The Cult of Leica.

[johnastovall]

The current issue of the New Yorker has an excellent article on Leica.

If you want to understand, Leica's greatness which is unlike any other camera.

Read: The Cult of the Leica.

[lextalionis]

Great article!

"(Five and a half thousand will buy you a 50-mm. f/1, the widest lens on the market; for anybody wanting to shoot pictures by candlelight, there’s your answer.)"

I didn't know there were lenses that fast...woaaaa!

I'm curious now about their R9...must be the best DLSR in the world?

Roy

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by lextalionis

Great article!

"(Five and a half thousand will buy you a 50-mm. f/1, the widest lens on the market; for anybody wanting to shoot pictures by candlelight, there’s your answer.)"

I didn't know there were lenses that fast...woaaaa!

I'm curious now about their R9...must be the best DLSR in the world?

Roy

Oh, some of us shoot a Canon 50mm f/1.0 on their dSLR. Then the Nocti, is not as fast as the Canon 50mm f/0.95 which can be moded for use on the R-D1 or M8.

The Glass for the R9 is some of the best in the world but the fact you could shoot both film or digital was it's claim to fame. The DMR back had very fine image quality.

This maybe the best DSLR in the world (but a closed system).

[lextalionis]

39 mega pixels...LOL...16bit Color Depth...LOL again!

[zach-e2]

ha ha.. great article indeed!
the pop art - "badaboom, badabing" was what made it all worth while!

[venchka]

Originally Posted by lextalionis

Great article!

"(Five and a half thousand will buy you a 50-mm. f/1, the widest lens on the market; for anybody wanting to shoot pictures by candlelight, there’s your answer.)"

I didn't know there were lenses that fast...woaaaa!

I'm curious now about their R9...must be the best DLSR in the world?

Roy

The f/1.0 Noctilux has been on the market for a long time. One of the most verstile lenses ever produced. A 50mm lens for all purposes except macro. Mounted on a relfex housing, it might even be good for macro work as well.

The R9 is a film body. The addition of the DMR (digital module) made it a digital SLR. The DMR was recently discontinued. The 16 bit CCD sensor has been praised for image quality at the expense of high ISO performace. Coupled with Leitz lenses, the R8 or R9 + DMR just may be the best dSLR at ISO 640 and below.

GOOGLE geebeephoto and Doug Herr for samples from rangefinder and SLR Leicas.

However, I would remind everyone that even a Leica needs to be in the right hands with the right eyes looking through the viewfinder to produce stellar results. I am living proof that using a Leica camera and Leitz lenses does not make one a better photographer.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by venchka

The f/1.0 Noctilux has been on the market for a long time. One of the most verstile lenses ever produced. A 50mm lens for all purposes except macro. Mounted on a relfex housing, it might even be good for macro work as well.

The R9 is a film body. The addition of the DMR (digital module) made it a digital SLR. The DMR was recently discontinued. The 16 bit CCD sensor has been praised for image quality at the expense of high ISO performace. Coupled with Leitz lenses, the R8 or R9 + DMR just may be the best dSLR at ISO 640 and below.

GOOGLE geebeephoto and Doug Herr for samples from rangefinder and SLR Leicas.

However, I would remind everyone that even a Leica needs to be in the right hands with the right eyes looking through the viewfinder to produce stellar results. I am living proof that using a Leica camera and Leitz lenses does not make one a better photographer.

And the Noctilux is still made in Canada not Germany as all the other lenses are.

[crackhead]

I have a Leica M8. Just picked one up and am $5,000 poorer. Have a 50 Summicron-M. It's a bit long, and making pictures with this thing isn't as easy as with a D70, for instance. But still, it's an intriguing camera.

Anyone else shoot M8?

[jon_k]

Wow, since Leica is so prestigious it must be an honor that their digital systems are using Olympus 4/3 mount. For them to custom design and hand make such a SLR camera for 4/3 is like a pat on the back to the system.

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/d_system/

• 4/3 type MOS ('Live MOS sensor'), NMOS type
• 17.3 x 13.0 mm active area
• 7.9 million total pixels
• 7.5 million effective pixels
• 5.6 x 5.6 µm pixel pitch
• RGB (Primary) color filter array
• Fixed low pass filter (anti-alias filter)
• Supersonic Wave Filter (dust protection)

The only thing is, it doesn't beat any of the specs of the E-500 I have, yet the camera is selling for $2499. I got my E-500 for $600. Although the Leica is about 1/4 the size of my E-500. (You'd probably need a lens collar for a 50mm prime their body is so small!)

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by jon_k

Wow, since Leica is so prestigious it must be an honor that their digital systems are using Olympus 4/3 mount. For them to custom design and hand make such a SLR camera for 4/3 is like a pat on the back to the system.

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/d_system/

• 4/3 type MOS ('Live MOS sensor'), NMOS type
• 17.3 x 13.0 mm active area
• 7.9 million total pixels
• 7.5 million effective pixels
• 5.6 x 5.6 µm pixel pitch
• RGB (Primary) color filter array
• Fixed low pass filter (anti-alias filter)
• Supersonic Wave Filter (dust protection)

The only thing is, it doesn't beat any of the specs of the E-500 I have, yet the camera is selling for $2499. I got my E-500 for $600. Although the Leica is about 1/4 the size of my E-500. (You'd probably need a lens collar for a 50mm prime their body is so small!)

Thier digilux 3 is using the 4/3 system, but the m8 is not. it has a 1.33x conversion factor from 35mm, and is a 3:2 format.

The m8 also does not beat any of the "specs" of a canon 1dMkIII, but from all the fans that the m system has, it would appear that they are not trying to beat them.

What I would love to see (if only so I could afford to try one out) is for panasonic to come out with a m system body, like they have with the rest of the digital line from leica

[Hanky]

I have this old clunker. :)

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by jon_k

Wow, since Leica is so prestigious it must be an honor that their digital systems are using Olympus 4/3 mount. For them to custom design and hand make such a SLR camera for 4/3 is like a pat on the back to the system.

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/d_system/

• 4/3 type MOS ('Live MOS sensor'), NMOS type
• 17.3 x 13.0 mm active area
• 7.9 million total pixels
• 7.5 million effective pixels
• 5.6 x 5.6 µm pixel pitch
• RGB (Primary) color filter array
• Fixed low pass filter (anti-alias filter)
• Supersonic Wave Filter (dust protection)

The only thing is, it doesn't beat any of the specs of the E-500 I have, yet the camera is selling for $2499. I got my E-500 for $600. Although the Leica is about 1/4 the size of my E-500. (You'd probably need a lens collar for a 50mm prime their body is so small!)

It's not a Leica. It's just a Panasonic with red dot but is still a lower caste.

[crackhead]

I have a Digilux and have tried the Oly E500 my friend has. It's not a bad camera at all. The shutter lag is way better on the Oly.

> It's not a Leica. It's just a Panasonic with red dot but is still a lower caste.

Stovall, you Leica elitist! : )

[Pascal]

Some say Leica fell from grace by hooking up with Panasonic. The Digilux 3 is a good camera and I can beleive that it is a panasonic with a red dot.

However, it is the Lecia 14-50mm f2.8-3.5mm Lens that's the star in that kit. Quality is truly indicative of the Leica bloodline. No way Panasonic could have come up with that lens by themselves.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by crackhead

I have a Leica M8. Just picked one up and am $5,000 poorer. Have a 50 Summicron-M. It's a bit long, and making pictures with this thing isn't as easy as with a D70, for instance. But still, it's an intriguing camera.

Anyone else shoot M8?

Will be in a few months when my retirement is sorted out...