Another camera thread.....Leica...

[David F]

I was away on a trip over the w/e...and met up with a member of the Leica Society (I think he was a founder member).

I had a look through his camera and might say it was very nice.

He is still with film; whats the low down on Leice....are there good (reasonably priced!)(perhapts a silly question!) dslrs there are they mainly film?

Anyone any experience?





David

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Leica clearly have a great name, and rightly so as most of their kit is excellent.
Having said that, they launched the M8 recently, which I believe is their first digital unit, and apparently it has more than a few flaws, requiring the use of screw on filters in some circumstances.
I've never seen a DSLR from them, the M8 being a rangefinder (IIRC).

 

[MarkS]

Most of their stuff is rangefinder. I think the R series is the exception.

I have a D-Lux 3 compact which takes superb photos.

Bear in mind that they are now owned by Panasonic and you can get the same models, of the lower priced ranges, for less money under the Panasonic brand.

 

[sideshowbob]

Leica are not owned by Panasonic, although they have a deal with Panasonic whereby many of the Lumix cameras are also released with Leica badges, in exchange for which Leica do some R&D on Panasonic's lens design.

Apart from the rebadged Lumixes, the M8 is the only current production digital camera Leica make, and it's about £3K for the body only. Apparently they will be releasing a DSLR next, but it will also be hugely expensive. I can't see any point in buying a digital Leica at this moment in time.

Secondhand film bodies are an excellent buy, older M4s are around £400 or so, but they are rangefinders and fully manual operation, which may or may not be your preference. M6s at least have a meter, and you can get an M6 body for around £600. My M6 is my favourite 35mm camera, it's beautifully made, and the ergonomics are great. You will still need to budget for lenses though. They also made a range of film SLRs, of which the last was the R9. These are cheaper than the M bodies, and the lenses are cheaper than M lenses, but I've never used one so have no idea if they're any good or not. They were never as popular as the rangefinders.

-- Ian

 

[David F]

Thanks Ian (and Mark and Mr Sukebe).

Yes , I think the gentleman said his as an "m"....he did also say that i was semi manual (whatever).....with two leds to match exposure.....

Not sure as I want to go back to film.......

 

[Greg]

I have a D-Lux 3 compact which takes superb photos.

Bear in mind that they are now owned by Panasonic and you can get the same models, of the lower priced ranges, for less money under the Panasonic brand.

Yeah that's a good point, the D-Lux is, as you point out, a Panasonic in every respect apart from the badge. The M8 is apparently their only true Leica digital camera.

 

[Joe P]

David,

Keep in mind that a rangefinder -- Leica or other -- is a poor choice if you do lots of macro photography, and I believe you said somewhere else that macro is an interest of yours.

Joe

 

[David F]

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/davidf_photo/Picture2003copy-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

 

[David F]

this was the pic thatr iwas looking through the leica at...

you could clearly see smke coming from the funnel; not apparant in this shot!!

the light was obvously lousy....but still

Incidently how do you put a pic directly onto the forum page ....won't let me do at the moment?!?

 

[David F]

David,

Keep in mind that a rangefinder -- Leica or other -- is a poor choice if you do lots of macro photography, and I believe you said somewhere else that macro is an interest of yours.

Joe

Good point.

It may well be a case of keeping two cameras to cover eventualities!

 

[Mr Cat]

this was the pic thatr iwas looking through the leica at...

you could clearly see smke coming from the funnel; not apparant in this shot!!

the light was obvously lousy....but still

Incidently how do you put a pic directly onto the forum page ....won't let me do at the moment?!?

plus the sky looks a bit suspect...

 

[David F]

BTW the waverley was part of the trip.....motoring down to southend on sea...well worth it if you get the opprortumity

The boat is powered by steam; you can see most of the mechanics if you go below.....

this pic is pretty poor.....the video is actually tons better!

 

[David F]

plus the sky looks a bit suspect...

Yes, I know it was a bit like that all day.

