Leica camera inc. If you don’t understand Leica cameras – luxury watches might help

If you don’t understand Leica cameras – luxury watches might help.

If you don’t understand Leica, Leica cameras and/or the people who use them, this article might help. If you are Leica averse, I have little hope that I can sway you to our side but perhaps you can at least appreciate, from a distance, what the Leica enthusiasm is all about.

Even better, I hope to explain why much of the criticism you see in camera forums, on social media, and more importantly, my inbox, misses the point and falls on deaf ears. If this article is even partially successful, you will understand why Комментарии и мнения владельцев like “my Fuji is just as good as your Leica for 1/4 the price” or “professional photographers don’t shoot Leica cameras” makes about as much sense as treating pubic lice with Pepto Bismol.

To understand Leica, start with luxury goods

If you think luxury goods and/or collecting watches, sneakers, records, baseball cards, and/or Transformers action figures is wasteful, you are welcome to your opinion but it is possible that you are in the minority. people than you think are into luxury and collecting. The luxury goods market is estimated to be 269 billion dollars strong. People like nice things.

It may be of interest to note that although I am a card-carrying, flag-flying, Leica, fanboy my love of luxury goods starts and ends with watches and cameras. I completely understand where you are coming from if you don’t want to participate. I drive a scooter and choose to go grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. I recoil at horror at the idea of Belenciaga crocks because stepping in dog poop with 1000 crocks is asinine.

(Above image used with permission by Arnat Beavis)

Luxury watches are the gateway to your understanding Leica cameras

The luxury watch market is huge. As a metric, if a popular photographer influencer has 154K subscribers on YouTube, a similarly positioned watch influencer might have 806K subscribers. You might like cameras but many more people like watches.

If you don’t do social media metrics, the luxury watch market is estimated to be 73.56 billion while the camera market is estimated to be 3.2 billion. Again, the numbers aren’t even close.

I would venture to guess that the majority of people who enjoy luxury watches will tell you WITHOUT A HINT OF IRONY that wristwatches make zero functional or logical sense in 2022. Exactly nobody on the planet needs a watch given that nearly every one of us has a cell phone with a perfectly functioning clock in our over, watches that serve no functional purpose, and cost tens of thousands of dollars, don’t keep time as well as your phone. /- a few seconds per day is generally acceptable for a mechanical watch.

Logic or functionality, therefore, fail to explain the popularity of luxury watches. In fact, watch enthusiasts care little that your cell phone keeps better time than their watch because keeping time isn’t the point. For Leica enthusiasts, using a Leica camera to make pictures isn’t the point either. Therefore, when Leica critics say things like “the images from my Canon R5 are as good as a Leica” or “My Sony G master lens is as good as a Leica Summicron” those statements don’t make sense because they miss the point of shooting with a Leica camera.

For Leica owners, the pictures, image quality, feature set, etc. are only a starting point for discussion. Image quality and functionality are important but not the metric for success.

(Above image used with permission from the guys at Camera West’s new venture CW Watch Shop)

So what is the point of a luxury watch (and a Leica camera or lens)?

Luxury watch enthusiasts are not shy about telling you that they love their watches and keeping time has little to do with the appreciation of their hobby. In the introduction to the book “Watches. A Guide by Hodinkee,” the authors state that a fascination with the inner workings of a watch, a love of fashion rather than function, status symbols, tokens of love, tokens of achievement, family heirlooms, collectibles, and a store of wealth are all reasons people enjoy luxury watches. Keeping time isn’t mentioned as a reason people collect or enjoy watches.

Watch nerds feel no shame in saying that they like cool, interesting, well-made, and oftentimes expensive stuff solely because they enjoy them. Photographers cant get there with their gear. I think they have a lot to learn from the watch world.

Photographers seem burdened by a sense of shame for enjoying cameras and/or collecting cameras and lenses as a hobby. They seem to feel a pressure to create imagery and compare their photography with others in order to justify enjoying using and/or owning cameras and lenses. The shame of owning multiple sets of cameras, for some, is too much to bear.

