[kapro]

Maybe, because they knew their particular Leica (body) was manufactured by Minolta. I know some of them were at some point in time and I'm surprized that wasn't mentioned in this thread.

No, you aren't right. If you hide Leica logos the camera itself looks for most of the people around like some cheap stuff. And who will steal something what doesn't have any value....?
I use to cover all logos and letterings on my Leicas and lens as well. You now, I live in the area where we don't cut thief's hands...