What draws you to Leica?

[malsop]

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First is was the size: It easily fit in my Harley saddlebags whereas my big Nikons with the Zeiss lenses were difficult to pack. After I got familiar with it I found I liked just about everything about it: size, IQ, viewfinder, simplicity.

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[paulj03]

1. Lens clarity -> dynamic range and sharpness

2. Ease of focussing with rangefinder -> sharpness (I have very bad eyes)

3. Ability to isolate (with the lens wide open and the subject close, the depth of field is so shallow that it can isolate the subject from the background in even the most complex scenes)

4. Contrast -> great tonal range

5. Simplicity and speed/ease of use

 

This leads to creativity and photographic vision.

[wilfredo]

For me originally it was the name. Owning a Leica meant you had arrived at the top of your game.

Connected to that are the legendary photographs taken with Leica's, especially by the Magnum group.

 

The simplicity and size of the rangefinder also appealed to me. The classic look of the new digital M's keeps me in the family. My M8 still produces my most satisfactory files.

[leicanut2]

A few year ago I got to go back stage at a Cheech and Chong show and they let me take a few pics, when Cheech saw the red dot on my camera he said, " Ah a real camera " I guess for me that says it all.

But right now they have surpassed my wallets ability to handle the cost, at least for maybe the next year or so.

I also think Leica should increase the warranty to 5 years, at no extra cost. Because it would bring back the confidence I had when I got my MP back in the day.

[Borbarad]

Well... Because everyone thinks I'm stinking rich while I'm not

 

 

B

[!Nomad64]

Lots of reasons.

First of all, photographically speaking I'm born with a rangefinder camera I inherited from my father. Tried to adapt and use several SLRs but we never made really friends.

SLR view is quite like looking into a tube, it looks fuzzy until it's not properly focused and it doesn't even show the 100% of the image one's going to shoot.

The Leica viewfinder is smaller indeed but it shows what's around the image and helps controlling that no unwanted elements are popping in and always shows a clear image. Also until the arrival of autofocus systems the rangefinder has always been quicker and more intuitive to use.

Leica RF cameras are more compact and silent than SRLs, barring the M8.

However tarred by necessary compromises build quality is still superlative if compared to the rest of the current camera productions. High quality glass and beautifully machined metal vs. cheaper glass and plastic.

Handling feeling is also great.

Leica's history, legend and mythology also have their part.

Finally, there's no competitors. Even if I wanted to consider an alternative there aren't. There's currently no other digital rangefinder camera and CV and Zeiss cameras simply aren't up to the same quality level.

 

Cheers,

Bruno

[CalArts 99]

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Format, size, build quality, and excellent yet small optics. All those things that Leica was marketing to the public back in the 1920s and which put them on the map in the first place.

 

In respect to just image quality, of course there are other equally good choices. We all know it's really about light, composition, content/context, etc., that makes a good photograph. But the form factor and ergonomics makes Leica appealing to many, including myself. Tools have to feel good otherwise they won't get used.

[Luke_Miller]

To paraphrase John F Kennedy " I choose to shoot with Leica, not because it is easy, but because it is hard."

 

While I miss some shots I would have gotten with my DSLR, I get much more satisfaction when I nail the shot with my M9. Automation has its place, but when I photograph for enjoyment the Leica is in my hand.