Are Leica Cameras Worth the Money?

For today's video we dive into buying Leica cameras and if it is worth the money.

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[coreywolfenbarger]

Yo guys, been asked a few times in comments and a ton on Instagram - why did I sell my MP? I sold my MP because I have been wanting to invest in sports cards and turn that into another stream of income. I have been watching and studying the sports card market for about six months and finally took the dive. Needed some capital to get into the game so I sold my MP for that. I know we talk photography around here usually but I am seriously considering doing a video talking about cards because it's a big part of my days right now. Just search on YouTube or business news about what's going on with Pokemon, sports - really any kind of cards right now. I will own a Leica one day down the road I am sure! I do believe they are worth the price but the money is not there for me right now to do both things!

[mattpeze]

Took my time to buy a Leica, but it's definitely a great photographic experience. It's so much fun to use that it was so fast to finish film rolls with this camera. To take photos with this kind of camera it's like playing a game haha.

[takuan]

I fainted when I pressed the 'Buy' button buying my Leica. I am still not quite sure if I am really awake yet, but the images with it looking damn good if You like Leica colours. I take pictures for food now.

[yearswithoutsleep]

Commission someone to do a renaissance type painting of you, Matt day, willem, and joe Greer across the whole wall

[chiprock]

Excellent assessment. So nice to see someone lay down a logical thought process while still acknowledging the aesthetics of why we love Leica. Where many fall down is in not being able to differentiate between the photographer you 'are' vs. the photographer you 'want to be'...and thinking gear is the bridge to get there; regardless of what gear that may be. You hit it - spot on.

[lexiehannah]

put fairy lights around the painting of matt day

[gavinfulton]

thanks for touching on this, Corey. I definitely think a lot of beginner photographers who search YouTube for photography assistance find that a lot of the larger YouTube photographers, such as yourself, shoot with more expensive Leica, Contax, and Mamiya setups, and those people may automatically think, "I NEED THAT TO TAKE GOOD PHOTOS, " which we know is not the case at all. Usability, ergonomics, feel, and "earning your way" up to a Leica, etc, is great advice. Personally, I'd love to own a Leica one day, but for right now, I'm cool with my Nikon FM2 and Minolta SR201--they suit my needs perfectly for film cameras at the moment. I played the game in the digital world, and now I have what is probably a "forever" digital camera, so it just makes sense to do it over again in the film realm.

[goat]

great video, very informative and you have a chill vibe, new subscriber

[WhoIsSerafin]

It's definitely not worth it for me when I can promise you with a decent photographer no one could tell a difference from any camera manufacturer to tell you what they are using. But if that camera gets you inspired to shoot more then it's worth it.

[GaIvatrn]

I pulled up as a hater and left in admiration. Nothing but jewels dropped in this one..Salute!

[Brause_Market]

i liked this sentence: "Working your way up to a leica." It was just like that for me with the m6. I think I will keep it till the end ; ) I started with a canon 300v, still have this camera and can't sell it.

[ianmartin]

Appreciate the in-depth and honest look here. Do I want one? Hell ya. Do I need one right now? Hell no. I'll keep working away and look forward to something down the line.

[ElmarJournal]

I also had that problem with my m6 and i had to return it back since the store cannot repair it also. And have to go back to my Leica CL, since m6 price is so high, and i dont want in the future to have that shutter curtain problem anymore. Happy with my CL now, since i'm not often shoot with film, its a good investment for me.

[REMY.C.]

You're so damn right when you said it's about finances. I'm dreaming of an MP for the past maybe 10 to 15 years. Last year in the same period I had the finances to buy this setup, MP+SYMMICRON. But I wanted to do a simple math. I live in France, developing a 36 rolls costs 35€ (around 40 to 45$). 65 to 80 rolls would cost me a Fuji XPRO 3 plus their best lens. 65 rolls!!! I went for the XPRO3. 2 weeks later covid-19 and lockdowns etc. I was happy that I didn't buy the 7500$ MP setup!

[ChrisLawrence]

Went from micro 4/3 to Leica M9 - shot Formula 1 with it (slowest photog around fastest sport?) - left digital behind (iPhone + moment lenses FTW), went Pentax MX -> M6 -> MP + 35mm V4. Absolutely love this setup but I do feel you on the moments when you reflect on how much money is hanging around your neck so to speak. Think you hit the nail on the head with it’s purely about your personal financial situation and what you feel you gain out of the usage / inspiration to use your gear aspect. Liked the content of this video, kudos on pursuing the card trading biz and cheers from an American in Sweden 👋🏼

[jimvim]

Leica M3-M6-M4 Leica CL Love my Babies. It's an experience expensive but worth it. Saving up for a Leica D some day but not just yet. Fuji X Pro 1 is an alternative with Various legacy lens. Great post Corey!

[btrdangerdan]

The closest leica style camera I would invest in would be the Minolta CLE.

[labradorhund]

If you can safely/comfortably afford it and you really want one - get it. This goes for everything, not just cameras. Back in 2012 my interest in film photography sparked. I read a lot and settled on a cheap Minolta XD 7. I only had problems with the camera (drained battery life real fast). I was gifted an Olympus OM-2. Didn't really work either (problems with the shutter I think). So after about half a year I lost interest and kept shooting digitally. I fell like if I had gotten the M6 back then, I might have started/stayed with film photography much earlier and could have enjoyed some of the films that are now only available as expired films. What I'm trying to say: It's all fine and good to grow into your gear or to work on deserving certain cameras. BUT it can be a real deterrence to work with broken film cameras. And while I know that both Minolta and Olympus are fine camera brands, for me, they don't compare to the feeling of my M6. And if you get your dream camera, then you'll want to use it all the time. If your dream camera is not a Leica, then that's good for your wallet, LOL. Anyways, it's all about the pictures in the end, and you can do great stuff with either camera. But for me, the tool itself can make me want to go out as well, and that's kind of important too.

[samskordi]

I've been using my grandfather's old 35mm minolta camera for years now and haven't upgraded yet because I didn't feel I needed to. Maybe it is time to try something new like medium format or a different camera. Anyway, I am loving content from the UK. Keep it up👍

[jasongurr]

True story back in the 1980s a UK photographic magazine took a Leica and a Praktica with Tessar 50mm lens. They tested it at all apertures and they were a close match for sharpness. At f8 the Tessar matched the Leica lens. If you are buying a Leica as an investment for the future I can see that. But for lenses i'm not so sure!