Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

How do you know you do?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When I was a kid, I rode my bike all over Long Island using free maps from gas stations. I became very good at reading and folding maps. : )

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Patek Philippe is the Leica of the watch world. I have one from the 1960’s (manual wind) and it’s the most elegant watch I’ve ever owned. Also have a Cartier Tank watch, which I love.
Recently received two Rolex watches (automatic wind) from an uncle when he passed. While I was never a fan of Rolex watches I must admit I really do like them as well. They keep perfect time. However, I do think of them more as sportier watches. If I’m wearing a suit or tux (which is rare these days) I wear the Patek Philippe mostly or the Cartier Tank. But for me everything is casual now, so the Rolex watches are getting a lot of use.
My watch repair guy, who works on every brand of watch, says Rolex watches are very high quality watches. However, you can’t beat Patek Philippe for style and elegance.
If Leica cameras and lenses were more reasonably priced, would I own one? You bet.

gwilliams6

Exactly,

gwilliams6

I used the best of Leica rangefinders and even some Leica SLRs back in the day in my over four decades as a globe-trotting photojournalist. And also used the best of Nikon and Canon and now Sony.

The advances in digital sensor technology have reached the point that the quality of my 61mp Sony A7RIV and 50mp Sony A1 images would rival some of the best film medium format and view cameras that I shot with in the past, and easily surpass the quality of my 35mm film images. .

Hey if getting a Leica makes you happy and you can afford it, get it and be happy . But no your images wont look magical. It was always more about the special quality of that Leica glass than the camera anyway .

Trust me my best Sony lenses like my 135mm f1.8 GM will produce images that rival and or surpass anything I ever produced with Leicas and you know the the Leica L-mount has lenses made by Sigma nowadays for many of those current Leica mirrorless cameras.

Cheers and best to you on your quest.

Just one shot here taken with that Sony 135mm f1.8 GM lens many top testers have found to be the sharpest lenses they have EVER tested in hundreds of lenses, with outstanding image quality and rendering.

Reduced for UHH but you get the idea. 61mp Sony A7RIV camera, Sony 135mm f1.8 GM lens. Environmental Scientist Brooke H. in the Valley of Fire, Nevada, USA. 135mm, ISO 400, f2.8, 1/400 sec. handheld, all natural light.

And a 50mp Sony A1 image, with Sony 200-600mm lens. A Snowy Egret takes off from is watery perch on the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin, A1, 391mm, ISO 1600, f6.3, 1/4000 sec.

And another 50mp Sony A1 image, fullframe and then a tight crop of same image. A Great White Egret bends it's neck to clean its feather in Sint Maarten/St. Martin , A1, Sony 200-600mm lens, 519 mm, ISO 1600, f6.3, 1/2000 sec.

You don't need a Leica for "magical" shots.

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joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Excellent shooting 💗 💗

MrPhotog

For special occasions I wear a Rolleiflex. Some people are a actually fooled and think it is a misspelled Rolex. 😎

For film work I mostly use Leicas (and the Rollei). In the 70s I began to notice that my eyesight was just not good enough to quickly and accurately focus an SLR with anything but the normal lens. The big, magnified Rollei viewfinder worked fine. And so did rangefinder cameras.

Buying this equipment was not cheap, and it certainly was not vanity. But it was what worked for me and my photography career.

In those days Leica did little advertising—everyone knew Pentax, Nikon, and particularly the Canon AE-1. An AE-1 with a zoom lens was a status symbol you could carry.

But some trends change and status is fickle. The AE-1 body from 1980s was about $250. Sells used today for under $100. My M-4 cost $450 new in 1972 and could sell for $1800 tomorrow (probably $900-$1200 from a dealer/reseller). In addition it made me an income for many years. That is why people buy Leicas—and I’m shopping for a M10 or M11.

rwoodvira

[quote=Tony Hayman]

My advise be kind and be generous to others, but be kind to yourself as well. Regrets, unfortunately, are often forever. I'm a two time esophageal cancer survivor - it gives you a very different perspective on life when you think there are no tomorrows.

