Pangur Ban Posted September 11, 2009 Share #1 Posted September 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm overwhelmed by what Leica has achieved recently. So many posts on photography forums have been cynical, dismissive, doom-laden and so very wrong. Let's just look back to what a crippled, financially hampered, out-dated, retrospective company has achieved in a period of phenomenal transation, economic turbulence and enhanced real-time scrutiny from fora across the internet joining users as few commercial manufacturing companies have ever faced in history: Leica M7 - Ok, AE was a decade or so late but they delivered it in a camera that if it had appeared five years early would have been up there with the M3 and it demonstrated that new technology still fit within the M concept. This is a crucially significant point in the road to the M9 as it meant the legacy was more than heritage: it still worked in the new paradigm. Leica MP - a wondrous return to fundamentals, beloved by aficionados and absolutely key in the core users keeping faith with the brand. Tri-Elmars - an utterly brilliant concept - not a zoom, so much more originality preserving the emphasis on the image quality than following everyone else - limited in functionality in comparison with flashy gadgets but extraordinary in thinking literally outside the box. 50mm Summilux ASPH - the apogee of 50mm lens design at a time when it seemed that 50mm was the new short-telephoto - how old-fashioned that view now seems Leica M8 - flawed but a masterpiece that kept Leica relevant for a digital age, never owned one but whilst I heard gripes about it, few rejected the images they obtained from it. It also assured the fundamentals of the M architecture in the digital age. New Summarit lenses: unfairly under-estimated by many commentators who focused on the economics and their competion rather than the images they produced: future classics from the modern range New Noctilux f0.95: so much comment about how the glass was no longer available to make the f1.0 and then wham! here's a new one and it's faster. New Summiluxes - did anyone even think that f1.4 in 21mm or 24mm was realistically ever going to be seen - I suspect it'll be years hence before we really understand what a super-fast super-wide angle lens is capable of: I look forward to it eagerly. Leica S2 - wow, where did that come from - no point in replicating Canikons (as the Rs had proven) - why not re-write the rules of the game and take it to the next level. So many reasons why this camera is pure genius. Leica X1 - the M2+35mm for the modern age: it's currently in the shadow of the M9 but it has all the ingredients of meeting the direct needs of the specialist street photographers and we'll see images from this camera across blogs, websites and multiple new-media outlets but little will ever be printed from it is my guess. So cool in its looks as well - a Barnack for the 21st century: got to love it. The M9 - awesome, definitive, complete. What next? well, for me I may well hang on to my M3 and vintage Summarit and wait a while for the X2, which I hope will have the equivalent of a Summilux f1.4 35mm on it. The M9 I may start saving for but hum drum realities such as a new bathroom, or painting the front of the house may delay the purchase and my trusty vintage M set will just have to do for now: it's a hard life.... So, thank-you Leica, for so very much - even if it'll be a while before I catch up with you... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 11, 2009 Posted September 11, 2009 Hi Pangur Ban, Take a look here Leica blows my socks off :-). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
kenneth Posted September 11, 2009 Share #2 Posted September 11, 2009 I totally agree but to be fair leica are not going to make much out of sensible people like us Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted September 11, 2009 Share #3 Posted September 11, 2009 Nice appraisal, long may they continue like this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted September 11, 2009 Share #4 Posted September 11, 2009 My vote's locked in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted September 11, 2009 Share #5 Posted September 11, 2009 Pangur Ban, I totally agree and replied as such on a thread a few days ago where Leica's creativity was brought into question. I would respectfully add the Digital Module-R to your list of innovative products. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
storybrown Posted September 11, 2009 Share #6 Posted September 11, 2009 The DMR was right up there with the M9, as far as I can tell. It certainly belongs in the list of Leica's top items since the introduction of the M7, and the R8/9, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Day Posted September 11, 2009 Share #7 Posted September 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica is very impressive in what they've accomplished, both historically, and with more recent product advancements like the MP, M9, and the lenses. I've got my order in for an M9, though I can't really 'afford' it in any logical sense, but then the same thing applied to my MP when I bought it. Long may Leica live! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLV Posted September 12, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 12, 2009 Pangur Ban, I agree totally and feel that it is a blessing to have such a company capable of such things. Wether you'are a pro or a passionate amateur I think that this brand fulfill your dreams. I hold a lot of very expensive DSLRS in my hand and never felt the envy to get one. All the best, Jean-Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wen Posted September 15, 2009 Share #9 Posted September 15, 2009 Agree...totally...I LOVE Leica Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sungnee Posted September 15, 2009 Share #10 Posted September 15, 2009 Agree completely! As to what next...well, I think it must be to address the R line. I don't know what it will be - Leica has announced that there won't be an R10 - but that there will be a solution. I hope it's a good one. There must be one, the R lenses are just so good. I know, I used them for more than 10 years. From the trend so far, I think the world is going to be pleasantly surprised. Also, there is now a window of opportunity, the first time in 50 years, because the Japanese Yen is going to rise sky high, and the Euro will not rise nearly as much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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