Amazing Adventures of Leica (Leica SL Review, Part 3)

This isn't any ordinary camera, so this isn't an ordinary review. I get pretty darned philosophical. Part 1 describes my personal connection to the brand and the inevitable bias I have. Part 2 is my take on what makes a Leica a Leica. Now, in Part 3, we explore how things evolve after the success of the first Leica model, and how radical changes in the environment fundamentally alter the Leica premise. So, spoiler alert: it's only in part 4 that I review the camera itself, but I think you'll find the story of the Leica camera and the Leitz company between 1930 and now fascinating -- and why both are so important to understanding the Leica SL and its glass.
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[@DanielOrtegoUSA]

As a former speech major in academia, I appreciate a well spoken and well-delivered talk. Your use of the pause with an articulate voice, combined with a keen sense of timing, is exquisite.

[@3BMEP]

Daniel Ortego Thank you, Daniel. It is my father’s influence.

[@nickdattner8680]

I just love this man. The wisdom, compassion, humour and insightfulness of Hugh breath pure oxygen into this threatened art form - photography.

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻😊🖖🏻

[@easygoingbutgoing]

Another engrossing Hugh lesson for us all. Excellent

[@ebreckpo6563]

Thank you for bringing such an extensive series of videos about the Leica history. My father bought his Leica III short after WWII (1946-47) with the wages he got as a foreign (Belgian) volunteer at the Royal Navy. He bought the camera in the UK. It was a camera imported from Germany with the Elmar 5cm f/3.5 graduated in feet instead of meters (not a trophy camera from Germany). If Leitz was a company heavily supporting the III th Reich he would never bought it. He told me as a child the same history about Leitz. This same camera ignited my interest in photography at the age of 8. In 1973 I shot with that same camera my first roll of b/w film. My father learned how to develop film and print it in the dark room. 45 years later I still remember it. I still have my fathers Leica III (in need of CLA). It is one of the "material" objects I cherish the most. 2 years ago I bought a Leica M with my own money and I love it. Using a rangefinder in 2018 sounds perhaps controversial with all the "new" technologies but I love it, not because of the red dot and the boutique like marketing but because it is a great tool for me to create beautiful photographs with minimalistic tools. This camera is not a digital wonderbox with solves everything for you... Although the SL is more a digital wonderbox... I am looking forward towards your next video. Perhaps you can convince me to purchase the Leica SL... Greetings from Belgium, Eric

[@3BMEP]

Eric Breckpot Eric, thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful and personal story. I am constantly awed by the quality of our audience. Thank you for being such a generous member of our community.

[@TheMarsgia]

I was at the Beverly Hills Leica Store last week.. What an amazing place. Its like an Apple store. One can go there and have coffee and read about the Leica History in the second floor. What an amazing store. Bought me a pair of Bino's

[@SteveRockstein2]

Amazing story. Thanks Hugh.

[@3BMEP]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnsharaf6736]

You left out one of the greatest Leica photographers (perhaps you'll want to update the video for posterity?). David Douglas Duncan was another of the elite war photographers, and the first "Leica" photographer that influenced me. He had an incredible and eclectic career and was fortunate to live in the time of "coffee table" picture books. I studied his books like listening to a record a hundred times, and learned about WW2, Picasso and more, and adopted the photojournalists point-of-view that has served me well now into my latest incarnation as a gentleman farmer/photographer. Cheers!

[@3BMEP]

Glad for the addition - thanks!

[@chirag4]

LOVE this SERIES on LEICA, by you Sir, your Speech Delivery and Narration are second to none.

[@3BMEP]

Chirag Parikh I am SO happy you enjoy it - thank you for your encouragement.

[@chirag4]

i guess you mean Hugh is a veteran of photography and has studied the subject extensively.

[@TheParadoxy]

Loved this episode! Amazing story telling and history. I'll never be able to afford a Leica, but I thoroughly enjoy learning about the cameras.

[@rmle23]

The R8/9 and Leicaflex SL2 are the best SLR ever made by Leica and ones of the best of all times. The R8/9 line are very beautiful and very well made camera, the ergonomics are superb every command are well positioned that you don´t need to put your eyes away from the superb viewfinder. Great cameras who are very underrated.

[@TheKhs100]

Great history and as always a stellar narrative and presentation. Thanks!

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻

[@hypnotoads]

Great appreciation as usual Hugh. The 'idea' of a Leica is very appealing. The red dot is very seductive, simplicity and quality are exactly what I want from my camera. However, the price keeps me out. Their strategy is great - build quality is second to none and they resist compromising in order to capture more units so they maintain the allure. That is their unique niche, and the reason I have a Fujifilm X Pro 2!

[@3BMEP]

Mark Harrington yes, the price is steep - and we can do amazing things with other, less expensive gear. I’m glad you’re enjoying your Fuji!

