Why is EVERYONE Buying a Leica?

Why is it that so many people are buying Leica cameras? Are Leica cameras even worth it? Let's take a look in today's video.

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[barankaypakoglu]

It re-inspires you to take pictures again because you paid 6000 USD for it.

[TomBeardshaw]

I first wanted a Leica M in 1993, after I’d been in Africa and realised that I needed a quieter, less intimidating camera to take photos of people who were nervous about the presence of a camera. I fell in love with the Leica M7, but was gutted when I researched the prices… £12-15K for a body and a few lenses. Since then, I’ve continued photography, had a family, witnessed the invention of digital photography (which I also fell for, as the dark room had to become a kids bedroom, yet I had my laptop). After the kids become adults, I started a business and after a couple of successful years, I realised I could afford an M. So I walked into Leica London, and bought an M11 with three lenses. I have NEVER gone out into the world exploring with my camera so much. I really don’t even care whether anyone thinks my work is any good (although it seems to improve the more I practice), but for the price of a small car, I’ve never been so physically fit, nor enjoyed my time out on the streets more. I’m also developing as a theatre photographer, working with a local improv theatre (the street photography of theatre photography). Don’t give a shit what anyone thinks of me or Leica, for me, the M11 has been one of the best things I’ve ever owned… the most I’ve ever experienced being in love with an object.

[JohnPatrickWeiss]

I’m still running around with my Fuji X-Pro3 with Fuji 35mm 1.4 lens, and I love it. Great camera, compact, and a blast to shoot. I think the key is to find what works for you, and then most importantly, get out there and hone your craft. Cheers!

[oldnewstock]

Leica didn't start making cameras until 1923, although their lead designer had a working prototype as far back as 1913. They have been making microscopes since the mid 1800s, and industrial grade survey equipment is their backbone.

[franzst.]

I’ve heard someone say: „you want to go retro? Get a DSLR!“ I like that idea! Thinking of a D800 or 5D3 with a 35 or 50 - it honestly feels retro already. The optical viewfinder, the „click-clack“, the somewhat bulky body. Could be true retro on a budget.

[JeffJacquesmd]

I’ve been capturing images from the age of 8 when I was gifted a 110 film Kodak camera. I moved on to my Dad’s Canon AE-1, his Canon T-50, and then I purchased my first digital camera a Canon 40D.
A few years later I borrowed a friends Leica M6 and fell hard. The ergonomics, the small form factor and the beauty of the images captured by those beautiful little Leica lenses.
I sold my other equipment and purchased a Leica M8 and slowly purchased other lenses. That camera was my daily companion for 6 years, taking the M8 to 12 countries, and taking over 100, 000 photos.
I sold the M8 to a young photographer who had dreamed of owning a Leica camera. And a few years later I purchased a used M9, which was sold to accommodate a Leica MP-240.
Two years ago that became a Leica Q2. There’s just something special about how Leica cameras draw light.

[jjDemir]

Everything you saying could be applied to any camera... and I shoot only Leica. I'm glad you make a living via content but this video fails to cover WHY you should use Leica....

[JasperMeurs]

Recently having bought a Q3, I 100% agree! It got me more interested in going out to shoot photos again, and I really love just taking the JPEGs and seeing that they are just fine. No need to tinker around on Lightroom at all, just enjoy your photography.

[EricGibaud]

Overpriced is an under statment LOL. I sold my two M8 cameras many years ago and sworn I would not get another Digital Leica M, so I got my film Leica M4P. Regarding the Q serie, I reviewed the Q2 Mono on my YT channel, the feelings are great, no doubt, but the optical quality is far from Leica's good reputation. The Leica Q3 is even worse and has heavy distortion and the software correction makes it really bad in the corners at maximum aperture... for 2000 Euros, the Q3 would be fairly priced, for 6000.... they are simply laughing at their buyers.... This Summilux speech is pure hype, no, a Leica M summilux is FAR better than that wrongly called Summilux on a Q3 that cannot properly handle the 60mpix. So if you are buying feelings, you are completely right, using a Leica camera is something unique and special, but if we speak about quality, you can get much better tool for half the price. Thank you for your interesting video.

[GregCarrick]

first up, if I had enough lazy money, I WOULD buy a Q. It would be fun. I'm a full on Fuji shooter, recently retired from photojournalism. I enjoy using the Fuji's. I do have the X100V as well, but unlike most users, it doesn't make me want to pick it up. It's a 'meh' experience. The Fuji I most enjoy is my GFX 50R, used with old film camera lenses. That is what brings a smile to my dial. Oh, and I don't need Peter McKinnan (however it's spelt) or anyone else to inspire me, I've had the photography bug for 50 years now :) Cheers from Australia.

[VuBui]

I got my first M6 in 2001. It was fantastic! Over the years I've owned MANY Leica cameras, and even slogged through owning the M240 for years. A clunky beast that still gave amazing images with a great sensor and of course the legendary M lenses. But the Q series has been my favorite of all time, starting with the quite fantastic original Q. Between the SL2-S with a few SL lenses and a Q3, I couldn't want anything more for stills. I can even shoot wildlife with the heavy but excellent Sigma 60-600mm for L-mount. 

