What's so great about Leica? Newbie here.

[TrailsofLife]

I am new to rangefinder, currently I used a Canonet QL17 GIII. I've been wanting to get a changeable lens one, so have been looking around. It seems that Voigtlander cameras are more updated in technology than Leica's, so what so great about Leica?

If its the lens, is it possible to use Voigtlander's body and leica lens?

What would be a good and affordable leica lens?

I hope I didn't offend anyone, cheers
Max 2.8

 

[TrailsofLife]

I am surprised! :bigeyes: No leica user can tell me the diff between leica and ordinary rangefinders?

 

[XXX Boy]

Leica Pro
1) Leica rangefinder have better built-quality than those Cosina made bodies.
2) Leica's cloth shutter is durable for 400,000 cycle as compared to those metal shutter (150,000) of other cameras.
3) Leica shutter is more silent than Cosinas.
4) Leica have better service support than Cosinas.

You got to hold one Bessa and Leica-M side by side and you will know what am I talking about!

 

[szekiat]

for me, its all about the noise. When i shoot stage stuff during rehearsals and voice trails, i pick up my leica as it tends to not be picked up by the boom mikes. The bessa r2 that i used to use is a whole different story. The complains i received from the producer drove the point across quite quickly. That said, most of the prosumer DSLRs today do as good a job. The pro DSLR for some reason still make a hell lot of noise comparatively.

 

[ckiang]

for me, its all about the noise. When i shoot stage stuff during rehearsals and voice trails, i pick up my leica as it tends to not be picked up by the boom mikes. The bessa r2 that i used to use is a whole different story. The complains i received from the producer drove the point across quite quickly. That said, most of the prosumer DSLRs today do as good a job. The pro DSLR for some reason still make a hell lot of noise comparatively.

The shutter sound from an EOS 1D series can be heard across a quiet hall as big as Expo Hall 5 where the tsunami memorial was held! And when the pros using them start shooting in continuous mode, it gets really audible.

Leica M6's shutter isn't whisper quiet tho, it sounds "louder" to me compared to M3 and even the Xpan's electronic shutter. Maybe the pitch is higher, that's why. M7 is supposedly the quietest around, but I have not heard one.

And for Max 2.8, one of the greatest thing about Leica is you can wait 50 years and sell the thing for close to what you first paid for.

Regards
CK

 

[TrailsofLife]

Thankyou both for answering to my queries. At least I know Leica is good for its quieter shutter compared to (D)SLRs and some rangefinders.

I got to try an ex-colleague's leica briefly (he was so worried I might drop it, I think I held it for less than a minute!), so I didn't notice the big deal about it :dunno:

What about lenses? I saw a portrait shot by my ex-colleague a few years back, its pretty impressive in terms of sharpness(6R) and contrast(b&W so pretty obvious). So which lens is good for landscape and portraits? Please recommend me as I am always a DSLR user, so totally lost when moving to rangefinders.

I am actually getting a rangefinder to shoot Infrared film because with rangefinder, I can focus with IR filter on lens which SLR cannot. And like all shooters(I won't call myself a photographer just because I hold a camera ;p )I also like sharp and contrasty images.

 

[XXX Boy]

And for Max 2.8, one of the greatest thing about Leica is you can wait 50 years and sell the thing for close to what you first paid for.

That is true! One reason for this is becoz Leica still service and overhaul Leica M3 (which is 50 years old camera).
Other manufacturer would have stop to service to repair any camera older than 10 years. Once spoilt those cameras just become useless paper-weight. Who would want to pay a high price and collect camera that does not function and can only be a paper-weight???

 

[szekiat]

Don't know about the M6 but a M2, with a good CLA is so quiet i can't ask for more. My xpan pales in comparison.
If budget is not a constrain, the best portrait lens IMHO will be the 75 'lux, the DOF is superb and allows max control. At the same time, the bokeh is inferior to none. I used it a few times and was really tempted to buy one myself. The price is prohibitive though. If u like sharp and contrasty stuff, get the cosina lenses as they seem to offfer greater contrast. I like that too and i use them. Best bang for the buck. U can't judge sharpness from a 6R. I usually do my better prints at 20x30 paper. B/W only for me as my school has a free darkroom with chem and paper provided. No idea how color will work though.
For landscapes, there are a wide variety, depending on how wide you want to go. I use a 12mm for streetscapes and city shots. Its too wide for me though, i've tried to use it in nature but i'm not skilled enough. I usually use a 35mm or a 50mm for landscapes. This is where i think a SLR with zoom lenses will help cos it gives u better freedom with zooming. (Asking to get shot here!!!!)
Anyways, here's a good place to buy stuff and answer your questions
www.photo.net/bboard/forum?topic_id=1548

 

[TrailsofLife]

Thank Szekiat,

I think I am going for voigtlander since shutter noise is not a problem to me. Lens is my concern.

75lux? what's that? Got full name? 12mm too much for me too, with SLR, my fav range is about 19mm for landscape

Thankyou everyone for your answers. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[XXX Boy]

Thank Szekiat,

I think I am going for voigtlander since shutter noise is not a problem to me. Lens is my concern.