The sun did burn throught eventually.

 

[MarkS]

Leica are not owned by Panasonic, although they have a deal with Panasonic whereby many of the Lumix cameras are also released with Leica badges, in exchange for which Leica do some R&D on Panasonic's lens design.

I stand corrected.

Mar 02, 2005; 02:18 p.m.

Today's Financial Times, German Editions, reports the declaration of a Panasonic company spokesman stating that Panasonic is not interested in entereing as a shareholder of the Leica company and that no such talks of were under way.

In view of the difficult financial situation of Leica Camera AG, speculations about the possibility of such a participation were circulating. Leica had several times manifested it's interest to have Panasonic enter as shareholder.

This further restricts the freedom of movements of the Leica company, already harassed by the recent reduction of the banks' credit lines.

 

[David F]

I as browsing the nikon dpreview/nikon feed back forum last night.

(sorry I'm a bit sold on nikon just now....i know. Leicas are best as film?))

a few factors emerge

1) the 5700/8700/8800 range are renound for their strengsth as great point and shoot landscape camers but their weaknesses of a) start up b) small screen view finders c) low light failings are very well ducumented.

2) their doesn't seem much between the D50/70...both discontinued now

both good.....and fetch strong prices 2nd hand.

So good in fact you might as well buy new.....

3) D40.....very much simplified ( x especially)...and there seems to be an issue over the compatabiliyt with auto focus lenses.....

4) guess that leaves me heading for D80....though it won't be this month

Very good reviews on dpreview

5) Unless i should take a look at an older model like a D100......

 

[garyi]

I played with a d40 and is was certainly nice to hold, but very plastic and cheap in comparison even to a d50. Also the lack of compatibility with the 8000 or so second hand nikkor and compatible lenses on ebay right now, leads me to believe this is really a Point and Shoot for those that want to suggest they are anything but. (the irony is not lost on me that this is exactly what I am)

I do not see the point in a D40.

Also if they are pictures from a Leica, it goes to show that a Leica can indeed produce shit pictures.

 

[David F]

I played with a d40 and is was certainly nice to hold, but very plastic and cheap in comparison even to a d50. Also the lack of compatibility with the 8000 or so second hand nikkor and compatible lenses on ebay right now, leads me to believe this is really a Point and Shoot for those that want to suggest they are anything but. (the irony is not lost on me that this is exactly what I am)

I do not see the point in a D40.

Also if they are pictures from a Leica, it goes to show that a Leica can indeed produce shit pictures.

The pics I put up are from my Dads Canon S2 1s.

 

[Joe P]

David,

Do you have any lenses? That may sway your decision to one make and model in particular.

Joe

 

[David F]

David,

Do you have any lenses? That may sway your decision to one make and model in particular.

Joe

No,

Only an old vivitar (ithink) zoom that i used on the old OM10....I don't think it was up to much.

My Dad had a load of Canon lenses from back in the 70s.....at that time he was using a Canon ftb.

Those (and the ftb) went to my sister over in N ireland, though she doesn't use it now; prefering her Ricoh digital. I presume both the lenses and camere are still over there. Whether they would be of any use to modern digi slrs is another matter.

I'm only looking just now Joe, sounding out the possibilites, I'm a fair way from making a move





David

 

[David F]

I played with a d40 and is was certainly nice to hold,

yes , I looked at one last w/e

but very plastic and cheap in comparison even to a d50.

but not a d50

Also the lack of compatibility with the 8000 or so second hand nikkor and compatible lenses on ebay right now, leads me to believe this is really a Point and Shoot for those that want to suggest they are anything but. (the irony is not lost on me that this is exactly what I am)

that seesm to be the problem

I do not see the point in a D40.

neither do I

except maybe as an entry level dslr

Also if they are pictures from a Leica, it goes to show that a Leica can indeed produce shit pictures.

the weather was hardly helpful

its that sort of landscape shot that the canon is quite good at with its image stablization