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Captured by Militant Leica Group - Wetzlar Syndrome

Vroon

By Vroon
in Leica M10

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Vroon

Vroon

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I think that after hanging around on this forum for a short time I may have been captured by a covert but very militant group of Leica fanatics. I now feel that I may have lost all reason and may shortly be spending a huge amount of cash on an M10 and expensive glass.

 

It’s irrational I know, it won’t make me a better photographer.

 

Is there any hope or is all now lost ?

 

Simon

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a.noctilux

a.noctilux

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:D

Simon, you are done !

 

Pleasure to hold, use, search, wait for Leica (Leitz before that even worse ! ) stuff has nothing to do with "amount of cash".

The level of this "pleasure" is not (for me) related to the level of "cash to spend".

 

They are so many hobbies that are so much more expensive (golf, yachting, nice cars, etc.).

Enjoy your Leica.

 

Wait a minute ... you can even take some "nice pictures" with them ;) .

Edited by a.noctilux
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Tailwagger

Tailwagger

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You're free to come and go as you please. No one here is held against their will, only because of it.  But there's truly nothing irrational about photography undertaken with an M, assuming your primary intentions don't regularly exceed its brief.  It might not be the most technologically advanced camera you could buy, nor the least expensive, but it is hard to argue that its not singularly the most rational implementation of one.

 

Perhaps you're already sufficient accomplished, but for more than a few, I'd count myself among them, there is a fairly good chance that working with a M over a period of time will indeed improve one's photography, if only because to be successful one has to exert more direct control and use a bit more imagination to see the final result.  Of necessity, when shooting with an M, the act of photography becomes a far more conscious act than with any other digital camera.  More thinking typically leads to better outcomes. 

 

Either way, investing in an M is really a bet on one's self. It is only an irrational extravagance if you allow it to gather more dust than photons. 

Edited by Tailwagger
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Keith (M)

Keith (M)

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Either way, investing in an M is really a bet on one's self. It is only an irrational extravagance if you allow it to gather more dust than photons. 

 

Aye, and therein lies the rub.  M240, M7, MP & R5 (+ Hasselblad 500C, Fuji GW690, Olympus OM2n, Pentax ME Super).  Oh, and Sony A6500.  So many cameras, so little time.

 

PS - you may well be wondering why a non-M10 owner is browsing the M10 forum.  Well...

Edited by Keith (M)
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Herr Barnack

Herr Barnack

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I think that after hanging around on this forum for a short time I may have been captured by a covert but very militant group of Leica fanatics. I now feel that I may have lost all reason and may shortly be spending a huge amount of cash on an M10 and expensive glass.

 

It’s irrational I know, it won’t make me a better photographer.

 

Is there any hope or is all now lost ?

 

Simon

 

No, Simon - there is no hope; all is lost.  I have long been of the opinion that the home page of this forum should have a banner which reads Lass alle hoffen, die hier eintreten ("Abandon hope all ye who enter here").  :lol:

 

 

...it won’t make me a better photographer...

 

That statement is not necessarily accurate.

 

When you have a camera like a Leica M - whether it is a film M or a digital M - using that camera makes photography much more enjoyable in my experience.  A highly refined design like the M that is impeccably crafted, built with to hell and back reliability and beautifully finished will make you want to advance to the next the level and improve the quality of your images - and to the level after that.  It will make you want to hone your photographic vision and skills.  It will make you want to do more and get better.  That desire to improve and excel will make you spend more time with your eye glued to the little round window on the back left corner of the camera with your right index finger poised on the shutter release button. 

 

The accumulation of thousands of hours of that kind of practice - year in, year out - will make you a better photographer.  As Tailwagger said above, "Either way, investing in an M is really a bet on one's self."  Hear, hear.

 

Leica M cameras and lenses are not for everyone; each person knows going in how much photography matters to them.  If photography is really not that big of a deal to a person, I would recommend they not spend $8000 on an M10-P and another $3000 - 4000 on a lens or $6000 - 8000 for a two lens kit.  Even if they have the financial means to do so.

 

However:  If you love photography as much as you love to breathe and you can't get the thought of owning and using an M camera out of your head - I say take a chance and make that bet on yourself.

 

JMHO based on my own experience.

Edited by Herr Barnack
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schattenundlicht

schattenundlicht

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[...] I have long been of the opinion that the home page of this forum should have a banner which reads Lass alle hoffen, die hier eintreten ("Abandon hope all ye who enter here").  :lol:

[...]

I do not want to play spoilsport, but the correct German translation of Dante Alighieri‘s

„Lasciate ogni speranza, voi che entrate.“

would rather be

„Ihr, die ihr eintretet, lasst alle Hoffnung fahren.“

 

Your version would retranslate into English: „Let everybody hope, who enters here“ which is a bit of the contrary ;)

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pico

pico

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I think that after hanging around on this forum for a short time I may have been captured by a covert

but very militant group of Leica fanatics.

