Leica Worship

[Joreur]

I’ve followed Lula for years now and paid my $12 ever since it was introduced. However I’m becoming increasingly fed up with the seemingly endless stream of articles about Leica. In my opinion Leica cameras are overpriced, overhyped and of little or no relevance to the vast majority of photographers. They’ve shown Kevin Raber round their factory and, presumably, bought some nice dinners and in return he keeps producing more an more articles about them. Boring! Pease enough about Leica now.

[Mark D Segal]

To put a bit of perspective on this, there have been nine articles on Leica by Kevin over a period of four months, so roughly 2 per month. Very little else has been published here on Leica products since 2015. The recent material results from a very unique opportunity to have visited the "inner sanctum" of the most prestigious and historically significant camera and lens manufacturer operating since 1914, through two world wars, an international depression and a technological revolution; when you think about it, this is quite remarkable for a relatively small scale niche manufacturer. Leica has been bound up with the history of photography for over a century because of the extraordinary quality, reliability and convenience of its equipment. It is highly unusual to be granted the kind of entree that Kevin and Chris were given, so we are beneficiaries of insights into how this company thinks and works that no-one will find anywhere else. I have found watching these videos and reading the material to be both stimulating and educating and I congratulate them for doing it. I also share their appreciation of Leica's management  for having made it possible. And full disclosure - I do not own a Leica, nor do I have any financial or other interest with the company. These nine articles have just been a fascinating photographic experience.

(typos corrected)

[Jeremy Roussak]

I’ve followed Lula for years now and paid my $12 ever since it was introduced. However I’m becoming increasingly fed up with the seemingly endless stream of articles about Leica. In my opinion Leica cameras are overpriced, overhyped and of little or no relevance to the vast majority of photographers. They’ve shown Kevin Raber round their factory and, presumably, bought some nice dinners and in return he keeps producing more an more articles about them. Boring! Pease enough about Leica now.

So don't read them. They're not compulsory: there's no test after school. Some people (as Mark has demonstrated) find them interesting.

Jeremy

[Jim Kasson]

I’ve followed Lula for years now and paid my $12 ever since it was introduced. However I’m becoming increasingly fed up with the seemingly endless stream of articles about Leica. In my opinion Leica cameras are overpriced, overhyped and of little or no relevance to the vast majority of photographers. They’ve shown Kevin Raber round their factory and, presumably, bought some nice dinners and in return he keeps producing more an more articles about them. Boring! Pease enough about Leica now.

First off, almost everything on LuLa -- or any other site catering to serious photographers -- has little or no relevance to the vast majority of photographers.

Full disclosure. I am a former M8, M9, and M240 user, and have sold off those cameras and all my M lenses shorter than 90 mm. I still have, and use, Leica R lenses.

I think that it's interesting to know what's going on with Leica even if I am unlikely to be a customer any time soon. They hold an historic position that few photographic companies can match. In fact, Kodak and Zeiss are the only two that come to mind. I am uninterested in almost all their special edition gear, but they have a take on photography that is out of the mainstream, and therefore of interest to me.

Keep it up, Kevin!

Jim

[Kevin Raber]

The Leica Story was one I always wanted to tell.  It's a fascinating company and story that played a big part in defining photography today.  You can learn a. lot by listening to the folks that have been interviewed.  And, we have also produced the Charles Cramer Shooting With The Masters as well as reviews and tons of other material.  Frankly if you don't like the Leica series then just bypass it.  Based on the feedback I have received a lot of readers really liked it.  We have a number of projects we are looking at and we will enjoy sharing it with our readers.

[Telecaster]

I'm a total Leica fanboy and, as you'll know if you've read any of my forum posts, am here mainly to hype their deity-approved products whether anyone else likes it or not. How dare anyone rag on my tribe! Don't you understand it's how I create my sense of self? Who even am I without the Little Red Dot illuminating my Way?!

-Dave-

 

[Jim Kasson]

I'm a total Leica fanboy and, as you'll know if you've read any of my forum posts, am here mainly to hype their deity-approved products whether anyone else likes it or not. How dare anyone rag on my tribe! Don't you understand it's how I create my sense of self? Who even am I without the Little Red Dot illuminating my Way?!

