An actual experience with 35mm Leica rangefinders
I’d like this article to be a kind reminder that Leicas aren’t, in fact, anything THAT great.
I’d like to make a reasonable counter argument to the overflow of praises that especially Leica M6 is receiving. The hype gives a very one sided impression about the matter. As desirable as Leicas are, I feel like more neutral opinions needs to be introduced to the conversation.
I’ve had Leica M4-2, M6 and currently I’m shooting with M4. I got my first Leica maybe five years ago when the prices were maybe ten million times more reasonable compared to 2022. I didn’t pay anything for it, as such. I got the camera as a compensation for a somewhat time consuming project that I was conducting for Kamerastore at the time. I didn’t even have an actual job back then. I had barely any money for film. I certainly didn’t have money to buy a Leica out of all cameras, so it was just an extremely lucky break for me.
Leicas are extremely simple cameras that can be seen either way. Some people enjoy the minimalism, but for many it is just really unpractical and ancient technology that makes very little sense compared to the rest of the offering. It is at least an acquired taste. Most M mount Leicas don’t have a light meter, the closest focusing distance is measured in light years and the entire rangefinder focusing system really isn’t for everyone. The film loading system also raises many eye brows.
Leica as a camera, not as a status symbol
If we forget all the hype and status symbolism, are Leicas actually good cameras? Well kind of, but they are really basic cameras and do not offer much in the way of functionality. You certainly aren’t getting half as much in return if you consider just how expensive they are. I appreciate that they are well made, but there are other cameras that are really well made too and cost fraction of the price, thus, one could argue, delivering much more value. Are they worth the money? Well, I’d really consider that but leaning towards no. If you’re not a collector, I’d say Leicas are somewhat hard to justify. Purely for photography, it is perhaps not the first brand to look into. If you want to pay for the heritage and place high value on a hand made luxury item to cherish, then yes, Leica could be your thing, but I think that is another conversation. I’m interested in cameras as instruments for expressing myself with visual art and look upon this question from that perspective. I’m only into creativity, not into collecting or anything like that.
The big elephant in the room is also the fact who’s holding the camera. Whenever I see an 18 year old youtuber, who got his first student Visa coincidently two days earlier, making a big deal of his new Leica M6, there’s something quite not right. On the other hand, when I see someone like Joel Meyerowitz, or any other great (actual) photographer with their Leicas, it starts to make sense. I honestly don’t think Leicas are for everyone. I’m not saying I’m worthy of a Leica, but that’s why I don’t want to make a big deal of it. I do enjoy writing about them how ever, I have to confess, because these articles generate a huge amount of traffic.
In addtion to my M4, I have an Olympus OM-2n that honestly is a much better camera. I of course enjoy shooting with my Leica, but whenever I pick it up, I feel like there’s some amount of just showing off involved. Or if not showing off, romanticising the nostalgia at least. Or something like that. If I honestly just want to shoot some film or concentrate on actual photography, I always pick up the Olympus. If I’m completely honest and leave the status and other silliness out of the equation, and choose one over the other, purely as a photographic instrument, I’d always take the Olympus.
