Probably a controversial question, but is Leica really worth the jump?

I’ve been shooting Nikons and a few different Contax’s and have loved those. I’ve certainly been wanting the Leica experience but have never been able to fully understand why I want a Leica other than the hype that people have placed on them. But I know in most cases this hype is warranted! Can those in this thread that enjoy Leica’s help me out?

 

Same question, is Omega really worth the jump?

 

Ooh, well, a Nikon would be a very nice Seiko, hardy and near impossible to kill via daily usage, and will do everything the Omega can, but if you are the sort to place your faith in the (mostly) unchanged and trusted Speedmaster from the 60s, a Leica is pretty much the same thing. A shutter button, shutter speed dial, focus ring and aperture ring. All set? Off you go making pictures.

You pay extra for the familiar simplicity.

 

Also just a quick shot of what I sometimes have in my bag. I love Contax too!

 

Not controversial at all, but it is hard to define "worth". I just wanted to try it and went ahead to try the M6, MP and then M9 after dumping my Nikon D700. Now I only have the MP240 and continue to enjoy it with my lenses - including pre-asph Summilux 35, 50 and the Noctilux Version 2. I think for many users, it is the bokeh that is attractive, among other reasons such as the Leica branding, the vintage feel etc.

 

Leica is now making some wonderful Digital cameras as well, both the Leica Q - a great, small, highly capable street photography camera and the Leica SL - with a fabulous 24-90 zoom are worth considering.

 

How do you like the VM Ultron f2 35mm? I am thinking of changing mine up. I have the 35mm Nokton ASPH II, but it's huge.

 

I think you can get as good image quality for a fraction of the price. But the shooting experience is soooooo much better with Leica. I actually enjoy photography now, and the machine has actually inspired my creative side.

 

can you tell us about those earphones? Very intrigued.

 

Ah, they are the Custom Art Harmony 8.2 with the HanSound Agni II silver cable. Beautifully layered sound, just ever so slightly warm. Really nice for funk or jazz.

 

I’ve got a Leica M2 and MDa but lately I’ve been picking up my FujiFilm Klasse W because it’s just been so fun to use.

 

Absolutely LOVE my D-lux 109, last of Leica’s D-lux series made in Japan, it seems. The perfect take anywhere camera. Sadly, not going anywhere these days... so she might go to eBay soon. While I decide, if anyone here is interested first, drop me a line.

 

Consider a Sony A7 family camera, with Leica glass on via an adapter.

 

I'm pretty happy with my Leica D-LUX 5 digital.

 

Such a great series of camera. The 109 has WiFi and 1080 video, both of which have been fun and convenient. Can’t go wrong with the d-lux!

 

For all you M-mount guys, which lenses do you have? I'll go first: Summicron 50mm, Voigtlander 35mm Nokton asph II; Voigtlander 15mm

 

Never could afford Leica but I had a lot of fun with Kodak Retina back in the day, whole setup with a IIIS and a Reflex S.

Sold it all when George Mrus died and bought a Voigtlander (Cosina).

 

The Retinas had great lenses, had a lot of fun with them. I still have them though

 

I still have the 50mm cron and the Voigt 15mm (great rectilinear lens).

 

In 2015 I was moving to work with the US Embassy in Kuwait and had movers pack up all my things. After that move I was never able to locate my Leica camera and thought it was gone forever. I was able to locate all of my other photography equipment and fortunately I put the lens, Summilux 50 onto my Sony 7ii so it was safe and sound.

Well for the last couple of days I’m been cleaning out my garage in the hopes of building a home gym. Going through some of the boxes I’ve been lugging around for ages, I found a nice little surprise. Now I have some real decisions to make, do I keep the manual film M7 or sale it and go after the M9 that I’ve always had my eye on.