friedeye Loc: Los Angeles

I think you'll love your M-9P. Bresson used a 50 primarily, and, if you like that look (which is actually less contrast) you can buy and shoot a 1st version rigid Summicron that will fairly approximate it for around $1000. I think this was the last lens HCB used. Still had enough flare/veiling to give it that Leica glow. Old glass works beautifully on M9s. And it doesn't have to be Leica. A 60's era Canon 35 f/2 LTM is a tiny lens that's magnificent -- $400 or so on eBay. The Jupiter 3 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar is an astonishing lens at around $250.

However, if you have the money, go for the 35 Lux Asph. I think it's the single best lens for the M series - and you don't have to buy the FLE, the asph is just fine. I think 35mm is far better for street shooting than 50. But that's my preference. Go on the boards and look at photos/lenses and see which ones speak to you.

Of course, for the price of a used Lux, you could get a 28, 35, & 50 Zeiss. All superb. And my personal favorite, the 40mm Nokton f/1.4 - a small, great all rounder that fits the M9's 35mm frame lines perfectly. It's a steal at $409 new. As is a used Leica 40mm Summicron for a little more.

So many choices, so little time. Ken Rockwell says pop for the Leica lenses and be done with it. That may be wise. But it's so much fun to do otherwise.

Peekayoh Loc: UK

True.

The real truth though, is that a digital Leica is never going to capture the feel of an old film camera and a B&W film of the 30s era without a great deal of processing but, why bother. It's a bit like these wannabe kids copying Maria Carey's style but failing to impress.

The only Leica that interests me is the Monochrom but it's way too expensive. I'm waiting and hoping that Sony will do the same with the RX1. Maybe I'll try butchering my NEX7 when the new model appears.

BigBob611 Loc: Charlotte NC

When I was in retail I had the good fortune to have a bird-dog that bought a whole lot of the Navy Leicas up at Norfolk, and brought them to me. I had the connection to move them to the Orient through another broker in Seattle. I remember seeing some grey bodies in the M-2 series, and one day even a 58mm Summicron that Wild Leitz had made for Canada's military. Years later a former DoD photographer told me a heart renching story of being ordered to destroy some Leicas and lenses with a hammer and screw driver. Made me sick... I miss my Leicas.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

TCMs has ran a series on B/W movie makers, most fascinating was the shadow/angle/lighting use to overcome primitive equipment. Another was the discussion of lens mm usage and the effects to purposely flattening or accenting the scene.

It is difficult for the glitz of color to compete with the mystic of shades of gray.

BigBob, Minolta Maxxium lenses benifited cooporating with Leica and Zeiss glass works. Those old Maxxium lenses were great lenses, but heavy....

This may be of interest: THe Leica M7, Zeiss Ikon and Minolta CLE all do the same thing and use the same lenses.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m7-compared-to-zeiss-ikon-minolta-cle.htm

Peekayoh Loc: UK

This is only part of the story, Leica initially partnered with Minolta because they were so impressed by Minolta lens quality. Several Minolta lenses were simply given a new name, notably for instance, the excellent Zoom Rokkor 35-70/3.5; this parfocal, constant aperture, 2x zoom was rebadged as the Leitz Vario-Elmar R 35-70 f3.5 without modification, as were several others.

I have both versions, the early one and the later 'macro' version although I prefer to say 'close focus'. The lens is used mainly on the Sony NEX-7 where the 52-105 EFL makes for a useful normal to short tele walkabout and is pretty nice for Portraits. People happily pay 10 times the price for the Leica version not knowing it is far from unique.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Peekayoh said in part: "People happily pay 10 times the price for the Leica version not knowing it is far from unique."
OH! Like my Panasonic ZS20 that is re-badged by Leica. When introduced one was $400 the other $700 ... care to guess which is which????

Again.. the Peekayoh photo grain effect??? Is that from film, digitally introduced or uniform noise???

Peekayoh Loc: UK

Read my last post! :roll:

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

They did not merely change the label on the Leica C type 112 (based on the Panasonic LF1). The Leica is a better looking and comes with additional software and the Leica warranty, which are worth something.

See: http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2013/09/09/the-new-leica-c-type-112-compact-camera-announced/

The price difference ($699 vs. $498 for the Panasonic) may be worth it, your choice.

Who or what is Peekayoh?

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

selmslie: "The price difference ($699 vs. $498 for the Panasonic) may be worth it, your choice.

My Reply: $100 difference for C type 112 vs LF1, you betcha, the prestige factor alone is enough. The intro price difference of the ZS20 and Lux 40 was quite wide because of the Badge. I had to buy after market badge ($7) from China to convert my ZS20 to a Leica V-Lux 40. I use PSP-X6 and full Topaz for my software and got a 5 Year camera warranted for less than $50. But if only $100, I would have gone with Leica.

Selmslie's Question: "Who or what is Peekayoh?" I detected what I thought was grain added rather than digital noise and asked which it was. My Topaz BW2 adds film type grain if desired.

Well who is "Peekayoh" (see this forum thread Peekayoh is here several times) is from the UK, you know the first guys we had a war with (besides the American Native Indians). If you have forgotten, we, the USA won, but only after those guys burned the Whitehouse. The burning really PO-ed Dolly Madison. She was in such a rage that she took command as commander-N-Chief enabled our troupes to trounce the red coats, sending them scurrying back to King George. (revision 1,0935 of US history)

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Silly me, I overlooked your user name - maybe because I pretty much agreed with most of what you were saying.

But 10 times? Maybe not. But how about the Hasselblad Lunar, a crop sensor for the price of an M9? Now that's a stretch!

I'm happy with my old film stuff until the digital prices start coming down. Meantime, I will stick with my D7000 and think about a D600 or D800.

CaptainZapp

Really happy for the turn-out of knowledgeable, experienced people here on the forum. I knew you were out there! You have shared the insights gained, many of you, over a lifetime of critical interest in photography, camera, lenses, films, artistic styles, etc. If one collects (and I'm going to) all the various responses that have been precipitated by the original post: "The Leica look", and its follow-up: "The Leica Look Revisited", there is a barrel-full of useful and insightful thoughts, experiences, guidances, ruminations and recommendations. I'm grateful for all of them and will now embark on a period of study. I have to do my homework.... Thank you all again. You are a generous group.

CooledgeR Loc: Sunny (Hot) Arizona

[/quote]Smaller, lighter weight Leica lenses will be received with a great sigh of relief, however--but I'd like to get the right ones to best achieve my photographic goals. Thanks.[/quote]

Go to this website and subscribe to the Leica info. Well worth the investment. Best and most honest evaluation of Leica lenses to be found.

http://diglloyd.com/index-leica.html

lag4art Loc: McAllen, Tx

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lag4art Loc: McAllen, Tx

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