Watch enthusiasts don’t seem to have any sense of shame associated with their hobby. In fact, the hobby is an interest in watches and watch collecting – Full Stop. They don’t have to do anything with them but appreciate them and wear them from time to time. The Ephemeral Machine podcast explored this for a while and made a solid attempt at separating the art of camera collecting and the enjoyment of cameras for the sake of cameras from the art of making photographs. The I Dream of Cameras podcast also offers a weekly therapy session and gives a voice to some who might be overwhelmed by shame for their hobby.

Although I can only speak for myself and the number of Leica enthusiasts, collectors, and fanboys (I don’t know any fangirls) that have opened up to me over the years, many of us feel approximately the same way as watch enthusiasts feel about watches. Unfortunately, most photographers (except me anyway) use opaque language to describe what we are doing.

I call it “playing cameras and lenses” but I am also a boorish heathen that (somewhat) proudly owns Molly Hatchet, Manowar, and Judas Priest records. Everyone else talks about a connection with their Leica camera, describes how a Leica camera gets out of their way, how a Leica camera slows them down, and all of the other tropes that we associate with mechanical cameras.

What you don’t hear from Leica enthusiasts all that often is that the main reason they use a Leica is that they like the way the camera feels, they like the weight, the heritage, the sound of the shutter, and/or the buttery smooth way the film advance lever feels. You never hear anyone come right out and say that cameras covered in kevlar or dead snakes are approximately 4000x cooler than vulcanite clad cameras. They also don’t say that kevlar and dead snakes are perfectly good reasons for wanting to buy a camera yet we all know 1) it is true and 2) special editions are irresistible.

Importantly, you also never hear from Leica enthusiasts that the only reason they use a Leica is because Leica cameras make photos that cannot be made with any other camera. That is dumb and we all know deep down that makes as much sense as saying a watch collector needs a Royal Oak to know what time it is. Luxury watches (and microbrands for that matter) are about more than keeping time. Using and owning a Leica camera is about more than taking pictures. That is the point.

As an example from my world, when I was working on my Lost Dogs book, my Leica M10 routinely became a point of discussion with the people in the bar and it opened up a relationship after which they allowed me to photograph their shoes and pets. The book was ultimately about San Diego shoe culture and locals as much as it was about the dogs.

Further, some of the models we work with also react positively to the Leica because they know the brand and feel that it is important. Sometimes, just feeling the weight of the camera and using a manual FOCUS lens and rangefinder for the first time, is impressive and gets people activated. Activated subjects make better pictures. Finally, at the skatepark (where everyone knows French Fred) Leica has meaning. It tells the skaters (and the skate dads) that I am more than just a creeper, creeping around the skate park doing creepy skate park photography things.

In my experience, the Leica camera is often part of the show and it doesn’t matter if your Fuji can make a similar picture for 1/4 the price. I know with 100% certainty that I can make approximately the same images with a Minolta Dynax 5 as I can with my M7 but nobody in their right mind wants to play cameras and lenses with a Dynax 5. The pictures might be nearly the same but the experience is different and THAT is the point.

Watch enthusiasts are collectors as are many Leica enthusiasts. This is where the critics lose their mind.

This whole luxury watch business is even more interesting (or insane) when you realize that people who own luxury watches own, on average, 15-30 watches.

Leica critics (at least the ones who contact me) seem to lose their mind when I say I use Canon, Fuji, and Leica cameras for work and own and use any number of film cameras in addition to my M7. Rangefinder cameras are not the best cameras for every situation. Critics can’t seem to get past the fact that given the cost of a Leica camera, it should be the only camera someone needs to own. This misses the point.

From my vantage point, a Leica camera is best used when it is appropriate. It might be something to bring to a family gathering or a Beers and Cameras meetup. It might be something you bring to a shoot as a conversation piece. It might be something that you use day to day as a wedding photographer or documentary style journalist but a Leica camera isn’t always the best tool for all situations. You wont be shooting action sports with a rangefinder if you can avoid it. You wont be shooting a rangefinder with a 400m lens if you can avoid it. There is no shame in owning a Leica camera and bringing something else to your kids soccer game.

Similarly, the luxury watch enthusiast probably won’t bring their Glashütte (Nomos or Original) on a goat herding expedition in the Himalayas. They also wont run upstairs and grab their speedmaster when they need to set a timer for the chicken in the oven. A watch enthusiast feels no shame for using an oven timer. There is also shame for a Leica enthusiast using a Fuji.

