Hello. Have any Leica users in this forum successfully converted a non-Leica user to a Leica user? By this I mean has, for example, that die-hard only Nikon or Canon user actually purchased Leica equipment after say handling your Leica and seeing the results they have produced? ..or say falling in love with the handling style of your camera? Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002

Answers

Yes... I have.

I have converted a young padowan learner to the dark side.

His name is John Kyle Chan.

;-)

-- John Kyle Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), February 05, 2002.

I was converted by a friend of mine back in the early 80s. The point about Leica is that it is better in comparison to others. Unless you are around someone and can see their shots and compare directly with your own, then Leica advantages are hypothetical. Without the comparison most people think well "nothing could be better than my lens x". Actually it can, but you have to see it to understand.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

I have not converted anybody. On purpose, that is. I, however, was converted myself by a friend that loaned me his M3 for a roll of flm... The results were incredible, and that was what converted me.

;-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 05, 2002.

Conversion is a state of mind.

I had long sought the peace and tranquility taught by the Shaolin school of photography, but continued to fail the walking-on-rice-paper test. I had appreciated the work produced with Leicas by the likes of Mike Dixon on other fora (and some of the National Geographic photographers, too, I suppose), and difference in vision that seemed to come through that work. Then, one day it dawned on me that perhaps the reason I was tearing the rice paper was due to the extra weight of that 80-200mm AFS zoom on the Nikon F5. That prompted me to augment my gear with an M6 TTL a year ago, and I've been studying the Zen of Leica Ms since.

I still use the Nikon gear, and the Hasselblads, and the 4x5, where the requirements of the shoot demand, but not when standing on the rice paper.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), February 05, 2002.

I started falling for the hype a year ago (1/01) followed this and other fora falling deeper and deeper into the abyss until I swapped my F3, and every imaginable prime lens and accessory, for a m6TTl 35 cron and 90 lux on a Leica day this past 12/01. First roll, results were nothing special, actually junk. Second roll, starting to get an inkling as to it is all about. Third roll,I the saw the light and it hit me like supernova (sorry for the bad pun). I have never looked back and only wish it hadn't taken so long "convert".

-- Brooks (Bvonarx@home.com), February 05, 2002.

The first time I simply held an old M in my hands I knew it was only a matter of time...! Learning to convert from using an SLR to using the M took a little longer however.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), February 05, 2002.

Actually, a friend of mine bought an R8 after seeing some of my work with the 90mm Summicron-R and comparing it to some other shots done with Canon lenses.

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), February 05, 2002.

I don't know if you want to hear this or not but nobody ever converted me except me myself. I don't work for Leica but this sounds like an old ad of theirs. After 30 years of Nikon/Nikonos stuff I got more and more into wanting to be my own boss. Nikon got me more and more into being its slave. With my M6 TTL, I set what I have to set and/or what I want to set. That's all.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), February 06, 2002.

I was converted four years ago when I saw the light (sorry about this pun!!) emanating from an R8. I had been a diehard Nikon user for over thirty years. My longtime dealer knew that I was looking for a higher quality camera system in the 35mm range and suggested an R8. I picked it up and looked through and it was truely love at first sight (again I apologize but couldn't resist this one!!) The subsequent high quality slides over the years have only reinforced my initial feelings. (8>))--Albert

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), February 06, 2002.

Interesting question ^^

The guy converted me from Canon to Leica converted himself later on, from Leica M to Contax G.

And now I've been trying hard to convert the Canon guy who made me into Photography...

Oh! now you know how to make $$ from camera business...

-- Fred Ouyang (yo54@columbia.edu), February 06, 2002.

Expecting to die in the poorhouse I recently purchased some medium format equipment. Glorious stuff, at least in terms of color and line are emerging. I also own a COntax N-1 system---slow difficult to autofocus the big lense, but again glorious pictures and the camera survived a trip to dusty Burma. BUT, But, but, Saturday afternoon I drove over to my favorite camera store to get some more 120, and decided to touch, pick up, and play with a Leica M6. The friendly owner produced a 28mm lense for the little dear and I went outside to take a few shots. I even took one of the owner and a couple of his die hard hangers on. The few frames I took on Fuji Reala 100 were developed and that, as they say is that. And I was down to 1/8,1/15th at 16th anyway..hand held. I have taken many shots of the same awful strip- mall/highway scenery over the years, but NEVER with such clarity, subtle tones, totally balanced light and darks and details.....on and on. Yes I am in the process of conversion to the tune of whatever amount of money you think it takes to achieve blessedness. Please e mail contributions to the new Leica chapel using paypal to my e mail address. Thank you.

-- Ed Robbins (earobbi@hotmail.com), April 28, 2002.

No, but my friend who took me to the water by lending me his Leica M6 + 6 lens kit for 3 weeks did. I had used a Nikon FM for 12 years very happily, and after using that M6 felt pangs of doubt and pain. I gathered up my courage and splurged on my own system about 3 years later.

I lapse occasionally and find myself using that Nikon again from time to time...

But wait, I almost forgot! I experienced that bliss and joy yet again, when I looked at my first Rolleiflex B&W enlargements! And I still feel those pangs of doubt and pain when I pick up a Mamiya 7II in the store. Or even an EOS1V!!

Truly, there are many paths to the truth :-)

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 28, 2002.

I was converted to Leica M by four good friends; Mr Nikon (a fast but dominating guy), Mr Manfrotto (a steady guy he is), Mr Hasselblad (a little slow, but a quality consious guy) and Mr Billingham (the embracing, protective type of person). They all wanted to help but I realized that the relationship was kind of wearing me down. I still see them frequently but my back and neck much prefer my new friend, Mr Leica.

-- Peter Olsson (peter.olsson@lulebo.se), April 29, 2002.