Being Un-Leica

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Thanks for your comments!

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Solid resale is a compelling plus, for sure. When I decided to thin out my guitars and tube amps, I actually made a few bucks, so I can justify a M3 purchase on past experience. I'm going to try a M3, which everyone seems pleased with. Hey, if I'm a committed film user, it's a must.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Thanks, Alex!

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Sergio, It is hard to beat the Canonet. Nice bright easy to focus rangefinder and sharp lens. Not , however, the flashiest date at the dance. It's human nature to always want a new plaything. I can't stop myself!

Erik Brammer replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

John, just go ahead and subscribe for that coffee a month, and you will enjoy completely ad-free reading.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

David, Thanks for your comments. I have been a loyal Nikon user since I obtained a well used no-meter F around 1967. That one was shot out of my hands at a political event in the Philippines. I think I've written about that. Since then, I've acquired loads of Nikon film bodies and lots of lenses. Nikon digital cameras too. It's hard to beat the Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 or the 55mm macro. So, you're impressed by the Nikon S-2? It is a great camera. Do you want to swap my Nikon S-2 with your M3 for a month? I'm no longer going to war zones. You have muggings in Brooklyn and we have black bears snd mountain lions. About the same risks. [email protected]

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

John, Thanks for your comments. There's no denying the importance of Leica contributions. Those photographers you mentioned, and countless others, showed the world how 35mm could be used for spontaneous and creative works. At the time, Leica made it possible. I can't produce work like that with modern gear! On that thread, I watched a show last night about Edward Sheriff Curtis shooting large film plates in difficult environments. Spectacular images with a view camera! Many of the brilliant photographers of the past turned out great images with 'primitive' gear. I like to shoot with vintage gear, but some cameras present obstacles that get in the way. Focusing with one window and composing with another, is a stumbling block I want to avoid. Difficult film loading is another issue. These are personal preferences. As I said, that Leica model isn't for me. I'm going to try a M3.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Whoa, partner! Ebay is dangerous! I try not to visit late at night, especially after wine with dinner! Haha

David Pauley replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Hi Walter, if by "expert" you mean I've spent way too much money buying and selling Leica products, then I guess I qualify. I don't see them as without flaws, however—and really appreciate Jeffrey's excellent introduction to some very attractive alternatives. That Nikon S2 especially had me salivating... cheers to all!

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Hi David! My comment was referring to your main profession, psychoanalysis. Specifically, whether there is a connection between the purchase price and the resale price when assessing a product. I’ve been involved in photography in Germany for nearly 60 years now, and in all that time I’ve very rarely heard or read anything critical from a Leica photographer about a product made by the company. Most recently, an acquaintance had AF problems with a brand-new Q3 and waited patiently for over four months for the camera to be repaired. That’s why we’re talking about Leica devotees here. Cheers!

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Walter, Thanks for your comments. It might have seemed like I was treading carefully about my feelings of Leica drawbacks. The responses from Leica users wasn't angry, so it seems as though my words weren't offensive. I remain curious about the Leica fascination, so I'm going to try an M3. If I don't like it, I will not say anything! Haha

David Pauley replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Ahhh, thanks for clarifying, Walter! I think that Leica have done a fantastic job of marketing their history and their admittedly beautiful and well-built cameras (your friend's Q3 notwithstanding) as sublime objects, the best of the best, irrespective of realities of use. People also feel this way also about cars, about favorite musicians, stereo equipment, and so forth. Leica's truly staggering prices only confirm this message. (Which is fortunate when reselling Leica gear as one seldom loses money...). As a history buff for me in 2026 the capacity to make photos with a nearly hundred year old Leica, the aforementioned III, gives me enough of the Leica frisson without having to acquire an original Noctilux or a black painted original m3, one of which is available from a Montreal reseller for $265,000 USD. Which is good because divorce proceedings are rather expensive around here...! Cheers.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

No, no, Jeffery, I wasn’t referring to you. On the contrary, it was a refreshingly objective review – the sort you very rarely, if ever, get to read from Leica owners themselves. That’s precisely why quite a few commentators are keen to see the mystique surrounding Leica cameras dispelled. Of course, they were good cameras and lenses. But I do think the glorification of one’s own camera that you so often come across is clearly exaggerated. Your last sentence was good, Jeffery. Seriously!

