As we all know the stumbling block into entering the Leica range is the staggering cost of lenses for their M series bodies (digital or film)

Well, there now appears to be a compromise enabling a cheap(ish) route.

Contax G lenses are awesome and equally up to the Leica range in IQ, and can be had on Ebay for a few hundred dollars each. I know, I've bought them.

AND THEY CAN NOW BE CONVERTED TO M MOUNT!

Ok, the conversion ain't cheap at c.$700 each but it does show a VASTE saving against the $4/5000 for the Leica equivalent

With the imminent announcement of the Leica FF M9 you can bet your bottom dollar some very cheap M's are soon to hit the market.

Just a thought

G to M conversion

But isn't it ultimately the lens that makes Leica so special, unless you're a collector?

And if so wouldn't it make more sense to have Leica mount conversion or adopter available on Contax G series than the other way around?

But isn't it ultimately the lens that makes Leica so special, unless you're a collector?

And if so wouldn't it make more sense to have Leica mount conversion or adopter available on Contax G series than the other way around?

The point I am making is "ENTRY" into Leica via Contax lenses.

Currently it's pointless (arguably) popping Voiglander or other third party lenses on the Leicas as they just don't perform as expected.

Maybe, just maybe, the Contax conversion offers a solution UNTIL the real thing is affordable

If I could afford Leica glass on a Contax I figure I could afford a Leica body

Edited August 23, 200916 yr by The Vulcan

Just endorsing my earlier suspicions

Ad just spotted on the GetDpi forum

Just endorsing my earlier suspicions

That seems like unusually short product life cycle for Leica.

I suppose they now realize serious flaws with M8? Didn't M8.2 address all those problems?

Edited August 24, 200916 yr by Nordlys

The point I am making is "ENTRY" into Leica via Contax lenses.

I could be wrong, but aren't Carl Zeiss lenses just as expensive as Sumicrons?

Edited August 24, 200916 yr by Nordlys

The point I am making is "ENTRY" into Leica via Contax lenses.

I could be wrong, but aren't Carl Zeiss lenses just as expensive as Sumicrons?

See my opening statement - Zeiss G lenses are a few hundred dollars compared to $4-5000 for the Leica equivalent

I have a 28mm in both Leica and Contax G. And I'm blowed if I can see the difference. However, the Contax cost $220 and the Leica (Summicron) was a steal at $1,750 ! The later Leica 28mm's are c.$4,000

Edited August 24, 200916 yr by The Vulcan

Just endorsing my earlier suspicions

That seems like unusually short product life cycle for Leica.

I suppose they now realize serious flaws with M8? Didn't M8.2 address all those problems?

The real issue is that the M9 will be FULL FRAME and c.16mp. (oh, and probably $12-15,000 )

The M8.2 is a lot better than the original M8 (so I gather) albeit the later is ok once you've sorted out the moire filtration problem (need all the filters!)

Leica is "soughtt after" for build quality and engineering. The SL2 and MP cameras are just "tanks" - They'll last a life-time - THAT'S THEIR REAL APPEAL.

strictly collector pieces these days, Nikon and Cannon have surpassed anything Lecia and produce when it come to the modern digital format

strictly collector pieces these days, Nikon and Cannon have surpassed anything Lecia and produce when it come to the modern digital format

Now I know you're having a laugh

I had a vast collection of Pentax equipment when i retired from the army and left HongKong............ ME/MX/LX/SP/SL/ES/645/67 etc.

I sold the lot to a dealer and got an M6 with 35/135/50mm f1 Noctilux set.

Then found my eyesight was going and sold them and got an EOS5 with tamron 28-200 zoom... my first camera with autofocus....beautiful little set.

I have always been a lover of sharp photos.

strictly collector pieces these days, Nikon and Cannon have surpassed anything Lecia and produce when it come to the modern digital format

I've never owned a Leica so I can't tell it first hand, but that seems debatable. A lot of Nikon and Canon users also use Leica.

The real issue is that the M9 will be FULL FRAME and c.16mp. (oh, and probably $12-15,000 )

I always thought the price of M8/8.2 to be inexcusable for a cropped sensor camera (or for that matter as a camera). Not that it really matters to me, but when is M9 going to be released? Any link?

Leica is "sought after" for build quality and engineering. The SL2 and MP cameras are just "tanks" - They'll last a life-time - THAT'S THEIR REAL APPEAL.

No question about that. But I wonder how many first hand users are using their Leicas for 50 years.

Edited August 24, 200916 yr by Nordlys

These days you can get entry into Leica just by buying a Panasonic compact.

Rather surprising that they dilute their brand that way, but Lumixes seem to be really nice budget cameras.

The real issue is that the M9 will be FULL FRAME and c.16mp. (oh, and probably $12-15,000 )

I always thought the price of M8/8.2 to be inexcusable for a cropped sensor camera (or for that matter as a camera). Not that it really matters to me, but when is M9 going to be released? Any link?

Leica is "sought after" for build quality and engineering. The SL2 and MP cameras are just "tanks" - They'll last a life-time - THAT'S THEIR REAL APPEAL.

No question about that. But I wonder how many first hand users are using their Leicas for 50 years.

No official link but the general consensus is Sept/Oct this year - but remember, it took Leica 12 months AFTER announcement to launch the S2 !

These days you can get entry into Leica just by buying a Panasonic compact.

Rather surprising that they dilute their brand that way, but Lumixes seem to be really nice budget cameras.

Are Panasonic Lumix lenses really Leica made?

I remember reading somewhere that Sony's Carl Zeiss are actually made by Cosina if my memory serves right (not for SLR).

These days you can get entry into Leica just by buying a Panasonic compact.

Rather surprising that they dilute their brand that way, but Lumixes seem to be really nice budget cameras.

Are Panasonic Lumix lenses really Leica made?

I remember reading somewhere that Sony's Carl Zeiss are actually made by Cosina if my memory serves right (not for SLR).

I believe they're made in Japan rather than Germany. I think Leica would design them and control the processes, testing included. They released some of the models with minor differences under the Leica brand as well.

Leica have always been the bees knees.

Leica are great cameras and lenses but not practical for real work. Basic drawback is they do not offer a zoom. When i travel i use only one lense my trusty Nikor 18-200 vr lense!!!!

Leica are great cameras and lenses but not practical for real work. Basic drawback is they do not offer a zoom. When i travel i use only one lense my trusty Nikor 18-200 vr lense!!!!

I would suggest that the worlds photojournalists/war photographers etc etc might disagree

Anyway, here's a link to the new M9 - M9

And the X1 - X1

Leica are great cameras and lenses but not practical for real work. Basic drawback is they do not offer a zoom. When i travel i use only one lense my trusty Nikor 18-200 vr lense!!!!

I would suggest that the worlds photojournalists/war photographers etc etc might disagree

Anyway, here's a link to the new M9 - M9

And the X1 - X1

Once at a QPR game, I saw a young wannabe pro by the touchline spend a whole game trying to figure out how to use his nice new Leica SLR (film then). Must have spent a fortune on kit that was incompatible with any of his peers'.

See what can be done with a Leica and a 50mm lens, Cartier-Bresson