I am not a troll I love Leica's Culture but

Mark Won said:

I disagree that you can get the Leica signature with any digital
body.

Click to expand...

I agree with Mark on this. Unless another camera is using the exact same Kodak sensor with precisely the same supporting optical architecture, the look will not be the same, although it may be approximated.

The M8 does have a distinct look, and this is coming from a previously satisfied Nikon DSLR user.

Peter.

--
http://qdiem4sc.zenfolio.com/

You can find many examples and discussion here:

http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=44&order=desc

You don't really because the sensor designed for the u4/3 telocentric requirement of the standard doesn't seen to give the 'Leica Look' but it's fun to play with.
--

'No matter how capable it may be, any camera you have to hold out in front of you like a tourist is not cool.'
Dean Forbes

Stovall wrote:
' but it's fun to play with.

I totally agree. In fact, I've been struggling to wait for the Oly m4/3 and might pull the trigger on a G1 to use as my "telephoto adapter" + body to my M lenses.

Stovall said:

--
'No matter how capable it may be, any camera you have to hold out in
front of you like a tourist is not cool.'
Dean Forbes

Click to expand...

--
Mark Won
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22910881@N08/

Mr. G: You remind me a guy named Jay, who used to be on this forum Are you not him?
--
Jose Garzia

but never Jay.

--
Greg Gebhardt in
Jacksonville, Florida

I have enjoyed using a Zorki 4K a bit more than the Leica II copies.

The 4K has a combined RF & VF (no framelines, though) and a 2 stroke lever wind-on.
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Zorki_4K

QDIEM4SC said:

QDIEM4SC said:

I disagree that you can get the Leica signature with any digital
body.

Click to expand...

I agree with Mark on this. Unless another camera is using the exact
same Kodak sensor with precisely the same supporting optical
architecture, the look will not be the same, although it may be
approximated.

Click to expand...

Thank you for responses,... I was a kind of expecting the answer
would be 'no',... but I was expecting different reasoning,... not
so much depending on particular sensor in M8,... more on a 2x
crop factor of micro 4/3 cameras (although, also M8 is not FF). I
cannot seem to understand why the sensor would be so decisively
important,... because then I would also expect that different films
used in MP or M7 would result in different Leica look, which has
somehow not been indicated in previous answers? In other words,
now I wonder how Leica look differs between different films used
in analog bodies

If I take Nikon 200 F2 VR as an example, ... the lens is known and
appreciated in Nikon community for it's significant "magic" look,...
but this look can be obtained no mater if the lens is used with F100
film body or with D3 digital body.

The only Leica digital that may make people wanting to own is the rangefinder M8.x and its horribly expensive lens collection. In my own opinion, the M digital is good but not good enough for the asking price. This camera is made for the previous owners of the M series camera who already have few M lenses , not for new people because of the price of the M lenses. I believe that giving few more years, Leica will perfect the digital rangefinder M and it will be an ultimate toy for rich people. At this moment leica has no offer for practical photography.

Yes, although the earlier Zorkis look more elegant , the Zorki 4K would be a pleasure to use with the combined RF and VF window.

--

• markE

http://www.pbase.com/marke

'Good street/wildlife photography is a controlled accident,
a vision of preparation and surrender materialized.'

Arkon said:

The only Leica digital that may make people wanting to own is the
rangefinder M8.x and its horribly expensive lens collection. In my
own opinion, the M digital is good but not good enough for the asking
price. This camera is made for the previous owners of the M series
camera who already have few M lenses , not for new people because of
the price of the M lenses. I believe that giving few more years,
Leica will perfect the digital rangefinder M and it will be an
ultimate toy for rich people. At this moment leica has no offer for
practical photography.

Click to expand...

--

Whenever some one does not "get it" because of price or performance charts then posts that it just does not work or is a waste of money, you can bet when you check their profile it says something in IT or an Engineer or both (with the exception of Jono). Because it does not fit in with your life and you don't have the capacity to imagine how it could fit in with others does not mean it's a useless piece of jewelry. For some people it will be the way a camera works that suits them, for others it might be that it's existence in that form inspires them, either way it's the best camera for them. I don't have one because of the way it works does not fit in with what I have to shoot. Neither do I see it as pointless, I can see a system that has the best lenses available, is precisely made to make the most of the lenses and is a beautiful object, that is more than enough to justify it. The fact you can't afford it is your fault not the cameras.

Kevin.

Also my M is way more practical than my D700 which I hardly take out anymore on account of its sheer dimensions.

It was for me.

I was new to RF.
I had no previous m lenses nor RF cameras.
I'm not "rich" but willing to sacrifice to learn.

