Why I love and hate the Leica M

[Jeff S]

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2 hours ago, Altair said:

I am dead serious, I have owned or tested virtually every "high end" camera and nothing has ever consistently left me as speechless as the M11 with a Noctilux does. The combination of extreme seperation, vivid yet life like colours, just right sharpness, and smooth transition to a background that has a gorgeous bokeh is what i would describe as the reason....but you don't think about those things....your mind just recognises the image as special and beutifull. Nothing like 0.95 and M11 when it.comes to magical pictures man.

Perhaps you should visit more art dealers, galleries, museums, art fairs, etc.  Funny how there are so many wonderful prints throughout photo history from photographers pre-dating an M11 or current Noctilux.  

Jeff

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[lct]

6 hours ago, otto.f said:

🤨

+1 😄

[Altair]

26 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Not an SL , although I use it nowadays with the appropriate Sigma lenses but my older work was all done with M cameras and V and R mount lenses up until 2019. I used Canon for a couple of years but saw very little if any advantage. There is very little need for AF doing wildlife. In fact on my SL I often focus manually. BTW the Sigma 70-200 is as good as the Leica 90-280. And 2.8. The remark about separation is beside the reality I fear. At the focal lengths and distances involved DOF is exceedingly narrow at all reasonable apertures. 

It all depends on the type of pictures you would want to produce. As far as seperation is concerned, I have used the two mentioned Nikkor lenses to great extent previously. I will figure out a way to post here. But yes seperation at 2.8 on a 400mm lens is absolutely a game changer.

I recommend checking out the images in Nikons media website. The first picture shows the seperation effect I am referring to:

 

https://www.nikonusa.com/p/nikkor-z-400mm-f28-tc-vr-s/20111/overview

 

Again, not saying this is what makes for a good wildlife photo and only this, of course not. But for me personally, I look for a few things in a good photo that I try to produce, mainly pleasing composition first, seperation to highlight the subject, string colours on subject, smooth transition to background, and an artistic paintbrush like bokeh. 

 

That's what I like to see, that's what I try to produce, hence my addiction to fast zooms and even better if I can get away with primes. On the Z9, I would only use the Plena at 135 1.8, the 70-200 2.8, and the 400 2.8 ( don't have the latter yet, only rented so far...)

[Altair]

15 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Perhaps you should visit more art dealers, galleries, museums, art fairs, etc.  Funny how there are so many wonderful prints throughout photo history from photographers pre-dating an M11 or current Noctilux.  

Jeff

You are refering to great photographers who can tell a story through a photo.

 

I am a hobbyist who wants to do a couple of projects and likes his new camera. 

Seriousely, in terms of magic, no camera produces it as seamlessly as the M11 and Noctilux.

[pippy]

4 minutes ago, Altair said:

...Seriousely, in terms of magic, no camera produces it as seamlessly as the M11 and Noctilux...

It is unhelpful to state personal opinions as if they are facts.

Philip.

[Altair]

1 minute ago, pippy said:

It is unhelpful to state personal opinions as if they are facts.

Philip.

I think you are taking my statement too seriously friend. It genuinely is my opinion though.

 

That said, I do apologise if I had annoyed you somehow with my statement. Best of luck to you and do enjoy whatever type of photography you like.

[Jeff S]

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11 minutes ago, Altair said:

You are refering to great photographers who can tell a story through a photo.

 

I am a hobbyist who wants to do a couple of projects and likes his new camera. 

Seriousely, in terms of magic, no camera produces it as seamlessly as the M11 and Noctilux.

I sense trolling. Great photographers tell stories; the rest need an M11, a Noctilux and great bokeh. 🤪

But in the slim chance you’re being serious, you’re obviously missing out on superb work from countless photo enthusiasts, worldwide. Exhibitions, and books, abound. 

Jeff
 

 

[pippy]

58 minutes ago, Altair said:

...That said, I do apologise if I had annoyed you somehow with my statement...

No offence taken whatsoever; I assure you.

We all have favourites and what I consider to be the best M-body & lens combination for my own snapping most certainly wouldn't be the #1 choice for the vast majority of photographers. I trust that you enjoy yourself with the stuff you prefer to use as much as I do with mine.

Philip.

Edited December 23, 2024 by pippy

[Markey]

I`m no sure what this thread is about other than somebody has bought some new gear and likes it.

I think that we`ve all been through that phase .

You have two choices : stop right there or rinse and repeat.

[T25UFO]

7 minutes ago, Markey said:

I`m no sure what this thread is about other than somebody has bought some new gear and likes it.

I think that we`ve all been through that phase .

You have two choices : stop right there or rinse and repeat.

Completely agree - some of the comments here are bordering on judgemental.  This forum is generally a happy and helpful place.  There is the inevitable grumpy old person - I was going to say 'men' but that would be unfair because some refuse to disclose their gender.  

