The Leica M Rangefinder

[@BackFocus11]

THIS IS STILL A GREAT LECTURE TO WATCH IN 2021....

[@gewglesux]

I just got one need to learn it more!!This is helping. Thanks.

[@stephenvictor8961]

Thank you for this video. Hyperfocusing and scale focusing is so brilliant - I look forward to getting a Leica rangefinder camera.

[@tapasbasu1]

Most Informative & very Interesting presentation. Thanks for sharing.

[@Pepingco]

In Australia, the RX1 is a $3000 point and shoot. Its such a great camera. But to be honest, Im still paying for a Leica. My grand dad had leica glass passed on to my dad and when compared to a Sony RX1, it still can fight toe to toe. When you think about that, I doubt the RX1 will be a camera that's passed down - I agree with you but there is something just more lasting and special about Leica. And remember, Pegani Zonda has 0.2% market share, and people still buy it.

[@tekektron3575]

Best range finder I’ve ever used

[@bovver6092]

What do patients have to do with photography?

[@tonki5D2]

interesting point you are making. If a sensor can produce amazing images today, would being 'obsolete' make any difference to the images taken tomorrow?

[@abchappell01]

What an excellent presentation! I learned so much :)

[@FastWieJesus]

hey b and h thanks for sharing the video! i have a question though. Do you know for how long leica will keep repairing the leica m8 in case something breaks down?

[@BandH]

No, I am sorry we have no information as to when or if Leica will stop servicing the M8. C h u c k askbh{at}bandh{dot}com

[@kerngesund]

Nice one on the Leica history. Unfortunately the information on hyperfocal distance (1/3 in front, 2/3 to the rear) is wrong. The percentage of in focus distance in front and behind the focus point varies largely with the distance.

[@bwest6275]

I fully appreciate the information presented in this video. The presenter is an excellent teacher. I just wish the presentation was less about how to do manual photography and more about Leica as a company and their products. If the audience doesn't know all these basic photography concepts then that's pretty sad if they are in the market for a Leica!

[@ericpmoss]

At around 5:00 he talks about Leica lenses being "digital ready" since at least the 50's. I think that needs some qualification. Digital sensors, especially those with microlenses, are sensitive to incident ray angle in a way that film is not. Many wide angle lenses illuminate the edges of the sensor at a very oblique angle rather than straight on, and that causes extra vignetting and nasty color shifts. I would be very surprised if small lenses with little room between them and the film were designed, using paper and pencil no less, to keep the rays perpendicular to the sensor when it's not an issue for film. Google "Leica ray angle" and see examples of this. It's correctable in software, but it's there.

[@Pepingco]

Not dissing or anything, I agree - but I think the people that buy Leica aren't concerned much with ISO since street photography has a certain character when shot with certain ISOs... that being said, I think Its just Leica's style and its buyers are more concerned with glass, and the longevity - especially people who have been shooting since the early days of the company - I for one WILL get a leica M8, or M9 or M... Not for anything else but have a street camera that I will carry everywhere.

[@EL3IMAGERY]

M6 forever!

[@joesan3597]

I really liked the video and the content that was presented for the Leica M. I would very soon be buying a Leica M and I'm at present using the Olympus OM D EM 5 Mark II. I'm not new to mirrorless but new to rangefinders. Your explanation on the hyperfocal distance and the camera always being at focus for subjects between 5m and infinity is confusing me. I'm also surprised and it is indeed very interesting to have the camera always in focus. Could you please elaborate more on that?

[@gurugamer8632]

Was the Leica M designed for 35mm or 50mm?

[@BandH]

There has been decades of debate regarding your question. Suffice to say that the Leica M is wonderfully compatible with either focal length and either lens has its fans. >Mark

[@gurugamer8632]

@@BandH I think the answer is 50mm because 50mm was Leicas first lens.

[@room111photography5]

Thinking about getting a Leica. This was very informative and helpful. Thank you, sir.

[@TomZentra]

You are right. He had at least 3 misspellings during the entire presentation.

[@AgnostosGnostos]

One of the few detail videos about Leica. Well done B&H. Do you have available Leica M9 cameras or there is a waiting list?

[@BandH]

Agnostos Gnostos The M9 was discontinued and is no longer available new. We do have several in our Used Department at this time, however. *Christina* [e-mail] bhpho.to/1Hw2GdI

[@MrTwistyface]

Very interesting and informative video, inspiring tips on composition, focussing technique, regardless of whose camera brand you use. Thanks for posting it, I'm surprised it hasn't received more views. I dont shoot Leica, (but I certainly have nothing against those who do).

[@ShaneyElderberry]

You may want to clarify and say that digital Leica cameras are overpriced. Leica's analogue products, though expensive are clearly worth the investment. Leica M2 bodies and earlier models are still holding up to serious everyday use, nearly five decades later. View cameras are also designed for serious use. I agree that the M prices should be lowered, considering the lens quality is only slightly more appealing and durable than Cosina Voigtländer options, and both are hand assembled.

[@15buggie]

Interesting how he didn't discuss the M5 being a different design all together.

[@mjones410]

wish I could hear the questions

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

Leica is just everything pure to me about photography. Simple Utilitarian Cameras. Manual focus rangefinders, digital and film. love them. Everything else out there is just junk.. I own that other junk too. It works..but there is nothing lovely about it.

[@Snapjockey]

Spot the typo 3:06

[@diegoestabridis2478]

Lighning fast shipping. Excellent product very pleased

[@BandH]

great to to hear, thanks for shopping with us!

