b_n_f Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 I was cleaning today and found some misc Leica stuff - 60mm filters, the Hardcover Leica handbook, the Leica Program cataloge and more.... I even found a few manuals left over... I'd spend an hour this morning cleaning my Nikon gear. Immediately, when looking at the books, catalogs and stuff, I missed my M and R gear. I'd sold it all c 2 years ago - virtually my entire kit was purchased new - and I paid for a large portion of a new car at the time. But, today, I really missed the tactile Leica experience most of all. The images, quite honestly imo, are equal across the board. But the weight, the metal, the smoothness - all are something seriously lacking in my Nikon kit. I liked my M for it's portability and the plain old fashioned fun of making pictures. I liked my R8 kit for the plain bulk and confidence it always gave me. My hands don't grab any of my c.dozen Nikon lenses and pass that same feeling onto my brain - or stomach as it were. Ok, a few of the do, but they all lack that pristine blackness. I will say, that I do not regret turning my back on film at all. When I got out, it was a hard decision, but two things got me to sell. No practical, expandable digital solution (still not imo) and I couldn't justify the thousands and thousands of dollars just to please my senses. I was hasty to think that the tactile and process of Leica wouldn't be missed. I was correct in thinking that digital would get me to shoot more and make me a better shooter - and without having to mortage myself on Leica's solutions. Thanks, you guys are the only ones that could understand. RF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tennyson1 Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 And I went the opposite! I have shot digital almost exclusively for the past 5 years and last month I bought a Leica! I am really enjoying shooting film again. I still do most of my work with the digital, but I love working with the Leica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey_trautenberg1 Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 A Leica will always be with me for spiritual reasons and B&W shots. I can see a new Pixar movie similar to Toy Story called Leica Story about all the wonderful film gear that gets put on a shelf while the sexy new digiSLR travels the world. I just bought a D200 Nikon and am blown away (not my first digiSLR). One thing about the new D80 or D200 is that for relatively few dollars one can obtain the bleeding edge phototechnology compared to $5,000 for a the M8 which will probably be relatively obsolete when it is finally shipped. Canon's response to the D200 will raise the bar again, etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart_richardson Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 I know that this is off topic, but I just bought a demo Rollei 6008AF kit with grip, back, charger, 80mm f/2.8 Xenar AF lens, and I realized that the entire kit cost less than a Canon 5D body. My response was "whoa". Yes, I realize that if I buy any more lenses the price difference will swing the other way very quickly, but I still thought it interesting...a starter kit for one of the best medium format systems available costs less than a canon prosumer dslr body...<P>Of course, if I want an up to date digital back for the Rollei it will cost me 25,000 dollars and not even be full frame, but anyway. <P>By the way, have you used the DMR, because I would argue that it is a good digital solution. I have some shots from it here if you are interested: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00HMmx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_neuthaler Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 try porn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew robertson Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 If you want something for fondling them by all means get it! I just bought a new pocket watch even though I already have three. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbizarro Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 Let me see if I got this right: 1. You spend thousands of dollars in photo gear; 2. You sell it; 3. Now you miss it for whatever reason. Correction: because it is Leica. Give me a break... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred_c1 Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 >But the weight, the metal, the smoothness - all are something seriously lacking in my Nikon kit. You mean Leica's the only maker ever who used metal? Dammit, my manual-focus Nikon kit must be counterfeit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_n_f Posted August 13, 2006 Author Share Posted August 13, 2006 I see the poor sarcasm and cynicism are still in this forum. I simply miss the tactile experience of Leica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_amos Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 R Fred, I appreciate the spirit of your post. Initially, as I read the thread, I couldn't understand why people could be so cynical about your simple message, with which I empathize, because as for now, I would truly miss my Leica stuff in my life. The back and forth cynacism of bashing film vs. digital and Leica vs. other makes must have its roots in some consistent and repeating true human inclination, which might be something like this: Humans have a great capacity to move forward and to reinvent themselves for the sake of progress, but for that sake, they must allow themselves to rationalize away their doubts to fully invest in new ideas in which they really do have doubts, but they must defeat and subordinate that conscious trepidation. So many sell their film gear in order to move forward, admirably, in digital, and many use digital and realize that what they left behind had merit. It will not and can not ever end...in any arena.. of creativity and technology, because there are no perfect solutions. I love my Leicas, but if I were convinced or could convince myself that my life could change for the better by getting rid of them, I would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbizarro Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 "I simply miss the tactile experience of Leica." Just buy a new one then, quite simple, is it not? Or wait until the digital M shows up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewlamb Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 'Just buy a new one then, quite simple, is it not? ' Almost as simple and a lot cheaper is second hand. I just bought a pristine, I mean really pristine, Leicaflex SL with 50mm Summicron and leather case for $245. No need to pine for a Leica, R Fred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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