And would now give up any other camera system to stay with the current RF and specifically the m line system. Anything newer and presumably better will be, well...better I guess. Never perfect tho.

Arkon said:

The only Leica digital that may make people wanting to own is the
rangefinder M8.x and its horribly expensive lens collection. In my
own opinion, the M digital is good but not good enough for the asking
price. This camera is made for the previous owners of the M series
camera who already have few M lenses , not for new people because of
the price of the M lenses. I believe that giving few more years,
Leica will perfect the digital rangefinder M and it will be an
ultimate toy for rich people. At this moment leica has no offer for
practical photography.

Click to expand...

I agree starting with a fixed-lens RF is a good idea, and not just because of the cost. Not being able to change lenses takes that temptation out of the equation.

In addition to those listed, the Olympus 35SP/SPn/UC are a great choice. Fast 42/1.7 lens of great quality, VF/RF is very good though not Leica/Bessa quality. But certainly better than squinty Fed/Zorki finders. The spot meter is a brilliant and handy feature. Takes easy-to-find 49mm filters and the nearly ubiquitous OM 35/40/50 hood works well. Put a Gordy hand strap on and you have a really nice street/candid machine.

The OP was not looking for a camera for his pro work, but for enjoyment/relaxation and to get away from the "Pro" equipment. A PRO camera is a camera that a Pro uses. Could be a Diana, for all I care.

KAllen said:

--
I'm a Canon pro shooter, I have never owned a Leica, but yes I would
love to own some Leica. The trouble is for professional shooting of
the kind I do I just can't justify a Leica. It does a lot of things
better than any other system, but those things are not of practical
use for what I shoot. Long may they continue producing quality
products. If Leica ever make an M with enough pixels to challenge
moire, that works well in low light and has door to change the card
etc I'l be back wanting again.
I can't see the appeal of a Red dot on a Panasonic.

Kevin.

Click to expand...

The M8.x is a good camera but not good enough for the asking price (in my opinion). This comes from me as a M6 user since 1990 (the very first and only one rangefinder camera I own). .

Thanks to al those that commented, thanks to those who took the thread in all directions including M8, it just offered more passion and more Leica love.

Here is what happened, I decided that quality won over zoom. G10 went out the Window. I considered the GX200 Ricoh and called calumet all round town they did not have the DLUX in stock anywhere or the Panny for that case.

I spent 10 minutes on google on the iphone and found Richard Caplan in SW1, Bury Street. Lovely shop, had a Ricoh, Panny and Leica in there all to play with let alone all the M-series stuff and a couple of sample S- Series to play with....... Nah only kidding had you going though.

The guys were great, the Ricoh, whilst nice was like a toy. Plastic feel, VF was like looking at a Nintendo DS screen. I held the DLUX and it all happened, Love at first sight.

I tested the screen the menus spent about 40 minutes playing with the Leica VF on it as well. Looked at the old man style Leather pouch you get and felt vintage and back in the day.

Needless to say the Panny did not make an entrance, I am a snob I liked the Red Dot what sold it to me was that the camera is different, not better than the Panny different. I know as the salesman was a Leica Rep in there. So politcially correct worked for me as the Leica was film like, its what I wanted and the images around the store just depicted a timeless effort Leica has put into its technology.

I will repeat this on a new thread for all newbie owners who want to share. I coughed up for the VF, would have purchased the extra Holder as well if they had it. Need to check out the filters and extensions that hopefully are coming or I will just buy the Panny ones but what did it for me was the web site said.

"SON of the M8" - and I think it felt like it. Time to slow down, change my style and see what Leica has to offer on image quality. The f2.0 lens is amazing and I think up to 800ISO seems cracking.

I will try and post on a site soon, I cannot work out the dpreview post process. In the meantime here is my day job,

http://www.sanzari.co.uk/gallery.html - all on Nikon babies.

But I will develop a site dedicated to my DLUX. I have not discounted an M8.2 in the future however I think the versatility of the DSLR with lenses and speed will always keep me there when I need to shoot for work or stock on travels that are photographic.

The rest of the time the DLUX lives with me, It seems the be the camera the DLUX 2 never was. Im glad I did it thanks forum.

T

--

'No matter how capable it may be, any camera you have to hold out in front of you like a tourist is not cool.'
Dean Forbes

Pay no attention to those who feel how you hold your camera is most important.

Congrats and welcome to the club!

Post some images!

--
Greg Gebhardt in
Jacksonville, Florida

haha

Ansel Adams could not hold his camera in front of him it was too heavy, he used a tripod. I will do the same when not using the Viewfinder on top. thanks for letting me know how not to look a idiot when taking pictures.

But I know what you mean !!