75lux? what's that? Got full name? 12mm too much for me too, with SLR, my fav range is about 19mm for landscape

Thankyou everyone for your answers. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

What Szekiat had mentioned is Leica 75mm Summilux (f1.4). It is a great but expensive lenses.
For me, I would recommend you to get a used Leica (Leica M4-2 or M4-P) which is not that expensive and I do believe that it will serve you well. After that if you dun like it, you can still sell it as demand of Leica M camera is still there.

 

[TrailsofLife]

Hmmmmmm......I will consider, thanks, need to check a few prices for body and measure my wallet thickness....

 

[szekiat]

Thank Szekiat,

I think I am going for voigtlander since shutter noise is not a problem to me. Lens is my concern.

75lux? what's that? Got full name? 12mm too much for me too, with SLR, my fav range is about 19mm for landscape

Thankyou everyone for your answers. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Judging from what you said, get a leica M3. It has one of the best magnifications (except r3a) for portrait work around. Match that with a 105mm Nikkor LTM or a 90mm Apo Lanthar and you're done for portraiture. For landscapes, get the voigtlander 21mm f4. It comes with its own viewfinder. Afterall, no RF i know has built in 21mm framelines, so u're not at much of a lost. Its only if you use 28mm and 35mm that u'd feel a loss. A good condition M3 will hold its value when u're ready for an upgrade one day, as opposed to a Bessa. Granted the R3A has all the latest bells and whistles but the shutter is just horendous. A quiet, well dampened shutter will go a long way in improving your hand holding. There's some human reflex into this reasoning that i will not go into but it does affect. The difference between a bessa and a leica is so significant that it DOES matter.

 

[XXX Boy]

Judging from what you said, get a leica M3. It has one of the best magnifications (except r3a) for portrait work around. Match that with a 105mm Nikkor LTM or a 90mm Apo Lanthar and you're done for portraiture. For landscapes, get the voigtlander 21mm f4. It comes with its own viewfinder. Afterall, no RF i know has built in 21mm framelines, so u're not at much of a lost. Its only if you use 28mm and 35mm that u'd feel a loss. A good condition M3 will hold its value when u're ready for an upgrade one day, as opposed to a Bessa. Granted the R3A has all the latest bells and whistles but the shutter is just horendous. A quiet, well dampened shutter will go a long way in improving your hand holding. There's some human reflex into this reasoning that i will not go into but it does affect. The difference between a bessa and a leica is so significant that it DOES matter.

Szekiat, I agree with you also. Coz I owned a Bessa and Leica before and I really can feel the difference. That's why I always suggest ppl to get a Leica instead. And a used Leica is not that expensive as you might think. And best of all, you are investing on a machine that will gotta last you for years! :lovegrin:

 

[litechaser]

hi all

Max, can borrow your thread for a while ? am also interested in getting a Leica. Just wondering whether is a Leica R4 with a summicron 50mm a good choice for streets as it's much cheaper than the M series. is the summicron lens inferior to the summilux ?

 

[XXX Boy]

hi all

Max, can borrow your thread for a while ? am also interested in getting a Leica. Just wondering whether is a Leica R4 with a summicron 50mm a good choice for streets as it's much cheaper than the M series. is the summicron lens
inferior to the summilux ?

No Summicron lens are in fact very good too. It is just the diff f-stops that's all. Summilux = f1.4
Summicron = f2

R4 is also a good body! :thumbsup:

 

[student]

A rangefinder is excellent for shooting infra-red, especially a camera like the Leica. SLR are a nightmare because with strong red filters, you can't see what you are photographing. So everything have to be composed, and the camera set on a tripod, put on the filters, adjust exposure, and shoot! With a rangefinder, the viewfinder is never obstructed! And I am not talking about fogging yet!

Any camera can be used for street photography. But a rangefinder has certain advantages, such a seeing the action outside the frame and knowing that when you trip the shutter, you "got" it. With an SLR there is always the momentary black-out. With fast shutters today, it may not be as important, but the ability to see outside the frame in the rangefinder is something the SLR cannot compete with.

I like the Leica because it is robust and feels good. It is just a wonderful tool! Other rangefinders can do the job just as well, but the "shiok" factor is different.

 

[leef]

I like the Leica because it is robust and feels good. It is just a wonderful tool! Other rangefinders can do the job just as well, but the "shiok" factor is different.[/QUOTE]

Yes,I saw the M7 and summilux-m 50mm/1.4 Asp,very very shiok. :lovegrin:
But CP quote me at 4K for m7 and 3.1K for lens. :sweat:
My opinion the camera price is ok,cos even a canon (less shiok feel) also cost more than m7.
But Leica lens are extremely pricey,compared to L prime/zoom for similar range.No doubt this is Leica,very very good quality.
I guess this is the only factor hold back most men for lenses of Leica.
Now I wondering still,whether to go for this or just buy L prime :think:

 

[XXX Boy]

There are always good 2nd hand Leica lenses around. All my Leica lenses are bought 2nd hand coz I can't afford new one.

 

[Kit]

M7 is supposedly the quietest around, but I have not heard one.

Think I mentioned before. I was using an M7 with a friend standing just beside me. He didn't even know I took a few shots.

 

[XXX Boy]

Think I mentioned before. I was using an M7 with a friend standing just beside me. He didn't even know I took a few shots.

My friends dun notice that I had already taken shot of them. Btw, me using a M6.