When I first started street photography, I used a bulky DSLR (Canon 5D). I always thought that buying a Leica, I would become a much better street photographer. I fantasized about the look of the camera, the lightness and compactness of the camera, and the ease of use. I imagined myself shooting with a Leica on the romantic streets of Paris, in the foots of Henri Cartier-Bresson.
\nOne of my dreams in life was to own a Leica. And when I finally got one (a Leica M9) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I thought I would be happy for the rest of my life.
\nWrong.
\nAfter about a month of owning it, the appeal and novelty wore off\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and it started to collect (as much dust) as my Canon 5D did on the shelf.
\nI thought that buying the Leica would make me a more confident photographer, because it was less obtrusive, and the camera shutter was more silent. It didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t.
\nI thought that buying the Leica would help me make better images, because it was quicker and more discrete. It didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t.
\nI thought that buying the Leica would make me satisfied for the rest of my life, because it was the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d gear that money could buy. It didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t.
\nSoon after buying the Leica M9, I got the film bug. My good friend Todd gave me his film Leica M6. I fell in love. I never touched the M9 after that.
\nI eventually ended up selling the M9, and trading it for a film Leica MP.<\/p>\n
But nowadays most of my photography is shooting with a small compact camera for street photography (Ricoh GR II). I prefer the smaller size \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is easier to carry with me everywhere I go, it is cheaper (so less anxiety about losing it), and even less obtrusive.
\nI still think the Leica is a fantastic camera for street photography, and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t discourage anyone from investing in one. My suggestion is to just be realistic with yourself.
\nBuying a Leica won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t change your life. It won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make you a better photographer, nor a more confident photographer.
\nBut shooting with a Leica is certainly a different experience than using a DSLR or a traditional camera.
\nA Leica (or rangefinder) has fewer functions, fewer menus to deal with, and therefore is more minimalist and less complicated (in that sense).
\nWith a Leica (or rangefinder) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the operation is very simple. All you have to do is change the focusing distance, the aperture, shutter-speed, and ISO. And all of these settings are easily accessible, without having to dig through menus.
\nAlso a Leica is far smaller and more compact than bulky DSLR\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (although not necessarily lighter).
\nIf you want the ultimate speed and responsiveness in a camera, honestly you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t beat a Leica or rangefinder. Why? Because if you employ \u00e2\u20ac\u0153zone focusing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (pre-focusing to a certain distance, and using a small aperture like f\/8-f-16) you will never miss the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153decisive moment.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nWhenever I miss a shot on a Leica or rangefinder, I never blame my camera \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I can only blame myself.
\nEverything I will share in this manual is based on my personal experiences. This is the information I wish I knew if I started shooting with a Leica or rangefinder all over again.
\nTo start off, common mistakes that I made, or things to avoid.
\n1. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t shoot wide-open<\/p>\n
If you see on the internet, almost everyone talks about how amazing it is to shoot wide-open on a Leica (with Leica lenses). They lust after f\/1.4 lenses, and even the legendary f\/.95 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Noctilux\u00e2\u20ac\u009d lens.
\nBut that isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t what the Leica or rangefinders were designed to do.
\nIn the early days of photography, the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153fastest\u00e2\u20ac\u009d lenses were limited to f\/3.5. The concept of shooting \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wide-open\u00e2\u20ac\u009d at f\/1.4, f\/1.8, or f\/2 was unheard of.
\nRather, what most photographers did with the Leica (most of them being street, documentary, or photojournalists) was to shoot at f\/8-16. This allowed them to have more depth-of-field, so that they were more likely to have an in-focus image.
\nFurthermore, early practitioners in street photography (like Garry Winogrand and Joel Meyerowitz) would shoot black and white film (pushing the ASA\/ISO to 1000+). This would allow them to max-out their shutter-speeds on their film Leicas (to 1\/1000th of a second, while shooting between f\/8-f\/16). Therefore whenever they clicked and hit the shutter (with their 28mm or 35mm lenses), they would capture \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the decisive moment\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in images that were both sharp and in-focus.
\nThe downside of shooting wide-open (at least in street photography) is your likelihood of getting an in-focus image is very slim. There are some people who can do it\u00e2\u20ac\u201d but why risk it?
\nFurthermore, I think a truly great street photograph needs both an interesting subject and background. By shooting wide-open (at f\/1.4-2) means your background gets totally blurred out. And then you lose context, interest, or depth in your street photograph.
\nIf you look at the best street photographs in history, almost all of them have a relatively deep depth-of-field. You can see the foreground, middle ground, and background.