This is why statements like “only doctors shoot Leica cameras and professionals don’t” is directionally accurate but isn’t a criticism. If a professional photographer had all of the money in the world they they would probably own a Leica but they probably wouldn’t shoot a Leica as their only camera system or take it backcountry skiing.

For the Leica enthusiast, there is no shame leaving the Leica home from time to time or even most of time. My Nikon FM3A or F6 often find their way into my bag while the M7 sits home on a shelf and I don’t think twice about it. The M7 makes a cameo at the end of the video but it wasn’t the right tool for the job.

In defense of the Leica critics

If you are a Leica critic and you are still confused about why anyone would buy a Leica, it is possible that Leica marketing has something to do with it.

Luxury watch vendors have it easy. All they need to do is sponsor a Formula 1 team, give a few watches to Sarena Williams and Lewis Hamilton, and talk about heritage. A trip to the moon is always good for sales. In fact, we would all be scratching our heads wondering what watch manufacturer were doing if luxury watch brands focused on features and how well their watches kept time compared to an iPhone.

Leica isn’t as fortunate as Rolex. They can’t just come out and say “Buy Leica cameras because deep down you are just a caveman who likes heavy, metal, things that go clicky clacky and look cool because we were there in 1925.” You can’t just say that in photography.

Leica is in the unenvious position to have to do what Bremont, IWC, Bell and Ross, and the other Formula 1 sponsors don’t have to do – Leica has to FOCUS on features in their marketing and it is confusing for the photographer trying to make sense of why someone would spend 8000 on a Leica camera. This clearly confuses the YouTubers who are always focusing on features even though features are the starting point for discussion. Features are not the end game (1).

Bottom line

Leica is a much about shooting a Leica camera as it is playing cameras and lenses and that is not a criticism. Wearing a Luxury watch is about wearing a Luxury watch. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Leica cameras are great cameras. Full stop. Features are a starting point for discussion but features are not THE point. Comparing Leica to other brands based on features and technical specifications alone doesn’t make sense. It misses the point entirely.

Sometimes I wish Leica and Leica enthusiasts had a different language to discuss what we love about the cameras. The status quo is confusing for the camera world because the camera world is designed to speak one language while our language has more in common with watch collectors than other photographers.

We have a lot to learn from the watch world.

P.S. I went full fanboy here. If you are a critic, Leicaphile who doesn’t want to admit that somewhere deep in there you are a caveman chasing shiny things just like I am, or you are a watch person whose hobby just got denigrated by a photographer, please don’t vomit in your mouth or shoot the messenger. If it helps, when I go full fanboy like this I puke in my mouth a little bit too. It is what it is.

NOTES

This discussion somewhat falls apart with the Leica SL series cameras and lenses. Unlike an M camera, with the SL, the features really are the point. It is a great camera and, perhaps, the best mirrorless camera for adapting M lenses but if your goal is a fully featured mirrorless camera, that critics might be right when they criticize the SL as an overpriced mirrorless camera. I went deep (deep deep) down the SL road and even though I am a fanboy and I hate to admit it for a number of reasons, I could not justify the purchase for my business. The real issue is that I wouldn’t take a camera like that on vacation or for personal use. I tried to make an SL work. I really tried. In the end I couldn’t get myself there because….features.

Above image used with permission by Raymond Chak

Header image used with permission by John Low

Disclosure statement: None. This post is not sponsored.

Interesting Facts About Leica Cameras

For over a century, Leica cameras have been synonymous with exceptional quality and played a unique role in the world of photography. From the hands of pioneers like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa to modern-day professionals, Leica cameras have captured some of the most iconic images in history.

In this article, we’ll delve into the fascinating history of Leica cameras, their distinctive features, and the reasons why they continue to be highly coveted by photographers around the world.

In this article, you will learn:

What is a Leica Camera?

A Leica Camera is a high-end camera brand known for its precision engineering, premium build quality, and unique design. The company was founded in Germany in 1914 and has since become one of the most respected and iconic camera brands in the world.

Leica cameras are known for their high-quality lenses, which are designed to capture sharp, detailed images with accurate color reproduction. The cameras themselves are also known for their exceptional build quality and attention to detail. Leica cameras are often made from premium materials like aluminum or brass and are designed to be both functional and beautiful.

