[Leica] Leica or not to Leica

[jsmith342 at gmail.com (Jeffery Smith)]

In light of the current prices for Leica M bodies and a 50 asph Summicron, I 
expected to see some folks comparing them to medium format digital cameras 
in that same price range (Pentax, Mamiya). I think that the easy portability 
and handling of Leica cameras are perhaps foremost on the minds of the 
shooters on the LUG. Thus, when the likes of Fuji mirrorless cameras and m43 
slip into the conversation.

I would be interested to see how the Leica M monochrome version compares to 
a Pentax 645 digital for shooting black and white. The results I am seeing 
from the group using the Monochrome body are nothing short of amazing. I 
doubt that Fuji would follow suit, but if they did, I would unabashedly buy 
a Fuji Monochrome. And despite the OT nature of Fuji discussions here, I 
love looking at the results the Fuji X100 and Xpro here.

I bought my first Leica (M3 with 50/1.5 Summarit) from my graduate school 
advisor at Tulane. He was willing to let it go because he felt that the 
slides he was shooting with his Olympus Pen were just as good. That was in 
1976, so these comparisons with "toys" are nothing new. ;-)

Jeffery

(glad to be back to shooting and seeing the shoot-outs here online)