\nShooting wide-open (f\/1.4-2) is necessary if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting at night, in dark situations, without a flash. Or it might be good if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re trying to make some nice portraits of models, or of a fancy wine glass.
\nBut if your interest is in shooting street photography, keep your aperture to a default of f\/8. The good thing about f\/8 is that it allows enough light to enter your camera, and gives you a good balance of depth-of-field.
\nf\/16 works well on really bright days, but if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting in the shade, I recommend sticking at f\/8.
\n2. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t shoot with a 50mm lens<\/p>\n
This point might be a bit more controversial: many people who first get a Leica buy a 50mm lens because that is the lens that Henri Cartier-Bresson shot with.
\nI don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to poo-poo the 50mm lens too much. It is good for flattening your perspective, it is nice for portraits, and easier to frame and compose with.
\nHowever I think in today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s modern world, where the streets are much more crowded, a 50mm is just too tight. There isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t enough space in most cities to shoot with a 50mm lens.
\nI recommend a 35mm lens for most street photographers starting off shooting with a Leica or rangefinder.
\nWhy?
\nA 35mm lens is the best \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good enough\u00e2\u20ac\u009d lens on the streets. It isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t too wide (like a 28mm lens) nor is it too close (like a 50mm lens). Apparently I also read that the human eye sees the world from roughly a 38-40mm perspective. And I feel that having a 35mm affords you a little more flexibility.
\nIf your back is against the wall, you cannot take a step backwards. But you can always take a step forward.
\nIf you become more advanced in street photography, a 28mm is also a good lens. Yet the problem with a 28mm lens for street photography is that you need to get really close. And most beginners aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that comfortable shooting that close. Furthermore, if you wear glasses (like I do) you cannot fully see the edges of the frame lines on a 28mm lens (assuming your Leica has the default magnification of .72).
\nA random tip, if you want to shoot with a 28mm lens (and you have glasses) try to get a Leica with a .58 magnification (allows you to see more of the frame lines). Unfortunately Leicas with a .58 magnification are only film ones\u00e2\u20ac\u201d not digital ones.
\n3. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t jump head-first into a digital Leica<\/p>\n
Digital Leicas are far more expensive than their more affordable film counter-parts.
\nTherefore if you are unsure whether shooting with a Leica or rangefinder is right for you, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d recommend starting off with a cheap film rangefinder, or a film Leica.
\nA good cheap rangefinders to start off with is a Yaschica Electro 35.
\nThe best \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bang for the buck\u00e2\u20ac\u009d film Leica to start off with is a Leica M6 (which has a meter-built in). Cheaper film Leica\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s you can start off with include the Leica M4 (built like the M6, but doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have a meter) and Leica M5 (body styling is different, but still a good camera).
\nIf you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to bother with film, want a Leica, and might be more on a budget\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d recommend a second-hand Leica M8 or Leica M9 (for the rangefinder \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcexperience\u00e2\u20ac\u2122).
\nThe Leica M8 is great for shooting black and whites (but horrible for color). The Leica M9 is great for shooting both black and white and color, but if you want nice colors you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t shoot above ISO 400 (black and white I shot with it all the time at ISO 2,500).
\nWhat is the difference between the Leica M8 and Leica M9 from the more modern \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Leica M\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (240) variant? The main difference is the sensor\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the older M8 and M9 have a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153CCD\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sensor (people say the colors and black and white files look more like film, but the high-iso performance is worse). The new Leica M240 has a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153CMOS\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sensor (same as DSLR\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, which have better high-iso performance, but people say the colors and black and whites look \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcflatter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in contrast compared to the CCD sensors).
\nAlso, the Leica M8 and Leica M9 are a bit frustrating to shoot with. They have slower \u00e2\u20ac\u0153buffers\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (which means, after taking 5-10 photos, your camera freezes, and it \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwrites\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 the files to your memory card). Also the LCD screens on these cameras really suck. And the ISO performance is quite poor.
\nPersonally, I prefer the Leica M8\/M9 over the modern digital Leica. Why? They are slightly smaller in size, which feels better in the hand. I also think the files from the CCD have a more unique \u00e2\u20ac\u0153look\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or colors to them. This is definitely personal preference, but I find the new Leica CMOS sensor to not have as much vibrancy in the color files.
\nBut the new digital Leica has many benefits. It is much faster to shoot with, more responsive, and has a quieter shutter sound.