[@馬渕淳文]

Leica camera 35 mm film SLR's father and the grandfather thing in honor. Has been guiding world untold history evidence and obtained at that time. Certain people some time has passed, Leica became synonymous with supercar, camera. But would chose the Habitat than the competition, may be but it did not survive Leica road. Now the awe of the oligopoly has Japan might be, as long as the diversity and depth of Europe followed from this.

[@loupgorou]

Great presentation:) But I have to be the bad guy and ask if it is me or the guy actually misspelled the word patience in the last slides?:D

[@HaniAbsi]

Great presentation!!!

[@46ace]

It'sthesame conundrum with harley-davidson.On paper they get smashed by their higher performing/spec-ing competition.but people still pay more for them for the the"feel"and experience; though they are not the fastest, best handling, most reliable or most powerful motorcycles.I used to think that was stupidity too.but i love leicas in the same way.I shot tri-x with an m-3 and m-6's.

[@michaelairey]

superb review. and that sigma is quite something!

[@AnDrEnG1212]

Ignorant? I don't think so, he does put a valid point in which I agree upon. Yes you may do more on a canon/nikon but that's not the point. In your case, regardless of what leica owners say to convince you, you're still very likely not to pay 5x more. They put themselves as being the best, and since being the best, you pay the price. It's marketed for different buyers, It's hella expensive for average shooters but there will always be people who will buy.

[@bxwx7824]

When his friend was shooting in a ghetto, lady shouted "This is my home", he could also could get nasty reaction because criminals don't like spies. Also some residents are paranoid mentally ill.

[@AnDrEnG1212]

Canon/nikon make great cameras but it's not even the same type of camera. Maybe you should try one and then speak to it.

[@TomZentra]

You are absolutely right. 30 or more years ago a camera like the M had advantages over competitors. But now small, full frame cameras like SONY's RX1X that provides razor sharp images, there is no point in paying many thousands of dollars more for a small camera. If Leica had not been rescued a few years ago, they would no longer exist. They have 0.15% market share with a goal of reaching 1% in 5 - 10 years!

[@weizenobstmusli8232]

It has the rangefinder mechanism and a sensor that can handle old film lenses. And so access to all those great old lenses. On a Sony i.e., those old lenses work like crap. Look at sensor stack comparison.

[@damianc80]

SL and M10

[@BAstudios5]

One word that destroys your argument is ISO performance.

[@ronsteed]

Some posts that refer to specific models don't age well. This had some very specific tech info for older models that dilutes the message. B&H should consider taking this down or re-editing it to keep it up to date.

[@BAstudios5]

For 35mm, I love the Leica, it's unmatched in quality and performance. But when it comes to digital Leicas, they don't measure up performance wise and I think it's a waste of money to buy an $8k camera that only shoots B&W. The reason the iso perfomance is better on that than most cameras is because you are eliminating everything except contrast noise. I can do that with my nikon which blows a digital leica out of the water any day at a 1/4 of the cost.

[@chirag4]

today is Craig Semetkov's Birthday

[@yasha8951]

complaining about prices doesn’t help or make companies lower theirs, people love complaining about Leica prices which can be understandable but just remember that nobody is forcing to buy anything and if you are happy with what other companies have to offer just move on

[@BandH]

Yes, using the included Leica Image Shuttle software you can shoot tethered. C h u c k askbh{at}bandh{dot}com

[@gollum453]

I'm a leica user, but in this day and age they are over-priced compared to the competition ;)

[@yellowpanda04]

you don't understand it since you never shoot it. we used to shoot it seriously are really disappointed with most of digital fashion Leicas.

[@josknaepen3354]

Spot on !

[@DANVIIL]

The Fuji X series on a price/performance basis beats Leica in low light, because ISO workss up to 6400. No AF, no video don't mean that much to me, but for many people it's a big thing. For the price of a Leica cleaning, I can buy a Fuji X-E1 or a Fuji 100s and the image quality is better, so why spend all that extra money?

[@israelo25]

good

[@josknaepen3354]

I buy a lot of film for 8000 bucks !

[@SLRist]

So the body is engineered to last 100 years. Why bother when the sensor is obsolete in 5? Leica camera bodies are over-engineered and overpriced.

[@spoolindsm127]

Watch it at 1.25x speed then this guy is bearable...

[@3333656989]

since Fujifilm X100s came out Leica is not longer needed

[@Silverwarhawk]

Truth to be told, you're just jealous.

[@3333656989]

my X100S takes better pictures than the leica

[@Silverwarhawk]

3333656989 I viewed your profile, and every comment you typed, you have to bash the Leica brand with your X100S. I respect X100S is a formidable camera for its price, but it's because of people like you, the photography experience is degraded since internet trolls were born. I seriously have no offense, but there's a lot of camera out there, that can do much different things than the X100S. Try change a lens with the X100S? Try scale focusing? Trust me, i've played with my Grandpa's X100, which is more or less the same apart from the focusing speed. Coming from a DSLR background, i'm not entirely impressed by the build quality and the user interface, but i do love the image quality. Ask me to purchase a X100S? No, it's too hollow (but it's small which is great). Please understand the consequences of your comments and make the internet a better world, it could cause a gargantuan stir in people's mind to bash a particular people/group/company etc.

[@Silverwarhawk]

3333656989 On top of that, please watch Digital Rev's video : Why the Leica M is so unique. Hope that helps :)

[@coecovideo]

You obviously don't know what you are talking about.