Play the victim if you wish, but it will only diminish your integrity.

.

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Mute-on

Mute-on

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By all means, buy an M10 and a lens of your choice. Not a “set”, just one lens. Then go out and take photos.

 

Some here would rather talk about the accumulation of hysterically expensive equipment than actually using it AND becoming a better photographer. If you can avoid becoming one of those “Leica fanatics” , you are on the right track.

 

This is all meant to be FUN.

 

Enjoy!

 

Cheers,

 

J :)

Edited by Mute-on
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StilettodudeQ

StilettodudeQ

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I too have fallen under the spell of impeccable engineering in photography.  A Leica camera will not enable a person to become an accomplished photographer, but it will never limit one who has potential.  I invested in Leica (D-Lux, Q, M10) in spite of having a considerable collection of Pentax cameras (K1, K5iis) and lenses.  They still have a solid place in my hobby, but my Leica cameras will always challenge me to tackle the basics and become a better photographer.

 

True, the investment is heavy, but it does make one think twice about their motives.  If you are convinced about your passion, then jump right in.

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Chaemono

Chaemono

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Posted (edited)

I think that after hanging around on this forum for a short time I may have been captured by a covert but very militant group of Leica fanatics. I now feel that I may have lost all reason and may shortly be spending a huge amount of cash on an M10 and expensive glass.

 

It’s irrational I know, it won’t make me a better photographer.

 

Is there any hope or is all now lost ?

 

Simon

You exhibit similar characteristics to women in burqas. There is therapy for that. See here from the MuslimVillage.com https://www.google.de/amp/s/muslimvillage.com/2016/01/30/116402/retail-therapy-trap-consumerism/amp/ Edited by Chaemono
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Herr Barnack

Herr Barnack

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I do not want to play spoilsport, but the correct German translation of Dante Alighieri‘s

„Lasciate ogni speranza, voi che entrate.“

would rather be

„Ihr, die ihr eintretet, lasst alle Hoffnung fahren.“

 

Your version would retranslate into English: „Let everybody hope, who enters here“ which is a bit of the contrary ;)

 

Damn you to hell, Google translate!

 

This reminds me of a passage from a David Sedaris book where he went into a butcher shop in France and attempted to buy cow brains using his French.  The transaction did not go smoothly.  After the fact, he was told that he had asked the butcher, "Is them the thoughts of cows?"

Edited by Herr Barnack
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budjames

budjames

Posted
Posted (edited)

:D

Simon, you are done !

 

Pleasure to hold, use, search, wait for Leica (Leitz before that even worse ! ) stuff has nothing to do with "amount of cash".

The level of this "pleasure" is not (for me) related to the level of "cash to spend".

 

They are so many hobbies that are so much more expensive (golf, yachting, nice cars, etc.).

Enjoy your Leica.

 

Wait a minute ... you can even take some "nice pictures" with them ;) .

 

 

I use my "expensive" Leicas and glass to take pictures of cars and planes that I cannot afford :D

 

But seriously, I love the Leica experience and I will be taking my Leica kit on my next travel vacation to New Zealand and Australia later this year. My previous travel kit was a Fuji-X with Fuji XF primes which I still own and use.

 

About the car comment, I do attend car shows as I'm a car guy. My current daily driver is a 2017 Audi S6, the sixth Audi I have owned. The attached photo was shot with my M10 and Summilux 50.

 

Regards,

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

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited by budjames
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Vroon

Vroon

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Cheers bud. You can’t go far wrong with an Audi. I have an A3 1.5 TFSI Sportback Black Edition. Darn that B&O stereo really pumps out nice sounds. A bit off topic.

 

Probably going for an M10 with an earlier Summicron to start with.....

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budjames

budjames

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Cheers bud. You can’t go far wrong with an Audi. I have an A3 1.5 TFSI Sportback Black Edition. Darn that B&O stereo really pumps out nice sounds. A bit off topic.

 

Probably going for an M10 with an earlier Summicron to start with.....

 

 

Vroon,

 

I suggest that you go for the current version of the Summilux 50. Amazing glass! Call Ken Hansen to see if he has a used one available. He has the best prices, no sales tax or shipping costs. He is the largest volume Leica dealer in the USA, allegedly, and he doesn't even have a web site.

 

Even if you have to buy a new one, "buy once, cry once!"

 

Regarding Audi, I was at my Audi dealership, Audi of Willow Grove in PA, last week. They had a new RS3 in black on the showroom floor. That is a very aggressive looking car with 400HP. It must be a blast to drive. I'm 6'5" with long legs, so I need a larger car so the A3 format would not work for me.

 

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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