This is something I suspect that many of you deal with… First: I have 2 very good cameras a Nikon D850 and a Sony a7 II… Along with a modest selection of lenses. I do not need another (or even a replacement) camera since I no longer earning a living with a camera.

I dream of getting a Leica!

I am not willing to spend $10,000 or more for a high-end Leica with a lens or two, but I am open to spending $3,000 which puts me at the lower end of the Leica line, and since B&H has a TL2 with an 18 – 56 mm lens for $2,500 I am very tempted. Even though it has an APSC sensor and comes without a viewfinder.

There is no good reason to get a lower end Leica, it is unlikely that the quality of the photos would be better than either my Sony or my Nikon. However, I have heard about the “Leica Look” and the detail I see in reference photos is very good.

I know that I am just trying to convince myself that a Leica will give me something worth the expenditure.

The real reason I want a Leica is ego!

My Uncle had an old 35mm Leica Rangefinder which I admired from a distance (he would never let me touch it) and I dreamed that someday I would get myself a camera like that.

Running around with a Leica, would make me feel “unique” even though few would notice the camera make.

When it comes down to facts, taking better pictures with the TL2 Leica Camera, is probably minimal.

So, I get back to “there is no good reason to get another camera”.

But I want a Leica…

Then I go back to the beginning… Just like a loop in a computer program.


Am I the only one doing this sort of thing? Or do many of you keep looking at a new camera or lens telling yourself that it would make you stand out in the crowd? The selling point to yourself is that with this new toy you would be able to take better photos.

This is something I suspect that many of you deal with… First: I have 2 very good cameras a Nikon D850 and a Sony a7 II… Along with a modest selection of lenses. I do not need another (or even a replacement) camera since I no longer earning a living with a camera.
You have laid out your wishes and I commend you for this. You are one of the few people that I have heard about that have a realistic view on gear. I actually wish that I carried your outlook when it comes to gear. I have lost 2 Sons since 2003, my oldest died in Afghanistan and my youngest died 2 years later in 2005 to Cystic Fibrosis. I raised both of my Sons on my own, due to their Mother passing when my youngest was 2yrs. old. I worked on a job that allowed me to use my degree in Forensics Medicine to chase drug dealers down. I did have a great support system through my parents and siblings. I had a pretty good expenditure account and I did purchase a Leica Body that I was allowed to keep after I retired, and I was forced to retire after my best friend and like the Older Brother that I never had, died in my arms during a botched deal. They deemed me unfit to serve, but I did take the kill shot on the man that killed my partner. I respect your honesty about the equipment that you wish to have. I pray that you get your wishes. I love your post and May GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
I dream of getting a Leica!

I am not willing to spend $10,000 or more for a high-end Leica with a lens or two, but I am open to spending $3,000 which puts me at the lower end of the Leica line, and since B&H has a TL2 with an 18 – 56 mm lens for $2,500 I am very tempted. Even though it has an APSC sensor and comes without a viewfinder.

There is no good reason to get a lower end Leica, it is unlikely that the quality of the photos would be better than either my Sony or my Nikon. However, I have heard about the “Leica Look” and the detail I see in reference photos is very good.

I know that I am just trying to convince myself that a Leica will give me something worth the expenditure.

The real reason I want a Leica is ego!

My Uncle had an old 35mm Leica Rangefinder which I admired from a distance (he would never let me touch it) and I dreamed that someday I would get myself a camera like that.

Running around with a Leica, would make me feel “unique” even though few would notice the camera make.

When it comes down to facts, taking better pictures with the TL2 Leica Camera, is probably minimal.

So, I get back to “there is no good reason to get another camera”.

But I want a Leica…

Then I go back to the beginning… Just like a loop in a computer program.


Am I the only one doing this sort of thing? Or do many of you keep looking at a new camera or lens telling yourself that it would make you stand out in the crowd? The selling point to yourself is that with this new toy you would be able to take better photos.

When GAS hits me for something expensive, it usually means I have to save up for it. Loose change at the end of the week, bottle deposit money, etc., all goes into my piggybank. It is surprising how fast it fills up....
Even so, it takes some time to get the money together. Which helps to not spend it on items I don't really need:
It has happened several times now, that by the time I had enough money in my piggybank, I had forgotten what I was saving for!
Going out for dinner and a movie or play with my husband, proved to be a good substitute for the forgotten item!

It's always a good idea to let G.A.S. pass.

Leica makes beautiful cameras. But these days, their electronic guts are likely to be made by Panasonic, since they have a deep relationship with Lumix. They design lenses for Lumix, share a full frame lens mount with Lumix (and Sigma), and get all sorts of electronic features from Lumix.

So... If it is the Leica IMAGE QUALITY look you want, you can probably get it with a Lumix body and Leica or Panasonic Leica lenses. If it's the Leica brand around your neck that you want, well, that's expensive. And you're right, it's just marginally better in some cases.

I know I will eventually buy some Leica glass for my Lumix camera... probably after I upgrade to a better body. I've never needed the penguin or alligator or polo player on my shirts...

The lenses are very good, but so are Fuji, Nikon, Zeiss, Canon, etc. lenses. There are subtle color differences between lens brands and even individual lenses, but that's a pretty moot issue given the color influence of the sensor CFA and the camera's processing software. You need to compare lenses using the same camera to control that variable. Add in the choice of SOOC JPEG versus processed raw files. If you choose to process raw files do you still get a "Leica look" or do you get an "Adobe look" or a "Capture One look."

My experience says no one can sort them out in a blind test. The "________ look" surfaces when a comparison is done by someone who knows which is which allowing them to see what they want to see.

EYES ON THE PRIZE, which is what the photograph is telling, selling, or communicating in some way. We had AWFUL 35mm cameras, 50 years ago, by comparison with today's best full frame digital beasts, but some of them produced masterpieces and others produced historically significant images.