[@daamsettachan6767]

Awesome. Thank you, and looking forward to the 4th video in this series. 👍🏻

[@getjcn]

Absolutely astonished by this small series so far! So excited episode 4 is ready to watch.... I understand the build up, but why not title the first 3 videos "A condensed, but thorough history of Leica" or something along those lines! :) Might get more traction on the videos anyhow. Love Love Love what you're doing! And I have to agree and echo everyone else's opinions on pacing, narration, production, etc! Please keep making this beautiful content!

[@easygoingbutgoing]

I think Hugh showed Duncan’s book from the Chosen reservoir during the Korean War

[@ArnaudSiemons]

Great! Like the Gibson and Fender history. One forgets there are many manufacturers nowadays that can produce similar great products that perform equally well. But that's not cool is it?

[@BilBrown]

OMG... I am seeing where you are going with this. The SL, holding the original idea of a tester for motion picture stock that became a useful camera for *everyman while not cutting corners on quality or design. From the company that touched, influenced or even at one point to another partnered with (Minolta was bought by SONY which is why we have the A7, A9, etc) lliterally EVERY single camera company on the planet... but the original drive... the original impetus, is still Leica. Pinnacle in the SL. My thoughts aren't exactly complete here... but I get it. Concurrent with ARRI's 100 years in motion picture excellence... we have Leica which was completely coming from the same point in time.

[@blazintommydblazintommyd4416]

Fascinating Story by a Fabulous story teller !! excellent video too. Always looking forward ♥♥ :)

[@joakimsundberg4528]

Impressive research about the Leicas! But about the 928.. They did sell a lot of them and it had a huge lifespan (1977-1995 ) I know it did not replace the 911 as it was intended but it was and still is a cool car. :)

[@My_You_Tube]

Great story telling Hugh ! is it me or are you related to Original " Most Interesting Man in The World" ? Dude I'm calling the Dos Equis tomorrow and telling them that Jonathan Goldsmith...long lost Brother is in da house. These 'new' Most Interesting men in The world are Pretenders ...you my friend are the real deal ! Thank you for fascinating and twinkle in the eye narration .

[@3BMEP]

My You...Tube Stay thirsty, my friend. 🙏🏻

[@diordrama]

Love your videos sir. Looking forward to the next one!

[@3BMEP]

I’m so glad! Finale goes up next week!

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

Superb history lesson

[@3BMEP]

Marcus Blank 🙏🏻

[@ForTheLoveOfSuits]

Fantastic 3 part story. Loved it. Thanks.

[@3BMEP]

Mick Ryan Thanks for watching and weighing in!

[@adrianricardo100]

Today have learned so much not only about camera but about human beauty and human fight. I can only say Thanks !

[@3BMEP]

You don't know how much I appreciate you took the time to write exactly this. Thank you so, so much.

[@adrianricardo100]

I am just so humbled. Thanks!!! Viva Costa Rica !!!

[@McNgotonie]

Speechless,superb articulation of facts

[@3BMEP]

marc frederic thank🙏🏻you!

[@ekchuahstudios9066]

Great info, thanks.

[@NetvoTV]

Does Leica always price their stuffs a premium luxury price even back then?

[@diordrama]

Yes. Infact Dr Kaufman, the owner,, recent said in an interview that Leica base their prices on the exact same principle that Leica always have, the M body is 3 times the average German monthly wage

[@flappospammo]

apple , bang & olufsen , leica i see a pattern developing here , it's called STYLE

[@TheMarsgia]

ok. When will you do a live appearance . So, that i can get tickets to watch your Show on Leica ?

[@makiddo]

Stunning presentation ...Well done !

[@3BMEP]

Thank you!

[@joaosousa1298]

great stuff! thanks

[@3BMEP]

João Sousa Thank you!

[@joaosousa1298]

keep up with the mind blowing reviews :D

[@OAK77uk]

Hey Hugh | Hold that Thought | Ok you ventured into the Paradox ~ Slide Slipping the Time Zones Brilliantly. I now realise you had to Time Machine from Past Future Present but elegantly so. Brilliant now lets not forget the Literal III Series, l feel was the beginning but also the end in many ways as you mention with Japanese if you please and when East meets West in Ruskie held territory that Eastern Leica Fed through Zorki

[@OAK77uk]

Story iPad decided to ~ but Hold that Thought ~ forgive the Fed Zorki Pun - You brought memories back to me from those far gone days with Red Dial Delayed Action in a miniature body and interloped the current present. This was, as l said, brilliant and here l am in middle of a House Move with all the stress attached having an end-of-day bath relaxing to your Part III - Hopefully, by your next instalment l will be moved from Windsor, Royal Wedding in-situ On 19th, to that Folk & Rock Capital Glastonbury in sleepy Somerset. Keep on my friend and never not Likka a Leica. Crashing out in Windsor - All the Best - Michael /OAK77uk 👍

[@3BMEP]

Don’t think for a moment I’d forget the III! As I hope you know, I have one!

