Regret buying a Digital M. Can't compare to a film M

[jaapv]

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I think that the content of a photograph is far more important than the technology used. 

[kivis]

Nothing compares to a recently CLA on an M3.

[atournas]

On 4/8/2025 at 11:50 PM, jaapv said:

I think that the content of a photograph is far more important than the technology used. 

I agree but the question is “can you do everything with a [digital] Leica”?

[costa43]

I enjoy both mediums very much but I prefer the visual output of film. I used to try and get digital images to look like film but now I’ve embraced digital for what it is and shoot them both to their respective strengths. I use film exclusively for my personal projects and I tend to use digital for much of my family and everyday shooting. It would cost me a small fortune to use film and chase my young daughter around trying to get a good shot. I also enjoy the interchangeable lens aspect of having both a digital M and film M. On trips I tend to carry both with me.

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, atournas said:

I agree but the question is “can you do everything with a [digital] Leica”?

Define everything.  

[Paulus]

vor einer Stunde schrieb costa43:

I enjoy both mediums very much but I prefer the visual output of film. I used to try and get digital images to look like film but now I’ve embraced digital for what it is and shoot them both to their respective strengths. I use film exclusively for my personal projects and I tend to use digital for much of my family and everyday shooting. It would cost me a small fortune to use film and chase my young daughter around trying to get a good shot. I also enjoy the interchangeable lens aspect of having both a digital M and film M. On trips I tend to carry both with me.

You must not chase your daughter around, it’s better to wait untill she stands still and doesn’t notice you…that’s where an M camera is build for.

 

I know what I’m talking about:

https://pauljoostenfotograaf.smugmug.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Edited April 13 by Paulus

[malligator]

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On 4/8/2025 at 11:05 AM, brickftl said:

the two approaches don't need to be exclusive, you can shoot film when you're in the mood for that, and likewise shoot digital when that strikes your fancy.

But shooting is just the start. For me, at least, the only thing that matters is the print. Having a mature workflow from exposure to print for both film and digital is just not something I'm interested in. I'm also not interested in scanning or digitizing my negatives. My darkroom is my happy place.

This is not evidence or an argument that film is better. I'm just explaining why switching back and forth between film and digital is a no-go for me (and perhaps others). I guess folks that scan their negatives then print digitally (or post online) could, but then I have to ask why shoot film at all?

Edited April 13 by malligator

[Paulus]

vor 20 Stunden schrieb malligator:

But shooting is just the start. For me, at least, the only thing that matters is the print. Having a mature workflow from exposure to print for both film and digital is just not something I'm interested in. I'm also not interested in scanning or digitizing my negatives. My darkroom is my happy place.

This is not evidence or an argument that film is better. I'm just explaining why switching back and forth between film and digital is a no-go for me (and perhaps others). I guess folks that scan their negatives then print digitally (or post online) could, but then I have to ask why shoot film at all?

If that is the fact, why should you even use al Leica M . There are better camera's if only the workflow /print it the goal. No I believe that taking a picture with an MP /M6 is a totally different feeling compared with an M, M10,M11 etc. although the feeling is very very subtle . 

[Viv]

On 10/29/2024 at 9:52 PM, LondonL said:

As the title says, I regret adding an M10 to my camera line up. I never use it! I thought I would, I thought it would be the perfect addition to my camera stable, but I never reach for it, it never grabs me. In the digital world I also have a Q-P which I adore. In the digital world fast auto focus, EVF and everything else that comes with it just seems to be better for my needs. These are not options in the film world (well ok fast AF is, but it somehow isn't necessary)

In my film world the M6 is king. I can't stop using this camera and trying the M10 has just made be love the M6 and film even more.

Anyone feel the same or have similar experiences to share?

I do not share that view. My M11 produces very good results.

I will never go back to film. It's just too much hassle and faffing about. Call me lazy.

[cesc]

I still shoot film because of the darkroom process experience, if not, I would go digital.