-Dave-

 

Does it cost a lot more to get the cameras where the dot lights up?

Jim

[Mark D Segal]

Jim! You should know better than me that if you get one of those cameras WITH the red dot, your whole head lights up! What more could you want?  :-)

[Telecaster]

Does it cost a lot more to get the cameras where the dot lights up?

'Fraid so. They're the Mega Secret Limited editions only the truly faithful ever get their trembling hands on. The other Ltds. are just diversions to keep the media and interwebs distracted.

-Dave-

[Telecaster]

Mark! Sshhh…you'll just agitate the plebes.

-Dave-

[Jeff]

There appears to be a few negative comments about Luminous Landscape articles etc. recently.

Perhaps we should all " chill out " and just pick up our camera gear and go out and take / make some images 

[KLaban]

Black tape, it works for me.

[PeterAit]

I bought a Leica Monochrom recently and ended up sending it back. Sheesh, $11,000 and it could not beat my Sony RX-10 in terms of IQ. Feh, I say. And it didn't even have a red dot!

My thought is that lens design and manufacture used to be very specialized and difficult tasks, at which Leitz excelled. Hence their well-deserved reputation. But as glass technology and computerized lens design have progressed, that advantage has vanished.

[Mark D Segal]

I bought a Leica Monochrom recently and ended up sending it back. Sheesh, $11,000 and it could not beat my Sony RX-10 in terms of IQ. Feh, I say. And it didn't even have a red dot!

.............. But as glass technology and computerized lens design have progressed, that advantage has vanished.

I haven't made the plunge and tried what you did, but I sometimes think about exactly that question: what's the value added for an additional 9000 dollars? The resolution and overall image quality I'm getting from my Sony a6300 with the Zeiss 16-70mm f/4 lens is so good, I have to wonder whether any improvement over this performance would be worth the additional 9000 dollars. Somehow I'm doubtful. But that said, there are things about Leica that quietly set it apart. The sheer beauty and simplicity of design is one thing. Build quality may be another. I suspect any Leica will outlast this Sony camera by decades (if we keep any of them long enough for that to matter these days); the uniformity of lens performance quality is probably better for the Leica lenses because the QC is so strict; perhaps sharpness and distortion performance at the outer edges is a tad better, etc. So yes, I think you have a point that technology has narrowed the gaps, but that said I think Leica will retain a market amongst the very discerning for utmost quality and of course the crowd that buys to impress (yup - the Red dot). It's interesting that you sent the Monochrom back. I suspect I would have done likewise.

[Rand47]

To put a bit of perspective on this . . . These nine articles have just been a fascinating photographic experience.

+1 for sure.  Leica is an icon for a reason.  Even though you couldn't force me to use film again if you put a gun to my head, I still long for and miss my one and only Leica purchase... a brand new M4.   That was something.  Today, I want more versatility than any single M camera can give me, but had I the available money for a nice M system ... dang.

Further, I love Kevin's ability to sit down with folk who are in the know, no matter what camera brand they produce.  The insight is broadly applicable.  And, if Leica's story isn't worth telling... no one's is. 

Rand

[Telecaster]

Whether I'm using a Leica or Sony or Panasonic or whatever doesn't make much difference as far as the photos themselves are concerned. As long as I get along with the thing—which is to say, as long as it helps me (or even encourages me to) observe the world—the gear particulars kinda fade away. I do feel at home with a rangefinder the instant I pick one up, though, 'cuz they're what I learned on.

If the scene sets your eye aflutter, you must press the shutter. 

-Dave-

[BernardLanguillier]

I’ve followed Lula for years now and paid my $12 ever since it was introduced. However I’m becoming increasingly fed up with the seemingly endless stream of articles about Leica. In my opinion Leica cameras are overpriced, overhyped and of little or no relevance to the vast majority of photographers. They’ve shown Kevin Raber round their factory and, presumably, bought some nice dinners and in return he keeps producing more an more articles about them. Boring! Pease enough about Leica now.

Not sure what the problem is.