[@patricshaw]

I still regret selling my m 240 well ...maybe a m 10 one day

[@vicibox]

Whoowheeeee I am breathless after that. I blame my father, a society photographer and journalist in the 50s, he was always going on about Leica and bought the Leica IIIg I now own when I was 3. As Picasso reminds us, you must kill your father so of course I wasnt interested in my fathers later M3 (which I also inherited) and bought a Rollei SL35 and 35s with Zeiss primes and later moved to Nikon in 1990. Well digital threw a spanner in the works. I think Nikon make ghastly digital cameras and they have never been able to fully supplant the Olympus Mju 200 I started to carry in my pocket in 2004 (now replaced with the lovely red Olympus Mju TG-3 Tough). Well i struggled on and my father was of course laughing his head off on his cloud as he could see what was comming; "I told you to buy Leica in 1973 my love ha ha". I was struggling. My new D7100 was awful, I could see it was awful, didnt care how good any reviewer said it was I could see it was awful, didnt produce the images my overweight D700 gave didnt even produce the quality of my old D80. I didnt want D7100 images in my folders. Then I remembered my pocket Rollei 35s with its biting Zeiss sonnar lens. Unseen I bought the just released Leica X113 with a 23mm f1.7 Summilux. OMG, what was that noise, think my father's ghost just fell off his cloud laughing. That was the end of Nikon, all sold except my FM2n and my D primes. I bought a Panasonic GX7 (now a GX9) and a handful of primes and the superzoom for play and used the Leica X113 as my street camera where it transformed my photography out of all recognition; I went wide with ultra panaramic XPan style street scenes. I regained the excitement of the 50s when I got my box brownie and of the 70s with my Rollei. So I bought a Leica T with a 18-56mm kit zoom to take my old Nikkor primes with an adapter and I now stand at the crossroads. I think it is clear that I will sell the Leicas and buy a TL2 with the 23mm Summicron. Yes I know its £3Grand, winces with pain. I already own the Bauhaus like visoflex (which I love btw) and my new red Artist and Artisan strap on T lugs (yes new eras demand strong colours). So now I am getting set up and I have no idea where it will take me at this advanced age but who cares, its the journey that is exciting not arriving. As always I need to change the world and unless i try I may as well be dead, its just how I am. Not speaking to my father so he can go back up on his cloud, smart arse he he

[@3BMEP]

Vici Martynov I love this story. Thank you so very much for sharing it. I think we have a very rare community of KZbin viewers. Your generosity in sharing it is just... humbling.

[@vicibox]

I really cant wait for your next installment though my expectation is tinged with fear. I am only just starting to commit to the idea of buying a Leica TL2 but I could see your series convincing me to buy a Leica SL. I know its silly but, I know I can use my 18-56mm TL zoom in crop mode and my two 50mm Summicrons, Voightlander 28mm f2 Ultron and my three Nikkor primes will all fit with adaptors in full frame mode, just as they fit my APS T body. Goodness what a price hike it would be though. Well I am comming along for the ride if nothing else; once I hide my credit card ;-)

[@MarcS4R]

not the biggest Leica fan here but i enjoyed you vid :)

[@3BMEP]

Marc H all good - thanks for weighing in!

[@scottag0]

The Hughstory Channel.

[@longrider9551]

Hugh! please don a smoking jacket, background a yule log screensaver and do a fireside chat with the lights dimmed. I need help falling asleep and you can call this series "End of Days". !! ; )

[@3BMEP]

Longrider actually, I’m working on something...

[@BeareTube]

The most relaxed persona on the internet. A smoking jacket would be perfect. I want Hugh as my psychiatrist.

[@longrider9551]

a little "light" psychoanalysis lol

[@hankroest6836]

Right?

[@damianc80]

You have to show us images from the sl.

[@3BMEP]

damianc80 Coming soon, I promise! Although... this episode was shot in DCI 4K with the 24-90. Clarity, color, tonality are beautiful.

[@jeromechiu]

Towards the end when you list the models introduced after Kaufmann has arrived, you skip the M9, M240, and M10. I'm..... holding my thought.... ;)

[@3BMEP]

Jerome Chiu Ah, you missed the scrolling text! They’re in there!

[@jeromechiu]

Ooops, my bad! I'll.... get me coat.......

[@richardwood3242]

I wish I could afford a Leica.................any old one:-)

[@3BMEP]

Me too. Let me think about that.

[@richardwood3242]

Great cameras!

[@brunoexclusive9189]

Work on trying not to sound like you're reading your content, I mean I get it you work really hard on trying to be engaging but it seems contrived and reaching.