A person who owned & used Leica only knows what a camera should be, what is clarity, what is depth, natural tone. By just looking at photos u cannot comment on legend. I owned Leica M4P with Sumicron lens 35 years back. Its clarity is incomparable.
I think the partnership with Panasonic has done wonders for both companies. By comparing notes, both Leica and Panasonic are going to come out ahead, Leica with improved digital support, Panasonic with better optics. Essentially I have two recent Panasonic Cameras, a point and shoot rebadged as a Leica (seen in this film) and a newer micro four-thirds camera. Both are fantastic, and both exceed expectations I had of Panasonic. Exciting times for Leica fans!
I have seen great results with my Leica, there is something about the shade and colors that can't be beat. I am happy to see they are pursuing digital and going for a variety of economic markets.
Actually, the more I research Leica, the more I'm impressed with the quality. The M9 is a wonderful camera. The 50mm Summilux 1.4 ASPH lens is a dream. It's definitely a niche market though.
Another loved brand is Carl Zeiss- people say the colours and contrast are unique and impossible to reproduce through post-processing. For me their range is more realistic in terms of pricing and also has the magical aura of a lens made from the love of light and beautiful imagery that goes far beyond what is usually 'good enough'. I just hope that the digital rangefinders being released mature quickly, as there is no way in the world I'm buying an M9 but can see the value.
No, the new f0.95 is for the M system. I use both Leica and Nikon SLR, for almost everything I do the Leica produces better prints. The Nikon is good for wildlife, macro and grandchildren autofocus, or the rare occasion I use a zoom. I know most people only use zooms, I almost never do. The tiny Leica is way more convenient to carry too.
If you hold a Leica, there is a marriage of qualities that go together for a very photogaphic experience. The combination of the soft shutter, the controls, the small size of a rangefinder and their uinique lenses do indeed produce a unique synthesis of qualities. Yet, the gear is only part of the story and great pictures can be, and of course are taken with other brands.
There was a time that a Leica lens was worth four times the consumer offerings from the likes of Nikon and Canon. Then along came Panasonic. Panasonic showed Leica they could produce a lens as good as a Summicron for a few hundred dollars. It was because of the investments made in Japan in state of the art lens manufacturing that have tolerances that only even Lieca could dream about. What took a craftman in Germany a week to hand finish, an equivalent lens could be made in 30 minutes by Panasonic. Leica saw the light and now you have JV lens manufacturing for Panasonic and Olympus that can outresolve a 50MB sensor. Leica still hand make lots of M mount lenses but Zeiss now use Cosina and Panasonic make the rest.
I do believe that there is some bias in this video which you should be aware of. However, the body of the camera is also fundamental to the design of the lens. As range finder cameras do not have a mirror to work around, the lens design can be much simpler.
I know your post was in the past, but the lenses are clearly way overpriced. To put it into perspective, the glass used by Cosina Voigtländer is made by Cosina (in glass molds) within Cosina, and hand assembled and still costs a small fraction of the price expected by Leica. Cosina even outsources glass to Zeiss products. The point is, hand assembled cameras and lenses don't create these prices, the collector markets do. Minolta Rokkor glass is practically Leica R glass, but not valued so much.
i just bought a d lux 4 , yup , i know it's a panasonic in all but name but leica just have this magical quality , a bit like bang & olufsen it hits you on an emotional level i guess
I do believe the D3 would pwn the M8 at high ISO, but I don't think that Leica's are targeted at the same area of photography. I wouldn't take a Leica to a photo shoot, but I wouldn't take a D3 to do some street photography. So you know, the fastest Nikon lens is around f/1.2 (though few use these) while the fastest Leicas are f/1.0 and more recently f/0.95 (though not many use these either :P)
I have never seen a professional working with a Leica. (By professional I mean people who make their living with the camera). Leica got its reputation because in the 1930-s it WAS the choice of pros, it was a solid workhorse that took good pics fast and handled the abuse of pro reporters on assignment. In other words it was the taxi-cab of cameras. It made money, not cost money. Today's Leica is pandering to the parvenue. And by the way, the 5K Leica has half of its parts outsourced.
