Why Leica?

[pikapig]

Can i ask a burning question that i have and see if any of the senior here can assist and help me understand in terms of technical specs, quality and maybe perception of individuals?

I started off my first roll of film shooting with a lomo camera..diana mini, there after i venture into some serious film photography, RF...yashica and minolta RF...subsequently i was not satisfied with just 1 fixed lens, and then i started looking around and found a group of people shooting SLR, and the price of SLR and availability of lenses draw me deeper into this passion of mine, and then i dropped my initial plans to upgrade from my canon 400D and instead spend the money on FM2, FE etc...and got a whole list of manual AIS lenses.

Then i discover that i need something lighter and more compact and someone intro me olympus OM series of SLR....

n I Thought i would be satisfied to just stay with SLR...

Somehow the only film thread is in the RF thread and i wonder why so many people are using a RF instead of SLR...till i myself got a R2A and tried and there is this thing about RF that i just cant describe. The feeling from using a RF vs a SLR is just different apart for its compactness and weight. And it has been ages since i last bring my SLR out for a shoot.

Now i got another question again...Why so many people are turning to a Leica body as an upgrade when a Voigtlander or a Konica Hexar body can also produce the same images? I thought that unlike a DSLR that holds a different quality of sensor, basically the images quality from a RF contributes more from the lens and film that is being used.
And a voigtlander body might not be as inferior as i understand, the VF is bright and big compared to some Leica VF, the way to insert a negative is easier compared to using a Leica body..

So why do people still call it an upgrade from voigtlander to Leica???

Hee...the above is on film body only....
and im asking becos i don know why im so drawn as well to get a leica also!!!

 

[pixelbrain]

same reason why you would upgrade to a Swiss watch over a casio..
altho casio is more accurate.. lol

 

[Royale With Cheese]

some people pay 400k for a watch with tourbillon which is supposed to make the mechanical movements more accurate.

But then the 10doller casio watch at flea markets are more accurate than that 400k watch.

 

[dankwan]

same reason why you would upgrade to a Swiss watch over a casio..
altho casio is more accurate.. lol

good point pixelbrain, what makes a swiss watch better than a japanese one....there is no sensible reason for using the term "upgrading" to a Leica, buying a Leica completely emotional, in a sense; fashionable and in many ways, appreciation of engineering and of all, a love of the history of our hobby.

Having said that, I must say that Leica lenses are really something special though....its the leica glass that makes it stand apart from the rest....cant explain it...

All cameras take good photos, but not all connect you to the legends of photography like a Leica or Zeiss does.....so must of us buy it for the gestalt

 

[Imaji]

Cause its a chronic illness that has no cure ;p

Seriously, to me its the feel. I thought about a Bessa body before jumping to Leica M and just wasn't impressed. Functionally its perfect, but just doesn't have the solid feel that a film M gives you. Even a digital M doesn't feel as nice, probably because its thicker. If you think with your head, an R3A would do a great job, but if you follow your gut, its probably gonna be an M6 or something similar. That's just me.

 

[ManWearPants]

upgrade because you spend more money.

 

[Canonised]

Because it is there ...

 

[pixelbrain]

some people pay 400k for a watch with tourbillon which is supposed to make the mechanical movements more accurate.

But then the 10doller casio watch at flea markets are more accurate than that 400k watch.

haha great minds think alike.. ;p

anyway, swiss made mechanical watch doesn't need to be expensive.. mine cost only 50 pounds.. :bsmilie:

 

[ManWearPants]

Swiss watches also got many categories. Some uses expensive gems and metals in their timepieces. Even a saphire crystal coated casio will cost more than the normal ones. So don't think you are comparing parallels.

 

[osocan]

Actually Casio's accuracy is pretty ordinary, easily beaten by any Swiss quartz. And not all Japanese watches are crap...just take a look at Seiko's Marine Master (think someone in this forum has one) or their Grand Seiko and you might flip because of their quality and prices (especially the prices )

Back to Leica, its reputation is founded on solid German engineering with a price to match. As with most things that are good and expensive, the desirability factor goes up. Everyone wants to own at least one. It's an emotional thing. Zeiss or Voigtlander will do the same job (maybe even better) but you cant argue with your emotions, especially when it comes to photography as a hobby.

