Lance Hermes
New member
I did not give this a 5 star as it is over priced for what you get. The fact that it may be built to last twenty years does not matter in an area where the technology changes so fast.
I did not "need" this camera but bought it as a treat for myself. I already have a Sony RX100M3, and as such I was set for the social photography.
My first love is my Canon 6D. Still in social situations a large DSLR is awkward to say the least. The Sony RX100 solves this problem to some extent but it is too complex, and is hard to use when you are talking to some one.
The Leica menus are clearly more intuitive and easier to use than the Sony. This will likely mean more great shots in social situations. Is the Leica worth the extra money? That is going to be a matter of taste. Note that in spite of the higher cost, the manual is useful but not comprehensive. There are new special features that you will not appreciate from the manual. The book by Alexander White is very useful.
Physically, the Sony is noticeably smaller. However, if you have big fingers, the Leica is far easier to use. There is also a very accessible button to toggle between automatic and manual modes that is very useful under pressure. The Leica does not have an adjustable screen which is a big loss. Also the default version has a lens cap that attaches with a string, which looks a little silly.
Which camera is superior from a technical perspective? They seem to be tied, from the point of view of social photography. However, they both have very superior low-light performance in comparison to the 6D. This means no flashes are necessary in low-light situations. The special modes that Leica uses are not well documented. Essentially like Sony, the camera takes six pictures in a rapid burst, then combines them. This is done with a High Dynamic Range mode in which the six pictures are combined. It really does appear to use different settings during the six shots to resolve the old problem of dynamic range.
In sum, the Sony is probably better value for your money if ergonomics are not important. Note, that there is a Panasonic that is a near clone of the Leica. If it is as close as some people say, it is the best value for the money.
I did not "need" this camera but bought it as a treat for myself. I already have a Sony RX100M3, and as such I was set for the social photography.
My first love is my Canon 6D. Still in social situations a large DSLR is awkward to say the least. The Sony RX100 solves this problem to some extent but it is too complex, and is hard to use when you are talking to some one.
The Leica menus are clearly more intuitive and easier to use than the Sony. This will likely mean more great shots in social situations. Is the Leica worth the extra money? That is going to be a matter of taste. Note that in spite of the higher cost, the manual is useful but not comprehensive. There are new special features that you will not appreciate from the manual. The book by Alexander White is very useful.
Physically, the Sony is noticeably smaller. However, if you have big fingers, the Leica is far easier to use. There is also a very accessible button to toggle between automatic and manual modes that is very useful under pressure. The Leica does not have an adjustable screen which is a big loss. Also the default version has a lens cap that attaches with a string, which looks a little silly.
Which camera is superior from a technical perspective? They seem to be tied, from the point of view of social photography. However, they both have very superior low-light performance in comparison to the 6D. This means no flashes are necessary in low-light situations. The special modes that Leica uses are not well documented. Essentially like Sony, the camera takes six pictures in a rapid burst, then combines them. This is done with a High Dynamic Range mode in which the six pictures are combined. It really does appear to use different settings during the six shots to resolve the old problem of dynamic range.
In sum, the Sony is probably better value for your money if ergonomics are not important. Note, that there is a Panasonic that is a near clone of the Leica. If it is as close as some people say, it is the best value for the money.