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I'm new to Leica having just purchased an X2. But I am an old-fashioned learner and enjoy reading books about various subjects. I was checking out Leica book on Amazon and there are several. i was wondering what you might recommend as a resource to learn more about the history of Leica, Leica cameras, lens and so on.

 

Any recommendations?

 

Thanks.

 

Ed

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I'm new to Leica having just purchased an X2. But I am an old-fashioned learner and enjoy reading books about various subjects. I was checking out Leica book on Amazon and there are several. i was wondering what you might recommend as a resource to learn more about the history of Leica, Leica cameras, lens and so on.
The book I like most for those three subjects is Erwin Puts's "Leica Chronicle":

 

Shop | The TAO of Leica

 

After some difficulties with publishers in the past, he publishes his books himself, so they run out of print quite quickly. I bought my copy of the Chronicle earlier this year from CameraBooks.

 

The subject is exactly what you ask for: a history of Leica, its cameras, and its lenses. Erwin has a track record of reviewing Leica lenses, so he gives comments -- based heavily on MTF tests -- of the quality of each lens.

 

Erwin is controversial among Leica users: he has advocates (of whom I suppose I am one) and opponents. Strengths are his encyclopaedic knowledge and his willingness to report whatever objective tests show him; controversy abounds as to whether he uses the right objective tests; a weakness is his tolerance of a high level of errata.

 

Later,

 

Dr Owl

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The book I like most for those three subjects is Erwin Puts's "Leica Chronicle":

 

Shop | The TAO of Leica

 

After some difficulties with publishers in the past, he publishes his books himself, so they run out of print quite quickly. I bought my copy of the Chronicle earlier this year from CameraBooks.

 

The subject is exactly what you ask for: a history of Leica, its cameras, and its lenses. Erwin has a track record of reviewing Leica lenses, so he gives comments -- based heavily on MTF tests -- of the quality of each lens.

 

Erwin is controversial among Leica users: he has advocates (of whom I suppose I am one) and opponents. Strengths are his encyclopaedic knowledge and his willingness to report whatever objective tests show him; controversy abounds as to whether he uses the right objective tests; a weakness is his tolerance of a high level of errata.

 

Later,

 

Dr Owl

 

that book has NO credibility in my eyes....as the M5 is not even categorized in the lineage of M cameras. FAIL. I also find Erwin Puts to be possibly the dullest writer i've ever read anything by. I flipped through that book once and was bored to tears. It might have good information, but it's not very enjoyable.

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that book has NO credibility in my eyes....as the M5 is not even categorized in the lineage of M cameras.

 

The M5 is covered in the section titled "Unusual Leica M Cameras." And the serial numbers are catalogued in the back along with the other M cameras.

 

I don't view books like this as fun reads; for me they serve more as reference material. In this regard, I think it serves quite adequately. His comments on the 90 M Macro-Elmar f4 as an outstanding general purpose 90 lens was alone worth it for me as I was considering various alternatives.

 

YMMV.

 

Jeff

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I have two books from Erwin the very big Leica Compendium and the more recent Chronicle, I also have the small pocket book which is lens focussed the hove Leica pocket book

 

If you treat the bigger Erwin books as reference the long somewhat dry content is perfectly acceptable in my eyes. Erwin does try to cover things both factually and adds context and sometimes a more laymans evaluation. They have been useful for me (I mainly look at the lens sections)

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If it's rangefinders you will be interested in, read Gunter Osterloh .....well-written books by someone from an appropriate professional background.

I think the Osterloh book has been reprinted and is both informative and readable. However Puts' Leica Compendium is a treasure trove of information which use for reference purposes. Each author has different objectives and approaches to the subject.

 

Although out of print, Brian Bower has authored several books on Leica cameras and lenses. You will find used copies if you search.

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A word for Jonathan Eastland's M Compendium. There are a couple of howlers but overall it flows better than Osterloh and is less dense than Puts - and let's face it, the Sahara isn't as dry as Erwin...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Sent from another Galaxy

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Thanks for the tips. I will check out some of these titles. I love books almost as much as I love cameras and they are usually more affordable!

 

Right now I have an X2. The only way I will be able to afford an M and some glass is to sell my entire Canon kit which I am not quite ready to do just yet... but I am seriously thinking about it.

 

Ed

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If you really want to see the older system "stuff" in some detail you probably need one of the various years of The Leica Way by Matteson. A Good condition used copy should be under $20 USD and well worth the price. It (the later ones) contain a lot of "flex" info too. regards, ron

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LEICA FOTOGRAFIE INTERNATIONAL or LFI is a useful, if less convenient, source of authoritative information on Leica equipment. I produced my own index of items of interest to me. For example, LFI 7/2004 has several really informative articles on the theme '50 Years Of Leica M'. I guess next year we will see '60 Years of Leica M'. The problem is finding these historical gems. Occasionally sets do come on the market. Alternatively, advertise your 'Wants' here. Mine are not for sale just yet. Sorry!

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  • 1 year later...

'allo 'allo

 

I've got Brian Bower's Leica M Digital Photography. I like it. But do anybody know how to get the M9 insert??? I "just" got the M8/M8.2 version of the book...

 

niels

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The "Leica Collectors & Historica" archives is the reference - and particularly three authors with Italian names, who succeed at sharing true knowledge and surprise almost all other collectors and followers.

This, if you don't speak German and hence google-translate makes a mesh of the same thread in the second half of this forum.

 

+ recent auction catalogues, read wisely and taking "news" as orientation.

And not disregarding ubiquitous news from the art dealers's world about forgeries.

 

e-bay? Nothing complex can be mastered (or even studied) the easy way, imo. Have fun! :)

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Many good suggestions. Look into joining Leica Historical Society (LHSA) which now focuses more on present and not just the past.

 

The history of Leicas from 1930s to current day are fascinating to learn about. Learn about the myriad adapters and tools to solve virtually any photographic challenge. You may even learn some of the code names like CTOOM (hint, helps to use a flash).

 

Jim Lager and Van Hoesbrook (sp?) wrote some enjoyable books too which may be on eBay.

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