Making the Switch: Nikon to Leica

[Bbilheimer]

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Hi Guys,

 

I'm fairly new to photography in general, I've been shooting for less than a year now. I've gone through a few cameras, a friend's Canon Rebel with L-Series lens, two Nikon D70s, and now a Nikon D80. I currently have a Nikkor 18-55mm, a prime Nikkor 50mm, and a Tamron 70-300mm telephoto.

 

I've taken many thousand photos, and have many great shots I'm really happy with so far. I feel, however, that I don't really know what I'm doing, and I miss the old days of point-and-shoot simplicity and compactness. I like to use my DSLR in fully manual, so I can really get the exact feel of the scene, but I tend to rely on fully auto in situations where I don't have the time to set up a shot or full control of the environment. I rarely am able to get a good shot with a group of people unless I'm fully auto.

 

Anyway, the point is, I'm considering selling my Nikon D80 kit-and-caboodle and purchasing a D-Lux or a V-Lux.

 

I'm wondering if some of you who have used the Leica cameras, and a DSLR, could give me some perspective and advice. Mainly, what I should expect coming from a DSLR in picture quality, lens swapping, and any other limitations I may run into once I reach back for my bag of all sorts of DSLR related goodies only to find a small point-and-shoot in my pocket!

 

Any and all advice would be very helpful and very greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[martano]

Don't waste your money in this kind of equipment. Wait for the possible Nikon D90. Four Thirds is a looser format (sooner or later).

[Shootist]

Although I've never used either of the two Leica cameras you mention there is nothing like a Leica, at least that is the way I have always felt about the M series of cameras and still do today about the M8.

 

If I were you I wouldn't bother with either of your choices and stick with Nikon. you already have some glass what you might try is some better "Nikon" glass and maybe a D300 or D700 body.

No it isn't as compact as some other cameras but just think about what you're giving up.

I think the D-Lux is out of production and the V-Lux is a single lens, although a zoom lens, camera.

 

I personally made the switch back to Leica from Nikon because of the M8 and the M glass. I doubt I would of ever bought any other Leica, although you never know if the M8 had never come out.

[offshore]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm fairly new to photography in general, I've been shooting for less than a year now. I've gone through a few cameras, a friend's Canon Rebel with L-Series lens, two Nikon D70s, and now a Nikon D80. I currently have a Nikkor 18-55mm, a prime Nikkor 50mm, and a Tamron 70-300mm telephoto.

 

I've taken many thousand photos, and have many great shots I'm really happy with so far. I feel, however, that I don't really know what I'm doing, and I miss the old days of point-and-shoot simplicity and compactness. I like to use my DSLR in fully manual, so I can really get the exact feel of the scene, but I tend to rely on fully auto in situations where I don't have the time to set up a shot or full control of the environment. I rarely am able to get a good shot with a group of people unless I'm fully auto.

 

Anyway, the point is, I'm considering selling my Nikon D80 kit-and-caboodle and purchasing a D-Lux or a V-Lux.

 

I'm wondering if some of you who have used the Leica cameras, and a DSLR, could give me some perspective and advice. Mainly, what I should expect coming from a DSLR in picture quality, lens swapping, and any other limitations I may run into once I reach back for my bag of all sorts of DSLR related goodies only to find a small point-and-shoot in my pocket!

 

Any and all advice would be very helpful and very greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Concentrate on being a better photographer instead of thinking new equipment will make you one.

[Angora]

Anyway, the point is, I'm considering selling my Nikon D80 kit-and-caboodle and purchasing a D-Lux or a V-Lux.

 

Nothing personal, but this post looks like a troll... or a joke, at best.

Don't waste your money switching from Nikon to Panasonic.

 

If you want to switch to Leica then consider the R line (in addition to good present and past bodies, we're expecting a brand new R10 to be announced in late September).

[Bbilheimer]

Thanks for your responses, although more hostile than I would have expected.

 

I'm not looking for a camera that will make me a better photographer, and I'm not a troll. I simply am a fan of well-made products and I admire Leica for its quality.

 

My Nikon is made in Japan, but many lenses in China, and I don't much like the plasticky feel of the body or the lenses.

