michael_reese1 Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 What model would you recommend for a new starter like myself? Or do you think it would be a better learning curve with a film camera? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Are you interested in learning how to scan or print in a wet darkroom? If the answer is "no" to both, start with a digtal camera. Like doign anything else well, there is a learning path for digital photography that you 'll have to travel. here are some useful resources.<P> Epson , Canon, Adobe and Nikon all sponsor various traveling seminars. These will help you learn to getthe most out of your new camera. I also highly recommend the following book <A HREF = http://tinyurl.com/qe6sl> Real World Digital Photography, second edition</a> to my beginning and intermediate level digital photography students. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarfudd Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 It's important to know what you intend to do with this camera. All the Leica Digitals are made by other companies; the new ones all by Panasonic. They are decent cameras, but certainly are not comparable to Leica film cameras in any way. I prefer Leica's M series film cameras, you can get a camera and lens used for around $800.... using it will enable you to learn much more about photography than a point and shoot Leica digital. If you just want a camera for snapshots, and aren't obsessed with the brand (leic many) get something else, more affordable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_reese1 Posted October 6, 2006 Author Share Posted October 6, 2006 Thank you for you answers. I'm interested in Leica because of the quality of the lenses. The digital versions seem to be very cheap which attracts me. The older film cams are also interesting and scanning also seems a good option. I'm seriously thinking of buying a Panasonic digital with a Leica lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarfudd Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Others will disagree, but I think it's silly to buy a Panasonic digital because it has a "Leica" lens on it. It's a bit like buying a Samsung digital because of the Schneider lens. For the most part, they are those companies lenses only by name. That doesn't mean that they are necessarily inferior, just that they are no better than there Canon or Nikon counterparts. If you really want Leica quality you must either go with a Leica made film camera, or the new Leica M8, which will use almost all the lenses that gave Leica the prestigious name they enjoy today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_s Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 If this purchase is being prompted by the pending arrival of a new baby or puppy, then the answer is almost certainly "digital"! And if this is the case, something like the D-Lux 3 ought to serve admirably. Going the film route won't necessarily teach you much unless you shoot color slides or plan to do your own processing and printing. That's because most automated printers actually scan your negatives and make corrected digital prints, hence, they mask your mistakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david j.lee Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 get the panaleica and take a vacation with the money you save. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_reese1 Posted October 6, 2006 Author Share Posted October 6, 2006 For the most part, they are those companies lenses only by name If they have the Leica name then they must be a Leica lens. How could they be anything else or am i missing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarfudd Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Many are neither designed by Leica nor built in a Leica factory. Hence being by name only. The newest "Leica" lenses for panasonic cameras are quite admittedly designed by Panasonic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm_rains Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Michael, Every type (film/digital) of camera has its own personality. I use a Leica MP and look forward to working with the M8. I have been recently been working with a "PanaLeica" and with it have created images that I would not have been able to do so with the MP. My recommendation would be to work with the PanaLeica and, if you like it, acquire a M8. You will probably end up using both. PanaLeica photo attached.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm_rains Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Hmm, I'll try again.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm_rains Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Last try - its been a while!<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Malcolm, Why not try making it only 511 pixels wide --as the posting guidelines clearly suggest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarfudd Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Surely you're not suggesting that there are similarities between a "Panaleica" and an M8 which would lead a user of one to like the other (besides the name). I'm not saying that Panasonics are bad cameras, or that there lenses are inferior.... I just don't see how they relate to M cameras anymore than a Nikon Coolpix or Canon Powershot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm_rains Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Ellis, As the guidelines clearly suggested I had my image set to 510 pixels wide. However I did not reduce the quality to 72 dpi. Thank you for your courteous assistance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm_rains Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 "Surely you're not suggesting that there are similarities between a "Panaleica" and an M8 which would lead a user of one to like the other" James, I am. Both are digital. The digital workflow is entirely different from the darkroom and this will give Michael the chance to see if he likes it. As I stated in my original post, "Every type (film/digital) of camera has its own personality." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger_smith4 Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 "However I did not reduce the quality to 72 dpi." That actually doesn't make a whit of difference. Just reduce it to 511 pixels- your monitor knows how many inches that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd frederick Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Michael, "If they have the Leica name then they must be a Leica lens. How could they be anything else or am I missing something?" A number of years ago Leica entered into a joint venture with Minolta and produce a fine little camera and lenses that went by different names but were identical: Leica CL, Leitz Minolta CL, and Minolta CL. More recently Leica's Digilux 2 was nearly identical model from Panasonic, as mentioned, and both were made by Panasonic, to the best of my knowledge. I'm into Leica vintage camera b/w film photography, and when it comes to digital I would strongly suggest looking at Canon, Nikon, Olympus and others whose prices are far more affordable. I double you would notice any quality difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_swinehart Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 I've got a new D-Lux 3 on order for my wife who takes "snappies" mostly with some very good art stuff now and then. 10 megapixels with a respectable zoom lens at about $500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
len_smith Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 James Copes wrote: >All the Leica Digitals are made by other companies; the new ones all by Panasonic. Really? I thought the M8 was "Made in Germany" by Leica Camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Herbert Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 when it comes to digital I would strongly suggest looking at Canon, Nikon, Olympus and others whose prices are far more affordable. I think that used to be the case but since the link up with Panasonic prices are in line with other manufacturers. For instance you can buy a Panasonic DMC FXO1 for less than 200 gbp, 28mm zoom lens, full manual control,and 8 million pixies. If you buy PS elements and practice you skills you will produce prints which are as good as anything out there. If you want to pay more,why, they will even put a Leica badge on the body for you;) I even of thinking of buying one for myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarfudd Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Sorry, I meant all the digital point and shoots. The M8 is made all over the world :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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