Leica is expensive because it hasn't changed its design concept since the M3. The Japanese design style is focused on reducing cost during assembly. This concept has kept japan going even long before Canon AE-1. Back then, a third of the cost of M5 was spent on its viewfinder alone. The viewfinder of Leica is still its most expensive assembly. So while Leicas are still the highest priced cameras, and lenses, they also maintain one of photography's highest skilled assets: The camera technician.
@BoredOfScience Agreed. Though it should be noted that Panasonic collaborates with Leica only on point and shoots which use Leica lenses. Panasonic does not contribute anything to the M series or the new SLR.
Granted there are some compromises with the RF system, there are also a few advantages. Surely, you are not suggesting that build quality, one of the best in the industry, prohibits taking a quality photo?
The M8 has about 10.3 mp res doesn't it? well, seeing as though M8's are around £3000 half would be £1500, right? heres the specs Leica. 3936 x 2630 2952 x 1972, 1968 x 1315, 1312 x 876 ISO 160, 320, 640, 1250, 2500 against, for example, a Nikon D300 Price around £1000 (less than half!) 12.3 MP 4288 x 2848 3216 x 2136, 2144 x 1424 ISO 200 - 3200 in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps (100 - 6400 with boost) Hm? don't need for leica to find that info! Don't get me wrong i love leica! Hope this helps! :-)
You don't have to have 5000 euros to enjoy a Leica. I got a Leica M3 at a garage sale for $100 USD. I spent $150 getting it cleaned and lubed. Now if I could only afford another lens...
@sharpanator perfect comment! you don't need an 10K watch to see the time. The same way you don't need a 5K camera to make photos. BUT if you can buy one, and you enjoy it, why not?
I own a leica m8 range finder .. excellent camera .. leica glass is a very good option but it's not the only option .. many 3rd party lens are next to Leica lens for a fraction of price .. I sold most of my cameras but kept my M8 .. I shoot with a nokton 35mm 1.4 MC .. I shoot black and white JPEG also save raw files too.. I use i.r cut filter .. I was looking a leica m monochrom but can't explain to wife ..
@aarondkeogh: The question is, was the noise from a leica? And Jim Rakete talked about the analog cameras, not the digital ones. Do digital Leicas play a shutter sound like most other digital cameras on the market? Then the shutter still could be smooth like a baby’s ass while playing a loud fanfare. :)
Thats because the Leica lenses are not coller neutral.,they never were.,they never did get the coatings the right way.,the Leica pictures has always lookt as if a Skylight 1a filter has been used,,it gives a warm dynamic sharp look.,Ideal for portraits.
The m8 isn't brilliant mate! you'll find camera's with the same spec at half the price! Leica are amazing at film camera's, not too sure about the digis though??? the D-Lux 3??? really? what were they thinking? the M8 can be drastically improved!
@yoyodojo4 we won't call you crazy, but it just different person wants different thing. Like tools, Canon might be the perfect tool for you. So yea, as long as the result turns out satisfy the owner :) And I really hope people stop argueing or being jealous of Leica users. I know they all want to own one if they have the money for that..
Just buy an M7! I still don't understand your point? just because its RF makes it viable to have a price tag of that much? I think if a photographer likes to have a real camera they would get one with a better spec than the M8 to be honest. It's so over priced. This camera (In my opinion only) was made for wealthy enthusiasts who assume it must be good as it's a leica with an expensive tag.
Leica is on its way out - its already (again, actually) is half Japanese. I think next will be half Korean and Singapore, or why not half from China? But they deserve it. They sold out consistently to market-forces and they lobbied the German government to let Praktica go under, which was a much larger company and WAS actually 100% German. Leica: "Advertisement made in Germany" .
You just totally made my point about the Rolls. For example, The Leica Digilux 3 and the Lumix whatever that are exactlyyyyyy the same apart from the logo are hundreds of pounds different in price. YOUR PAYING FOR THE LOGO. I just don't understand why you would want to pay more for simplicity? strange logic? if you really want simplicity get a proper camera. Like an M7 or a Nikon F3 or something. Because Leica own this product they could put a tag of £10,000 and people would still buy it.SHEEP!