Leica cameras are available in a range of models, from compact point-and-shoot cameras to high-end professional cameras. Some of the most popular models include the Leica M series, which features a rangefinder design and is popular with street photographers and photojournalists, and the Leica SL series, which is a full-frame mirrorless camera designed for professional photographers.

In addition to its cameras, Leica also produces a range of lenses and accessories, including viewfinders, grips, and straps. Leica lenses are known for their exceptional quality and are highly sought after by photographers who value precision and image quality.

Leica cameras are a symbol of excellence in the world of photography. With their premium build quality, exceptional lenses, and unique design, they are a favorite of many professional photographers and enthusiasts alike.

History of Leica Cameras

The history of Leica Cameras can be traced back to 1914 when Oskar Barnack, an engineer at the German optical company Ernst Leitz, developed a prototype camera that used 35mm film. The camera, which was called the Ur-Leica, was much smaller and more portable than existing cameras and allowed photographers to take high-quality images on the go.

The first Leica camera, the Leica I, was introduced in 1925 and quickly became popular with photographers who valued its compact size and high-quality lenses. The Leica I featured a rangefinder design that allowed photographers to FOCUS more quickly and accurately than with existing cameras, and it quickly gained a reputation for being one of the best cameras on the market.

The first Leica camera, the Leica I

Over the years, Leica continued to innovate and improve its cameras, introducing new models and technologies that helped to establish it as one of the premier camera brands in the world. In the 1930s, Leica introduced the first 35mm camera with a built-in flash, and in the 1950s, it introduced the first M-series camera, which became a favorite of street photographers and photojournalists.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Leica faced increasing competition from Japanese camera manufacturers, who were producing high-quality cameras at lower prices. However, Leica continued to innovate and introduce new models, including the Leicaflex SLR camera and the Leica CL compact camera.

In the 21st century, Leica has continued to innovate and adapt to changing market conditions, introducing new digital cameras and lenses that have helped to establish it as a leading brand in the digital photography market. Today, Leica cameras are still prized by photographers for their exceptional build quality, precision engineering, and high-quality lenses, and the company remains one of the most respected and iconic camera brands in the world.

Leica cameras were used by some of the world’s most famous photographers, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, and Sebastiao Salgado.

Cartier-Bresson’s First Leica Camera

Unique Role of Leica Cameras in Photography

Leica cameras have played a unique and influential role in the history of photography. Here are some of the key ways in which Leica cameras have left their mark on the world of photography:

• Compact size: They were some of the first compact cameras on the market, making them more portable and easier to use than many other cameras. This helped establish street photography.
• Rangefinder design: They have a rangefinder design that allows photographers to FOCUS more quickly and accurately. This design has been particularly useful for street photographers and photojournalists.
• High-quality lenses: Leica lenses are renowned for their exceptional quality, which has influenced the development of lenses from other brands.
• Design and craftsmanship: They are often praised for their design and craftsmanship, with many photographers valuing them for their beauty as well as their performance.
• Influence on photography culture: They have become cultural icon in the world of photography, with many photographers valuing them for their status and prestige.

Queen Elizabeth II with a Leica

Why Are Leica Cameras So Expensive?

Leica cameras are known for being some of the most expensive cameras on the market, and there are several factors that contribute to their high price point. Here are some of the reasons why Leica cameras are so expensive:

• Brand effect: Leica is a well-known and respected brand in the photography world. The company was founded in 1914 and has a long history of producing high-quality cameras. This gives the company a certain amount of cachet, which can translate into higher prices.
• Quality: Leica cameras are known for their high quality. The company uses only the finest materials and craftsmanship in its products. This results in cameras that are built to last and that take excellent photos. Leica cameras are made with high-quality materials such as brass, aluminum, and leather. They are also assembled by hand by skilled technicians, which adds to the cost.
• Exclusivity: Leica cameras are not mass-produced. The company makes a limited number of cameras each year, which helps to keep high. Leica produces around 200,000 cameras per year, which is a very small number compared to other camera manufacturers. This exclusivity makes Leica cameras more desirable and drives up prices.
• Luxury: Leica cameras are often seen as luxury items. They are often purchased by people who want the best of the best, even if it comes at a high price. Leica cameras are often used by celebrities and other high-profile individuals, which further contributes to their image as luxury items.

