Really “Is it the end of M road”?

[jaapv]

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I AM old, much to my chagrin

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[dantemi]

Yes indeed, AF is required for certain type of photography, for the genres I’m used to shoot (street, portraits and landscapes) MF is the way to go and by far quicker than the X1D AF, always hunting for the right target

[M11 for me]

It is rumoured that the M10-P will be here soon. That will then definitely be the ultimate last one. 

[frame-it]

here you go...an amazing technically mind blowing selfie

 

https://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/de/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/10/image002.jpg

 

 

Three, no, four pages on nobody to judge Leica. Google can't find almost any photo taken by this digiloid.

[rpittal]

Three, no, four pages on nobody to judge Leica. Google can't find almost any photo taken by this digiloid.

 

well, he has some very nice photographs from the eastern sierra where he spends most of his time evaluating stuff. However, I doubt I will renew my subscription with him as the return on investment (his term for selecting items to review to encourage new subscribers) is very low for me now considering his current equipment choices. He really fell off the Leica band wagon several years ago when he was selling a number of Leica lenses at a time when used prices were low (he had expected to sell for at least what he paid for them, I believe, based on his comments).

[6bit]

I am on holiday in Ireland at the moment. I have an M10 and SL with me. I brought the SL for the 21/3.4 and long exposures. Both are great cameras.

[pgk]

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AF and MF are both useful when they are appropriately used. But, as has been discussed ad infinitum, trying to bolt AF onto an M is compromised in numerous ways and is totally pointless when there are better alternatives available. Doing so would be like connecting a contraption to move a manual gear shift lever in a car so that it can be automated, rather than use an automatic transmission - I'm sure that its technically possible but why do it?

[6bit]

I just bolt MF on the SL for long and wide lenses. Also for my Nocti when shooting wide open.

[willeica]

I am on holiday in Ireland at the moment. I have an M10 and SL with me. I brought the SL for the 21/3.4 and long exposures. Both are great cameras.

 

Welcome to Ireland. Forget about the cameras. Just enjoy your holidays and if you see something you wish to photograph just use the one that is nearest to you.

 

William

[6bit]

Thank you. Heading to Belfast today then we start visiting the west coast. Lovely place.

 

That’s usually how it goes with the cameras.

[cp995]

Welcome to Ireland. Forget about the cameras. Just enjoy your holidays ..

 

 

For me "enjoying my holidays" is synonym with "enjoying my camera"

[budjames]

Lloyd Chambers is a smart tech guy. I have read and benefitted from his writings over the years, especially those about Mac computer hardware. 

 

That said, I don't recall ever seeing a well executed photo on his web site. He clearly likes the max-pixel bodies and associated lenses. He is the ultimate pixel peeper and that probably works for most of his readers.

 

In my office, I have 16x20 prints that I printed on my Epson P800 printer hanging on my wall shot with 16MP Fuji X cameras. I can't tell the difference in image quality between these prints and the ones from my Canon 5D Mark III hanging next to them. Nobody whoever visited my office has complained about the lack of pixels. Instead, the love the high quality of my photography.

 

Since leaving Canon pro DSLR and L lenses 4-1/2 years ago to move to Fuji X, my travel photography exploded with improved image quality that these smaller and lighter mirrorless systems are capable of. My current Fuji bodies, the XT2 and XH1, are very advanced and the Fuji XF lenses are an improvement over the older Canon L lenses that I used to own. My Fuji kit is much lighter and smaller than my previous Canon kit.

 

In Dec 2017 I purchased my first Leica, the M10. I since purchased a few Leica lenses and a second M10 body, all in black. Once I learned how to reliably and quickly manual focus again, I am super impressed with the Leica image quality and the simplicity of the camera operations.

 

I have shot almost exclusively with Leica since January. I love the form factor of the Leica M. I am going to New Zealand in the fall for a 4 week vacation to pick up my son who will be finishing a semester abroad. I will be taking my 2 M10s and my Summilux 35 and 50, Summicron 75 and Super Elmar 18 lenses. All of this fits very nicely in my Hadley Pro bag. I really looking forward to my first Leica travel vacation.

 

It's great that we have choices to fit all budgets and personal preferences. I am fortunate that I own a wealth management practice that affords me the resources to be able to afford Leica gear and fantastic travel experiences for me and my family. It's a great time to be a photography.

 

Regards,

Bud James

 

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

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Edited August 4, 2018 by budjames

[cp995]

 

Lloyd Chambers is a smart tech guy. I have read and benefitted from his writings over the years, especially those about Mac computer hardware. 

 

That said, I don't recall ever seeing a well executed photo on his web site. He clearly likes the max-pixel bodies and associated lenses. He is the ultimate pixel peeper and that probably works for most of his readers....

 

O.k., that means only bla bla, without any real photographical reference!

That confirms our thoughts reg. his blog post ...

Edited August 4, 2018 by cp995

[TomB_tx]

When I bought my M4 in 1968 the Leica M design was already considered dated and on its last legs. I didn’t care then, and I don’t care now - it is how I like to do photography. The M 5&6 added a TTL meter - not new tech, just a convenience tweak. As digital imaging improved in the early 2000s I hoped someone would make a digital back for my M6, to add the convenience of digital to the camera that seemed perfect for me.

The M9 basically did that, adding digital convenience to obsolete technology. I loved it, and could care less about all the new camera tech that came out year after year. While my M9 was away having its sensor replaced (for free, years after anyone should expect such free service) I ordered an M10. Again, just minor tweaks to obsolete tech. So what, it’s a joy to use.