\nWhatever you decide to invest in, I recommend renting one or just trying it out. A lot of people fantasize about buying a Leica or rangefinder, only to find out they prefer autofocus.<\/p>\n
Okay, so let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s say you get either a film or digital Leica, with let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s say a 35mm lens.
\nNow the tricky part\u00e2\u20ac\u201d how do you shoot with it?
\nIf you have a film Leica or rangefinder, I recommend reading my book: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Film Photography Manual\u00e2\u20ac\u009d where I have covered technical settings on shooting street photography on film in detail.
\nIf you have a digital Leica or rangefinder, let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s move on:
\nStep 1: Set your camera to aperture-priority (or A) mode<\/p>\n
If you have a digital Leica, I recommend shooting in Aperture-priority or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A\u00e2\u20ac\u009d mode.
\nWhy? It means you have one less thing to worry about.
\nBy putting your camera in aperture-priority mode, your camera will automatically choose the shutter-speed.
\nThen choose your aperture to f\/8 as a default.
\nStep 2: Set your ISO to 1600-3200<\/p>\n
Secondly, you want to not use automatic-ISO. Because that will default your shutter-speed to something slower.
\nIf you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting street photography and have moving subjects, you want your shutter-speed to be at least 1\/250th of a second. Preferably, if you want really sharp street photos, you want your shutter speed to be at least 1\/1000th of a second.
\nBy putting your ISO to 1600 (or above), you will achieve a shutter speed of at least 1\/250th of a second during the day (assuming you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting at f\/8).
\nAt ISO 1600 (during the day), your shutter speed will be around 1\/250th of a second if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting in the shade. It might also drop to 1\/125th of a second (if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in really dark shade).
\nWhenever you notice your shutter speed dropping below 1\/250th of a second, I recommend increasing your ISO. This might mean going up to ISO 3200 (or even 6400).
\nGenerally I find the Leica M8 and M9 to be acceptable in color up to ISO 800. When shooting with these cameras at ISO 1600 and above I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d recommend sticking to black and white. With the modern Leica M240, ISO 1600 and above is fine.
\nStep 3: how to focus<\/p>\n
Generally when shooting street photography on a Leica or rangefinder, you want to use \u00e2\u20ac\u0153zone focusing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. The concept is that you pre-focus to a certain distance (1.2 meters is a good default distance, which is around 2-arm lengths away) and shoot at an aperture with deep depth-of-field (around f\/8-f16), and everything you capture within a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153zone\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (a little closer or further than 1.2 meters) will be in focus.
\nFor example, with a 35mm lens, at f\/8, pre-focused at 1.2 meters, everything between .9 meters-1.5 meters will be in focus. Depending on what lens, aperture, and distance you focus \u00e2\u20ac\u201d your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153zone of focus\u00e2\u20ac\u009d will be different.
\nGenerally, the more you increase your f-stop (for example, changing your aperture from f\/8 to f\/11 or f\/16), you get more depth-of-field, or your zone in focus. So when shooting at f\/16, you will have more of your scene in-focus than shooting at f\/8.
\nAlso the wider your lens, the more of your scene will be in focus, and the more depth you will have. For example, you will have more depth-of-field with a 28mm lens (when compared to a 35mm lens).
\nLastly, the further you focus, the more of your scene will be in focus. For example, when you pre-focus to 5 meters, you will have more depth-of-field when compared to 1.2 meters.
\nStep 4: focus by feel<\/p>\n
Another tip: you want to learn how to focus based on feel.
\nFor example, if your lens has a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153focusing tab\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (the little plastic grip in the middle of your lens) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d this is a benefit.
\nYou can \u00e2\u20ac\u0153feel\u00e2\u20ac\u009d when focusing by the following:
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 When you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re focusing your lens to the dead-center in the middle, that is usually 1.2 meters (at least on most modern Leica lenses).
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 If you focus your lens to 45 degrees to the right, that is around 3 meters.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 If you focus your lens to 45 degrees to the left, that is usually .9 meters.
\nAn easy way to also remember this:
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Focus to dead-center: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Middle\u00e2\u20ac\u009d distance
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Focus 45 degrees to right: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Far\u00e2\u20ac\u009d distance
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Focus 45 degrees to left: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Close\u00e2\u20ac\u009d distance
\nBy default, I recommend pre-focusing to dead-center. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting street photography on a 35mm lens, that is a good default distance to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153fill the frame\u00e2\u20ac\u009d with your street photographs, and capture a good scene.
