Do I really need an autofocus camera in addition to my M10-R?

[simplicity]

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Hello everyone 

Alex here. I am a passionate photographer who fulfilled myself the dream of my own M last Christmas. 
The M10-R was the dream model. Currently I use it with Voigtländer 35mm f2 Ultron and 50mm Nokton f1.2. In addition, the 28mm f2 ultron will most likely move in.
With this, I covered the vast majority of situations with great lenses. 

Now I'm in the process of terminating my part-time photo business at the moment. After more than 40 weddings parallel to the main job, the desire for photographing weddings it is slowly being lost and it is becoming a burden. 
In the future, I would like to concentrate photographically only on my family (wife and 2 kids aged 5 and 7) and small private projects (series of 5 or 10 on certain small topics) or street photography. 

From the wedding photography I still have the Fuji X-H2S with 23/1.4 + 33/1.4 + 75/1.2 and 16-55/2.8 "left". A great quality equipment, but the camera doesn't motivate me to pick it up. 
To buy the Leica I had sold my fuji X100V. Of course, I'm currently looking at the X100VI and often think about whether I need an AF camera in addition to my M? 
For snapshots I can also take the M with a 28mm lens with e.g. aperture 8 and have almost everything in focus without really focusing necessary.

Maybe someone has gone through something similar or dealt with similar thoughts? 

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[Al Brown]

Nobody can answer what you need for you.
But you do not need it.

[simplicity]

vor 6 Minuten schrieb Al Brown:

But you do not need it.

Thanks for your opinion.

vor 6 Minuten schrieb Al Brown:

Nobody can answer what you need for you.

because of that:

vor 16 Minuten schrieb simplicity:

Maybe someone has gone through something similar or dealt with similar thoughts? 

 

[Dazzajl]

51 minutes ago, simplicity said:

Maybe someone has gone through something similar or dealt with similar thoughts? 

Yup, that’s me. 
 

A full time snapper using Fuji GFX and X kit, along with a little army of DJI goodies. Earlier this year I bought an M8 because none of the amazing cameras I work with inspire me to pick them up again when I’m off the leash and shooting for myself anymore. 
 

There are things I miss when shooting with the M8 but none of them are AF and all are addressed with your M10-R. I’d like low light capability sometimes. I’d like a camera that writes files a little quicker sometimes and very occasionally, I’d like a few more pixels to crop into. My plan to ‘solve’ these issues is an M9M but that’s besides the point. 
 

In your shoes, I’d probably move the Fuji kit along for something else. The H2S is amazing and incidentally has one of Fuji’s best sounding shutters but it’s still just a machine compared to the feel of shooting your M. 
 

The X100 would be a good partner to you Leica if you wanted a small, responsive very modern camera in your bag too that feels feels soulful to use. Or perhaps jump fully and investigate a Q. Not quite as modern and responsive but undeniably fabulous. 
 

Those opinions are of course worth exactly what you’ve just paid for them

[Anbaric]

Quote

From the wedding photography I still have the Fuji X-H2S with 23/1.4 + 33/1.4 + 75/1.2 and 16-55/2.8 "left". A great quality equipment, but the camera doesn't motivate me to pick it up. To buy the Leica I had sold my fuji X100V. Of course, I'm currently looking at the X100VI and often think about whether I need an AF camera in addition to my M? 

I would turn that around and, rather than asking which camera motivates you to pick it up, think about what you want to shoot and whether it would benefit from a camera with AF and this range of lenses. What is the best tool for the job? Your Fuji is in many ways more versatile than your Leica, but that only matters if you need its capabilities for the kind of photos you will be taking. Personally, I wouldn't want to be without a system that has zoom lenses and fast AF because I couldn't get some shots without them, but that's just me. I have an X100T because it's small enough to take everywhere, which your X-H2S or my Nikon SLRs wouldn't be, but it's also less versatile than the bigger system cameras. If it's a choice between the X-H2S and the X100VI, which would complement your Leica better - a smaller camera, or a more versatile one? Or is neither really necessary for what you'll be shooting?

[Luke_Miller]

I started pre-autofocus and find most if not all my personal photography can still be done using manual focus.  Especially with the M rangefinder which I can focus faster than other manual focus systems.  I also do a lot of event shooting with active subjects where I have to shoot very quickly to get the grouping, expression, gesture I am trying to capture.  There I generally prefer the speed of autofocus but will often mount one of my manual focus lenses. IMO the answer to your question is determined by your proficiency with manual focus and the subjects you like to photograph.