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A person who owned & used Leica only knows what a camera should be, what is clarity, what is depth, natural tone. By just looking at photos u cannot comment on legend.
I owned Leica M4P with Sumicron lens 35 years back. Its clarity is incomparable.
Sorry but that’s total BS.
I think the partnership with Panasonic has done wonders for both companies. By comparing notes, both Leica and Panasonic are going to come out ahead, Leica with improved digital support, Panasonic with better optics.
Essentially I have two recent Panasonic Cameras, a point and shoot rebadged as a Leica (seen in this film) and a newer micro four-thirds camera. Both are fantastic, and both exceed expectations I had of Panasonic.
Exciting times for Leica fans!
I have seen great results with my Leica, there is something about the shade and colors that can't be beat. I am happy to see they are pursuing digital and going for a variety of economic markets.
Actually, the more I research Leica, the more I'm impressed with the quality. The M9 is a wonderful camera. The 50mm Summilux 1.4 ASPH lens is a dream. It's definitely a niche market though.
God bless Kaufmann, he kept Leica alive. And this year they made a huge profit compared to previous years.
Another loved brand is Carl Zeiss- people say the colours and contrast are unique and impossible to reproduce through post-processing. For me their range is more realistic in terms of pricing and also has the magical aura of a lens made from the love of light and beautiful imagery that goes far beyond what is usually 'good enough'. I just hope that the digital rangefinders being released mature quickly, as there is no way in the world I'm buying an M9 but can see the value.
No, the new f0.95 is for the M system. I use both Leica and Nikon SLR, for almost everything I do the Leica produces better prints. The Nikon is good for wildlife, macro and grandchildren autofocus, or the rare occasion I use a zoom.
I know most people only use zooms, I almost never do. The tiny Leica is way more convenient to carry too.
If you hold a Leica, there is a marriage of qualities that go together for a very photogaphic experience. The combination of the soft shutter, the controls, the small size of a rangefinder and their uinique lenses do indeed produce a unique synthesis of qualities. Yet, the gear is only part of the story and great pictures can be, and of course are taken with other brands.
There was a time that a Leica lens was worth four times the consumer offerings from the likes of Nikon and Canon. Then along came Panasonic. Panasonic showed Leica they could produce a lens as good as a Summicron for a few hundred dollars. It was because of the investments made in Japan in state of the art lens manufacturing that have tolerances that only even Lieca could dream about. What took a craftman in Germany a week to hand finish, an equivalent lens could be made in 30 minutes by Panasonic.
Leica saw the light and now you have JV lens manufacturing for Panasonic and Olympus that can outresolve a 50MB sensor. Leica still hand make lots of M mount lenses but Zeiss now use Cosina and Panasonic make the rest.
I do believe that there is some bias in this video which you should be aware of. However, the body of the camera is also fundamental to the design of the lens. As range finder cameras do not have a mirror to work around, the lens design can be much simpler.
you guys have heard this , but a camera is just a light tight box. a $5000 light tight box. their lenses separates them from canon in the final print.
I know your post was in the past, but the lenses are clearly way overpriced. To put it into perspective, the glass used by Cosina Voigtländer is made by Cosina (in glass molds) within Cosina, and hand assembled and still costs a small fraction of the price expected by Leica. Cosina even outsources glass to Zeiss products. The point is, hand assembled cameras and lenses don't create these prices, the collector markets do. Minolta Rokkor glass is practically Leica R glass, but not valued so much.
Exactly, thankyou! A great reply. Zeizz Zms are beautiful!
i just bought a d lux 4 , yup , i know it's a panasonic in all but name
but leica just have this magical quality , a bit like bang & olufsen
it hits you on an emotional level i guess
I do believe the D3 would pwn the M8 at high ISO, but I don't think that Leica's are targeted at the same area of photography. I wouldn't take a Leica to a photo shoot, but I wouldn't take a D3 to do some street photography. So you know, the fastest Nikon lens is around f/1.2 (though few use these) while the fastest Leicas are f/1.0 and more recently f/0.95 (though not many use these either :P)
And has he taken pictures with other cameras like Cannon or Nikon? Those guys are good and you might say the same thing about them.
