Ok back to Leica discussions! It seems the new 'O' series is rarely mentioned here. I have one of the beautifully printed advertising brochures (surely a future collectable in it's own right) and recently received from Leica UK a copy of the special edition 'Leica World' devoted to this camera and photographs taken with it.

Money no object I would certainly indulge myself - there is a certain appeal to owning and using one of these. What does the forum think?

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), December 19, 2001

Answers

I've got one. I'm still very low on the learning curve...a lot of old habits need to be overcome such a winding immediately after shooting. It's incredibly beautiffully made and a joy whith which to play. A serious daily photographic instrument it is not. As with a lot of my Leica equipment, I justify it to my wife as something that will retain value and possibly appreciate. That rationale seems plausible to her. Get one and enjoy !

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), December 19, 2001.

I would rather have seen them remake the IIIG-- the one that took M lenses.

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

The O series wouldn't be my cup of tea. I just can't warm up to the idea of putting the lens cap on everytime I wind the film. If I was in the Leica product planning department I would do a faithful IIIg replica BUT with the modern loading spools of the M series so users won't have to worry about film leaders.

Instant seller IMHO.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), December 19, 2001.

George, lucky you! I haven't been able to hold one yet but from the pictures it does indeed look beautifully made. Also, from what I can gather in the technical articles in 'Leica World' the viewfinder is designed to be used with the camera held around 12 inches from the eye - how do you get on with this?

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), December 19, 2001.

Let's see if I've gotten this right: an early 1920's Leica replica with an antediluvian lens, no rangefinder and you have to put the lenscap on when you advance the film? And all of this for around $2,000. And they're actually selling them? God Bless those folks at Solms! They're brilliant!

-- John Myers (mymacv@aol.com), December 19, 2001.

This is an interesting camera but not really for me - it's just too archaic, quirky and fiddly to use - and I certainly would want to use it as I don't believe in collecting cameras and keeping them locked up in cabinets. But, Leica, why such an expensive price for something that went out with the Ark? What would an original 'O' camera fetch today?

-- Chris Timotheou (nowayout@btinternet.com), December 19, 2001.

For a collector of Leica cameras it makes sense as the Original Leica O is hard to come by. Since the current production is a limited edition, prices will ultimately rise once it cannot be easily found.

For the curious on how cameras that era felt, pay and satisfy that curiousity ! But after a few rolls , the curiousity satisfied and the bank account much reduced , then what ? To the next curiousity ! ? It is also promoted as a surprising camera, because the user has to "guess" a lot. Speeds are limited, aperture is limited, lens is fixed, you aim it like a gun, no ASA settings, no light meter, surprisingly high failure rates more likely :-) But if you make it your only camera, perhaps you will master its characteristics.......works of art comes from Diana Toy cameras too.

But it is Leica quality, Leica smoothness, and precision.......even having to cut the film leader is a meditative ritual.

For the older folks who have trouble focussing, well this camera solves it............you just take a guess at the distance, turn a lever to transmit that guess to the the lens and hope.......

You know what I really, really like about this camera.......the featherly weight , the simplicity , mechanically nothing much to go wrong and the BEAUTIFUL leather case that comes with it......honest.

That said, I haven't got one........yet. Torn between starvation, and that newish M6 ttl Ti !!!!!!

Decisions, decisions....

-- Yip (koklok@krdl.org.sg), December 19, 2001.

Better yet...

I wish Leica would re-introduce the M4. I know, I know... the M4 platform is the basis of the M6's but please Leica... bring back the craftsmanship of the M4. I would love to have the flareless finder and the smooth-as-a-baby's-bottom film advance (brass gears). Also, I could probably live without a built-in-meter as I can account for most situations using the sunny F16 rule or an incident light meter.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), December 20, 2001.

i purchased one a month ago and plan to use it alongside my M cameras i agree its a completely different animal and it will take me a long time to get to know it but i find it's quirks fascinating.....

-- Simon Larbalestier (larby@simon-larbalestier.co.uk), December 20, 2001.

(((What would an original 'O' camera fetch today?)))

Well, looking through back issues of Christies London Camera auctions, even if one of the few (21) original 'O' series ever did come on the market a figure of at least £50 000+ would surely be expected! I actually think the current 'O' series at around £1500 for such a probable limited production, stunningly made piece of future (and past) history is very reasonably priced. Obviously no- one would buy it as an only camera in the same way as most M users own other cameras. To compare it to current cameras unfavourably is to misunderstand the concept, it is a reproduction of a 1920's camera in the days when photography was slow, considered and methodical. In a similar vein to Nikon remaking the S3 and Voigtlander(Cosina) making Contax and Nikon rangefinder fit lenses, Leica is to be applauded. As others have said (and myself in the past) instead of pursuing further electronic and technical additions to the M series many would prefer a back to basics M2, 3 or 4.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), December 20, 2001.

Giles,

I think the O series is either for collectors OR people who shoot once in awhile but aren't bothered about perfecting their use of one instrument. For me, learning to shoot the O series would probably be counter-productive towards my efforts in mastering the M. The "life is too short argument aside"... for $2000 you're within spitting distance of getting a user Sinar X monorail body. Now it takes you back to the time when photography was simpler/ considered (although you'll feel more like Ansel Adams than Robert Capa) and the prints you do will be breathtaking, not to be reproduced by any other type of camera.

I'm not trying to denegrate the O series. But my personal preference is function over nostalgia.

Regards,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), December 20, 2001.