All I see is someone who has enjoyed photography for many years and maybe has a little more disposable income on approaching retirement.  He / she has just discovered that rangefinder photography, coupled with the amazing glass that Leica produce, has brought an added dimension to the hobby.  So what's wrong with buying the latest camera and the best Noctilux lens?

Let's give @Altair a break and some encouragement.  He only joined the forum a month ago - I've been using the M rangefinder and a Noctilux in one form or another since the mid 1970's and I still haven't fully mastered shooting wide open 🙂

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, T25UFO said:

So what's wrong with buying the latest camera and the best Noctilux lens?

Because I want the Noctilux 75, but can't justify it!😏

[T25UFO]

53 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Because I want the Noctilux 75, but can't justify it!😏

Now that I do agree with!  

Talking of expensive equipment, I've been allocated an M Edition 70 but just found out that my expected end of year dividend won't be paid.  What to do?  I'm not a collector and would buy to use, but it's a very big ticket item.

[pippy]

1 minute ago, T25UFO said:

..I've been allocated an M Edition 70 but just found out that my expected end of year dividend won't be paid.  What to do?  I'm not a collector and would buy to use, but it's a very big ticket item.

Do you still have both of your kidneys?......

Philip.

Edited December 23, 2024 by pippy

[T25UFO]

20 minutes ago, pippy said:

Do you still have both of your kidneys?......

Philip.

How I managed to get the allocation is an interesting story, not to repeat here, but will share on private message.  Doesn't involve, bribery, corruption or a kidney transplant.

[Altair]

I really don't want to spend any more time discussing negative replies, I actually came here to these forums after being run off Reddit for posting a thread celebrating my long awaited acquisition of some nice Leica gear. Obviously there are mixed reasons for these replies, some are based on genuine belief that the camera doesn't matter and that mindset has to be expressed, others are based over some pretty ugly material jealousy. I actually recieved a death threat on Reddit and many truly ugly replies and insults. That is a risk I suppose when interacting with people on the Internet. I'm the other hand there are a handful of people who enjoy being helpful and others who are happy for someone who is happy. Depends on what kind of person you are.

 

I am not going to comment on this aspect of some of the replies again, and I certainly don't feel a need to justify my expenditure to strangers. I am very thankful for genuine advice and constructive discussions though 🙏 

 

On the subject of cameras lenses and gear in general, let there be no mistake, I enjoy the hardware for what it is as much as I enjoy the results. A major attractor to Leica was the craftsmanship and build quality. I definitely pick up my Leica M more often than I would my Nikon or even my Hassleblad for that reason just as much as I do for the possibility of taking great pictures. Portability , quality of build and materials, and image quality....the three elements that attract me to Leica. 

 

Ad I am writing this final reply to these type of comments, I remember two gentlemen I met recently in Abu Dhabi, one was a collectors first and a hobbyist second, the other was purely a collectors. Never shoots his cameras, keeps them on display at his home. Power to them, it's what makes them happy. Who am I to say that doesn't make sense.

 

 

[Altair]

5 hours ago, T25UFO said:

How I managed to get the allocation is an interesting story, not to repeat here, but will share on private message.  Doesn't involve, bribery, corruption or a kidney transplant.

I just read up on that edition and immediately WhatsApped my Leica store manager. I hope its not to difficult to get one! A platinum Leica!

[DigitalHeMan]

7 hours ago, Altair said:

I just read up on that edition and immediately WhatsApped my Leica store manager. I hope its not to difficult to get one! A platinum Leica!

Sounds like a perfect solution for you! You know it's a film camera, right?

[T25UFO]

7 hours ago, Altair said:

I just read up on that edition and immediately WhatsApped my Leica store manager. I hope its not to difficult to get one! A platinum Leica!

You might be disappointed ☹️ but if you really want one check the Schouten Select website in about 6-9 months time.  One or two will probably end up there for an eye watering price.

Edited December 24, 2024 by T25UFO

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[Derbyshire Man]

It's so fascinating how different we all are. I love these cameras and can afford them but in some ways I'm ashamed to own them and the lenses as they are so expensive. To seek out even more expensive versions of exactly the same thing is anathema to me. I don't mean that as a criticism of anyone else simply my own POV.

There is an innate hoarding instinct in mankind, some of us have it more than others, I have no interest in collecting cameras for their own sake, nor would I have something so clearly a tool in a cabinet unused. I appreciate however that if you have excess cash you do not wish to give away it needs to be held as something. Taken to the extreme you have super wealthy individuals worth half a trillion $ who seem to do nothing positive but spend their time baiting the whole world on social media. What a very strange animal we are! I may have a collection of electronic instruments but at least they are regularly played!

TLDR version I love the cameras for their form and function, I hate that they are regarded as being super expensive items for those with more money than sense and hate when people recognise them and judge the camera and me in that way!

[Altair]

2 hours ago, T25UFO said:

You might be disappointed ☹️ but if you really want one check the Schouten Select website in about 6-9 months time.  One or two will probably end up there for an eye watering price.

I just got the allocation

My FM2 will finally retire