Leica M8,my dream compact camera!
I have never seen a professional working with a Leica. (By professional I mean people who make their living with the camera). Leica got its reputation because in the 1930-s it WAS the choice of pros, it was a solid workhorse that took good pics fast and handled the abuse of
pro reporters on assignment.
In other words it was the taxi-cab of cameras. It made money, not cost money.
Today's Leica is pandering to the parvenue. And by the way, the 5K Leica has half of its parts outsourced.
Just ordered a .85 MP, black lacquer. Today is a happy day :)
We should all learn to appreciate true craftsmanship and believe in quality. Leicas are the best. Period!!
Leica is expensive because it hasn't changed its design concept since the M3. The Japanese design style is focused on reducing cost during assembly. This concept has kept japan going even long before Canon AE-1. Back then, a third of the cost of M5 was spent on its viewfinder alone. The viewfinder of Leica is still its most expensive assembly. So while Leicas are still the highest priced cameras, and lenses, they also maintain one of photography's highest skilled assets: The camera technician.
@BoredOfScience Agreed. Though it should be noted that Panasonic collaborates with Leica only on point and shoots which use Leica lenses. Panasonic does not contribute anything to the M series or the new SLR.
Granted there are some compromises with the RF system, there are also a few advantages. Surely, you are not suggesting that build quality, one of the best in the industry, prohibits taking a quality photo?
The M8 has about 10.3 mp res doesn't it? well, seeing as though M8's are around £3000 half would be £1500, right? heres the specs
Leica.
3936 x 2630
2952 x 1972, 1968 x 1315, 1312 x 876
ISO 160, 320, 640, 1250, 2500
against, for example, a Nikon D300
Price around £1000 (less than half!)
12.3 MP
4288 x 2848
3216 x 2136, 2144 x 1424
ISO 200 - 3200 in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps (100 - 6400 with boost)
Hm? don't need for leica to find that info!
Don't get me wrong i love leica!
Hope this helps! :-)
Thanks for posting. I like my (Cosina) Voigtlander Bessa and some day I want to upgrade to a Leica MP
Let me put it this way: Other camera brands offer something for everyone. Leica offers everything for someone.
You don't have to have 5000 euros to enjoy a Leica. I got a Leica M3 at a garage sale for $100 USD. I spent $150 getting it cleaned and lubed. Now if I could only afford another lens...
@sharpanator perfect comment! you don't need an 10K watch to see the time. The same way you don't need a 5K camera to make photos. BUT if you can buy one, and you enjoy it, why not?
@photoallergic Feel free. This saying was originally referring to Porsche 911, which was probably borrowed from somewhere else.
I own a leica m8 range finder ..
excellent camera ..
leica glass is a very good option but it's not the only option ..
many 3rd party lens are next to Leica lens for a fraction of price ..
I sold most of my cameras but kept my M8 ..
I shoot with a nokton 35mm 1.4 MC ..
I shoot black and white JPEG also save raw files too.. I use i.r cut filter ..
I was looking a leica m monochrom but can't explain to wife ..
clovelr I'm still explaining the morroco holiday with the lads ..
Fantastic Images of Rome... Where Can I buy the Calender ? I own twoLeica III , M3 , M6 TTL, & M8.
passionate and funny at the same time. i like it. =)
Smart guy not to stubbornly ignore the change in market.
@aarondkeogh: The question is, was the noise from a leica? And Jim Rakete talked about the analog cameras, not the digital ones. Do digital Leicas play a shutter sound like most other digital cameras on the market? Then the shutter still could be smooth like a baby’s ass while playing a loud fanfare. :)
@albedoshader Leica M cameras have shutters - therefore they make a shutter sound. It's not a recording.
the contax g2 was also a superb camera
and better value
its a shame that they don,t make cameras anymore I hope the same doesnt happen to leica
Go go Justine B. , your songs are good. Keep making more. You will still evolve
Thats because the Leica lenses are not coller neutral.,they never were.,they never did get the coatings the right way.,the Leica pictures has always lookt as if a Skylight 1a filter has been used,,it gives a warm dynamic sharp look.,Ideal for portraits.
