The Leica Brand

Leica as a brand came into my sphere of knowledge around 3 years ago, when a friend who had been in the photography game much longer than I had brought it up as "pretentious". From what I heard of it, I had to agree. It sounded like gear that sold at high valuations based on name rather than output. And to a degree, that's still correct. But what I have only very recently come to appreciate is the experience of shooting with a camera, and that is really what Leica offers in leaps and bounds above other camera brands. The *kuChunk* sound and feeling of a meaningful shutter, the weight in your hands, the ergonomics of not just the camera's body but also the lenses that it offers. Even more importantly, what are the intentional limitations that the camera places on you that will shape your creativity? 

The Limitations

Those limitations, the constraints that lead to creativity, are what I was after when I stepped into the Leica store in Soho. I've been shooting with the most modern mirrorless cameras for years now, and the open-ended possibilities that they provide were just not scratching a very deep itch. In 2021 I got a Fuji X100V, and the locked-in fixed lens combined with its incredibly small form factor were certainly a step in the direction that I (unknowingly at the time) was looking for. However, it still offered a live-view of your shots, auto focus, and much more. Those seem like good things... right? Well after becoming enamored with the work of Garry Winogrand, Saul Leiter, and Joel Meyerowitz over the past five months or so, I somehow decided that I needed even more limitations, something akin to what they had, to really open up my creativity. And it turns out, they all used Leicas. 

Of course, they shot on film, and I'm not quite at that limitation yet (film is damn expensive these days, and I'm impatient). So I went on the hunt for the camera that offered the most film-like shooting experience, but in digital format. That's how I ended up in the Leica store in Soho, just to see how the M10 felt in my hands, how the manual focus worked, what the allure really was. I did not enter with the intention of blowing most of my checking account on a camera (and lens) that day.

Well, it was love at first sight (or shutter press). I had to step out and take a (metaphorical) cold shower to get a clearer mind, as even the store itself is seductive. After walking around for another 3 hours in downtown Manhattan with the Fuji X100V, I knew what I had to do. 

The Cons

By far the greatest con is the weather sealing, or lack there of. The body is "technically" weather sealed, but not by much, and it makes little difference since the lens mount itself would be the main point of entry for water during inclement weather. That's a bummer, as any photographer in NYC knows that this city shines in the worst storms. 

Then there's the weight. This is not a light camera, and laughably heavy compared to the Fuji X100V. This means that you have to have it slung around your neck at nearly all times, as the wrist strap I use with my X100V just isn't substantial enough. A heavy camera around your neck for hours on end can get pretty uncomfortable.

M10's screen also leaves a lot to be desired. It's low resolution compared to most modern cameras, doesn't adjust well in a variety of ambient light, and is fixed in place. The lack of a tilting screen is a huge bummer for any shots you'd want to get really low for. And at this price point, you'd think they could have gotten that in. 

The Pros

All of the cons. At the end of the day, I picked this camera up because of its limitations. They force me to slow down, strategize, take less shots but with more intention, and observe more while pressing the shutter less. Those are all things that make for a better photographer. 

The feel of the camera has also absolutely held steady. I love the sound and gravity of the shutter click. I love the leathery finish on the body of the camera. I love how the Summicron lenses feel and adjust for manual focus. No other camera has been used (yet) since I picked the M10 up.

What is probably the biggest draw for most people, and what has been the greatest surprise for me, is the "Leica look". This is hard to describe, but the images that come straight out of the camera in raw format are stunning (if you did everything right). They do genuinely have far more of a "film" look than any other digital camera that I've used, and require substantially less post-processing. I think a lot of photographers who avoid taking photos simply because of how much time is required afterwards in Lightroom would really benefit from a Leica. 

Worth it?

Yes. For me at least. It's a huge cost not to be taken lightly, but I also made the commitment to finally make a website, sell prints, and sell services as a result of buying the Leica M10. Not only has it inspired my creative work, but it has also inspired me to write about it, and to more purposefully publicize my work. And in all of those ways, it's paying dividends. 

This is not a technical review, obviously. For that type of review, there are dozens if not hundreds of YouTube videos. But at this point, those comparisons have become largely meaningless. Most modern digital cameras are indistinguishable in their raw file output. For me, it has come down to the experience of shooting with it. And in that sense, the Leica has greatly eclipsed any other camera that I've used thus far.