[Leica] Why a digital M

[PetersonAG at NAVSEA.NAVY.MIL (Peterson Arthur G NSSC)]

Good question, Feli.  And I agree with the question's implied answer that
there is no reason for you (or me) to spend $5K on a digital M.  Except...

There remains unavoidably a march of technology (and a faster march it is
all the time), and while it might be fun to drive an antique car or even
ride a horse, or to calculate with a slide rule or even an abacus, or to
listen to music on 33rpm records or even 78rpm records, such indulgences
eventually become more and more difficult, expensive, inconvenient, and
generally impracticable to sustain, and so one naturally gravitates to a
modern car, a modern calculator or computer, and a modern music format like
CD or DVD.  When Compact Discs were introduced, I fortunately saw the
handwriting on the wall and sold my LP collection.  I'm not sure exactly why
I've not got into digital photography yet, but probably a day will come
when, even for non-professionals like you and me, film photography becomes
impracticable.  So perhaps our desire for a digital M results from our
concern over whether quality tools like those we appreciate now in the
medium of film will be available when that digital future arrives.

Art Peterson


-----Original Message-----
From: Feli di Giorgio [mailto:feli@creocollective.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 14:36
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: RE: [Leica] Why a digital M

So, why do people here want a digital M?:

a) For professional reasons? Are you a PJ who needs to upload his pics
from a war zone etc.

b) Want to save on film and developing costs.

c) It's the new thing.

d) Convenience of not having to develop and scan film.

e) Unless this thing is north of 14MP, it's not going to be better than film
and you're
still going to have to deal with Bayer pattern smear and exposure latitude
only slightly
better than slide film.

Just curious.

I understand that Leica probably needs a digital M to ensure it's longterm
survival,
but personally I really have no need or desire for one. I'm not a
professional
PJ, who's work demands the use of digital and I mainly shoot B/W, which I
prefer to
develop myself. I sit in front of a computer all day at work and getting
away from
electronics and shooting with my Leicas is cheaper than therapy. So,right
now I have a 
analog, full frame 20 megapixel camera, which is built like a tank and does
everything
I want perfectly. Film gives me a simple, safe and archival storage media. I
have 
a Nikon SC5000 ED scanner, which acts as my analog to digital converter and
spits out 
digital files that are as good and better than any digital camera this side
of $10,000.

So, why would I spend $5000 on a digital M, unless my lively hood depended
on it?

Feli

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