 

I feel as though I don't use my camera to its fullest and overall the way I shoot I just feel as if the composition and content matter most to me, and I don't want to have to worry about much else unless I have to.

 

I am, however, looking to spend less than I have on my current equipment, so M or R series is not really an option. So I figured D-Lux or V-Lux would give me the best of both worlds: getting a well-made, sturdy product, and something with ease of use and compactness, but manual features when I want them.

 

If I can spend $500 on a D-Lux and get a Leica lens and body, wouldn't I pretty much be able to take the same quality photos as I could with my D80, which has low to mid-range quality lenses?

[rwchisholm]

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You have nice equipment. A "point and shoot" can not compete with the creative potential of a dSLR.

 

No camera can make you a better photographer. Only you can do this...

 

My advice would be to keep what you have. Then explore why you are not happy with the current photos that you are taking/making. Is it in the photo or the processing. Both can be changed. The photo depends on your eye. The processing is an art unto itself and is a learned behavior. The camera is simply the thing in the middle. --R

[earleygallery]

The cameras you are considering are both made by Panasonic, in Japan. There's nothing wrong with them, the users are delighted with them, but I don't see what you would be gaining by swapping from your Nikon.

 

If you really want a challenge, buy an LTM and a 5cm Elmar to start with, or the R system is very good value at present, sell your digital Nikon and buy and R4 and a couple of lenses. All of these choices mean switching to film as well though.

[jamhowa]

My film camera is an R-8 system and I also shoot with Nikon DSLRs. I continue to shoot with my Leica III and IIIf on ocasion and had an M-6 as my primary camera for almost 16 years.

 

Never move from a Nikon system to a D-Lux or a V-Lux. There is little or nothing to be gained by doing this and alot to lose. As others have said the cameras you are mentioning are Panasonic cameras with a Lieca brand. You pay a significant premium for the red dot as opposed to Lumix branded Panasonic cameras carrying substantially the same lenses.

 

The only real Leica digital currently in production is the M-8, but with this camera body coming in at over $5000US new, this camera is beyond the reach of many if not most who may be interested in buying it.

 

Leica R System cameras and lenses may be the best bargain going now when you can find them used. Film is most likely on its way to being a dead format, but the lenses can be adapted to Canon digital camera, although without autofocus.

 

Best advice is save your money and keep what you have.

[sfokevin]

For a dabble into Leica/Digital I would suggest you buy a used Digilux 2 through a reputable resale place... Or eBay (caveat emptor) It should run you about $7-900... (I got a mint condition with sensor replace on eBay for $700) Read the good and bad in the forum archives about the sensor issues and noise at high iso before you buy...Try it out for a month or two... one of three things will happen...

 

1. You will hate it and can just resale it on eBay for about what you paid for it

2. You will fall in love with the camera like many on this forum and keep it forever

3. You will get the Leica bug and sell it and the kids college fund for an M8

 

I am on path #3 ... Welcome, good luck and have fun...

[Angora]

Thanks for your responses, although more hostile than I would have expected.

 

I'm not looking for a camera that will make me a better photographer, and I'm not a troll. I simply am a fan of well-made products and I admire Leica for its quality.

 

My Nikon is made in Japan, but many lenses in China, and I don't much like the plasticky feel of the body or the lenses.

 

I feel as though I don't use my camera to its fullest and overall the way I shoot I just feel as if the composition and content matter most to me, and I don't want to have to worry about much else unless I have to.

 

I am, however, looking to spend less than I have on my current equipment, so M or R series is not really an option. So I figured D-Lux or V-Lux would give me the best of both worlds: getting a well-made, sturdy product, and something with ease of use and compactness, but manual features when I want them.

 

If I can spend $500 on a D-Lux and get a Leica lens and body, wouldn't I pretty much be able to take the same quality photos as I could with my D80, which has low to mid-range quality lenses?

 

Don't be offended by our replies, don't take it personally.

 

The point is that, leaving your current Nikon equipment (and I heard that the D80 is a nice SLR) for Panasonic cameras while you're thinking about the Leica touch & feel and quality... no, that's definitely wrong.

 

If you think about Leica, think about Leicaflex, R, or even M.

If if it's too costly for you or if you don't want to buy second hand and use film (that's how a lot of us proceed), you should rather stick with your D80.