[malligator]

On 4/14/2025 at 4:17 AM, Paulus said:

If that is the fact, why should you even use al Leica M . There are better camera's if only the workflow /print it the goal. No I believe that taking a picture with an MP /M6 is a totally different feeling compared with an M, M10,M11 etc. although the feeling is very very subtle . 

I'm not sure how you got that out of what I said. I didn't say the workflow/print is the goal. I said I have a mature darkroom workflow so casually switching between digital and film is not a reality for me. I would have to develop a digital print workflow and I have no interest in that.

[wattsy]

On 4/13/2025 at 3:49 PM, malligator said:

I guess folks that scan their negatives then print digitally (or post online) could, but then I have to ask why shoot film at all?

I might just be crap at post processing digital files (or maybe there are more convincing filters/presets than the ones I've seen) but I have always found a scanned film file (especially colour neg) to be noticeably different from a straight digital file from a digital camera. It doesn't always look better but often it does.

[wizard]

Having only had my first digital Leica M (M11P) for roughly 1,5 years now, I was actually surprised at how similar using a digital Leica M feels versus using a film Leica M (I own both M3 and M7, too). Once I am concerned with getting a good shot, I tend to forget whether the M camera I use is digital or not. Admittedly, however, I still need to wind my M3 or M7 after having taken a shot 🙂.

[ktmrider2]

I have been shooting black and white film forever.  A few weeks ago I took several rolls of Ektar and Porta to the local camera shop to be processed.  I was surprised when the negatives came back without prints but with a pattern to be scanned which would produce digital files.  My first reaction was “WTF!”

Now I had purchased a Q3 in December in Bangkok and have been shooting it a lot but discovered it froze when I wanted to playback photos.  Turns out it does not like Sony “Tough” SD cards.  I replaced the SD card on the recommendations of the Miami Leica Store(great people by the way) and everything works as it should.

Long story short, I am giving serious thought to selling my MP and getting out of the M film system which I have been using since 1975.  The other choice is to give up color film and stick to TriX or HP5.  Technology has moved on.  I don’t like it but that is the world we live in.

[TomB_tx]

5 hours ago, ktmrider2 said:

I have been shooting black and white film forever.  A few weeks ago I took several rolls of Ektar and Porta to the local camera shop to be processed.  I was surprised when the negatives came back without prints but with a pattern to be scanned which would produce digital files.  My first reaction was “WTF!”

Now I had purchased a Q3 in December in Bangkok and have been shooting it a lot but discovered it froze when I wanted to playback photos.  Turns out it does not like Sony “Tough” SD cards.  I replaced the SD card on the recommendations of the Miami Leica Store(great people by the way) and everything works as it should.

Long story short, I am giving serious thought to selling my MP and getting out of the M film system which I have been using since 1975.  The other choice is to give up color film and stick to TriX or HP5.  Technology has moved on.  I don’t like it but that is the world we live in.

Likewise I've mainly shot B&W since the 1960s, and the last couple of years found getting color processed was too much hassle. I've kept up B&W processing all these years, and recent years just scanning myself instead of printing. With a large stock of color film I got an AGO film processor and some Cinestill C41 chemistry, and found these days color processing and scanning is as easy as B&W film. I still prefer to use film cameras (nostalgia I suppose), but now can take a long time to use up a 36 exp. roll, and the color chemistry is short-life. I find using my M10 is nearly the same as shooting an M6. with the advantage I can take a few shots, pull the files off the card, and don't have to wait to use a roll and process it. The M9 & 10 are the first digital cameras I really like, and I'm glad Leica decided to make them.

[BWColor]

7 minutes ago, TomB_tx said:

Likewise I've mainly shot B&W since the 1960s, and the last couple of years found getting color processed was too much hassle. I've kept up B&W processing all these years, and recent years just scanning myself instead of printing. With a large stock of color film I got an AGO film processor and some Cinestill C41 chemistry, and found these days color processing and scanning is as easy as B&W film. I still prefer to use film cameras (nostalgia I suppose), but now can take a long time to use up a 36 exp. roll, and the color chemistry is short-life. I find using my M10 is nearly the same as shooting an M6. with the advantage I can take a few shots, pull the files off the card, and don't have to wait to use a roll and process it. The M9 & 10 are the first digital cameras I really like, and I'm glad Leica decided to make them.

