MikeMyers Posted July 30, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 30, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been a member here for several years now. I mostly read and learn, as there is so much about a Leica camera that I realized I didn't understand well enough after reading what people had to say here. I guess the biggest thing about a Leica camera to me, is to once again be able to "use" my camera the way I did when the M2 and M3 were the latest and greatest, and they just allowed me to capture "people photos" so nicely. Those are the qualities of why I guess I at least come close to saying "I love my Leica M8", but they're tempered with the words of my photography instructor from ages ago, who looked at my M2 and told me a camera is only a tool, and that's all I should think about any particular camera. (I went along, and did try to do things his way, but that never diminished my appreciation of the Leica as a piece of finely crafted artwork, that made it much easier to get many of the photos that I wanted to take back then.) Now I'm all digitized, after a year of debating with myself, I purchased a Leica M8. I created my own Photography Forum as part of a larger forum system on other topics that I was moving to vBulletin. I posted an item years ago in a different forum, but not a single person understood what I was trying to say - in a world of point and shoot cameras at one end, big DSLR cameras at the other end, and camera phones stuck in somewhere, not one person in that forum recognized that something as bizarre as a Leica Rangefinder camera has any purpose or use in today's world - one of those people saw me with my M8, and seriously asked if I was using my grandfather's camera. Anyway, the thread I created is: Rangefinder Cameras If any of you guys have some spare time, it would be nice if you were to go over there, post YOUR reasons why these cameras are so nice, and better yet, post a few photos there that show off what can be still be done with a rangefinder camera (film or digital) in today's world. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this thread. If it should go elsewhere, it can be moved. I posted a note on my Rangefinder Photography thread to send people both to here, and to http://www.rangefinderforum.com/. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 30, 2011 Posted July 30, 2011 Hi MikeMyers, Take a look here Reasons to use a Leica M8 in today's world. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MikeMyers Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted July 30, 2011 I should add that if you don't want to create an account on yet another forum, you can type the answer in here, and I can copy it over. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 30, 2011 Share #3 Posted July 30, 2011 ...I've now got a modern rangefinder Leica that looks almost exactly like the Leica I bought in 1950. You don't see anything different until you look at the back of the camera. Many of the photos I take nowadays couldn't be taken with this RF camera, but the reverse is also true - the photos I used to take (and would like to take again) with an RF camera can't be taken with a DSLR. When you click the shutter on a Leica, unless you're listening for it specifically, you don't hear anything. When you click the shutter on a DSLR the people in the next room get to hear it. :-) RF cameras are small and light. You can pack the whole outfit in a space not much larger than what you need just for a DSLR and one lens...Not sure if i can follow you here. Some dSLRs are quieter than M8 or M9 and not that much bulky to be honest. Some EVILs or digicams like Fuji X100 can even be quieter and smaller so i don't think physical size and shutter/motor noise are valid criterions any more. To me the only criterion of M cameras is their rangefinder. Good examples are Leica M5 and Epson R-D1. Those are rather tall cameras, compared to some modern (d)SLRs, but both are rangefinders and offer specific experience as such. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMyers Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted July 30, 2011 (I entered a similar thread on another forum, and was told that I shouldn't be referring to my own forum. If this is true here as well, someone can please remove any links I made back to my own forum.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMyers Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted July 30, 2011 Not sure if i can follow you here. Some dSLRs are quieter than M8 or M9 and not that much bulky to be honest. Some EVILs or digicams like Fuji X100 can even be quieter and smaller so i don't think physical size and shutter/motor noise are valid criterions any more. To me the only criterion of M cameras is their rangefinder. Good examples are Leica M5 and Epson R-D1. Those are rather tall cameras, compared to some modern (d)SLRs, but both are rangefinders and offer specific experience as such. I'll have to think about that for a while. My Nikon D3 is pretty quiet, but my M8.2 sounds even quieter to me. My old M2 and M3 cameras were pretty noiseless - I assume the newer Leica film cameras are as well? Size and weight - I guess I have to agree with you. A Canon S95 can be programmed to make zero noise, and will fit in a shirt pocket. A Nikon D40 (their least expensive model) is quite small as well. If we limit this to "pro" cameras, the Leica is back to having an advantage. If we limit the discussion to only full frame cameras, ditto. .......none of which is what I was really thinking about. If I wanted to walk around the New York City subway systems, and take candid photos (something I used to do a lifetime ago), I think people would ignore me if I was using an RF camera (small and simple) and get much more inquisitive if I was using a bulky DSLR. ....I don't even know if it's still legal to take photos in the subways! There's something else, that I was reminded about on the other forum where I posted this - were I to go to an event where "cameras are not permitted", most of the time it's only professional cameras that are banned - point-and-shoot cameras and cell phone cameras are apparently ignored. Someone looking at one of my RF cameras would assume it's a fancy toy or an antique, and lump it in with P&S cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted August 2, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 2, 2011 I'm not a pro, I just love taking pictures. I've been using an M8 for the last three years and a half. What I can say about it, in good and bad, is that using a manual RF camera made me discover again the real pleasure of taking pictures, pleasure I had lost with auto-focus, auto-exposure, buttons, plastic and electronics. I discovered myself taking pictures the same way I wash my teeth, without thinking and letting the camera do the job. That's when I switched to the Leica M8. It made me take again control over the camera and it was (and still is) so challenging and amusing. I'd love to buy an M9-P but I can't afford it at the moment. maybe in the future Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJDrew Posted August 2, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The answer certainly isn't about objective image quality, higher ISO shooting (which means ISO 640 to M8 shooters), reliable electronics, or stealthy shutter. It is about the joy of photography. Rational arguments:rolleyes: are really just a thin veil over the real reason to get an M8... you can't afford an M9 and you are excited about the pure fun and feeling of shooting a digital M. It's okay. You're not alone. This post summed it up for me: 16.5 bangin’ reasons it’s okay to get a Leica M8 in 2011 | Leica BOSS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstotler Posted August 2, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 2, 2011 This post summed it up for me:16.5 bangin’ reasons it’s okay to get a Leica M8 in 2011 | Leica BOSS Oh, that's good. Thanks for posting. Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell Posted August 2, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 2, 2011 Not sure about #11 but otherwise I'm on board. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Negative Posted August 3, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 3, 2011 Is the M8 Still a Good Choice? You betcha! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maccaco Posted August 3, 2011 Share #11 Posted August 3, 2011 Oh, that's good. Thanks for posting. Will +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtto Posted August 3, 2011 Share #12 Posted August 3, 2011 Funny you shoild mention the S95..... I just sold mine. It didi everything it was supposed to do but I really dislike not having a viewfinder. For me it is like phone sex. I'm not really there..........for some reason, I feel more connected to the shot when the camera is squeezed against my head.... The other reason I like the digital m is the same reason I like mechanical watches even though they don't keep time as well as their quartz brethren.....can't really be explained but I never got any joy out of looking at a quartz watch. Maybe it it knowing that heir is a certain tradition I am wearing on my wrist. My first good watch had to be hand wound and i got some strange pleasure out of doing this. I know it sounds ridiculous but I also use a badger shaving brush so.......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Murray-White Posted August 4, 2011 Share #13 Posted August 4, 2011 Interesting question Mike I'm a professional artist (sculptor) not a pro photographer and in this day and age much of what is liked about our work comes from people's ability to appreciate it on line through photos, I argued (with myself that is) that almost every artist's pictures are taken with either a Canon or Nikon so there is standard look, Nikon looking a bit colder and meaner than Canon according to my eye at least. A friend had an M8 with a Summicron 50 V4 on it and we tried it out on my sculpture, and I immediately recognised that it was doing things for the sculpture that I'd not seen a camera combo do before - and it looked quite different to anything else - I couldn't really give you a blow blow critique of what it was, maybe it was the way the cron draws and separates things in space, maybe it was the authoritive colour but I went out and got an M8 the next day - and have been extremely happy with it. I consider it very important that my work does not have the same look in photos as everybody else's. postscript: since then I've also bought a Hasselblad Xpan and a Fuji 6x7 and find that I take my perosonal but private art shots on film again all due to the M8 experience. or as we say down here in Oz I'm a very happy punter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfspencer Posted August 5, 2011 Share #14 Posted August 5, 2011 Using a manual RF camera made me discover again the real pleasure of taking pictures, pleasure I had lost with auto-focus, auto-exposure, buttons, plastic and electronics. I agree 100%! I had gotten frustrated with my DSLR because it would never focus on what I wanted it to focus on. With a rangefinder I am in control. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbon_dragon Posted August 5, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 5, 2011 Reasons for me: 1. Weight -- Carrying a Canon 5D and lenses is just too hard on my 55 year old back. The M8 and a couple of lenses are much lighter. 2. IR capability -- Rather than having to carry a digital specially modified to shoot in IR, the M8 comes ready for IR at the change of a filter. This is a giant advantage to me. 3. Excellent image quality -- ok, maybe not quite as good as the Canon 5D, but excellent and more than good enough. 4. Nostalgia -- I loved my M2 and the M8 works pretty much the same way. And I like using those Leica lenses I bought. If I could I'd buy an M9, but I wouldn't get rid of the M8 because the M9 can't do what the M8 can regarding IR. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted August 5, 2011 Share #16 Posted August 5, 2011 The reason that I use my M8s in 2011, is that I enjoy using them in 2011. What better reason is there? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maccaco Posted August 5, 2011 Share #17 Posted August 5, 2011 The reason that I use my M8s in 2011, is that I enjoy using them in 2011. What better reason is there? I share this opinion. It's the best reason. I enjoy every day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell Posted August 5, 2011 Share #18 Posted August 5, 2011 The reason that I use my M8s in 2011, is that I enjoy using them in 2011. What better reason is there? Hard to top that, but let me try. The reason that I use my M8 in 2011 is that it still makes d@mned fine pictures in 2011. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan Posted August 7, 2011 Share #19 Posted August 7, 2011 Not sure if i can follow you here. Some dSLRs are quieter than M8 or M9 and not that much bulky to be honest. Some EVILs or digicams like Fuji X100 can even be quieter and smaller so i don't think physical size and shutter/motor noise are valid criterions any more. To me the only criterion of M cameras is their rangefinder. Good examples are Leica M5 and Epson R-D1. Those are rather tall cameras, compared to some modern (d)SLRs, but both are rangefinders and offer specific experience as such. Try lugging a D3 + 70-200mm 2.8 VR and a D300 + 17-55mm 2.8 for a day of street shooting. I'm actually now thinking of selling the rest of my Nikon gear for a M8 or even M9... Since i'm not doing studio work anymore and mostly pleasure/art/street photography... Leica is just wow for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted August 7, 2011 Share #20 Posted August 7, 2011 All dSLs are not godzilla cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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