Andrew replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

And I forgot to add, there’s also a button to press which doubles the focal length of the viewfinder so as to stop the frame lines getting too small with a longer focus lens. All very ingenious! I might have been interested in a modern Leica M, but the viewfinder is nothing like as clever or versatile as the Fuji one…..

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Andrew, Oh boy, thanks for telling me about a great rangefinder I know nothing about. Great. Just great. You may be hearing from my wife about this! Hahaha!

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

David, You have a good point. The form factor of the old Barnack cameras is a feature that keeps them attractive. As pressure from competitors heated up, Leica redesigned and added features. I'm sure it was the right thing to do at the time. Nikon has had three re-issues of their rangefinder in recent years. I think they made several thousand copies as recently as 2016. All orders had to be prepaid. Totally sold out right away. I'm sure Leica could be successful with a M3 reissue. What I'm waiting for is a digital insert that allows us to shoot pixels with vintage film cameras. Dream on.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Matt, That's a good use for the IIIf. It gets small! Keep shooting!

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Always a pleasure to read your post and comments, Scott! You are a real plus to 35mmc.

Scott Ferguson replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Thanks Jeffery, I will be very interested to find out what you think of shooting with a Leica M after you try it out. I find the debate about the non-photographic aspects of the Leica brand -- the price, the mystique, and the attitudes of both devotees and detractors in these forums interesting. In my view, the single most important qualify of any piece of photographic equipment is not in the tangible and technical aspects of optical or mechanical precision/perfection, or the price, or the reputation of the logo, but whether it makes you want to use it again and take more photographs with it. That could be a pinhole camera for some photographers, a bargain basement jewel in the rough that punches above its weight for others, or the most premium piece of gear you can get your hands on. Anecdotally, based on the kinds of film cameras I see out and about on the streets of New York, I think Leica is playing a significant role in the revival of film photography, either as the entry point/draw for people with the means, or the aspiration for people who are dream of having a legendary camera. I'll freely admit that the glamour and mystique of a Leica and Hasselblad falling into my lap is what got me excited about taking up film photography again. But that's not what has kept me shooting with them both and preferring them to other high quality cameras I've tried over the last 5-6 years (before the Leica, I had a false start with a Contax G2, which didn't take, despite that camera's lofty reputation.) I'll also add that I don't blindly defend any product with a Leica logo, and have critiqued Leica cameras I haven't loved (the iiif, and M10) and even legendary Leica lenses like the 50mm Summicron and the most expensive lens I own, the Summilux ASPH on 35mmc. My current favorite lenses are the cheapest Leica lens I own and a modern lens built to recreate the original Zeiss Sonnar design. I admire people who are able to do terrific work with a wide variety of camera and systems, as you demonstrate brilliantly here on this post, but I have no problem with anyone who is excited to be shooting with a Leica film camera instead of a digital camera or an iphone.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

You have done some great shots with your Hasselblad. I'm a big fan of the Hasselblad system and at one time had 8 of them for use in my studios. All the employees used them, and the complete lens inventory with great results. We did get a lens stuck onto an extension tube because we removed both from the camera together and then tried to separate them. Don't ever do that!!! Remove lens first, then remove extension tube. Other than that minor bump, they were great. It included 2 ELs and two bulk backs. I've had opportunities to get Hasselblads recently, but I'm quite please with my Pentax N645 system with 3 lenses. Auto focus is a plus. I have soooo many cameras now and systematically take them out to play. Life is good!

Scott Ferguson replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Thanks Jeffery! I love shooting with the Hasselblad, but also on 35mmc. The day after this post, I got my latest piece(s) of gear, a 1932 Leica ii and a 1934 Leica Summar 50mm f2. I gave them a run out on Friday evening shooting a roll of Tri-X and Portra 400, and rushed to the lab on Saturday morning, and was delighted that everything came back very nicely exposed, and reasonably sharp for an uncoated lens in its tenth decade. The first rolls included an impromptu street photo session that has some of my favorite street portraits ever that will undoubtedly show up on a 35mmc post sooner or later, so it was an encouraging start. I took it out on Saturday and Sunday and shot about 5 rolls of different stocks to test the Summar (XP2, Retro 80S, Svema 100, Ektar and FP4) and love the feel and heft of the camera. I'll be excited to see how the Summar performs -- the early b&w shots on Tri-X look great and timeless -- the Portra looks a little creamy/muted and maybe not as much to my taste as my 1949 LTM Summitar with its deep rich color -- but I have a feeling the Summar will be a specialty lens when I'm looking for a certain feel, more often b&w. With the lens it cost about the same on Ebay as a high end point and shoot (like a Contax T2 or Nikon 35Ti), and is about the same size, but that old black enamel finish with brass edges is as badass a camera can look. It's a real keeper for me.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Graham, Wearing glasses, as we do, complicates RFs. At this point, I can do okay focusing without my glasses. But I do miss shots about 20% of the time. One day I will have to set them aside.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Alastair, Thanks for your comment. As several people have pointed out, Leicas hold their value, so jumping in and out is almost painless. That's my plan. Maybe I'll be smitten. Once you get up to a high standard with any number of cameras, it becomes a preference for the feel. The Konica III is my current favorite, but I also enjoy the Nikon S-2 and.... drum roll...the Nikon F3. Also the Zeiss folders are fun attention getters. Life is good!!!