I’m probably living a bit North of you, but share some history in that I started with a B&W darkroom in the 1960’s and shot film until 2012, or so.  I purchased a couple of Jobo processors which, with a bit of temperature control, made B&W and Color processing pretty easy.  I did run into the issue of short lived chemicals.  I recently shot a roll of Portra 160 and discovered that processing and scan is pretty expensive.  Also, my M11 Monochrom is by far my favorite camera and I would suggest that B&W ‘M’  film photographers give it a try.  Ignore the review function and ignore what ISO you are shooting at and you will find an experience much like film, but extending into the night.  To go full circle, I just spent a small fortune to copy my 35mm, 645 6x7 negatives from the late 60s to 2000-2004 when I started using Nikon scanners.  I’m not expecting scans bettering the 9000ED, but I do expect a much more efficient workflow. 

[malligator]

23 minutes ago, ktmrider2 said:

I have been shooting black and white film forever.  A few weeks ago I took several rolls of Ektar and Porta to the local camera shop to be processed.  I was surprised when the negatives came back without prints but with a pattern to be scanned which would produce digital files.  My first reaction was “WTF!”

Now I had purchased a Q3 in December in Bangkok and have been shooting it a lot but discovered it froze when I wanted to playback photos.  Turns out it does not like Sony “Tough” SD cards.  I replaced the SD card on the recommendations of the Miami Leica Store(great people by the way) and everything works as it should.

Long story short, I am giving serious thought to selling my MP and getting out of the M film system which I have been using since 1975.  The other choice is to give up color film and stick to TriX or HP5.  Technology has moved on.  I don’t like it but that is the world we live in.

While B&W printing has (for the most part) remained the same, the equipment and processes to print RA-4 color has definitely diminished over the last 20+ years.  Even though color print film such as Portra is extremely popular these days, it seems digitizing/scanning is the default and optical printing in the darkroom is rare. I *can* print RA-4, but it's sort of a haphazard setup I've made from my B&W darkroom equipment. One of my goals for this year is to make my color printing process as robust as my B&W.

Don't get rid of your MP. There's absolutely nothing wrong with shooting HP5 exclusively in your MP and using the Q3 for color work. I tried that for a little while with a Q2, but I just love Portra and Cinestill 800T too much.

[skahde]

I love the process of photography on film and outsource the burdensome part to a trusted third party which I gladly pay for that. Handling the film, clicking the shutter and getting back pictures (digital and printed) makes me happy. Going over a stack of raw-files I have to work on in Lightroom not so much. Digital is better in any aspect technically and I have worked out methods that make the printed result pretty awesome but it's more work than joy and I prefer to have a little more fun and little less work in my free time. 

[Chris W]

I started my photography with an M6 in the early 1990's. Loved that camera. I took many of my best images during that period.

Now I own an M10 and find the experience and process very similar to using the M6 (slow and intentional).

I dipped back into film around the pandemic. First drawback, film stock is expensive, basically £1 a shot in medium format. Second drawback, the look is baked in. So you have gritty B&W in the camera and come across a vibrant colourful scene. In medium format I carried two film backs, but with an M I regret burning through the last few frames mindlessly just to load a new film stock.

Third negative, the best local lab, recommended by professionals, was very expensive. Also, when I paid a lot of money for additional scanning I found dust all over my scans, from newly developed film. I don't know if it's because I was less of a priority than a local professional, pushing many rolls through the lab every week, but I thought it was bad they didn't clean the negative and the scanner lens before scanning my film.

Final negative, scanning film negatives myself is an extremely time consuming and boring job.

Loading an SD card from my M10 takes minutes. Processing the images in Capture One takes minutes. From taking the shot to having a final print takes no time at all.

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[kivis]

As much as I try (M10) I can not get digital shots to please me like B&W film. BTW I tried Kenmore for the first time. i like it.