bussta Posted September 16, 2009 Share #21 Posted September 16, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I understand where you are coming from, I think you have to ask yourself if people are willing to buy a camera body for 5/6/7K they aren't the type of people that are going to flinch when buying a set on lenses for it I wish I were one of those people, but am struggling to even getting close to be able to afford an M8 let alone even think of an M9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 16, 2009 Posted September 16, 2009 Hi bussta, Take a look here Hobby or Pro?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jager Posted September 16, 2009 Share #22 Posted September 16, 2009 It's a slippery slope. After years of enjoying an SLR/DSLR, you look at all those timeless, iconic images taken with Leica rangefinders and all the great photographers who used them and you begin to wonder what all the fuss is about. So you decide to give it a little go. Just one Leica M body and a single lens. You probably buy them used. After a few days, you suddenly realize that this strange rangefinder thing is kind of cool. It's a heck of a lot easier carrying around your new Leica than that big, clunky DSLR. And that one Leica lens you've got sure does render some really nice images. They have a crispness and a definition and a look that's, well... just hard to describe. Mostly, though, you find that using that M camera is just different. You start to see the world through a window, instead of through a tunnel. And that soon starts to be reflected in your images themselves. They are somehow subtly different from how they were before. You're quite pleased by all this. But there's something that still nags at you, there in the back of your mind. That single prime that you've been using brings a freedom, sure. You love the simplicity it brings. It's a revelation after all those years of using a zoom on your DSLR. But, still, there are times you wish you had a different focal length. And so after awhile you start idly looking around. You visit Ebay and Craigslist and the Leica internet stores. You wander down to your local camera shop and look at that silver Lux behind the glass in their display case. You shake your head at all this. It's way too expensive. And, heck, you're just an amateur, a simple guy who does this for fun. But you keep thinking about those images. The one's you've gotten since you got into this rangefinder thing. You can't get them out of your mind. And you can't ignore the belief that you've become a better photographer for it. And so you spring for that second lens. And so there it starts. You're down the hill and gone. Leicas are expensive cameras. Always have been. Always will be. They call to only a few. But if you're among those few, you'll find a way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebelfocus Posted September 16, 2009 Share #23 Posted September 16, 2009 It's a slippery slope. After years of enjoying an SLR/DSLR, you look at all those timeless, iconic images taken with Leica rangefinders and all the great photographers who used them and you begin to wonder what all the fuss is about. So you decide to give it a little go. Just one Leica M body and a single lens. You probably buy them used. After a few days, you suddenly realize that this strange rangefinder thing is kind of cool. It's a heck of a lot easier carrying around your new Leica than that big, clunky DSLR. And that one Leica lens you've got sure does render some really nice images. They have a crispness and a definition and a look that's, well... just hard to describe. Mostly, though, you find that using that M camera is just different. You start to see the world through a window, instead of through a tunnel. And that soon starts to be reflected in your images themselves. They are somehow subtly different from how they were before. You're quite pleased by all this. But there's something that still nags at you, there in the back of your mind. That single prime that you've been using brings a freedom, sure. You love the simplicity it brings. It's a revelation after all those years of using a zoom on your DSLR. But, still, there are times you wish you had a different focal length. And so after awhile you start idly looking around. You visit Ebay and Craigslist and the Leica internet stores. You wander down to your local camera shop and look at that silver Lux behind the glass in their display case. You shake your head at all this. It's way too expensive. And, heck, you're just an amateur, a simple guy who does this for fun. But you keep thinking about those images. The one's you've gotten since you got into this rangefinder thing. You can't get them out of your mind. And you can't ignore the belief that you've become a better photographer for it. And so you spring for that second lens. And so there it starts. You're down the hill and gone. Leicas are expensive cameras. Always have been. Always will be. They call to only a few. But if you're among those few, you'll find a way. Brilliantly described Jeff! That is exactly how I ended up in this place. You certainly have a way with words. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted September 16, 2009 Share #24 Posted September 16, 2009 Jeff, - that is pretty darn well defined, though I blame my high-school photo teacher, he was a photographer in Denmark and forced us to use some "lame" olympus rangefinder cameras he talked the school into, I would say they were outdated in the eighties, yet it lead to a CL and M6 and well here today..! (they cameras did pay my rent on the way though) malfaris, two things, I have never purchased a new Leica lens, simply never did see the need, there are two big leica groups "users" and "collectors" (and those who float in between I suppose) the collectors prefer to wrap the box in plastic so the wonderful new 35mm 1.4 will not get dusty. the users on the other hand tend to use the gear, wear off the paint etc.. the glorious part is that once a lenses loose a bit of the new look, it is actually very cheap on the market, so you can purchase some great lenses at some very reasonable deals. remember new lenses should look new to keep the value, used lenses keep their value even if you use them hard. Second, check out also the Zeiss 50mm 2.0 it is a lovely lens for a very good price (new). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLV Posted September 16, 2009 Share #25 Posted September 16, 2009 Leica shooters tend to work towards the goal of only owning a few perfect lenses. They usually consider it a sign of purity to only use one lens. DSLR users tend to believe they can only achieve nirvana when their whole closet is filled with every lens in the Canon or Nikon lineup... I agree 100%. For years with the M6 I stood with a cron 50. (probably because of HCB). With the M9 I will stay with my 35 cron and 50 lux and then will upgrade with actual 35 lux or next generation to come. One great advantage of the M's is portability. one small bag with one body and two lenses and that's it. For all Canikon gear I would give M8 or M9 (yet to arrive) and my 2 lenses. (or maybe just to sell it and buy Leica.) All the best, Jean-Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLV Posted September 16, 2009 Share #26 Posted September 16, 2009 It's a slippery slope. After years of enjoying an SLR/DSLR, you look at all those timeless, iconic images taken with Leica rangefinders and all the great photographers who used them and you begin to wonder what all the fuss is about. So you decide to give it a little go. Just one Leica M body and a single lens. You probably buy them used. After a few days, you suddenly realize that this strange rangefinder thing is kind of cool. It's a heck of a lot easier carrying around your new Leica than that big, clunky DSLR. And that one Leica lens you've got sure does render some really nice images. They have a crispness and a definition and a look that's, well... just hard to describe. Mostly, though, you find that using that M camera is just different. You start to see the world through a window, instead of through a tunnel. And that soon starts to be reflected in your images themselves. They are somehow subtly different from how they were before. You're quite pleased by all this. But there's something that still nags at you, there in the back of your mind. That single prime that you've been using brings a freedom, sure. You love the simplicity it brings. It's a revelation after all those years of using a zoom on your DSLR. But, still, there are times you wish you had a different focal length. And so after awhile you start idly looking around. You visit Ebay and Craigslist and the Leica internet stores. You wander down to your local camera shop and look at that silver Lux behind the glass in their display case. You shake your head at all this. It's way too expensive. And, heck, you're just an amateur, a simple guy who does this for fun. But you keep thinking about those images. The one's you've gotten since you got into this rangefinder thing. You can't get them out of your mind. And you can't ignore the belief that you've become a better photographer for it. And so you spring for that second lens. And so there it starts. You're down the hill and gone. Leicas are expensive cameras. Always have been. Always will be. They call to only a few. But if you're among those few, you'll find a way. Brilliant Jeff that is real life, without even speaking of severe cases of GAS:D Warm regards, Jean-Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted September 16, 2009 Share #27 Posted September 16, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) What Jeff said. I bought my first M6 and 50 'cron used in 2003. I immediately noticed an improvement in the quality of my pictures. In 2004, I upgraded to a brand new MP for $2400. I was single and had the extra money, so I said "now's the time." It was a smart move. Shortly after I bought the MP I got married, started a family and no longer have the same level of personal discretionary income I used to. We all have to draw a line somewhere and define for ourselves what is "too much." In my case, $7000 is too much. Even if I had the cash on hand I would not be able to justify it. If I were a pro, or even a semi-pro, it might be a different story. But everyone is in a different financial place and I admire those who can allocate that kind of money to something they are passionate about. The X1 may be in my future. That's a little more in my ballpark. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted September 17, 2009 Share #28 Posted September 17, 2009 Jager's hit it. One more point, maybe, to add. (Hobbyist, by the way.) When I was a teenager, I had a Pentax. Very nice, simple camera. After I got out of college, I had an Olympus. Very simple light meter, could really quickly get the shot I was looking for. Flash forward 20 years, and by the time 2002 rolled around, I found digital cameras were all menu based, and even the Nikon film camera I had had so many variables, it didn't feel like photography: it felt like I was a technologist, not a photographer. I bought an M7 because I wanted to go back to the simplicity of seeing an image, metering, making quick decisions about aperture and shutter speed, and bang, getting the picture. I recognized you had to pay more, in this day and age, to get "less" -- to get back to something a little purer than carrying around a computer with a lens attached. An M9 is a very sophisticated computer with a lens attached (I believe... haven't touched one yet.) Or I should say, my M8 is very "sophisticated." But by God, what we do with these things feels like photography, not computer programming. And to me, it's worth paying more for that. But then, I write with fountain pens, use a shaving brush, and drive a car with a stick shift...Maybe I'm just an anachronism. My Leica gives me similar, "simple" pleasure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted September 17, 2009 Share #29 Posted September 17, 2009 whats a "shaving brush" something from Phillips. (norelco in some places), I paid extra to get a manual paddle shifter on the automatic... hmm might be lost, wheres the gps. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotofanatiker Posted September 17, 2009 Share #30 Posted September 17, 2009 Also it sells where i live (UAE) for $7880 M9 body and i am surprised its already in stock. Just came back from Salam (at Wafi, probably the place here in UAE where you've also been to check out the price?) 