\nAlso another way to learn how to better judge your distances intuitively: sit on the couch, and look at objects in your room. Look at your lamp across the room, ask yourself: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How many meters or feet do I think that is?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nMake a guess in your mind, then pre-focus your lens to that distance, then bring your camera to your eye. Then see how far it actually is, then learn how much you need to adjust your focusing tab (either to the left, center, or the right). Then with enough of this practice, you will learn how to intuitively focus without even thinking.
\nStep 5: Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t miss the moment<\/p>\n
A classic mistake in street photography: street photographers will see an interesting scene, then bring up their camera to their eye, then try to focus. But by then, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve missed the moment.
\nWhat you want to do is to see an interesting moment, then pre-focus your lens to the rough distance, and then bring up your camera to your eye and just click. This will help you save valuable time, and capture \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the decisive moment\u00e2\u20ac\u009d without wasting time focusing.
\nEssentially you want to turn your Leica or rangefinder into a glorified point-and-shoot camera. The ultimate goal in street photography is for your camera to become invisible \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and to take photos without even thinking about the technical settings. The camera becomes an extension of your body, and you just click intuitively.
\nStep 6: Memorize your distances<\/p>\n
Another tip: when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re out shooting on the streets, and walking on the sidewalk, learn the distances of the sidewalk.
\nStand on the far end of the curb, and see how long the distance is to a storefront on the other side. Usually it is around 2 meters.
\nThen you know that half the distance of a sidewalk is 1 meter. So you can pre-focus when you see certain subjects walking towards you at certain distances.
\nI generally recommend a 35mm lens for most street photographers.
\nI don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t recommend the Summilux f\/1.4 lens\u00e2\u20ac\u201d as it is too big and heavy. And for street photography, you will almost never shoot at f\/1.4.
\nRather, I am a big fan of the Leica 35mm f\/2 Summicron lens, which is much lighter, more compact, and more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153affordable.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Also f\/2 is nice to use if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting in darker situations, or photographing a pretty portrait of a friend (shot at f\/2).
\nAlso another great option is the 35mm f\/2.5 Voigtlander lens. It is even smaller, lighter, and (way) cheaper than the Leica 35mm f\/2. Most of the time in street photography you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to be shooting at f\/8 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d so don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t see the f\/2.5 as a disadvantage. Also the lens is very sharp (apparently it is modeled after an older 35mm Leica lens design). The biggest benefit of this lens is that it also has a focusing-tab, which is more ergonomic to shoot with on the streets.
\nIf you want a wider lens, a 28mm lens is also solid. The best \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bang for the buck\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Leica lens is probably the Leica 28mm f\/2.8 Elmarit lens. You can also find other 28mm Voigtlander lenses on the market which I heard are also very good.
\nIf you can afford it, I highly recommend the Leica 35mm f\/2 Summicron ASPH lens (apparently the sharpest Leica 35mm lens). This is the lens that I currently use.
\nAlso know that there are a plethora of Leica M-Mount lenses that you can use from other brands like Zeiss (and many others). For \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bang for the buck\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the Voigtlanders can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be beat. For the best \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t beat the Leica lenses.
\nI didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mention this earlier\u00e2\u20ac\u201d but I have used \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Leica\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153rangefinder\u00e2\u20ac\u009d interchangeably in this guide. Technically, I should be referring to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153rangefinders\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d not Leica\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (because not all Leica\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s are rangefinders).
\nHowever I feel that out of all the cameras out there, the two cameras which have the best design, heritage, and simplicity include the Leica rangefinder, and the Ricoh GR camera. Both cameras have existed for several decades without significant changes\u00e2\u20ac\u201d because they just work. Both cameras have distilled simplicity, minimalism, and elegance into a perfect form \u00e2\u20ac\u201d that can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be improved upon.
\nOf course there are tons of other great rangefinders out there \u00e2\u20ac\u201d especially film ones. I have friends who have the Bessa, who love it. But honestly, a Leica rangefinder will last for ages, have lots of places that repair them, and you will probably (eventually) want to \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcupgrade\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to a Leica (if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t already own one). So I think it is just easier to get the most affordable Leica within your budget.
\nI am a huge fan of shooting with a Leica and flash \u00e2\u20ac\u201d my flash of choice is the Leica SF 20 (fully-manual). It is simple, minimalist, and the controls are easy to use.
\nIf you shoot with a digital Leica (or a film Leica with TTL), I recommend just using the Leica SF 24D (and using the TTL, automatic metering mode). One less thing to worry about.