 

[pikapig]

Haha the more i flip the pages on "Show me your Leica" Thread...the more feel i have....guess now is a matter of how to raise some money for my 1st Leica!
Think also need to go read up more about them...saw wong san mentioned about his m3, single stroke etc on his sale thread....all the terms..which i go ???

Bro Gary...u r still one of the most frequent RF shooter but a non leica owner YET rite? Will u be tempt to cross over??

 

[mmmel]

Why would anyone buy an Aston Martin, Rolls Royce or Bentley when a Toyota, Honda or Mazda is more affordable and serves the same function (ie for getting you from destination A to B)?

Because they can.

The same thing applies for cameras even though unlike a trophy I prefer to think of a camera as a tool for creative expression. If you can afford the Leica then get it, if you can't there is no need to feel inadequate or envious. Just continue to make ART

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Bro Gary...u r still one of the most frequent RF shooter but a non leica owner YET rite? Will u be tempt to cross over??

hahaha! YET............

Erm, actually, hookonclassic, aka thomas dangled the carrots for me already, I have already bitten the bait but I need $$$

No one wanna buy my hexanon 50mm F2 for sale! Need to sell it to fund my leica dream
please please please someone buy it off me!!

 

[Shawn]

Because the consumer purchase behaviour has always been irrational.

The same reason why there's long snaking queues outside KOI, where people queue up 30-45 mins just for a cup of bubble tea. Because they want it, they can and its the best. What mmmel said haha.

 

[pikapig]

hahaha! YET............

Erm, actually, hookonclassic, aka thomas dangled the carrots for me already, I have already bitten the bait but I need $$$

No one wanna buy my hexanon 50mm F2 for sale! Need to sell it to fund my leica dream
please please please someone buy it off me!!

I saw his collection...damn posioning...

good luck to ur sale bro!

 

[pikapig]

Why would anyone buy an Aston Martin, Rolls Royce or Bentley when a Toyota, Honda or Mazda is more affordable and serves the same function (ie for getting you from destination A to B)?

Because they can.

The same thing applies for cameras even though unlike a trophy I prefer to think of a camera as a tool for creative expression. If you can afford the Leica then get it, if you can't there is no need to feel inadequate or envious just continue to make ART

Ur words comforted me for now....

haha...till the day i can get myself one....i will stop visiting any leica threads! lol

 

[strassersg]

Hi all,
I'm a newbie, but as with many things in life, emotions play a big part. I started with a canon 550D 4 months ago, sold that within a month and got myself a 5D MKII with a corresponding L lens. I'm a newbie, absolutely no clue what I'm doing, except it feels good to shoot my newborn son with the cam.

Now, I'm looking at Leicas. I agree that the classicness of the design and heritage plays a huge factor in ones decision to get one. It seems like a funny thing, but the click of the 5D compared to the shutter click of the 550D just won me over. I tried a friends M6 and it felt so nice in the hand, plus the cloth shutter, such an interesting idea!!

I'm into watches as well, so a Seiko Grand, while its a beautifully made movement, just doesn't have that history or heritage that a Patek or a Lange would have. You put one on your wrist, and one goes "WOW!" The history of the brand and the fact that not many people own one, does add to it appeal. I Believe its the same for a Leica.

The skilled photographer can practically shoot with anything, and the equipment is a means to the shot. To many of us hobbyist, the equipment is just as important as the pic we take. Holding a nice camera in ones palm gives just a satisfying feeling as shooting with it. Just don't kid ourselves that having a great camera will give us that pulitzer winning shot!!!

 

[clipper79]

To me, having something in your hands which you can call it a tool instead of a honey,... you have found yourself the perfect camera. Regardless of brand.
Also you will be more than willing to take it anywhere and be comfortable with it. Even into third world countries, or taking into the slums. That's the perfect tool.
When you are comfortable, it frees you to make nice pictures
The only Leica I own is the CL. Other than that, I am more of a compact camera guy.
That is how I feel.

 

[sabrewolf]

Didn't you see the movie Euro Trip??? hahahaha

 

[blacvios]

I bought both for their mechanical excellence. Don't be fooled by the seiko, they are just as accurate if not better than their swiss counterparts. Just not COSC certified, they make all the parts down to the lubricating grease.

,,,