Are Leica Cameras Overrated? (Leica M4-P)

[@stopmo6845]

I've gotten multiple comments about my choice to use the word "infamous" so please allow me to state my justification: I used the word "infamous" when describing the M6 because to me, it is kind of pretentious for most people to own an M6. Part of me thinks of it as being a signal that you want to be popular and high brow without putting in the effort of becoming good at your craft. Obviously I'm aware that Leica's cameras are fantastic machines for creating good work and that their popularity and prices are justified by their quality. I admittedly used the word "infamous" in an opinionated way rather than using it in an objective way. I was aware after recording the intro that I technically misspoke, but I didn't think anyone would really care so I left it as is.

[@scottbrennan6450]

I have a Leica MP and owned a Leica M4P. They are not overrated for two big reasons: the quality of the shutter and the weight of the camera. The shutter is so well made and smooth I can almost always get a clean shot handheld at 1/15 of a second. The relatively heavy weight of the camera contributes to my ability to do so because it helps me keep my head still. This enables the photographer to shoot in lowlight conditions and greatly extend photography opportunities, especially impressive considering both the MP and M4P are mechanical cameras. The Leica camera, aside from its great build quality, is secondary to the lens one uses. The lens (the glass) will influence the picture quality, not the camera. Unlike the DSLR or SLR cameras, though, the Leica has no mirror, being a rangefinder. Thus there is no mirror slap vibration in the camera when the photo is taken. The mirror slap means the photographer must shoot at around 1/100 of a second shutter speed to avoid the mirror slap potentially blurring the image--that, or use the mirror up feature, which blacks out the image in the viewfinder, not ideal at all when taking portraits. The mirror slap greatly limits the use of the camera in low light. There are many rangefinders, but the quality and smoothness of the Leica shutter sets it apart.

[@nicksower6064]

I'm getting back into film photography and you brought up some points on interest that I need to focus on. As an aside, I have a Leica 3f that my father bought in Japan during his time in Korea in the 50s. It has a cracked shutter curtain - been thinking of having it restored . . . Your video got me interested again. Thanks for your time and the presentation.

[@ldbass62]

The Leica iiif is a great camera and takes wonderful photos. Love mine!

[@garysong8163]

Be careful and research ppl who repair older Leicas….B4 Leica M’s. YYE Camera(Youxin Ye), DAG (not sure if he’s retired) Steve’s Camera (Culver City, CA) had work done on my M’s many years ago, still in business and does good work. There are a couple in Japan and the UK but if you are in the US there’s duty. Also the UK shop doesn’t accept shipments from US. Check online. I have a IIIa CLA’d by Ye and was very satisfied with the work. Shooting with the old Barnack’s totally different experience but well worth it.

[@RoubenDickranian-e5d]

I really enjoyed watching you experience an analogue Leica camera. I moved from SLR camera to a Leica rangefinder initially hard. It really does grow on you after a while and you begin to understand how it works, ie zone focusing. The pleasures of taking my time and composing an image is wonderful; it has generally slowed me down and appreciate photography from a fast lifestyle. I have been shooting with a Leica for around 25 years and I have not stopped using it and my 'desire' of using has continued -- but I guess everyone is different and I get that. Keep the videos coming and all the best for 2025.

[@CalumetVideo]

Yes the Leica is a gem! Great mechanic machines. I shoot the M3 and M4 with the 35mm and 50mm lens.

[@misterleary]

I am an old time film photographer. Had various SLRs of almost all brands, TLRs, simple Rangefinder Cameras (Voigtländer, Kodak, etc.) and also a Leica IIIa and a M3. Both Leicas were extremely well made cameras and esp. the Summicron 2/50 for the M3 was an incredible lens. But I found the only advantage of the Leicas were that the shutter is really quiet and you don't have the additional noise of an automatic aperture. I sold them again. I found my Pentax ME Super lighter faster and almost as quiet as the Leica. The Pentax lenses are good enough. Nobody I showed pictures noticed any difference. Actually I am thinking about looking for IIIf again. It's much smaller and lighter than the M Modells. One side note: If you don't need exchangeable lenses, try a Voigtländer Vitomatic IIa with a Color-Skopar or Ultron lens. The lenses are as sharp as the Leitz lenses.

[@lensman5762]

What is a film camera? A light tight black box with only two distinct functions. To transport the film from frame to frame consistently, and to house the shutter mechanism. A film camera does nothing else but to try and fulfill those two functions. Leica M cameras are still at the pinnacle of the engineering required to fulfill those functions with optics to match. Are they worth the crazy asking prices these days? That is up to the photographer to decide. I would only add that Leica M cameras being range finders are limited in the tasks they can perform compared to the SLRs, and that a range finder is really not a focusing system that 95% of photographers could learn to cope with. Suffice to say that they are very very nice, but they are no for everyone.

[@borderlands6606]

The street is where Leica rangefinders excel. Focal distance can be set on the hoof, and lenses typically allow at least some edge framing. Plus the camera and lens are nicely compact. However there are many nice film cameras out there, and speaking as a former Leica owner if I wasn't shooting street photography there are numerous film and digital options that perform at least as well. Older Leicas have issues like all old cameras, and can be pricey to fix.

[@anthony76]

Re: "King of Bokeh" - Ken Rockwell explains this came from a 1997 article where the author says the lens has great bokeh at f8. He (Ken) goes on to say that at f2, the lens does not have great bokeh.

[@theraven6836]

Infamous means famous for a terrible reason. That is why in his speech seeking a declaration of war against Japan, Roosevelt characterized the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor as a “date which will live in infamy.” I think you meant to say vaunted, or lauded, or renowned.