I have never used a Leica (or not more than a few minutes at least) but I feel that they are still bringing something to the market. A different approach, a different conception. The experience is different and that does impact the way images are created.

Technically also, there is something a bit different in terms of colors, look of the lenses. You don' use a Leica to get the best technical performance, you use a Leica to get a look.

And from that standpoint these articles are interesting.

Cheers,
Bernard

[JeanMichel]

Thank you Kevin and Chris of the Leica series, and thanks to Leica for welcoming you into their space and for making their staff available for the interviews.

Full disclosure: I have and am using Leica cameras and lenses, have done so since 1967 (M3, M4,M6, and now M9 and M-P). I just happen to much prefer working with a rangefinder camera.  I sorely missed having a digital Leica when I 'went fully digital'; the M8 was out but I did not care for the smaller sensor so I went the Canon route with a 5D and soon after after a 5D2. The Canon was to replace my Hasselblads for medium format type work, digital mf was financially out of my league. It was a good decision. Getting the Leica M9 and later the M-P was also a good decision, as was buying current lenses to supplement/replace my older ones. I am likely in a fairly small minority of photographers who can actually compare their own work as done by Leicas and some other good equipment. In my case the verdict is that my Leica work – professional or personal – is better than my dSLR work,, in spite of no autofocus or IS or zoom lenses.

As for the snob or red dot effect: no one has a clue as to what my camera is, on occasion, someone may ask if it is difficult to still find film for the old camera.

[Two23]

I have a bit of a different perspective.  I'm not likely to buy any of the current Leica products even though I think they are great.  I'm just not up for spending that amount of cash, basically.  I do like hearing the Leica story though.  I love the history and "pedigree."  I am a Leica user and do own two of them along with four lenses.  My cameras are a c.1942 Leica IIIc and a c.1951 Leica IIIf along with 1940s vintage Elmars 28/35/50/90mm.  I know the story behind the IIIc--I'm the third owner.  First owner was a German Lieutenant who went to the Eastern Front and never returned.  Second owner was a sargeant in the U.S. army quatermaster corps who died in 2012.  The camera has his name and address engraved on the bottom plate.  I use the IIIc fairly often, always shooting either FP4 or HP5.  It and the tiny lenses are fun to carry and shoot!  Leica is special to me not because it's "state of art" or expensive, but because of the history.  Using it directly connects me to the photographers of the past.   Some of favorite images have been taken with that set up.  I wouldn't trade it for the latest Leica!

I made a little video from shots I made during a trip to Chicago in 2014:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3JEY6SiFKA


Kent in SD

[John Camp]

I think the problem is a broader one than Leica. Kevin does seem to spend time reviewing cameras that I and 99.9% of photographers won't ever see, much less use. (Wait! 99.9 would mean one in a thousand would use one of them. I think it would be more like 99.99%, or one in ten thousand.) That wouldn't bother me, because I just won't read the articles. The broader problem I mentioned is that this is no longer 2005, and equipment no longer generates much excitement, or even interest. We're now back where we were in the 1980s, where what we should really be seeing on Lula are interesting and even controversial articles about photography that people can engage with, and take positions on. If you look down the list of headline articles on Lula right now, I don't think there are any that really captured my imagination, and most Ii didn't read at all (and I'm a paying subscriber.) We have several equipment reviews and Leica stories, we have Kevin's gallery, there's a fairly bland article about collecting art and what might be an interesting article architectural photography, except I never do any so I'm not interested in it. And so on. I think one inhibiting factor may be that we're reading Luminous Landscape and Lula possibly should consider a name alteration to something like Luminous Landscape & Art Photography which would allow the introduction of street, still-life, portrait, and figure photography, ect. At the same time, the site might want to take a small step back from equipment reviews.

One more note about Leicas: I read a British guitar magazine called "Guitarist" and they rate equipment by several different measures, one of them being value for money. If Lula did that with Leicas, the cameras would probably get one star, the lowest rating, because the value for money simply isn't there anymore. There are now many, many cameras that will produce photographs as good as anything than come out of a FF Leica. Equipment reviews in the Lula style tend to be nothing more than beating a dead horse. IMHO, of course.