\nWhen I shoot with a flash and the Leica, I generally put my ISO to 400, my aperture to f\/8, and distance to 1.2 meters. In terms of the power of the flash, I adjust it so the flash distance is 1.7 meters (which means the flash slightly overexposes, which I find generally makes better photos).
\nYou can purchase a second-hand film Leica, which is somewhat affordable at sub-$2000 prices (depending on the condition). You should be able to find a good-working condition Leica M6 for ~$1500-$1800 (about the same price as most modern digital cameras).
\nIf you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re on a budget, get the Voigtlander 35mm f\/2.5 lens which is around $450. Or you can pick up a second-hand Leica 35mm f\/2 Summicron lens ($1500-3000) depending on if you get the older versions, or the newest version. Or just use any 35mm M-mount lens that you find which is affordable.
\nDigital Leicas are obviously much more expensive. You can find a second-hand Leica M240 for around $5000, a second-hand Leica M9 for around $3000, and a second-hand Leica M8 for around $1800. A brand-new Leica M is around $7000, and even more for the Monochrom (black and white only) variant.
\nMy suggestion: if you cannot buy a film Leica or digital Leica (used or new) in cash \u00e2\u20ac\u201d don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t buy one. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t buy one on credit. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to buy two Leica\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in cash (if you know if you can really \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcafford\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 it).
\nDon\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make my mistake\u00e2\u20ac\u201d barely being able to afford one. The Leica won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make you a better photographer, and is a huge financial investment. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a photographer on a budget, just buy a digital Ricoh GR camera \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and use the rest of money on travel, photography books, and workshops.
\nBut if you do have some cash in the bank, and are comfortable financially\u00e2\u20ac\u201d invest in a Leica. It is the camera which holds its value the best (compared with other brands), and the camera you can probably use for the longest time (before it gets \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcoutdated\u00e2\u20ac\u2122).
\nBeware, all digital Leica\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s will get outdated (just like iPhones). Know that once you buy a brand-new digital Leica M, you will probably lose $1000-$2000 of value in the next few years (just like buying a new car). I recommend if you want the best \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bang for the buck\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d get a good-condition second-hand digital Leica (that has already depreciated a bit). This way you can probably re-sell it for almost as much as you bought it for.
\nIf you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re on a budget, I recommend picking up a Ricoh GR (around $600 USD)
\nWhat about the Leica Q, SL, T, X, or other Leica cameras?
\nPersonally, I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t buy anything besides a Leica M body. Why? Because they are all relatively new cameras, and any new body style will get outdated or made redundant pretty soon.
\nFor example, the Leica Q (because the body and lens are connected) will probably be outdated in about 3 years of use. With the Leica M, you can at least salvage the lens (which you can use for your entire life), and upgrade the body. But with the Leica Q, you are essentially stuck with a non-upgradeable camera, which will lose massive amounts of value into the future. It is like having a really expensive iPhone \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and who owns an iPhone longer than 3-4 years?
\nSo as a general rule (at least for myself) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I would only buy a Leica M, and no other Leica.
\nIf you shoot film, the best bang-for-the-buck Leica setup is the Leica M6 (~$1500) + Voigtlander 35mm f\/2.5 lens (~$450) = ~$2000.
\nIf you shoot digital, the best second-hand bang-for-the-buck Leica setup is the Leica M9 ($~3000) + Voigtlander 35mm f\/2.5 lens ($450) = ~$3500.
\nIf you want a brand-new digital Leica setup, and have some more cash \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I would recommend: Leica M 262 (~$5400) + Leica 35mm f\/2.4 Summarit ($2000) = $7400.
\nMy purpose in writing this is to share some of my personal experiences showing with a Leica. This is all information I wish that I knew, before I started to shoot with a Leica\/rangefinder.
\nMy hope is that this guide didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t excite some lust for you to buy a Leica. Know the camera you have is already more than sufficient for street photography. If anything, the best camera for street photography is probably an iPhone\/smartphone. Or something even smaller \u00e2\u20ac\u201d a compact camera like a Ricoh GR.
\nNo matter how expensive your camera is, you will never be satisfied. The only real way to find satisfaction with your camera is to be grateful for what you have, to spend more time shooting (than looking at gear-related websites online), and to make photos that bring you personal satisfaction.
\nAlways, Eric<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When I first started street photography, I used a bulky DSLR (Canon 5D). I always thought that buying a Leica, I would become a much better street photographer. I fantasized about the look of the camera, the lightness and compactness of the camera, and the ease of use. I imagined myself shooting with a Leica […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-44393","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44393\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}