[@Jparkss]

It’s just the price. I overall want a digital M camera but can’t afford it rn. I think they are great cameras for different type of shooting experience than the other brands. Overall, Leica is a good camera brand, it’s like car brands, you drive what you like, and sometimes you drive what is the most convenient for you.

[@garysong8163]

Interesting perspective on the Leica M range finder. Like with all cameras there are no perfect camera. Range finders by design will not be best suited to wildlife or sports photography where zoom telephoto are used. Coming from an SLR experience will take a little time. As one commenter mentions range finders are great for street and reportage photography….one reason why you see so many of those photographers using them. One comment on your loading the film, you’ll get more shots by placing the end of the leader into the spool slot as you did, but do not advance the film that much. Check that the sprockets calling with the gear teeth. Close up the camera then rewind film until you feel tension. Advance film and make sure rewind crank turns. Looks like you wasted about three shots there. Enjoyed your POV, thanks

[@donjagoe]

I think a big attribute you didn’t comment on is the incredible wealth of 70 years of M lenses available.

[@kaczynski2333]

As opposed to the Nikon F mount, which was launched in 1959...

[@garysong8163]

And then you can buy an adapter and use LTM 39 lenses which were made 90+ years ago. Also can use old Canon, Nikon, Voitlander and Zeiss lenses. There are also some very interesting LTM 39 and M mount lenses coming out from China.

[@kaczynski2333]

​@garysong8163 which is a thing you can do on any mirroeless camera.

[@robdixon5016]

I cant stand rangefinder cameras. I considered buying a Leica R9 but they dont do repairs on them any longer. Guess Leica isnt for me.

[@huyongquan6554]

I used Leica 20 years ago and had M6 M7 21/2.8 28/2 35/1.4 50/1 75/1.4 90/2APO 135/3.4APO, Leica R8 R6.2 I sold them all and never go back. Leica is not overrated, it is over priced. It is more like an luxury decoration accessory. Shoot with Leica not make you photographer automatically.

[@garysong8163]

So you sold your Leica gear because they’re overpriced…..hope that got a good price for them. Leica’s are known for holding their price value. About being overpriced, I get tired of this argument. First of all Leica is a small company compared to Nikon, Cannon, Fuji etc. The cameras and lenses are all hand made and assembled by technicians that can take 2 years to train the lower tiered. Nikon or any of the others will produce more cameras in less than a month than Leica will make in a year. Leica made only about 226,000 M3’s from 1952 to 1966. Granted Leica does these special editions for collectors but with respect to the M series they got it right as the design factor is based on a 70 year old camera design and ppl still are buying them. Even back to the Leica I, II, and III’s they were thought by some to be overpriced. As a long time Leica M and IIIa film shooter I have had no complaints.

[@ofeykalakar1]

What you mean is that any camera that loses over half its value used is overpriced. Because leicas maintain or go up in value, they are not overpriced

[@genernator]

Image Quality in film cameras regarding SLR vs Rangefinder: Pretty much any rangefinder camera will be significantly sharper than an SLR due to the fact that the film plane is much closer to the rear element of the lens. It is not so much about Summicron lens superiority as the hype would suggest but the simple proximity of film plane/lens element.

[@rauliflemington7045]

Nonsense.

[@meltedpotatoes8853]

This guy made me buy a camera

[@crisgriffin3042]

There are ways to cut corners with equipment and so its price, achieving pretty much same quality pictures.

[@rauliflemington7045]

Indeed yes, but it sometimes more and beyond just image quality, which in itself is very subjective.

[@edvrolijk8943]

I really don't know what to think of this video. Here on KZbin you will find hundreds of so called proffessional photographers that will tell every beginning photographer that it doesn't matter what camera you use, because it is the photographer that makes the picture, not the camera. Except for Leica. I believe you that they are well made, but so is my Fujifilm.It's a camera, not something you could use to crush someone's scull. Leica's are a bit overrated, and very much overpriced.

[@Kalamazoos]

Never heard the name Leica but i heard Stopmo so I had to click

[@osmanhat]

this music is just giving me anxiety, nice video

[@malcolmhollett8638]

Great video… had to give it a Leica 👍

[@sputumtube]

The camera means nothing - it's the lenses that matter. Put a Leica lens on a Zorki and the results will be the same. Pro photogs only used Leica's in war zones because their employers paid for them. Reliable certainly, but so were the cheaper and more usable Nikons.

[@rauliflemington7045]

@sputumtube. The camera is very important as it houses vital controls and needs to be precise to function. Leica rangefinder cameras were used, and indeed still are, by many professional photographers beyond war correspondence. Many war correspondence photographers were freelance and not supplied with equipment. Notable photographers that used Leica include Gerry Winogrand, Annie Libovitz, Fred Herzog, Robert Cappa and Henri Cartier-Bresson, to name a few. There is a distinction between between SLR and rangefinder configurations that renders each type to excell at different usecase scenarios. You need to learn more.

[@GaryIrving-x5o]

"Infamous"? You mean famous. They dont mean the same thing son.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

They are overpriced not overrated.

[@rauliflemington7045]

Price and value are different things. To say something is overpriced means that you determined that your expectations can be fulfilled at a lower price by an alternative. This could very well be the case. However, it is an individual assessment only, relevant only to the person making it. The same applies when one's assessment determines what constitutes a bargain.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

@ and why I said overpriced and not overrated

[@rauliflemington7045]

@WhoIsSerafin As to your own personal view alone. Which is fine. Each of us has a personal evaluation method. Sadly, it is of little importance to others.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

@ very likely, yes. But the title did ask.

[@kaczynski2333]

You can address this question by reference to price; although superb quality, Leica is overpriced. Anyway, i will never own one, so the question is irrelevant to me.

[@rauliflemington7045]

Price is what you pay. Value is what you receive - Warren Buffet.