Last month I travelled using both the M10 and M6. The M10 results are lovely, but this week I got back the M6 Ektar shots. My wife and I prefer the film results over the digital.

So I’ll let the kids go nuts over all the new technical bling. I’m happy with obsolete tech. (But then most days I still drive a 1973 Beetle.)

Edited August 4, 2018 by TomB_tx

[schattenundlicht]

Thanks everybody for reading that blog for me, which obviates my need to add to his click revenue

[glenerrolrd]

O.k., that means only bla bla, without any real photographical reference!

That confirms our thoughts reg. his blog post ...

 

Sort of a non sense comment .

 

 lloyd is an exceptional scientist ....his testing methods blow away the subjective BS from otherwise terrific photographers .  He works hard to understand the technology and attempts to keep his testing methods leading edge .  He provides a reader with all the relevant data in raw form ...you can look at his captures in incredible detail and at every aperture .  He is the best I have found in creating real compatibles (apples to apples ).  Want to compare the aesthetic of a Nikon,Leitz and Zeiss Otus ..where can you find something that is done well ? 

 

I have reviewed most all of his tests and compared my gear to each report ..his information is valid . 

 

Where Lloyd and I differ is in his conclusions ....photographic kit of all kinds needs to be evaluated in THE CONTEXT ...of its intended us and consideration needs to be given to pure irrational ???  subjectivity .   he should not be drawing broad sweeping conclusions based on his own bias .   Few photographers have the resources, time and skill to be printing at 36 inch wide or even viewing images on a 5K iMac .  If this was the standard a very large percentage of otherwise brilliant street photography would be viewed as just not sharp enough for critical work .  

 

A photographer can learn quite a lot from Lloyd s website and you do not have to agree with his conclusions to benefit .   Keep in mind I do not get along with Lloyd nor he with me ..so I am not a fan boy .  

[Keith_W]

You need a motor to turn the focus cam on an M lens. Where would you put it?

 

Guess you haven't heard of the TechArt autofocus adapter that allows you to use an M lens (or any manual focus lens) on a Sony body AND get autofocus. 

 

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-techart-pro-leica-m-sony-e-autofocus-adapter/

 

Yes it's ugly. And it has a few significant limitations. But hey, it's AF. 

[01af]

Let alone that you couldn’t call it an M anymore at all.

That's the allure thereof—it still would be a true M.

 

 

... depends on how many auto-focus points are and what types. Market loves more points.

Photographers love having one point.

 

 

AF's value is less than zero.

Oh dear ... what a grumpy old curmudgeon you are.

 

As a matter of fact, I bought into the M system because I was fed up with auto-focus. And yet, I'd love to have the kind of (optional) auto-focus that the Techart Pro adapter provides with Sony Alpha 7 or 9 bodies and M lenses. Try it, and you'll become a convert.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Ko.Fe.]

AF/MF debate here is funny in connection with article in OP and one and only picture in this article.

Based on what is photographed in the article the AF argument is noncence. You don't need AF for typical one from billions landscape shot. Not with Leica, it does have lenses for it with clear focus and distance scale. It is not typical modern economy type of FuSoCa lens without anything on the lens barrel. You must have AF to deal with them.

So then I see MF bashing arguments and calling Jaap old in connection with photo of this Rockwell-little expert landscape shot .. It is funny indeed.

Is this unknown to Google expert actually knows what for Leica and MF are in use for decades? Perhaps at the top of the hill he is sitting on and for MF bashers it is not clearlly visible yet, but Leica always was and is street, reportage camera.

Not for easy, peasy shots dominating LUF, but for tough job like Winogrand did. No AF, no face recognition and AF tracking will do.

Leica and its lenses are for close and chaos. They are for those who want to be confident in results. It is only with Leica I could walk in the crowd and frame it while another eye keeps me oriented in the crowd. It is only Leica focus tab and smooth focus allows me to react on where I need focus to be in the crowd. If you work in the crowd, but this "expert" seems to slap Leica on tripod and taking vista view from the top of his hill.

[jaapv]

Sort of a non sense comment .

 

 lloyd is an exceptional scientist ....his testing methods blow away the subjective BS from otherwise terrific photographers .  He works hard to understand the technology and attempts to keep his testing methods leading edge .  He provides a reader with all the relevant data in raw form ...you can look at his captures in incredible detail and at every aperture .  He is the best I have found in creating real compatibles (apples to apples ).  Want to compare the aesthetic of a Nikon,Leitz and Zeiss Otus ..where can you find something that is done well ? 

 

I have reviewed most all of his tests and compared my gear to each report ..his information is valid . 

 

Where Lloyd and I differ is in his conclusions ....photographic kit of all kinds needs to be evaluated in THE CONTEXT ...of its intended us and consideration needs to be given to pure irrational ???  subjectivity .   he should not be drawing broad sweeping conclusions based on his own bias .   Few photographers have the resources, time and skill to be printing at 36 inch wide or even viewing images on a 5K iMac .  If this was the standard a very large percentage of otherwise brilliant street photography would be viewed as just not sharp enough for critical work .  

 

A photographer can learn quite a lot from Lloyd s website and you do not have to agree with his conclusions to benefit .   Keep in mind I do not get along with Lloyd nor he with me ..so I am not a fan boy .  

That is not quite correct. He sometimes lacks basic photographic knowledge. On one occasion he put a red filter on the Monochrom and wrote an upset/angry blog that it exhibited misfocus and he needed "to investigate this fault further". There are more of such gaffes.