When I shot film, I had a Nikon system that I really liked. I looked for a compact camera to just carry around and bought a Contax T2. As good as my Nikon was and its lens - that Contax with the Zeiss lens was unbelievably great. I currently use a Sony A7Riii with Sony glass - it is a great camera and I like it a lot. But the camera that I carry most is a Sony rx100 vi with a Zeiss designed lens. I absolutely love that little camera and I've taken some great shots with it.

If you can afford the Leica without sacrifice - go for it. As someone else said, given the cost - I'd rent it first to see if it fulfills your dreams.

The Magic of Darkness Loc: Rugged Coastline - Oregon

I had same passion. Finally bought the TL2 at Christmas 2021. Tried VERY hard to be impressed. It was like fantasizing of having dinner with a gorgeous actress and learning that she’s fairly average. Colors were muted. My Samsung NX1 outperformed it, as did a Fuji XT4 I borrowed on approval. My iPhone 11 Pro HDR out-performed it. In fact it felt like it was an iPhone wannabe, based on the cool interface. Leica nailed that. But an extremely classy packaging, body and lens. The classy red dot logo was nothing more than a status symbol but at the end of the day, few would notice. The XT4 had more “my old girlfriend” appeal, reminding me of my early days of photography with my Nikon. The retro body brought a smile. And it didn’t fall out of my hand. The performance was definitely high tech and up to the minute. Crisp resolution. ISO range was breathtaking. The color science was 99% accurate in whatever light. The only disappointment was I just couldn’t figure out how to get my old Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 to work on it. The manual was no help. Gave it back. So if anybody knows that secret let me know. I may end up with the Canon R5. Only the Leica monochrome still enchants me. The grayscale falloff and resolution is magical! Can’t take your eyes off it.

(Top to bottom) XT4, Leica TL-2, iPhone 11 Pro

Nickaroo

You really make a great point, as per usual, what I think that most enthusiasts Photogs fail to realize is the fact that you can go out and buy a Sony A1, Nikon d850, or a Canon R5 and they do so thinking that Higher Megapixels will yield better IQ. Then they go home and can't wait to plop one of their Lenses that they have always used in the past. Well, the thing that they don't understand is the fact that a Higher MP count along with better Dynamic Range will yield every little nightmare that poor lenses cause on better (Higher MP's) are going to show up. I stated in an earlier thread that I looked at some shots taken with a Nikon d3300 from a Helicopter flying near the Statue of Liberty and he also did a series of N.Y. City. These shots could be staged against any of the newer equipment and would do back-flips over the shots from better Cameras. Now, I do own a Z9, D850, D750, D5, and a D500, but I also mount 3 bodies when I shoot Pro and College sports. One Body has the Nikon 600mm f/4, 0ne has the Nikon 500mm f/4, and I usually will put my 300mm or 400mm f/2.8, and for my D500 I like to keep the Tamron 70-200mm g2 on it. I have a lot of room to keep my gear safe at The University Of Michigan when doing Football games, so I keep a Tidy Locker, same goes for Basketball. I believe that Glass is the most important part of Photography and Lord knows that I have spent a fortune on good and fast Glass.

Doug B.

I could use a better body as well!

Doug B.

I wouldn't even consider a purchase hat is "trendy" which it appears as though the majority of the members are conveying. I will stick to my Pentax K3.

ecurb Loc: Metro Chicago Area

If you're going to get a Leica the classic rangefinder is the only way to go. Price an M11 and a 35mm lens and start saving ! 🤑
Then you only need to add a 21 and 90mm lenses to complete your kit

MrPhotog

Ha !

That just gets you started.

Gear Acquisition Syndrome has no cure and Leica has an ocean of M system products nearly 70 years deep to swim in.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Just like the way my car runs better after I wash and wax it:)