27 Comments
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Max Hirshfeld's avatar

Congrats on the Leica. It took me a long time to get one, but once I had the Q I quickly discovered what all the noise was about. After twenty years since switching to digital, I find the Leica files come closest to replicating film than anything I have seen. I'm a Canon guy, and shot a large-scale personal project with the Leica S, but the Q is in a league of its own.

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Daniel Danzig's avatar

LOL. I just went through an almost identical experience and also ended up just last month with the Leica Q3. My street camera has been the Fujifilm X 100 series for years, which I love, but has some limitations. I would have to admit, too, there was a fair amount of peer pressure involved in this Leica purchase. But it is an exceptional tool.

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Robert Machin's avatar

What is the greatest gain over your X100 cameras? Where’s the return on a substantial investment?

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Philippe Castelneau's avatar

The Leica Q3 43 is indeed pure joy !

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Howard Sherman's avatar

I was so interested to see how you shot an event like the Easter Parade since it’s been the subject of hundreds of thousands if not millions of photos. Loved how you stayed away from too many head monstrosities and focused on other things. If you ever have the interest and time I’d love to read in your newsletter how you tackle such challenges. Thanks!

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Dina Litovsky's avatar

Parades are definitely tricky because there are mo photographers than participants somehow. I'm still figure it out honestly.

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Dana Voss's avatar

So exciting! Great photos and they bear your signature without a doubt.

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Laura Kleinhenz's avatar

I've been having this same debate, what to buy as a personal/family digital camera. Several have told me they love the Leica Q. After seeing this, maybe it's time to make the investment, too. I loved your Easter Parade eye. I've been using my Contax G2 for personal work, which is great, but it doesn't have fantastic autofocus and film stocks can be limiting compared to digital, but I LOVE the results when the pacing of the moments compliments the camera. But for a better ratio of usable images from fast-moving situations, I think the Q would be amazing.

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Michael Callaghan's avatar

so glad you ended up going for the 43!

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Daniel Danzig's avatar

Oh, great pics. Are you using your profoto flash with the Leica?

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Rocket Master Man's avatar

I was about to ask this. Not sure how the A series lights work with the Leica.

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Jeremy Grenemyer's avatar

I love the colors! This feels like it should be a Sunday spread in The New York Times.

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Ed Lefkowicz's avatar

Enjoy the 43mm! I had a Rollei 35 years ago, with a 40mm lens, and got to really like the focal length—it hit a sweet spot, not too wide, not too long.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

So good.

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Clarissa Salman's avatar

Someone recommended the Leica Q3 and I'll admit, the price tag is a little scary. But I enjoyed reading about your experience and I loved that you included the images you took. The lady with the yellow flowers atop the blue hat was my favorite.

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Daniel Danzig's avatar

Robert, message me at Instagram, @danzigcom

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Mail@nicholasharvey.com's avatar

I had the same M11 experience. Tried one for the day and didn't like it - couldn't see the frame with 35mm lens (with specs on) and bigger than the Q. I have a Q2 now. Great size, good autofocus, great lens, small and easy to use. Not very good dynamic range, though.

Re focussing the Nikon Z7, I find prime lenses focus much better in low light than zooms eg 35mm F1.4 - lighter too.

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Simon Brooks's avatar

These really are great photos.

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Simon Brooks's avatar

Great photos! I love seeing the buildings in the background in a few reminding us where we are.

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