[AlanG]

My advice would be first take a class in photography. Second, spend the next year shooting with just your D80 and 50mm lens.

[Ruhayat]

For simple, fuss-free photography with a camera that lets you focus on the image rather than the technical aspects, I'd say you'd be well off getting a second-hand Digilux 2. Image quality may not be as high as that from a D80 plus 50mm prime, but it's good enough.

 

If you don't mind film, then a Zeiss Ikon with either CV Nokton 40mm or Summicron 35mm lens (that's what I bought a couple of months ago hehe) is also a good way if you, like me, want to learn the basics of rangefinder photography. I took the advice of people on this forum and decided that it's better to spend money by slowly building up a quality lens collection rather than blowing it all on an expensive body from the outset.

 

Forget the D-Lux 3... I find that it is fiddly (zooming with a manual lens like the Digilux 2 and using the tiny joystick on the D-Lux 3 is a world of difference!) and it gets in the way even more than an SLR does.

[todgray]

Yes, I thought some of the replies were a bit hostile too.

 

Did you mean a D-Lux 3 or a Digilux?

 

I use both, and a 46 year old M2 with a range of lenses. (I've rediscovered the joy of making a very large chemical enlargement)

 

The D-Lux 3 is beautifully made and has probably the best lens in its class, but I find it difficult to compose really accurately with the arms outstretched - and in sunlight it's a guessing game - I wouldn't choose one of these as my principal camera, but I always keep it in my briefcase for every day use.

 

The Digilux is less intuitive to use than the M3, but I prefer it to my old Canon EOS. The trouble is the limited range of lenses and I shalln't be taking it on safari until there's some longer focus ones available. But if you wanted to shoot with longer focus lenses I doubt that the M8 would suit.

 

If you've got a couple of grand burning a hole in your pocket, give the Digilux a try, otherwise, why not take a look at the Panasonic with the same lens?

 

 

 

Hi Guys,

 

I'm fairly new to photography in general, I've been shooting for less than a year now. I've gone through a few cameras, a friend's Canon Rebel with L-Series lens, two Nikon D70s, and now a Nikon D80. I currently have a Nikkor 18-55mm, a prime Nikkor 50mm, and a Tamron 70-300mm telephoto.

 

I've taken many thousand photos, and have many great shots I'm really happy with so far. I feel, however, that I don't really know what I'm doing, and I miss the old days of point-and-shoot simplicity and compactness. I like to use my DSLR in fully manual, so I can really get the exact feel of the scene, but I tend to rely on fully auto in situations where I don't have the time to set up a shot or full control of the environment. I rarely am able to get a good shot with a group of people unless I'm fully auto.

 

Anyway, the point is, I'm considering selling my Nikon D80 kit-and-caboodle and purchasing a D-Lux or a V-Lux.

 

I'm wondering if some of you who have used the Leica cameras, and a DSLR, could give me some perspective and advice. Mainly, what I should expect coming from a DSLR in picture quality, lens swapping, and any other limitations I may run into once I reach back for my bag of all sorts of DSLR related goodies only to find a small point-and-shoot in my pocket!

 

Any and all advice would be very helpful and very greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[jaapv]

Thanks for your responses, although more hostile than I would have expected.

 

I'm not looking for a camera that will make me a better photographer, and I'm not a troll. I simply am a fan of well-made products and I admire Leica for its quality.

 

My Nikon is made in Japan, but many lenses in China, and I don't much like the plasticky feel of the body or the lenses.

 

I feel as though I don't use my camera to its fullest and overall the way I shoot I just feel as if the composition and content matter most to me, and I don't want to have to worry about much else unless I have to.

 

I am, however, looking to spend less than I have on my current equipment, so M or R series is not really an option. So I figured D-Lux or V-Lux would give me the best of both worlds: getting a well-made, sturdy product, and something with ease of use and compactness, but manual features when I want them.

 

If I can spend $500 on a D-Lux and get a Leica lens and body, wouldn't I pretty much be able to take the same quality photos as I could with my D80, which has low to mid-range quality lenses?

 

It is unclear what kind of camera you are looking for. A point-and shoot of ecellent quality? I that case a Sigma DP1 would be a good choice. A "Bridge camera"? The V-lux is a good choice, but still mass product with just a bit of Leica sauce poured over it.

