why Leica?

[n8]

My recent attempts to become better verse in all things photography (and by that I mean I spent a lot of my traveling time reading one of those "cover all" books) have reminded me about Leicas, hasselblads, and all those. Leica's especially just strike me as one of those romanticized cameras that just fit the traveler archetype. Those reasons alone make me kind of want one...until I look at the prices. I'm just wondering if their IQ is that much greater then our usual Canon/Nikon choices, are they that superior in structure, or are that at least in part just a capitalizing on their name? I was amazed to see that Leica's pro dslr cost 3x a D3x...what I would think to be as good as they get. So...yeah...what is it that makes these so great and so flipping expensive?

[Greg McCary]

I had a Leica IIIa that was 75 years old and shot like butter. I have since moved up to an M6. The IIIa had two finders and film had to be trimmed before loading. It was a pain to shoot. I hope one day to pass the M6 down to my daughter. Leica's are built for a life time of shooting. Yes the quality is good. The best? Not so sure. You can get M2's and M3's at reasonable prices. I have had my M6 for about four years and it still holds it value. I can't say that for my digital cameras.
Yes Leica's are beautiful to shoot you can feel the quality. I am sure some will disagree.

It is nice sometimes to get out and shoot fully manual without having to worry about digital stuff, just have fun.

[n8]

Couldn't the same be said for many old camera? I'd be curious to shoot a few rolls with some of my dad's vietnam nikons, but I do know that the EM that I have from there still clicks smoothly.
Just playing devils advocate. I'm sure like most things today, the adage "the don't build 'em like they used to" definitely applies to camera's.

[Greg McCary]

Patton had a Leica. He was shooting with that too.LOL I can't imagine how Robert Capa shot what he did with one. But it is one thing to be a throwback but at the time the old photographers shot with the best equipment they could get their hands on. I think the same holds true today. Take every advantage you can get.
It is fun to shoot with an old camera sometimes but I don't play golf with leather balls and wooden shafts. It does make you a better photographer in the long run to know how to shoot a manual camera, no matter the brand.

[jetrim]

I was amazed to see that Leica's pro dslr cost 3x a D3x...what I would think to be as good as they get. So...yeah...what is it that makes these so great and so flipping expensive?

Keep in mind that comparing Leica's pro dslr to Nikon's is like comparing apples to lawn furniture :lol:
I have shot both. The D3x is awesome, but the S2 is substantially awesomer It is a medium format camera with a sensor resolution that beats Hassleblad's 50mp (due to dot pitch angle and a bunch of other highly technical stuff). It does this at 7 frames a second, underwater, hanging from it's tether (to pc) cable. That's why it cost's $30 grand. In the pro arena, it's money well spent