I do also own other L-mount cameras for better video autofocus, though. I assume the SL3 will fix that, but for now it works. I've gone through many systems over the years, including Fuji (great for the size and weight), Canon (the RF 28-70 f/2 is the only zoom I've ever truly loved), and even Olympus and Nikon and back in the film days, Contax and Mamiya.

But I always come back to Leica. Yes it's nice to have the build quality... also what other camera manufacturer actually gets their cameras IPX rated? Most just say splash and dust sealed, with no indication to what degree these seals will function. I've been in torrential rain with both Fuji and Canons with no issues, but I wasn't 100% confident. With my Leica's I know what they're built do endure.

But more than that it really is the shooting experience. These days with computer aided design most companies are making excellent lens designs. But Leica is one of the few companies still pushing for that extra 10% (that you pay more than 10% for) and I appreciate that. Chromatic aberration is my absolute pet peeve and they've all but eliminated it in their amazing APO lenses. And they do that while still retaining the beautiful character and color typically associated with Leica lenses. Then there's the color. Each manufacturer has their preferred way to process color, and I'm personally the most drawn to Leica. The Q series has always been amazing to me in this regard. The combination of that fantastic 28mm 1.7 lens and the color processing that Leica uses... it just produces a look that I absolutely love, and haven't been able to replicate with other high end cameras.

[android]

I’m an amateur photographer. I have been for many years. I’ve spent a lot of money on equipment in my time. Over the last few years I realised that I wasn’t enjoying my photography. I sold all my gear, and had a break. Recently I bought a second hand Fujifilm X-E1 with a 27mm pancake lens. Suddenly I’m enjoying photography again, the old feeling of excitement when I go out with the camera has returned. I have one camera with one lens. That’s all I need. The X-E1 is brilliant. That said, if I had the money I’d have a Leica.. Outrageously expensive, but bloody lovely to use.. 🙂

[rogerdsmith]

Bought a Leica M-4 in 1973. The lenses are a revelation. Because I worked in a camera shop at the time and was privy to information from a Leica rep, I was able to see their quality control standards. They are extraordinary. Their standards are so high, that in the 1970s when they had Minolta subcontracted to build the original Leica CL, Leica told their dealers at the time that the product they were receiving from Minolta was so far out of tolerance, that only 10% of them could be adjusted into tolerance. That’s the difference between the best of Japanese production, and what Leica was doing.
This is a camera where you don’t look at how many features it has. You look at how well it connects to your eye. On that count, absolutely nothing beats a Leica.
The only operation I’ve ever been around, where they had standards at least as high as Leica, was when I was in Hollywood 30 years ago and I had good friends working at Panavision. It’s almost impossible to describe how high their engineering and manufacturing standards are. That’s also why when a production company rents a camera package from Panavision, they have to insure that camera package for at least $1 million dollars.

[RickGTI]

At 80, I’m still using my M6 and my Summicron 50mm les, my only lens. Never shot digitally and probably never will. Life is a Kodak moment ! 📷 Thanks, fun video. Rick…..

[atthelord]

Idk I love my Q3. It’s my first Leica and I upgraded from a D800. Yeah, it’s not as versatile, but it feels good to shoot with and I like the pictures it takes. That 60MP allows me crop to my hearts content. Is it stupid? Sure. Should I have gone with a Sony ? Maybe.. but I like shooting with my Leica. The same way I enjoy looking at my watch to tell the time.

[stuartfeen]

Kyle, Leica now has about 1% of the worldwide and ever declining camera market. For the most part, mainly the rich and name dropping habitually buy Leicas. Cameras are well built, but Canon and Sony offer way more stuff for the shooter. And as for lenses. Leica does not own the market for great lenses. They are good, but so are Sony, Canon, Sigma, and etc.

[Narsuitus]

Leica and Fuji make great cameras. I own and use both.

I have been a Leica shooter for decades. My first Leica was an M1 that I used on a microscope in college. My second Leica was an M6 that I used for reportage, documentary, and street. The Leica M10 was my most recent Leica purchase. I use the following lenses on my Leica cameras:
90mm f/2 Leitz
35mm f/1.4 Zeiss Distagon
21mm f/1.4 Leitz

I have been a Fuji shooter for decades. The ST750 was my first Fuji 35mm film SLR. The Fuji 6x7 and 6x9cm medium format film rangefinders were next. The Fuji S5 Pro was my first digital SLR body. The X-Pro1 and X-Pro2 digital mirrorless were my most recent Fuji digital body purchases. I use the following Fuji lenses on my Fuji mirrorless bodies:
56mm f/1.2
23mm f/1.4
16mm f/1/4
16-55mm f/2.8
50-140mm f/2.8

[rolandrickphotography]

It’s all about the lenses. They draw unique images on film and sensor. With an M6 since the 1980’s, today I shoot portraits exclusively with a SL2-S and the APO-Summicron-SL 2/75 and clients are mind blown amazed 😊

[joshuarothman]

My understanding is that Leica did *not* stop producing film cameras in 2002. They stopped making the M6 in 2002, and then introduced the MP in 2003. I don't know why so many people are buying Leica's, but I know why I own them: I like manually focusing with a rangefinder!

[coasttocoastphoto]

I’ve been a Leica shooter for 25 years and everything else for 50 years. I currently own 15 Leica cameras and lenses. The one relevant thing that you said about the brand is that the files don’t require as much editing.