The same goes for the Digilux3, which is not a very good manual camera, less so than your Nikon. But it does take the whole range of Leica R lenses, which is a plus.

 

For the style of shooting your are looking for, the only real choices are a second-hand M8 with a few CV lenses -more than you are looking to spend, but still within a more or less reasonable scope-, or move to film. There are millions of superb film cameras sitting on dealers' shelves which sell for next to nothing.

[offshore]

"I feel as though I don't use my camera to its fullest and overall the way I shoot I just feel as if the composition and content matter most to me, and I don't want to have to worry about much else unless I have to."

 

I guess I still don't get what you are doing. On the one hand you say you aren't using a perfectly good camera and system to it's fullest, yet you want to give it up for a camera that has about a tenth of the surface area on the sensor. The P&S cameras have a tendency to blow out highlights due to the small sensor area and have little or no capacity for expansion. If your interpreting answers to your questions here as hostile maybe it's because you don't seem to know what it is your after. The D80 is an excellent camera, and if you don't own any pro Nikon glass maybe you should look into investing in it. You'll keep the good glass even though you may change bodies several times. If you're really satisfied with your photography and don't feel that you can improve, expand or push your limits then I'd say you are in a creative rut and looking for a way out. It won't be with a new camera or lens it has to come from with in.

[Bbilheimer]

Thank you all, those posts were extremely helpful and I now know exactly what to do.

 

I think I'll stick with the D80, keep the Digilux line in consideration and disregard any point-and-shoot junk, I've crossed the SLR threshold and wouldn't be happy going back, I see that now.

 

I think I actually will take a photography class, I've learned a lot from friends and trail & error but I think I need a good foundation to boost my confidence in general, which should reflect in my photography.

 

As for some good Nikon glass, I'm thinking of selling my Tamron 70-300mm telephoto for a Nikkor 55-200mm VR then my Nikkor prime 50mm f1.8 and my Nikkor 18-55mm kit lens for a Nikkor prime 50mm f1.4

 

Thanks again guys, my head hurts much less now!

 

One of these days you may see me posting questions about my recently acquired M8, however! (one of these days, eh?)

[Ruhayat]

Heyyyy. Don't be trashing all P&S as "junk" -- I have a Ricoh GR-D and I love it to pieces. I quite like what the D-Lux 3 can do in the right hands, too, though it's just not the camera for me.

 

If you ask me, the best way to learn is to keep just that 50mm prime -- or better yet, a 35mm prime, which gives you a 52mm POV with the 1.5x factor of the D80 -- on your D80 and use only that combo for a few months.

[offshore]

Thank you all, those posts were extremely helpful and I now know exactly what to do.

 

I think I'll stick with the D80, keep the Digilux line in consideration and disregard any point-and-shoot junk, I've crossed the SLR threshold and wouldn't be happy going back, I see that now.

 

I think I actually will take a photography class, I've learned a lot from friends and trail & error but I think I need a good foundation to boost my confidence in general, which should reflect in my photography.

 

As for some good Nikon glass, I'm thinking of selling my Tamron 70-300mm telephoto for a Nikkor 55-200mm VR then my Nikkor prime 50mm f1.8 and my Nikkor 18-55mm kit lens for a Nikkor prime 50mm f1.4

 

Thanks again guys, my head hurts much less now!

 

One of these days you may see me posting questions about my recently acquired M8, however! (one of these days, eh?)

 

Good decisions! You might want to look into the 75-300 VR Nikkor over the 55-200 VR as it is a better quality lens all around although it is a little more than twice the price. I know this is a huge jump up in price but if you can do it the 17-55 F2.8 and or the 17-35 F2.8 are superb optics that will last you through many years and many bodies. Good luck!

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[sfokevin]

If you ask me, the best way to learn is to keep just that 50mm prime -- or better yet, a 35mm prime, which gives you a 52mm POV with the 1.5x factor of the D80 -- on your D80 and use only that combo for a few months.

 

I agree - My photography teacher once told me to just work exclusively with a 50mm lens for a while - focus on composition and light, and forget about the techno-zoom-giz settings of the camera... I think that is part of the appeal of the M8... A digital camera that is not so distracting from the "art" and puts you closer to your subject.