Digital Leica Rangefinder Equivalent

Digital Leica Rangefinder Equivalent

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Discussion

pistonheadforum

Original Poster:

1,170 posts

127 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Hello,

I already have a pocket camera and a DSLR but now I'm looking for a rangefinder type camera.

Naturally the classic in this mold is the Leica M10-D but I don't have anywhere enough for that. I do remember years ago Leica teamed up with Panasonic and the Digilux 3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 were pretty much the same camera with some subtle tweaks. You could effectivly get a Digilux in all but name if you got a Panasonic.

Is that still the care? What is the similar model to the Leica M10-D from other manufacturers?

Any particular models I should be looking at for a rangefinder type camera? I am looking for something with the same kind of controls on the M10-D to help develop my skills and put the analogue back into digital photography. Budget is £500-£800 - taking decent video would be a bonus.

Many thanks,


pistonheadforum

Original Poster:

1,170 posts

127 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Hmmm ... maybe not M10-D? Is the classic "old school" model now the M10?

Many thanks,

drmcw

172 posts

98 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Not sure if a rangefinder is essential but I did use Leicas many years ago and always said I'd buy a digital one if someone made one I could afford.

Fuji did sort of the form of the X100 and then the X-Pro both of which I own. The X100F is the best camera I have ever used and offers all the digital whizzy bits plus a real straight through optical viewfinder.

I tried a Leica something or other at a show and it was in comparison heavy and clunky to use. I didn't even enjoy the RF aspect of the camera!

It's a thought.

Mike

pistonheadforum

Original Poster:

1,170 posts

127 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Thanks - it's a wee bit of a budget stretch but one I'll consider - looks like the kind of thing I'm after.

pistonheadforum

Original Poster:

1,170 posts

127 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Also perhaps the Fujifilm X-E3 with XF 18-55 lens which is around the budget target.

55palfers

5,974 posts

170 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
drmcw said:
Not sure if a rangefinder is essential but I did use Leicas many years ago and always said I'd buy a digital one if someone made one I could afford.

Fuji did sort of the form of the X100 and then the X-Pro both of which I own. The X100F is the best camera I have ever used and offers all the digital whizzy bits plus a real straight through optical viewfinder.

I tried a Leica something or other at a show and it was in comparison heavy and clunky to use. I didn't even enjoy the RF aspect of the camera!

It's a thought.

Mike
Another fan of the Fuji X100 here.

Probably the camera I use the most now.

drmcw

172 posts

98 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
pistonheadforum said:
Also perhaps the Fujifilm X-E3 with XF 18-55 lens which is around the budget target.
In this context the drawback with the X-E3 is the lack of optical VF (unless I have got muddled).

drmcw

172 posts

98 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
55palfers said:
Another fan of the Fuji X100 here.

Probably the camera I use the most now.
Me too, 80% of my photos are taken with this simple but very good camera. The overall usability of the X100F suits me perfectly.

But not everyone's taste.

Gad-Westy

14,990 posts

219 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
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Another x100 fan here. Had one in my life in one form or another for the last 7 years. Currently an x100t but I’m sure it’ll morph into an f one of these days. They’re just lovely cameras to use and small enough to use anywhere.

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

267 months

Sunday 24th May 2020
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Fuji Xpro is the nearest thing to a sensibly priced Leica M. Incidentally if you regard the Leica M10 as remotely tempting there is a cheaper model available, and second hand digital Ms start at around £2K.

I used to have a film Leica, an M6. Bought second hand and was doubtful because I already had a compact camera for keeping with me all the time and a Nikon SLR for when I positively intended to take pictures so I wasn't sure when I'd use it. But I used it more than either of the others, it was just such a great piece of machinery to handle. Take a picture of the right subject and even on a 6 x 4 print from Boots there was a Wow factor. I ended up selling it because I was losing interest in photography and felt guilty about having an camera so much better than I had the talent to take full advantage of.

I sold it for roughly what I'd paid so it was the cheapest camera I'd ever owned, tempted to buy another but it would cost twice as much as it did then.

Unfortunately the 'it holds it's value so it's cheap' argument is unlikely to apply to digital Leicas.