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Eric, I had a Hi-matic F back in 1978, which I took on a long trip starting in New Zealand and ending four months later in Bangkok. i'm sorry I gave it away. It performed wonderfully!

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Thanks, Gary. That shot of the sax player has a story behind it. My brother and I visited New Orleans a couple months ago. We were walking past a hospital and a sax player was out front sitting on the bench. He was playing some decent Charlie Parker riffs. Using hand signals, I asked to photograph him. The bench seemed too short to achieve focus, but I was able to get him at the closest setting. Usually not reliable with many RFs but this camera nailed. He was passing time while his wife was inside the hospital getting chemo. I hope that's working out well.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

David, Thanks for your comments. If I had to whittle my collection down to 5 cameras, the Contessa would be one of them. A real gem. I'm not a good match with the Leica IIIf, so I'm going to explore an M3. Looking for deal now.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Alan, Thanks for your comments. I did qualify the article at the beginning by saying that if someone is using just a 50mm lens, there are many good options to the Leica IIIf. That said, the Nikon S-2 with interchangeable lenses does go toe to toe because it overlapped the IIIf. My Nikon was made in 1954, same year as the Leica I had. In any case, all of the rangefinder cameras from that era are 'out of date relics.' Truth be told... so am I!!! I still have something to offer, as does your Leica. We do the job we were designed to do. I'm not done with Leica. I hope I find a better experience with an M3. I hope you continue to enjoy your IIIf. We are living better than the royals of the 13th century. Full refrigerators, warm clean beds, running water, and loads of camera toys. Jeffery

Alan Chin replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Oh don’t get me wrong, my main film camera is a M4-P and I did use M3 and M2 for many years — thousands of rolls through them — but only with rapid load spindle and rapid rewind added crank. The IIIc I own is strictly for a roll every other year when I want to have some fun. The M series is basically a Nikon S2 but with better finder — brightlines and better rangefinder — and better lens mount with more options especially now with all these amazing Chinese lenses at affordable prices. If only Nikon were to make a S again with M mount — sigh. But yes, in general, M series are way too expensive now to just pick one up on a whim — in a world where a Nikon FM is $75 and same for Olympus OM-1 or Canon A-1…classic SLRs are a bargain with full lens ecosystems also cheap … if I didn’t already own them, I’d struggle to justify buying a Leica. But unfortunately the best affordable alternatives are limited either by the tricky and not fully compatible Contax/Nikon S mount or Leica screw for the Canon rangefinder bodies. M mount is the only true modern bayonet for rangefinders and the only truly good bodies are the Leica ones. So yes, functionally it’s perfection of use vs. cost. Still, if you only use one or two lenses, that Nikon S2 is also near perfect. Agree that it’s all more fun than ever!

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 20/08/2026

Yes, yes, and agree.

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 21/08/2026

David, You're going to enjoy the Contessa. It's a secret that you will benefit from. I hope to see you post some images. Jeffery

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 21/08/2026

Thank, Alexander

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 24/08/2026

Yes, it was a ground breaking camera. I didn't get the vibe so many others did. I do get that feeling from Zeiss folders like Contessa and Ikonta. Certainly a matter of feel and handling. These days, the technical advancements of digital cameras come fast and furious. One day soon there will be onboard AI features that manipulate images immediately. How will that feel? I like to use the way back machine and enjoy the manual mechanical experience, but the Leica IIIf didn't satisfy me...even though I respect its place in history. Cheers!