Why do I never see such garage sales!
5000 euros!!! but it's the dream of any photographer
The Leica M9 full frame sensor is made in New York :)
@Reufsteck
So what is the best leica brand??? for compact camera... i want to buy it
About half the labor of making a Leica, including the raw glass and bodies of the cameras are made in Portugal actually...
i just want to hold one, maybe take one picture. is that too much to ask??
Yea. And then shoot without a lens? :P
Lens also cost 1.5k at least.
The m8 isn't brilliant mate! you'll find camera's with the same spec at half the price! Leica are amazing at film camera's, not too sure about the digis though??? the D-Lux 3??? really? what were they thinking? the M8 can be drastically improved!
My improvements would be, MAKE A BETTER CAMERA THAT'S ACTUALLY WORTH £3000!! you could get a D3 for that with a Lens!!
@yoyodojo4 we won't call you crazy, but it just different person wants different thing. Like tools, Canon might be the perfect tool for you. So yea, as long as the result turns out satisfy the owner :) And I really hope people stop argueing or being jealous of Leica users. I know they all want to own one if they have the money for that..
I always thinks that the digital leicas does not liveup to analog leicas
good i like it leica
Not very well :( Although everyday im a day closer to finally owning one!
The Zeiss lenses are way better also.
Nonsense.
so much for quiet shutter, did you hear that @ 2:34! I've heard quieter farts!
How's that going for you?
If only i could get one of thoes :(
Just buy an M7! I still don't understand your point? just because its RF makes it viable to have a price tag of that much? I think if a photographer likes to have a real camera they would get one with a better spec than the M8 to be honest. It's so over priced. This camera (In my opinion only) was made for wealthy enthusiasts who assume it must be good as it's a leica with an expensive tag.
disgustingly overpriced
holy shit 0:58 that wud cost as much as a house
yeah and the other parts in Portugal.in Germany they put it all together bud not building it.
Thats a lot of Leica on the table
@mipmipmipmipmip The difference here is that LEICA is the purest technology available then and now and that Buick is still a piece of s...
@dvamateur I will cite this, if you don't mind.
@weetsie He has a heavy investment in lenses, so he sticks with bodies that can utilize those expensive lenses.
alot of leica M user own the film leicas like the M3 and M6
Leica is on its way out - its already (again, actually) is half Japanese. I think next will be half Korean and Singapore, or why not half from China? But they deserve it. They sold out consistently to market-forces and they lobbied the German government to let Praktica go under, which was a much larger company and WAS actually 100% German. Leica: "Advertisement made in Germany" .
So many Leica fanboys. Homaygad.
@funkpilz Or any TLR like my Rolleiflex.
If they wanna succeed on the digital market they need to make cheaper camera's.
come to china,baby,profit is not a problem.it would be better , if you guys can make some cheap but awesome digital camra
@farabirview Its 10 years too late for that.
You just totally made my point about the Rolls. For example, The Leica Digilux 3 and the Lumix whatever that are exactlyyyyyy the same apart from the logo are hundreds of pounds different in price. YOUR PAYING FOR THE LOGO. I just don't understand why you would want to pay more for simplicity? strange logic? if you really want simplicity get a proper camera. Like an M7 or a Nikon F3 or something. Because Leica own this product they could put a tag of £10,000 and people would still buy it.SHEEP!
it's not for you, buddy!
@sharpanator
Then one would shoot film :)
A Leica m9 costs about 7000$. Dont talk out of your arse.
What an unbelievable crock......................
I WILL own a leica before i die!
How much can you get for a kidney?
10k ı thınk
@backindauk hahaha its not happy for your bank
'Captures light like no other camera'?🤣 Leica nonsense again!
This video is packed with nonsense.