ISO50

R3 owner here. Love the thing, it’s built like a tank and with the 50mm Summicron lens, the DOF is just so cinematic. Picked it all up for £450 which for original Leica stuff is not too bad at all.

Would love to try an M8 to see how much of a difference there is, but my prints from the R3 keep me very happy indeed. : )

Love the leica, but cost wise it’s way out of my league. I bought a russian copy instead, although fidgety and a little tricky to work out, the fed3 will have to suffice for now.

one of our photogs uses an M8 and it blows our other photogs Nikon D3s out of the water.

Always wanted a Leica camera but a little too expensive for what it’s worth compared to other cameras out there. But definitely the most stylish.

so hot

Ok, I don’t have one, but to me the Leicas (real Leicas, not Lumix-derived PS cameras) the ultimate evolution camera in an industry of revolution. They are the Morgans of the camera world, the Gibson. In that they fine-tune, revise, but try not to change the basic underlying identity of the camera.

If we look at the photography world, every decade since the 1950s has led to revolution. First, there is the pentaprism, then electronic metering and settings. Everything got smaller in the 1970s with compact SLRs, and in the 1980s it was AF. The 1990s were about features like shooting settings, as well as returning to consumer branding. THe last decade was digital.

Since those series of revolutions, most companies chose to take the leap into that revolution (some failing). Leica decided that they would fine-tune what they had, make the rangefinder better.

Because of that, they didn’t adapt their manual focus lenses for an AF world, but tweaked the quality and ability of the lens. They improved the camera, which still is at its base a rangefinder.

Rarely do you see the leader remain like this – usually they lead the way or perish. There have been companies that didn’t take the next leap, but they are usually the ones who cannot afford to make a jump (like the MF lens makers).

like Matthew, I have a D-Lux 4 and absolutely love it…takes terrific photos by any standard, let alone for a point and shoot…the B+W shots I have are the best I’ve ever taken with a digital camera…great features, pretty easy to use, great at macro shots, and has a nice wide angle lens to it…gotten a lot of envious stares from my friends lugging around their DSLRs…I too wish to upgrade to an M9 one day, but the D-Lux 4 is a terrific compromise for the time being…

I have been shooting Nikon primarily for the last fifteen years or so, until last week.

Nikon released their NEW! IMPROVED! SPECIAL! D7000 with all the bells and whistles and new this and better that to fix all the crap that was wrong with the previous version.

The sad part was I was feeling it. Hard. I found myself so excited about all these technical updates that would better allow me to make what my eye sees a reality. Then it hit me, when was the last time that I went out and just shot photos? Ignored all the spot vs evaluative metering, and +/- exposure to compensate for the lack of precision inherent to the camera?

My answer was “the last time I shot film” The last time I loaded my FM and just went click. I ordered a used M8 that day, called a lens rental place and put in for some basic glass to point me in the right direction and waited. I opened the box, snapped on the lens, loaded an sd card and went “click”.

For the first time in years, I looked down at the histogram and saw a perfectly exposed frame. The focus was spot on, the color was spot on! The camera felt right! Solid, reliable, well made. No cheap plastic covering a soft metal frame, instead a solid, well sealed camera that just did what it was supposed to do.

I am about 1000-1500 frames in this week, and I am listing all my Nikon gear up for sale. Check out http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/ for some great information if you are interested further. I picked up the Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 and 15mm 4.5. Both seemed to be reviewed quite highly, and was able to get both used for under 700 bucks!

I have zero regrets! I’d do it in a heartbeat again. If anyone has any questions further, feel free to email me and ask.

Cheaper alternative to Lecia m’s are the Bessa r’s. my bessa r3a was 1/4 of the price of the m7 body. Glass thats another story lol.

The m8 is probably the only non analog camera that makes me a little giddy, i think its because it functions exactly like the original leica but with a sensor.
its so expensive thought, im going to wait till its cheaper in a couple years.

I was at a Leica demo the other day and for some reason was one the few there. This was a plus though because i got to play around with a m9 and a huge assortment of glass + the attention of one of the main Leica reps for the U.S.
In conclusion: Leica’s are worth every penny. seriously ounce you’ve dived into one and been explained the mechanics… it just makes sense of the price. Unlike the top end DSLR’s that you’ll have to replace every couple of years(probably) The M9 will last and last, image quality is amazing, which is due to the glass. We all know about the robust factor that Leica cameras bring forth. There seriously built. so much so that the rep took the M9 plus a 35 1.4($$$$$), put it on the ground and stood on it. im sold.

My heart was broken just a few months ago when I left my Leica M3 and 3 lenses in the back of a London cab. Boo. Hoo. Hoooooooo! So I nailed by colours to the mast as someone who should have their credit cards confiscated… and bought another one. Luckily insurance cash helped out. TOTALLY worth a decade or so of poverty.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/milkybarkid78/

The first time a touched a leica, I knew.
It’s realy magical, not like seeing an Apple product, but a deeper rooted feeling than that!

Instead I bought this realy cool sticker @ http://www.stickerware.com that at least makes my iPhone looks like one! It’s a print of the leica M9, realy cool job. I know there’s a lot more of those stickers around but a free screenprotector and
free shipping for 10 bucks. Now save up for an M8 or M9, not quite there yet:)

I’ve decided that when I have my midlife crisis I’m going to buy an M9 instead of a sports car, can’t wait for my 40s!

Cheaper alternative to Lecia m’s are the Bessa r’s. my bessa r3a was 1/4 of the price of the m7 body. Glass thats another story lol.

My father owned an M6 and an R6. Unfortunately he past away a few years ago and I’ve either sold some stuff or past it down to relatives that will use them. (mountaineering equipment, cross country ski’s etc) but of course keeping the sentimental stuff. At the top of that list is his M6, there’s no way I’ll ever get rid of that!! Never understood his passion for Leica until I got into photography myself. He used to keep the camera in a separate metal case as not to rub away the pristine red felt inside the Leica presentation box.
Would love a new M9 though!

Leica’s are the epitome of what I would like to own. I still have never gone digital. Their compactness with variability of being an SLR is unparalleled I feel.

Meh, I’m still shooting with a Minolta Maxxum 7000, which I absolutely love. My mother gave it to me. Once I grow up I’m sure a Leica will fall into my hands.

Scott,
Leica’s are pricey but beautiful. If you want to get in cheap, pick up the LEICA SLR R3MOT. What is most important here is the glass. Get a nice fixed lens and enjoy. That’s how I got hooked. Remember the glass is what counts. You can also get adapters to shoot Leica glass on Canon and Nikon. Enjoy!