Hey,
I was talking with a fellow photographer today and they mentioned a brand I'd never heard of before: Leica. I looked them up and they seem t have nice cameras (especially their s-system even if it is a bit out of my price range :P). Has anyone had any experience with their cameras? If so, what do you think: would it be a good investment for an amateur/beginner photographer?
If I had $10k... I would be all over a range finder... Nikon has good glass for a camera... and then there is leica... which you cannot even compare it is so much better... but really it is like saying I have a chevy camaro ... great car... but it is not a Bugatti
oh the difference is Leica are hand made... almost no give in build quality... if a piece of glass is 1/16 on an inch thick it is 1/16 of in inch... not 1/16 +/- 1/128
The Leica point and shoot cameras are just re-branded Panasonic Lumix cameras. So unless you're going to pick up a rangefinder or SLR from them, you can save a bit of money going with the Panasonic.
They are very good especially the lenses. Some decades old lenses are great too. The current M9 has full-frame sensor that takes full advantage of the M lenses. M8/8.2 (produced since 2006 and 2008 (?), but now discontinued) are also good but they have cropped sensors. Using rangefinder cameras like Leica Ms is quite different from using DSLR though. Leica X1 is great too. Shooting rangefinder will likely change your photo-taking syle also!
Pana-leica, the Panasonic-Leica compact cameras are also sweet.
@michellestrehl I have a pansonic P&S , with leica lens, and its been a great camera :) Never a problem with the lens at all, great photos, with amazing clarity for a slightly older camera.
Are they good? Lets just say I hiked halfway across a strange german town just to try and get closer to the Leica plant and take a photo of it. Yep they're good. What @icywarm said.
I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 point and shoot. It has a Leica lens and takes a really good photo. I love it and find myself using it more often than my Nikon SLR just because it's so easy to use. I've seen shots taken with a Leica X1 that are amazing...it's obviously an amazing camera. Guess it all comes down to price and preference.
I have a panasonic p&s and panasonic bridge camera, both with leica lenses and I love them. The pictures are amazing. I'm not using them so much these since started this project as I'm using my dslr for most of the shots.
I have a Panasonic GF-1 (Which of course already replaced by the GF-2). It kinda makes me laugh that they sell Leica adapters for me to put Leica glass on it. My guess is if you can afford an M9 and the crazy expensive Leica lenses, you can probably afford 2 M9 bodies :). Anyways, it's a great P&S with the biggest tradeoff being it's size (not pocketable). Just wanted to poke in and say Panasonic does not equal Leica. Not that anyone is saying that, but wanted to make the clear distinction. For most people I don't think Leica is a pragmatic entry point, but that's just my opinion.
Is a Leica any good? Uh, that is the holy grail to some. Seriously, most pros don't even own one. Why would an amatuer or beginner need one? That's silly.
Now, watch out, there are some cameras out there with a Leica name on them, that are really a Panasonic at twice the price. Don't waste your money on those.
Seriously, you're an amatuer/ beginner. It's not the camera. Please don't thnk that buying a nice camera will make you a good photographer. Too many people get sucked into that mentality.
Thanks guys! I know that a Leica camera is really expensive. And I also know that a good camera doesn't make a good picture. I had never heard of Leica before and wanted to know where it ranked on the camera scale. I guess it is near the top :P
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both a cars.. but come on!
Pana-leica, the Panasonic-Leica compact cameras are also sweet.
If I could sell my soul for enough I'd buy one.
Best. Cameras. Ever.
Of course, I am speaking of the actual Leicas and not the point-and-shoots (though they're ok too).
I really want a M9 as a walkaround camera.
Now, watch out, there are some cameras out there with a Leica name on them, that are really a Panasonic at twice the price. Don't waste your money on those.
Seriously, you're an amatuer/ beginner. It's not the camera. Please don't thnk that buying a nice camera will make you a good photographer. Too many people get sucked into that mentality.