Leica why so great

Posted in Products on Wednesday, January 03 And even though Leica has struggled to match other camera brands for their digital technology, every photographer still proclaims Leica to be the golden egg of camera brands. So what is it that makes Leica so good? And considering the price tag that comes with owning such lavish camera equipment, is Leica actually worth it?

In , Oskar Barnack decided to build a fast, lightweight, portable camera to compete with the heavy camera equipment typical of the day. Working in Wetzlar, Germany, he designed a rollfilmkamera and called it Ur-Leica.

This camera went on to become an icon of early photography and a favourite of famous photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. The 35mm camera rangefinder body remains mostly unchanged today, right down to its manual-only focus. Even today, photographers swear that the beloved Leica rangefinder transforms their photography experience. The camera is simple not only in design but in functionality. But there are two areas in particular where Leica reigns supreme: in its attention to detail during manufacturing, and in its superior lenses.

Leica takes its manufacturing process seriously. First off, Leica cameras have remained relatively the same in size, shape, and structure since the M3 was introduced in This means that each and every example can be produced at the utmost quality — oftentimes, in small numbers. Even focus planes, unparalleled sharpness in in-focus regions , and buttery bokeh also play a large role in the timeless recognition that Leica has received.

Premier journalists from the 20th century, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, war photographer David Douglas Duncan, French visionary Marc Riboud, and Thomas Hoepker, are an exceedingly-small number who have documented history with their captivating photographs. Surely, not everyone feels the same way. The fact of the matter is this.

Not the product, in terms of its material meaning, but in what it produces, signifies, and means. No amount of technology can change the purpose of a camera. Amidst it all, the appeal of these overzealous platforms is lost on the purist. In contrast, mechanical parts, pieces, and accents garner character over time.

They work. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is priceless. Spanning The Generations. These are our recommendations.

The Leica M-A Typ Rangefinder is a testament to the founding principles of photography, boasting a classic 35mm film rangefinder, fully-mechanical operation, and a composition-focused M-Mount that accepts focal lengths from 16mm to mm. HiConsumption is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

A Leica camera can be made to work accurately with fairly simple technology; the shutter apparatus has hardly changed at all since it was first introduced in But most importantly, the Leica M camera is stealthy, placing nothing extraneous between the photographer and his or her subject; it is the epitome of light and fast and allows photographers to get in closer to make more intimate and compelling photographs.

Thanks to Simon Gosling for a favorite portrait. Plus, nothing feels like a Leica. They are treasures, and the just feel good in the hand.

Who cares? Well, if you are fortunate enough to be right-eye dominant, as about two-thirds of people are, you can continue to engage your subject and the world through the left eye as you use the camera rangefinder.

Lucky dogs. Anyhow, this is important when discussing the Leica M camera. The camera is fairly small compared to DLSRs, which often gives the impression that it is less able, or not a professional type of camera, and so people seem to relax a bit more around the Leica M. But that other 15 percent are rabid fans, and we all love to talk about Leica and share stories. Ready to own a Leica? Have more questions? That's what we're here for.

Contact us by phone or email — we are happy to share what we know and offer advice. Why do so many photographers use — and love — the Leica Rangefinder?

Here are what I believe are the reasons, plain and simple: Only the Leica M allows you to see what is about to happen in your frame. The Leica M is extremely accurate and extremely rugged in nearly all conditions, thanks to the world's finest optics and precision German engineering.

The Leica M is unobtrusive — it is small, lightweight and stealthy, and well suited for intimate photography. Nothing else in the world feels like a Leica. Dan's first Leica. Dan's first Leica - an early M2 "button rewind". Company founder Stan Tamarkin, hard at work in the family home-office, circa Enough about me; this page is supposed to be about the Leica M Rangefinder camera The basics of the Leica M camera. Not photoshopped.