Could you go with Leica exclusively?

[stunsworth]

Uwe, could you just explain the conceptual difference between capturing photons using light sensitive grains of silver, and capturing photons using light sensitive electronics?

[Micheal]

Why limit yourself?

md

[telyt]

Originally Posted by uulrich

Digital Photography does not exist, it is a contratiction.

If I'm not mistaken, capturing an image with silver halides involves electrons changing energy state forming the latent image... not much different from the energy state of electrons being detected by the sensor chip to form a digital image.

[adan]

Uwe, I'm sure there were daguerrotypists who thought the negative-positive process was not "real" photography ("What? All your final images are degraded copies of the original?!! And on paper instead of metal?!")

Which is pretty much exactly why I AM going to digital as fast as I can - Why use a process built around multiple stages (enlargers and scanners and such, with a layer of jelly in the middle) when I can capture my final image direct from reality?

"Photo-graphy" means writing or drawing (graphos) with light (photos). It has been done with everything from silver to silicon to gum arabic to diazo/ammonia (blueprints) to iron salts (cyanotype/Van Dyke Brown) to asphalt or bitumen or some such - Niepce's first picture.

An image sensor's RGB Bayer pattern is actually very similar, in concept and function, to the colored speckles used in the first commercial color photo process - Autochrome (100 years old this year). Except the colors are red/green/blue instead of orange/green/purple, and in a more ordered pattern than Autochrome's stochastic sprinkling.

As to the original question - well, I HAVE used nothing but Leica (mostly M) for the past 5 years. Temporarily in the Sony camp until the M8 gets here.

[Findus]

I could, but I don't.

I like my Hasselblad and Rolleiflexes, I also enjoy the combination of good optics and autofocus on my Nikon F4, not to forget the excellent optics, which matches the Leica objectives anyday on my Contax RTS III. I use them all regularly, probably I use my M6TTL the most for it is the most "luggable" camera I own and always take it along. When doinf planned photosessions however I rely on on 6x6 and/or my Contax, but the Leica is always there.
The leica is also the only camera I use without a tripod.

I am however seriously contemplating purchasing an R9, I would of done so long ago but I needed a couple of years to get over their ugglyness....

[gberger]

Quick answer: YES

I'm not a professional - - just an amateur who has been using Leicas almost exclusively since 1945 (IIIc, M4, M6, M7). Shoot 'chromes for projection. ~100 rolls per year.

Formerly had an Argus (pre WWII)

Can't teach an old dog new tricks.

George (The Old Fud)

[martinb]

Findus,
PM me if you're interested in a R9 and some R glass.

Cheers,

Martin

[hamey]

Started with Minoltas back in the late Sixties, and played with Olympus- OM-1 and a Pentax all very good cameras, but after viewing projected slides on a Pradovit switched to Leica and been on board ever since.

For me, to use any other Film camera, is simply unthinkable.

Cheers.

Oh yes love my Minolta 5400-2 scanner.

[meatboy]

Ken,

My experience is similar to yours. I used Olympus OM for many years, played with Canon's and Nikons but was never happy with image quality. I thought I was but after seeing Leica I now know it was average. I suppose I should have moved to medium format but I now use Leica exclusively - MP and CM. While I am happy with image quality - the BW stuff looks superb, I have not quite settled on my colour film selection and also still cannot get colour scanning quite right!

Tim

[kdemas]

I do a lot of racing photography so for that type of work it's hard for me to ditch my Nikon VR gear. If Leica had similar autofocus speed, buffer performance and the like I'd certainly think about it.

That said I love to use my Leica and Cont_x gear for everything else

[hamey]

Hello Tim.

Since I cauld'nt get K 64 I have tried a number of slide films, such as Kodak elite chrome and Sensia 100 to which I have been very happy with,however I have just got back my first Kodak E100-G, and I must say it's a wonderful film and it's thru to being close to Kodachrome, the slides are gorgeous and they scan so well.

I am going to try Velvia 100F next.

Leica R7-50mm f2 Kodak E100G slide film, Scanned on Minolta 5400-2.

[stumac]

I went to Leica in late 60's after 2 other makes failed on trips to centre of australia, sticking auto aperture, slow shutter speeds.

SL, R4, Minilux, D2, no problems, have not looked at any other make!!

Regards, Stuart.

[vic vic]

using only leica - ....
it is a matter of working style / needs and a matter of love.
for most of my works, pro and personal, i use leica m system. but sometimes there is a need or wish for something else, cause rollei with weist level has a very different approach to photo making, and the film is bigger when u need it. view camera is a totally different approach as well. so even if leica m is my prime photography tool, it cannot give those things - and that is ok. i also bought the little dlux2 for fun - and ya, i bought it cause leica offers it, so as much as it offers what i need and with the quality expected for leica i will always go with them.

[albertwang]

Indeed, the waist level finder option is something that most of the Leica equipment hasn't provided a good solution quite yet.... oh well.

[peter_n]

Actually there is a quite serviceable little waist finder made by Zeiss; the 436/8. Excellent for street snaps.

I could get by with my Leica M cameras. Since I bought my first RF camera 3 years ago I haven't touched my Nikon SLR stuff. I don't rely totally on Leica lenses though, I also use a couple of Russian lenses and a truly excellent Hexanon-M.

[pvsrv]

Absolutely. I've tried Canon and Minolta SLRs and never liked the results. So, I returned happily to my Leica gear.

However, I do intend on buying a digital SLR for my wife as a Christmas present. She loved the pictures my son got out of his D50.

[leicapfile]

Not really. I always have a loaded Minox in my pocket. Don't ever leave home without it.

Jerry

[drtrm]

I wish I would, but when I get really upset with the Dx problem on the M7, I reach for my 1950 Contax.

[gylee]

Originally Posted by drtrm

I wish I would, but when I get really upset with the Dx problem on the M7, I reach for my 1950 Contax.

OK, I am about to buy an M7 - what DX problem?

[nyrich]

If I were starting from scratch I could do so.

While my M gear gets the most use, my Nikon manual focus SLR's see their share as well.

I have no intention of switching SLR gear from Nikon to Leica. However, given my preference for simple cameras, owning a Leicaflex-based kit in place of the Nikon gear wouldn't be difficult to imagine.