Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I fully endorse Mike's comments. It is really a joy to be able to discuss differences of view and opinion with an open mind on both sides. It takes the heat away from many topics. I told Mike in our discourse that I overreacted in my post as I felt that the clearly stated preference for some M model was unnecessarily connoted to a negative assessment of another M model. I did not defend every new Leica product with blind faith. I objected to the false impression that could be inferred from arguments to explain the preference. Any prospective buyer of whatever Leica model should be able to get reliable information about the strengths and weaknesses and yes he/she my also be aware of emotional or esthetic arguments. See my site's page: how to choose an M camera for some assessments. I told Mike that I will next time do what my grandmother told me: wait a few days before reacting and sort out what you really want to tell in language that is as clear and concise as you can. But the Lug is a volatile beast: topics come and go with alarming speed and when you wait a day, we are all busy with some other topic. - -:) Anyway: I agree with Mike that the choice for whatever Leica M model is partly emotional and we all know that is natural to explain and justify what she/he likes. I owned M2/CL/M3/M4-P and a several M6 models. I still have the M3 as an example of engineering inspiration and an opto-mechanical instrument of the highest calibre and quality. And I am not immune to its seductive lines and smooth, yet solid feeling and its shutter pressure is still not equalled by the M6. My workhorse is the M6 however. I do get hundreds of inquiries by people all over the world with just this question: which M to buy? I try to explore their needs, emotions and goals and then I give my view, which does not exclude any M model. Indeed there is no bad M model, and the low esteem of the M4-2 is not justified. It is different from an M2 or M4 or M6 but in competent hands a redoubtable photographic instrument. But photography as Mike remarks is a way of life and I too love classical 35mm photography. And I see with some distress that the Lug is doing so much digital, that the love for a fine B&W print may be lost shortly. It is my view that Leica and large B&W prints match excellently in feeling and image quality. If someone does not feel confident with the tools she/he uses, no good photography will result. And I would really deplore it if prospective Leica buyers would feel insecure about buying/using an M6 because there is a stigma that this particular body is not up to classical Leica standards. There is no easy talk here. I am aware of (maybe in more detail than most of you) many incidences of defects and faults in the current Leica products, including the M6. But to acknowledge these incidences is not equal to stating that current Leica products are of lower quality. And the other way is also true: you can state that current Leica products are of very high quality with the confidence based on the records of thousands of repairs that the incidence of failure of any Leica product is small, but not negligible and that is now and was the same in the heydays of the M3. As long as we have an open mind, are sensitive to facts, even if that would imply changing our opinion and sensitive to emotions, even if that means accepting the view of another person, we can do what Mike mentioned: pursue the love of classical 35mm photography and do this with that finely engineered product: the Leica. We should realize that a 35mm camera becomes an extension of the user's personality, and however good an M6 might be, for many reasons a user may swear by an M2. Therefore I try to maintain an objective approach, weighing the subjective comments and taking into account the technical and engineering data to present a body of information on which a personal investigation of the reader may be based to make his/her choice. I am happy if the choice works for the person and I am not trying to persuade that person to buy my personal choice. Erwin Bottom line is, I really love classic 35mm photography. I can't defend that; it's just the way it is for me.