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Leaving the Leica Fold


Shootist

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Well It's time for me to say goodbye to Leica. I've had a great experience with Leica dating back to 1971/2 when I bought my first M3 and since 2007 when I bought the M8, 2 of them, and a host of top Leica lenses.

 

Thank you all, Leica the company and the users on these forums, for the ride.

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I don't want to spend the money on one of the new M 240 cameras. I'm older and about to retire. So I'm switching to something less demanding on my eyes. You know Auto Focus.

 

Thanks for the reply. All the best to you and your Leica experiences.

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Hello Shootist,

 

It is too bad you are giving up waiting for Leica or someone else to produce a reasonable autofocus camera that is compatable with existing "M" lenses & it is also too bad that you are giving up your equipment. That equipment probably represents a lot of how you approach the World photographically. As well as containing a lot of memories.

 

I began getting sick in 1993. I continued getting sicker until 2005. I spent from 2005 to 2007 dying off & on. That is 14 years of sickness & more sickness. Sickness than I would never wish 1 day of on anybody.

 

During that time period I got rid of, gave away. or otherwise disposed of all types of things, etc. It seemed logical. It was clear I would be dead soon. All my doctors agreed. I was just clearing things up to make things easier for people after.

 

In 2007, my doctors could not explain why, I started to get better.

 

This is 2014 & I am still here.

 

Your equipment is obviously quite important to you because you are writing about it here.

 

Let those who come after you worry about clearing away the rubble. It's not that much.

 

I would suggest that you be a little less "practical" in terms of the future & a bit more patient with an upcoming solution to M compatable autofocus which will most likely eventually arrive. Whether by Leica or someone else.

 

Also: You have already invested in over 5,000 Posts here. Whether or not you have or use Leica equipment has nothing whatsoever to do with whether you can or should continue participating here. The only provison for participation that requires Leitz/Leica equipment is: Photos displayed on this Forum should have been taken with a Leitz/Leica lens, a Leitz/Leica camera. or a Leitz/Leica lens & camera.

 

By the way, your vision might even get better.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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It does seem sad that, after so much participation over several years, you reach such a decision. You can test out your AF need with a modest compact camera, such as an X2, while keeping your cherished Leica kit safe for the day you feel the urge to use it again.

 

As we get older some people do feel happier with AF until they realise that it is not infallible. I use both and accept the slowish AF on the X series cameras. The results invariably lift my spirits. And when I feel so inclined, I take out my M9 with one or two lenses and rediscover the reason they appealed to me in the first place.

 

The fact that you have posted in this vein suggests to me that you are more flexible than you declare. Pause. Take a deep breath and launch yourself afresh. But don't rush into selling your long-loved precision equipment until you are mentally and physically unable to use it.

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Ed, all the best to you.

 

You hadn't been around here that much recently and I was wondering where you'd got off to.

 

Hate to see you go, but as others have suggested, festina lente.

 

Hope to see you around, but no matter what, enjoy yourself.

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I don't want to spend the money on one of the new M 240 cameras. I'm older and about to retire. So I'm switching to something less demanding on my eyes. You know Auto Focus.

 

Thanks for the reply. All the best to you and your Leica experiences.

Wait a few months, you never know….
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I don't want to spend the money on one of the new M 240 cameras. I'm older and about to retire. So I'm switching to something less demanding on my eyes. You know Auto Focus.

 

So why not try an XVario or wait for the new APS-C typT.

Might suit you perfectly.

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Ed,

 

Sorry to see you go if you decide to because you've provided excellent input to the forum over the years and kept some on the straight and narrow with your 'no nonsense, tell it like it is' attitude that I for one will miss.

 

I hope you decide to reconsider and remember that owning a Leica is not a pre-requisite to membership or participation.

 

Pete.

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Well shootist, sorry don't know your name, like most members you don't use your christen name at the end of your post.

 

However.

 

If you're still with us I am in the same boat as you are, I have contemplated in leaving this wonderful forum.

But unlike you, most will be happy to see the back of me, as I have annoyed a lot of members on my view points.

 

At this time what keeps me a Leica user is that wonderful stuff called Film, for my Digital use I switched to Canon so I can use my R lenses.

However last week I had the opportunity to play with the Fuji XT-1 and I must say it was love at first sight.

I was so impressed with it I bought the Fuji M to X adapter, so hoping to move into the X system with my M lenses.

 

What looks to me is I am going to rely on Fuji slide Film and Fuji Digital imaging for my photography.

I will also continue to use the Canon DSLR whenever I need the speed, just love the AF and IS.

 

Personally for me, I don't see any future ownership for Leica Digital cameras.

Digital ( electronic) imaging is a new ball game, will Leica continue to play, not with my money.

 

Good luck on your endeavour, I certainly think you made the right decission.

 

Ken.

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  • 1 month later...

Hope you find something that works well for you.

 

I am unfamiliar with 4/3 and mirrorless so I leave that to others.

 

Nikon is very good, but weight and size are not your advantage there. You will need to look at less than full frame.

 

Do not sell the Leica until you are satisfied with something.

 

You might consider one of the eyepiece magnifiers and/or corrective eyepieces, 1.25 for 50 mm, 1.4 for 75 and up.

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Wait a few months, you never know….

 

True.

 

As for selling off your Leica M kit, it may seem like the thing to do now, but 6-12 months down the road there is a good possibility that you will come to regret doing so. At that point, replacing your long lost M kit will be even more difficult due to ever increasing prices.

 

Bottom line - don't do something in haste that you will come to regret. Why not wait six months or so and see if you still feel like you should sell off your M kit after some time has passed?

 

JMHO...

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Hope you find something that works well for you.

 

I am unfamiliar with 4/3 and mirrorless so I leave that to others.

 

Nikon is very good, but weight and size are not your advantage there. You will need to look at less than full frame.

 

Do not sell the Leica until you are satisfied with something.

 

You might consider one of the eyepiece magnifiers and/or corrective eyepieces, 1.25 for 50 mm, 1.4 for 75 and up.

 

Already made the switch, Fujifilm X-E2. Still selling all Leica related stuff.

 

Been down that road with Diopters and magnifiers. I have several diopter lenses to sell. Really had no problems focusing any of the Leica cameras I've ever owned, as long as the rangefinder was adjusted properly.

 

Not sure I mentioned this previously but my biggest fear was my M8 failing and not being able to afford a repair, if it could be repaired. That said you can see from that statement I can't afford one of the newer Leica cameras. Times change and so has my income and expenses.

Something had to give.

Lets not get into the T or VariX (whatever it is called) systems.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

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