LC1 - back using the digital dinosaur!

[Jon Schick]

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Used to have one a while back but I was seduced by a newer and sleeker model (G10). But somehow the G10 doesn't quite connect with me as much as the LC1/D2, and I'm not convinced the image quality is much better either (the only advantage of all those pixels is the ability to crop). It is small though, which is handy on occasion.

 

Then I saw a few threads on DP Review, and I started to feel an itch.

 

Then I read Thorsten Overgaard's fantastic redesiged site and the itch got very bad indeed.

 

Then John Thawley....

 

Then I had a quick sneaky look at Ebay...

 

Then before I knew it, my "new" LC1 arrived - boxed and in pretty much mint condition (not a scratch on it, not even a rub mark where the straps attach). Unfortunately I have no information on whether it has had a replacement sensor, but have decided to take the risk and hope for the best.

 

I know it's not a real Leica, but this forum seems to be the main place for people who might appreciate this old classic, and I did buy a new Leica battery for it today from RG Lewis in London (they have a few left for the D2 and sold me one for £20, which I thought was pretty good going), so I'm trying my best...

 

I've not had the chance to use it much yet, but have followed Thorsten's advice religiously - stick to JPEG (although from a few tests at home, I reckon there's an advantage in shooting RAW at higher ISOs), three shots in the hope that at least one of them will turn out OK, and get used to the EVF rather than the LCD (actually the EVF is not that bad and I like having the live histogram as I tend to use the camera in M mode). It has to be said, most of the time, the camera seems to get the exposure right when left to its own devices though.

 

I've turned saturation and contrast down a notch from the default settings, and am pleased with what I'm getting - generally the pictures do not need much post processing, although I have had some fun with the Virtual Photographer plug in on one or two, and have tended to add a bit of an S curve, some very conservative noise processing (Neat Image) and USM.

 

Here's a few from my first day - nothing stunning, but that's the fault of me and not the camera. I'm glad to see there's a group here that still appreciate these classic cameras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best wishes,

 

Jon

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[carlosecpf]

Welcome to the family, Jon!

 

I too realized the power of D2/LC1 recently and I am having a lot of fun with it! Not to mention that I am connected emotionally to it like I have never been with another camera! It just feel right in my hands!

 

Have fun with yours and keep posting these nice pictures!

 

Carlos

[jrethorst]

I know it's not a real Leica,

What's that? By some people's definition, made at Leica, i.e. in Germany. Most of us here don't have those. By others', it has the name on it. How 'real' is that? By mine, it has a lens designed by Leica. This is the only definition that makes sense to me: sensors are made here and there, and a box with a shutter isn't hard to make. A lens is not hard to make, if you're a major Japanese manufacturer with their grip on quality control.

 

There's something special about many photos taken with Leica-designed lenses, though, the 'light' or 'glow' that's just wonderful, and why I'm here.

 

Your pictures are very nice. Thanks for posting them.

[John Thawley]

Very cool... enjoy.

 

JT