While Leica cameras may be expensive, many photographers believe that the quality and performance of these cameras justify the investment.

Leica SL2 Mirrorless Camera

Are Leica Cameras Worth It?

Whether or not a Leica Camera is worth it depends on a variety of factors, including your photography needs, your budget, and your personal preferences. Here are some things to consider when deciding if a Leica Camera is worth the investment:

• Build quality: Leica Cameras are known for their exceptional build quality and attention to detail. They are made from premium materials like aluminum and brass, and are designed to last for many years. If you value durability and longevity in your camera, a Leica Camera may be worth the investment.
• Lens quality: Leica lenses are also known for their exceptional quality, with many photographers praising them for their sharpness, clarity, and color reproduction. If you value high-quality lenses and want to capture the best possible images, a Leica Camera may be worth it.
• Shooting style: Leica Cameras are known for their rangefinder design, which can be beneficial for certain types of photography, such as street photography and photojournalism. If you value the ability to FOCUS quickly and accurately, a Leica Camera may be worth the investment.
• Budget: Leica Cameras are known for being expensive, with some models costing several thousand dollars. If you have a limited budget, a Leica Camera may not be the best choice for you.
• Brand reputation: Leica is a highly respected and iconic camera brand, and owning a Leica Camera can be seen as a status symbol in the photography world. If you value the prestige and reputation that comes with owning a Leica Camera, it may be worth the investment.

Whether or not a Leica Camera is worth it depends on your individual needs and preferences as a photographer. If you value exceptional build quality, high-quality lenses, and a unique shooting experience, a Leica Camera may be worth the investment. However, if you have a limited budget or have different priorities when it comes to your photography gear, there are many other great camera brands and models to consider as well.

How to Improve Your Productivity in Post-photography?

Post-photography work can be a time-consuming and tedious task, but with the right tools, you can streamline your workflow and boost your productivity. That’s where TourBox comes in.

This innovative tool is designed to help you work more efficiently by providing customizable controls for your favorite editing tools. With TourBox, you can quickly and easily make adjustments to your images, without having to constantly switch back and forth between different tools and settings.

Whether you’re a professional photographer or a beginner, TourBox is a game-changer that can help you take your post-photography work to the next level, and get the most out of your Leica camera.

Leica cameras have played a unique and important role in the world of photography, thanks to their amazing build quality, high-performance lenses, and unique features. While they are undoubtedly expensive, for many photographers, the investment in a Leica camera is worth it for the unparalleled quality and control it provides.

Leica Camera to open a flagship in NYC’s Meatpacking District

Storied Leica Camera is opening a flagship in the Meatpacking District as a destination for photography — with sales and a gallery, plus classroom, event and outdoor space, The Post has learned.

The former veal market, construction office and hardware building at 406 W. 13th St. has been a midblock eyesore, but the plans for its complete facelift attracted the high-end German camera and optics company.

On: meatpacking district

A spread at Porter House downtown is listing again for 24.5M

Building owner Aurora Capital Associates hired Format Architecture to create a modern industrial scheme for the small property located in the Gansevoort Market Historic District between Ninth Avenue and Washington Street.

Renovations include an expansion to 4,000 square feet, new metal surround store Windows, a new beige brick façade with a 13-by-14-foot artistic window covered in beige brick latticework, a new 500-square-foot mezzanine plus a new 1,000-square-foot outdoor terrace in the rear — all of which was previously approved by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The property was snapped up by Leica, which opened similar projects in West Hollywood in 2013 and in Boston in 2016, to celebrate photography with “compelling exhibits” and to provide space for events, speakers and its ongoing Leica Akademie seminars.

A Leica spokesman confirmed, “The space will have products for sale, an official Leica Gallery, and will host Akademie workshops. The intent is for the Leica Store Gallery NY to serve as a destination for photography.”

Charlie Koniver and Gabriel Paisner of Odyssey Retail Advisors represented Leica in the long-term lease, while Aurora was represented in-house by Jared Epstein of Aurora. The brokers did not respond to requests for comment on the deal or terms of the lease.

However, industry sources said the asking rent was 400 per foot under a triple-net deal, which means the tenant will pay for all expenses.

