Converted to Leica

Hello. Have any Leica users in this forum successfully converted a non-Leica user to a Leica user? By this I mean has, for example, that die-hard only Nikon or Canon user actually purchased Leica equipment after say handling your Leica and seeing the results they have produced? ..or say falling in love with the handling style of your camera? Regards.

Yes... I have.

 

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I have converted a young padowan learner to the dark side.

 

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His name is John Kyle Chan.

 

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;-)

I was converted by a friend of mine back in the early 80s. The point

about Leica is that it is better in comparison to others. Unless you

are around someone and can see their shots and compare directly with

your own, then Leica advantages are hypothetical. Without the

comparison most people think well "nothing could be better than my

lens x". Actually it can, but you have to see it to understand.

I have not converted anybody. On purpose, that is. I, however, was

converted myself by a friend that loaned me his M3 for a roll of

flm... The results were incredible, and that was what converted me.

 

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;-),

Conversion is a state of mind.

 

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I had long sought the peace and tranquility taught by the Shaolin

school of photography, but continued to fail the walking-on-rice-paper

test. I had appreciated the work produced with Leicas by the likes of

Mike Dixon on other fora (and some of the National Geographic

photographers, too, I suppose), and difference in vision that seemed

to come through that work. Then, one day it dawned on me that perhaps

the reason I was tearing the rice paper was due to the extra weight of

that 80-200mm AFS zoom on the Nikon F5. That prompted me to augment my

gear with an M6 TTL a year ago, and I've been studying the Zen of

Leica Ms since.

 

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I still use the Nikon gear, and the Hasselblads, and the 4x5, where

the requirements of the shoot demand, but not when standing on the

rice paper.

I started falling for the hype a year ago (1/01) followed this and

other fora falling deeper and deeper into the abyss until I swapped

my F3, and every imaginable prime lens and accessory, for a m6TTl 35

cron and 90 lux on a Leica day this past 12/01. First roll, results

were nothing special, actually junk. Second roll, starting to get an

inkling as to it is all about. Third roll,I the saw the light and it

hit me like supernova (sorry for the bad pun). I have never looked

back and only wish it hadn't taken so long "convert".

The first time I simply held an old M in my hands I knew it was only

a matter of time...! Learning to convert from using an SLR to using

the M took a little longer however.

Actually, a friend of mine bought an R8 after seeing some of my work

with the 90mm Summicron-R and comparing it to some other shots done

with Canon lenses.

I don't know if you want to hear this or not but nobody ever converted

me except me myself. I don't work for Leica but this sounds like an

old ad of theirs. After 30 years of Nikon/Nikonos stuff I got more and

more into wanting to be my own boss. Nikon got me more and more into

being its slave. With my M6 TTL, I set what I have to set and/or what

I want to set. That's all.

I was converted four years ago when I saw the light (sorry about

this pun!!) emanating from an R8. I had been a diehard Nikon

user for over thirty years. My longtime dealer knew that I was

looking for a higher quality camera system in the 35mm range

and suggested an R8. I picked it up and looked through and it

was truely love at first sight (again I apologize but couldn't resist

this one!!) The subsequent high quality slides over the years

have only reinforced my initial feelings. (8>))--Albert

Interesting question ^^

 

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The guy converted me from Canon to Leica converted himself later on,

from Leica M to Contax G.

 

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And now I've been trying hard to convert the Canon guy who made me

into Photography...

 

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Oh! now you know how to make $$ from camera business...

Expecting to die in the poorhouse I recently purchased some medium

format equipment. Glorious stuff, at least in terms of color and

line are emerging. I also own a COntax N-1 system---slow difficult

to autofocus the big lense, but again glorious pictures and the

camera survived a trip to dusty Burma. BUT, But, but, Saturday

afternoon I drove over to my favorite camera store to get some more

120, and decided to touch, pick up, and play with a Leica M6.

The friendly owner produced a 28mm lense for the little dear and I

went outside to take a few shots. I even took one of the owner and a

couple of his die hard hangers on.

The few frames I took on Fuji Reala 100 were developed and that, as

they say is that. And I was down to 1/8,1/15th at 16th anyway..hand

held. I have taken many shots of the same awful strip- mall/highway

scenery over the years, but NEVER with such clarity, subtle tones,

totally balanced light and darks and details.....on and on.

Yes I am in the process of conversion to the tune of whatever amount

of money you think it takes to achieve blessedness.

Please e mail contributions to the new Leica chapel using paypal to

my e mail address. Thank you.

No, but my friend who took me to the water by lending me his Leica M6

+ 6 lens kit for 3 weeks did. I had used a Nikon FM for 12 years very

happily, and after using that M6 felt pangs of doubt and pain. I

gathered up my courage and splurged on my own system about 3 years

later.

 

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I lapse occasionally and find myself using that Nikon again from time

to time...

 

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But wait, I almost forgot! I experienced that bliss and joy yet

again, when I looked at my first Rolleiflex B&W enlargements! And I

still feel those pangs of doubt and pain when I pick up a Mamiya 7II

in the store. Or even an EOS1V!!

 

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Truly, there are many paths to the truth :-)

I was converted to Leica M by four good friends; Mr Nikon (a fast but

dominating guy), Mr Manfrotto (a steady guy he is), Mr Hasselblad (a

little slow, but a quality consious guy) and Mr Billingham (the

embracing, protective type of person). They all wanted to help but I

realized that the relationship was kind of wearing me down. I still

see them frequently but my back and neck much prefer my new friend,

Mr Leica.