26 replies to this topic

[Advmoto18]

I've thought long and hard about this, and its time to take the digital plunge.  Better late to the dance than not showing up at all.

 

I'm a many, many decades Lieca shooter.  I have a sizeable investment in film Leicas/accessories that will likely be buried with me.  I would go with a digital Leica, but, being retired, the required investment is simply not in the budget.

 

At any rate, I'm looking for a digital range finder style body without a lot of features.  I'd like to keep the price for a body below $1500.  I'm primarily a landscape and people working image chaser.

 

Mountains of articles have been written about what to buy.  But, I thought with all the excellent photographers posting here, someone would have that nugget of advice that points me in the right direction.

 

Thanks for any advice!

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Dang, you put a dollar limit on it...

Take a peek at the Sonys. Their a7II Alpha mirrorless looks interesting to me. It's full frame (e.g. The sensor is approx the same size as a 35mm slide), has very good resolution at 24 mega pickles, internal image stabilization, and a good reputation. I suspect this is the same sensor that Nikon used in their D3x. ISO is 100 to 25,600.

I'm a Nikon guy, but Sony, Canon, and others are all nice. Spend money on your lenses, but you already know that...

[Lighthawk]

The Sony a7 bodies seem to be right up there with Nikon 810 for full frame. But glass is pricey and limited. Fuji has an excellent collection of fast lenses on APS-C sensor with well regarded rendering and colors. XE1 XE2 and XT-1 allow for interchangeable lenses with rangefinder style bodies with real knobs for shutter speed and aperture rings on most lenses. MF can be enjoyable with split screen or peak focusing. I love the retro look and functionality. That said, the menus are daunting and it paid to read the manual and watch YouTube videos to really learn the system. You could put together a kit within your budget.

[Ace!]

My wife's Nikon takes good pictures.  She bought it a while ago, it's a D5300.  It was inexpensive, relatively anyway.  I've been very impressed with it.  If we were buying a new camera, it would be a Nikon...D5500 or D7100 or whatever the newest equivalent.

 

On the other end of the spectrum, I carry an Olympus TG3.  I've dropped it, kicked it, had it underwater, you name it.  About the only thing I haven't done is light it on fire...and I won't, at least not on purpose.  It takes very good (no, not in the same class as my wife's Nikon) point and shoot pics at a fraction of the cost.

[Advmoto18]

Thanks info gents!

 

Yes, the majority of the budget will go to glass.

[Stalking Light]

Look for a good used D700, great camera and excellent high ISO performer.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Look for a good used D700, great camera and excellent high ISO performer.

 

I made the mistake of selling both of my D700s.   It's still my favorite!   

[Stalking Light]

I made the mistake of selling both of my D700s. It's still my favorite!

I sold mine too and wish I still had it.

[Bigfoot]

I've thought long and hard about this, and its time to take the digital plunge.  Better late to the dance than not showing up at all.

 

I'm a many, many decades Lieca shooter.  I have a sizeable investment in film Leicas/accessories that will likely be buried with me.  I would go with a digital Leica, but, being retired, the required investment is simply not in the budget.

 

At any rate, I'm looking for a digital range finder style body without a lot of features.  I'd like to keep the price for a body below $1500.  I'm primarily a landscape and people working image chaser.

 

Mountains of articles have been written about what to buy.  But, I thought with all the excellent photographers posting here, someone would have that nugget of advice that points me in the right direction.

 

Thanks for any advice!

 

Many good choices. I'm partial to mirrorless systems (Fuji, Lumix, Olympus and Sony). They all have rangefinder style models with the capability of using your old Leica lenses with an adapter. Lumix and Leica have a close working relationship (see http://www.soundimag...sonic-and-leica) which might appeal to you. The Lumix GX8 is an outstanding camera that even features the Leica symbol on the front. Some landscape photographers will roll their eyes at the micro four-thirds format but objectively it has proven to be very capable, as has the APS-C format. 

 

Another approach you could take is to get a used Leica M8 that would fit your budget. What it lacks in specs it may make up for in familiarity. 

[Stalking Light]

On the micro 4/3 front, I have a Lumix GH3 in addition to my Nikons (D800's and D4s). The GH3 is a great little camera and I use it a lot as a carry around and hiking setup. I have lenses to cover a wide range of focal lengths, and even my 100-300mm (200-600mm equiv) is easy to hand hold.

 

I don't consider it a complete replacement for my full frame cameras but it's easy to have handy and a lot of times photos are more about the camera you have with you than the cameras you own.