The gallery should be completed and open in mid-2023 on the same block as Sephora, Cache and Marcus.

Leica was founded in 1869 by Ernst Leitz in Germany and is currently owned by an Austrian investment firm, ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH, and the Blackstone Group.

The original Leica 35mm cameras were invented in 1913, but did not go into production until 1926. Leicas are known for their light weight and precision optics in a compact package favored by travelers for landscapes and street photography.

Along with the latest in digital cameras, the company now makes a full range of optics from binoculars and spotting scopes — to range finders and even cameras for smartphones.

Panasonic and Leica are making a new mirrorless camera

Panasonic has announced that the company is developing a new mirrorless camera in conjunction with Leica. The new camera will be released next year.

Background

The bond between Panasonic and Leica has existed since August 2000. Initially, the companies had signed a cooperation agreement for lenses for digital audio-visual equipment. However, in 2001 the decision was made to cooperate in the digital camera sector as well. In 2018, together with Sigma, Leica Camera AG and Panasonic Corporation founded the “L-Mount Alliance.” Following on from this, in May 2022 Panasonic and Leica launched a new collaboration under the brand L 2. The companies said they would develop new cameras, lenses and imaging technology jointly.

What do we know

Nikkei recently published a feature that said that Panasonic — along with Nikon — was suspending development of entry-level point-and-shoot cameras under their flagship brands. A spokesperson for Panasonic confirmed that the company had been reducing its range of Lumix compact digital cameras. These were first launched in 2001. However, Panasonic has not released any new products in the price range below 50,000 yen — around 375 at the time of writing — since 2019. “We’ve halted developing any new models that can be replaced by a smartphone,” the spokesperson said.

Going forward

In the Nikkei article, Panasonic confirmed that it will continue production of its current range of cameras. However, the company is going to shift its FOCUS to developing high-end mirrorless cameras for photography enthusiasts and professionals. As part of this development, Panasonic revealed that it is going to release a mirrorless camera it is jointly developing with Leica as part of the L 2 collaboration. No other details have been revealed about the camera other than that it will be available in “about a year.”

The new camera promised for next year will be the first product arising from Panasonic and Leica’s L 2 collaboration. There are no details yet as to what the specification will be. However, hopefully, it will be something more than just a continuation of each company’s existing product ranges.

Pete Tomkies is a freelance cinematographer and camera operator from Manchester, UK. He also produces and directs short films as Duck66 Films. Pete’s latest short Once Bitten. won 15 awards and was selected for 105 film festivals around the world.

This extremely expensive Leica camera only shoots pictures in black white

Is the Leica M11 Monochrom little more than a status symbol?

A camera that only shoots black white photos, only uses manual FOCUS lenses, can’t shoot video, lacks most modern digital camera features and costs an eye-watering 9,195 / £8,300 / AU14,990 body only. Take that in for a moment, then ask yourself, could I part with that much cash, plus extra for lenses that in some cases cost almost as much as the camera itself, when the camera can only perform a fraction of the functions that even entry-level examples of the best mirrorless cameras can?

The Leica M11 Monochrom is the fourth generation of the luxury German brand’s M-series Monochrom cameras produced over eleven years. It may sound incomprehensible, but there’s clearly a market for these highly niche and, indeed, expensive prestige cameras. I can’t help but think that the attraction lies within the build quality, beautiful design, excellent image quality and also the more traditional shooting experience Leica cameras so eloquently deliver, but I’m still baffled by them.

Photographers need control

One of the blessings and curses of modern photography is that it’s easier than ever before to capture high-quality images. I’m not talking about more advanced techniques using what you might call a ‘proper’ camera and high-quality lenses. I mean that smartphones have made photography easier to the point where anyone and everyone can capture fantastic images with a simple push of an on-screen button.

We love to give practical buying advice about the latest gadgets here on TechRadar. But sometimes what we love more is to indulge in the most ridiculous, high-end, cutting-edge, luxurious tech on the planet. That’s what we bring you in these Money no object columns – you can read the whole series here.