[jgeenen]

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I keep my MFT gear to do macro and product shots, be prepared for sport events and for a bit of wildlife/safari photography. Especially sports might trigger needs to get faster (AF) and closer (telephoto zoom) to the subject. My fast AF MFT prime lenses however had collected dust, therefore I sold those. 

Edited October 10, 2024 by jgeenen

[TomB_tx]

I've used manual focus cameras for 60 years, and much prefer them (especially M rangefinders). But autofocus has gotten a whole lot better and more intelligent, with face and eye AF. When I'm not serious about making photos I may carry a small digital, or when watching grandkids in sports a TTL mirrorless with zoom & good AF, so I can just enjoy watching the kids and action but still grab some shots for them without effort. That's when I want to be primarily a spectator, not a photographer.

[Topsy]

Sounds to me like a D-Lux 7 or 8 would compliment your M system.

[CP93]

It’s not costing you anything right now. Sit on it for six months, and if you haven’t taken it out, then sell it.

[newtoleica]

Agree sit on it for a bit….

if I shot sports or wildlife I would want AF. I don’t.

i do street, documentary and family stuff. I simply love my M kit. It does all I want. 
 

I have a Q2. I use it for two things. Pouring rain. Casual stick a camera on my shoulder family trips or holiday where photography is very secondary and I don’t want to be concentrating on it. Kind of stuff people use their phones for, except I never feel happy using a phone as a camera. 

[dugby]

13 hours ago, simplicity said:

For snapshots I can also take the M with a 28mm lens with e.g. aperture 8 and have almost everything in focus without really focusing necessary.

 

Maybe someone has gone through something similar or dealt with similar thoughts? 

I have been a photographer for 50 yrs, and enjoy shooting my M10-R with either 50APO, 35FLE, but for those times for an AF-snapshot-camera which has the Leica DNA in it's images, I shoot an Leica X2 , the workflow in Lightroom is mostly identical with the two.

I was pleasantly surprised how complimentary the images are, and how light weight the X2 is.  When Leica introduced the X2, it was described in Leica literature as the Micro-M camera.

 

Edited October 11, 2024 by dugby

[intangiblethings]

I sold my M10-P (still have CLE/MP/M10M) and picked up a Nikon Zf + Techart AF adapter so I could repurpose all my lenses. 

The Zf is the first camera I grab when heading I'm heading out with the family or at home. 

[simplicity]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb intangiblethings:

The Zf is the first camera I grab when heading I'm heading out with the family or at home. 

but only with manual lenses or also AF lenses?

[3D-Kraft.com]

vor 17 Stunden schrieb simplicity:

For snapshots I can also take the M with a 28mm lens with e.g. aperture 8 and have almost everything in focus without really focusing necessary.

That's about the kind of photography, you also can use a mobile phone for...

I use the M9, when I just want to have fun and enjoy creating / taking a photo. In situations, where I simply must get the job done with almost 100% hit rate even in very dynamic low light situations, I use the Sony A1. So - in my opinion - you need both.

Edited October 11, 2024 by 3D-Kraft.com

[simplicity]

vor 35 Minuten schrieb 3D-Kraft.com:

That's about the kind of photography, you also can use a mobile phone for...

That's right  but the joy of photography with a real camera is way more 😉 

[simplicity]

vor 15 Stunden schrieb CP93:

It’s not costing you anything right now. Sit on it for six months, and if you haven’t taken it out, then sell it.

sounds as the most reasonible solution at the moment without any extra costs 😉 

[simplicity]

vor 15 Stunden schrieb Topsy:

Sounds to me like a D-Lux 7 or 8 would compliment your M system.

also thought about the D-Lux 8 as nice everyday camera. great body design. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Topsy]

2 minutes ago, simplicity said:

also thought about the D-Lux 8 as nice everyday camera. great body design. 

I have the Typ109 and whilst I have many other camera systems including M9s if I am only going out for errands or don't want to take a bag with bigger cameras my Typ109 delivers plenty good enough photos. I grabbed this shot with it whilst out on a motorcycle ride.

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[M11 for me]

vor 3 Minuten schrieb Topsy:

I have the Typ109 and whilst I have many other camera systems including M9s if I am only going out for errands or don't want to take a bag with bigger cameras my Typ109 delivers plenty good enough photos. I grabbed this shot with it whilst out on a motorcycle ride.

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Beautiful.

And I presume that no autofocus would ever be needed for such a sceene.