jaapv Posted February 18, 2011 Share #41 Posted February 18, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Quite an expensive cat though, according to Zeiss, certainly more than the M9... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Hi jaapv, Take a look here Pentax Professional Photographer interested in getting a Leica. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Poison Ivy Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #42 Posted February 18, 2011 Oh, no, my thread has become a battlefield, what have I done.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 18, 2011 Share #43 Posted February 18, 2011 Poison Ivy, you have done nothing wrong. Sadly the film vs digital "debate" stirs strong emotions and deeply held convictions. Please ignore our impoliteness; it was not triggered by you and we have drawn a line and moved on. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcoles Posted February 18, 2011 Share #44 Posted February 18, 2011 Don’t worry it is not your fault. To focus on your question, I switched from Nikon to Leica in 2009 because of the M9, the simplicity, the small size and weight, image quality and the great selection of lenses. No regrets. I find that the resulting images also require less post processing. The advice I got from this forum was to try it before you buy it, I did not follow that advice, but it is still a sound recommendation. They also recommended getting only one lens a 35mm or 50mm and using it for some time before adding more lenses, which advice I did follow, at least for a few months. Not knowing the type of images you want to create makes other recommendations more difficult. The Leica system does not lend itself to macro and telephoto photography beyond 135mm. It is an excellent available light system and can be handheld in very low light situations. It is a great system to keep with you and to travel with, the camera, a few lenses and accessories take up very little space and can easily be carried all day without any problem. I found adjusting to a manual auto focus system to be the biggest adjustment, otherwise it is more fun to use and you are in total control. Hope this helps Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 18, 2011 Share #45 Posted February 18, 2011 Quite an expensive cat though, according to Zeiss, certainly more than the M9... The other option is a digital CV when the contract with the RD/1 integrator expires, that might be significantly cheaper. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotto Posted February 18, 2011 Share #46 Posted February 18, 2011 I happen to use Pentax SLR's and a couple rangefinder systems, but I had the Pentax stuff first so I've sort of walked in your shoes. My advice is to rent a Leica and see if you like it. The biggest differences will be: No Autofocus - not a problem if you like to shoot the old Takumars No Zooms - same as above. No Tele's - There are some, but in my opinion RF's are better for wide-normal focal lengths Cost - M9's are expensive. The M8 is a crop factor, so I wouldn't consider it because I like wide focal lengths (my Pentax digital is also a crop). Old glass isn't that expensive considering the cost of SLR zooms. You just have to know what focal lengths you like. Finder and egronomics - This will probably make it or break it for most. You have to try it to know if you like it. No mirror - I love this because I regularly shoot a 50mm lens at 1/30 without worry. Size - My M3 with 3 lenses is smaller than my K200D with DA*16-50, though they'll cover about the same range. For me it works. I still use the DSLR, and love the Pentax weather-sealing. I've since picked up a couple of old fixed lens rangefinders and a Contax G (commence hissing and booing) because I like using a RF so much. I also find myself wondering why I have expensive zooms for the Pentax. If you're a pro, the film versus digital debate is something I'm sure you've already sorted out. I'm not a pro, nor do I pretend to be, but these are the differences for me. Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 18, 2011 Share #47 Posted February 18, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Oh, no, my thread has become a battlefield, what have I done.. As Pat Benatar sings, "Love is a battlefield". We all love photography here, I don't see why anyone has to get so pent up over the medium that others prefer. It's a real shame when adults can't have a sensible conversation on a subject they share a passion for, unfortunately some on this forum simply won't accept that others don't share their own point of view, and appear to deliberately provoke. I'm sure it didn't happen in the days before there were serious digital Leica's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted February 18, 2011 Share #48 Posted February 18, 2011 Those who say that the digital M9 will not last a lifetime have no evidence for that assertion. It seems to me to be as solidly built as you would expect of a Leica camera. It’s the common wisdom on this forum that its electronic components are not durable in the long term but I’m not convinced. So long as you stay off the upgrade treadmill and don’t feel compelled to trade it in for the latest version every few years, I see no reason why you shouldn’t expect to be using an M9 for more than long enough to get ample value from the purchase price..... This question often arises and is met with predictably speculative answers. While I fear supportable electronics might be the Achilles heal of Leica (or any other model) digital camera, only the youngest of us around today will be able to experience the true situation. On a much shorter time-scale, my earliest digital cameras still work, just as well as they did when new. However, only my Digilux 2 among them still gets regular use. Provided replaceable batteries are available I do not see why my grandchildren should not enjoy using it. However, back to OP's original question, he really should get some hands-on experience to help him decide on buying into a rangefinder solution. There is a wealth of experience in the Forum and a very useful data-bank of information available at a touch of the Search button. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierovitch Posted February 19, 2011 Share #49 Posted February 19, 2011 Hi from another Pentax using Pro. If you use a rangefinder (film or digital) you can stay in eye contact with your subject and have instant shutter response to animated facial expressions. I find it helps the flow and you don't get the "my wife has one of those as often'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiver Posted February 19, 2011 Share #50 Posted February 19, 2011 On another note, no one says that you cannot use both film and digital, as many people happily use both. I admit that most of my photography is digital, and I only brush off the film cameras for when my M9 is in service, or when I want a particular look that I can get with film but haven't worked out in digital. When my M9 went to the repair shop, I carried the M7 every day. But when I got it back, the M7 promptly went back into mothballs. A gently used M6 will give you an economical taste of using a Leica. If you enjoy using a Leica and it serves your art and preferences, then a MP will most certainly be a camera for life. Not that there is anything wrong with a M6, mind you. As a tangent: like many others, I am drawn to the romantic notion of a 'camera for life', much like a 'watch for life'. I wear a robust mechanical watch that will conceivably last me forever, as long as there are watchmakers who can service it and parts can be fabricated for it. Digital products have the issue of part replacement; when a specialized circuit board goes, and there are no spares left, all we are left with is the work that the camera created. Leica have promised that it will keep spare parts for 30 years after a camera is discontinued, but they also promised original M8 users a lifetime upgrade program. We all know how quietly that one was forgotten. I will keep using my M9 for as long as it lasts. I just wonder exactly how long that is going to be. And what will come first - a lack of spare parts, or when the cost of repair makes less sense given the cost of upgraded replacement. For me, and this is of course a personal decision, the convenience of digital outweighs the benefits of film. This is why I shoot a M9 and not a M7 or MP as my primary camera. For someone who is willing to work through the longer processes of film that are anything from sending your rolls away to a pro lab that does everything for you, to developing and scanning your film yourself, film is naturally an acceptable choice. So if you want a camera for life, a good mechanical Leica will fit the bill. If you prefer digital, then just be prepared for that life to be that of the camera, and not your own. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted February 20, 2011 Share #51 Posted February 20, 2011 A full frame low light digital ZM would put the cat among the pigeons... No it wouldn't. Also, I do not see the relevance of cats except that we have three 18,18 and 22 years old. See even cats are reliable:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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