20 min ago - they have 1 M9 in stock which is already reserved... They sell it for 28.200 DHS which equals 7.700 USD or 5.300 Euro, so the price seems to be ok... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thawley Posted September 17, 2009 Share #31 Posted September 17, 2009 I think the important thing to keep in mind is not just today's value of your Leica... but rather, tomorrow's value. I too have Canon gear. And while the lenses (all L series) tend to hold up in value, the bodies begin life in a downward spiral the minute you open the box. Seriously, I've owned everything from the D30, D60, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D and 5D. In some cases I've owned three of each. It is a constant chase to keep up and a constant financial outlay. I try to time purchases and replacement as best I can to reduce the overall cost. Unfortunately, I need the speed and features of these cameras to do my job. I live with my 500mm F/4 mounted to one body at all times. It's how I make my living. Trust me, I dream of the day I could own and grow an M system. Operative word there is "GROW." I view my Canon gear as a necessary evil. To me, it is so disappointing that I love the work I do and border on hating the tools I do it with. There's just no soul or passion to them. Even the way they meddle with how I work... they rob you of creative motivation and push you into "production." I find it so strange I take solitude in my Leica Digilux 2(s). Perhaps one day if business ever gets back to what it once was... or if Canon stops coming out with the model of the month and keeping me broke, I'll start to build a Leica system... How much is that doggie in the window? JT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted September 17, 2009 Share #32 Posted September 17, 2009 whats a "shaving brush" something from Phillips. (norelco in some places), I paid extra to get a manual paddle shifter on the automatic... hmm might be lost, wheres the gps. . Bo, you know, that thing you swirl around in a cup with shaving soap in it ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted September 17, 2009 Share #33 Posted September 17, 2009 But then, I write with fountain pens, use a shaving brush, and drive a car with a stick shift...Maybe I'm just an anachronism. My Leica gives me similar, "simple" pleasure. Amen, John. I can tell, sir, you are a scholar and a gentleman. There's something indefinably wonderful about those things you describe. Their ethos is a cousin to that of the Leica. May the world never altogether lose these things. Speaking of fountain pens, I had my entree into those earlier this year... Pen & Ink Long live a few nice anachronisms! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcoombs Posted September 17, 2009 Share #34 Posted September 17, 2009 Jeff, what a lovely little expo into fountain pens your link provided. Thank you. I have a large Montblanc that I was given at a loan signing ceremony many years ago. I'll have to dig it out to check the model name and number now. Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted September 18, 2009 Share #35 Posted September 18, 2009 Amen, John. I can tell, sir, you are a scholar and a gentleman. There's something indefinably wonderful about those things you describe. Their ethos is a cousin to that of the Leica. May the world never altogether lose these things. Speaking of fountain pens, I had my entree into those earlier this year... Pen & Ink Long live a few nice anachronisms! Jeff - great image, and great link. Thank you. JB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
twittle Posted September 18, 2009 Share #36 Posted September 18, 2009 I think most photographers are hobbyist more than pros, and i see from the M9 forum lol that few care less about price. dont you have hard time buying those super expensive lenses?. or you leica owners are all so rich that you just upgrade from M to M without caring less? There's something you need to take into account: many of us have used Leica or other M-mount cameras and lenses for years, so when we decide to buy a new M camera we already have lenses to use with it; we don't need to buy new lenses just because we buy a new body. One of the beauties of Leica is that lenses made as long ago as the 1950s can be used with current M cameras. If we had to upgrade all our lenses in order to use a new camera, it would indeed be an extremely expensive hobby; as it is, though, it's merely an expensive hobby. If you're new to the M system, as others have pointed out, you can always buy used lenses rather than new. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
twittle Posted September 18, 2009 Share #37 Posted September 18, 2009 Long live a few nice anachronisms! Amen! I'm a user of rangefinders, mechanical watches, fountain pens, and straight razors. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatboy Posted September 18, 2009 Share #38 Posted September 18, 2009 I am now thinking of selling my least favorite L lenses and try the M9 with one of the reasonably priced Leica 50mm. If you can do this, you are 9/10ths of the way there. With lenses I think less is more! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrism Posted September 18, 2009 Share #39 Posted September 18, 2009 Amen! I'm a user of rangefinders, mechanical watches, fountain pens, and straight razors. A straight user? I dabble in those myself. Chris SMF Admin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMB Posted September 18, 2009 Share #40 Posted September 18, 2009 Brilliant Jeff that is real life, without even speaking of severe cases of GAS:D Warm regards, Jean-Luc I fully agree. I would just add one thought as regards the lenses. If you shop smart, you want loose money on owning Leica glass. I bought most lenses 2nd hand or making use of special offers, and I am certain that I could sell almost all of them at a profit now. Admiitedly, this does not apply to the digital M bodies. But then: Life is too short to shoot with the wrong camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.