Back in the early days of photography, Kodak founder George Eastman coined the slogan, “You press the button, we do the rest”. And it’s fair to say that smartphone manufacturers have inadvertently taken up this mantle with great zest: smartphone cameras, despite their tiny image sensors, can capture incredibly detailed images using HDR (high dynamic range) technology; images are intelligently sharpened at the point of capture; backgrounds can be defocused to simulate a shallow depth-of-field to isolate subjects. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

So, as smartphone camera technology continues to improve, will camera manufacturers need to FOCUS more on the shooting experience and the process of capturing images? Many photographers are exploring old processes including Daguerreotypes and wet plate collodions, while others have begun shooting film for the first time. It seems that with the convenience of digital photography, many photographers are seeking something slightly different, unique even, that in some cases requires consideration and is as much about the experience as it is the result. And therein lies a major appeal to the Leica M11 Monochrom.

Leica M11 Monochrom: what makes it special?

Leica’s M-series cameras have never strayed far from their 35mm film heritage that goes back to the 1950s. Just a cursory glance at an M-series camera from any point during the last 70 years, and most photographers will instantly recognise it’s a Leica. Maintaining an identifiable brand over such a long period, which includes the significant developmental shift from silver-based film to digital sensors, is a feat that has to be applauded.

The M11 Monochrom, like other M-series cameras, handles in a way that’s as close to a film camera as you can get with a digital camera. The emphasis is on the process and experience of taking photos using tactile manual controls to adjust camera settings, which is further enhanced by the compact manual FOCUS lenses with aperture rings. In essence, this all combines to create a sense of being in control – making all of the decisions rather than relying on the camera to make them for you.

For me, the M11 Monochrom is an oddity that I almost feel obliged to dislike as someone spoilt by the highest-performing cameras. But in reality, I love shooting with it in terms of the handling, the way it looks and how it feels in the hand. The design of the camera is stunning, taking the classic Leica shape and applying a modern twist to the minimalist matt black all-metal body. The iconic Leica red dot has been omitted, but the M11 Monochrom doesn’t need a badge to declare its pedigree.

Image quality is excellent, and Leica’s claim that “You get images with an unprecedented rendition of even the finest details, an exceptionally natural-looking definition even in difficult light conditions and an extremely low noise even in the high ISO range”, is completely true. But a niggling question persists: Can a camera that only shoots in black white – and costs more than the Leica M11 that shoots color but is otherwise the same – and lacks many modern features including video, be worth 9,195 / £8,300 / AU14,990 body only?

Leica M11 Monochrom: is it worth the cost?

Leica cameras are expensive, and they always have been. They’re handmade in Germany using premium materials and are beautifully designed; it’s fair to say that they’re some of the best-looking cameras on the planet, and the M11 Monochrom looks nothing short of stunning. Of course, looks don’t guarantee performance, but the camera can also produce excellent image quality when paired with the best Leica lenses.

Shooting with the M11 Monochrom is about as close to shooting with an analog rangefinder camera as you can get; the process is more of an experience than a simple button press. Manual FOCUS using a rangefinder is slower and more measured process than autofocus, but that’s also OK because there are techniques to get around that, and some of these techniques can be ultimately more reliable than autofocus.

So, with all of this in mind, do I think Leica cameras are worth their cost? Yes, I do. Would I buy one myself considering how much I enjoy shooting with them? No way. I could get much more for my money by purchasing a pro-spec model and a lens or two from another manufacturer and still have change in my I appreciate that this may sound like a contradiction, but it’s similar to admiring and possibly hiring a classic car: you love many things about the car, but you simply couldn’t justify owning it.

Leica M11 alternatives

There are some great rangefinder alternatives to the M11 Monochrom available, but both options feature APS-C sensors and shoot standard color raw files: the Fujifilm X-Pro 3 and the Fujifilm X-100V. As for black-and-white only offerings, Pentax fairly recently released the K-3 III Monochrome DSLR, but shooting with a DSLR is a completely different experience to a rangefinder, which is exactly what the two Fujifilm options are.

And the advantages of these two alternative Fujifilm rangefinders are significant: they’re a fraction of the cost of the M11 Monochrom; raw files can be converted to mono or left in color; and they provide tactile manual controls. Both cameras also feature optical rangefinder viewfinders and EVFs, and both provide autofocus and manual FOCUS alongside many advanced camera technologies. Granted, they’re not a Leica, but sometimes you need to make do.