Discovering the Unexpected – Leica

Sometimes, things turn out completely different from what you expected. Not too long ago, I had the chance to buy a Leica Digilux 2, a fantastic camera that I’m really happy with. At first, it felt like fireworks with just a few sparkles. However, what came afterward was completely unexpected—the real fireworks were yet to begin…

The Story

I was watching a video by Emily Lowery from Micro Four Nerds about “The Crazy History of the ONLY Affordable Leica,” which turned out to be the Leica T. Out of curiosity, I decided to look up this model’s specs and reviews. I found a lot of mixed opinions, but most of them were written a year or two after the camera was launched. It gave me a bit of déjà vu, reminding me of my experience with the original Fujifilm X100, which I also bought new at the time. Despite its premium price tag, it didn’t deliver premium performance—the autofocus was painfully slow, and that was just one of its many issues. While Fujifilm did release some firmware updates, they eventually just launched a new model to address the problems. The Leica T seemed to have similar issues at first, but unlike Fujifilm, Leica released several firmware updates that have reportedly made the camera work flawlessly. It has even become an excellent camera.

It’s true, the Leica T doesn’t have an electronic viewfinder (EVF), and although there’s an EVF accessory available, it’s ridiculously expensive. But as Emily pointed out, it’s a Leica, and Leica cameras are known for being pricey. Still, my interest was piqued, so I started checking the prices of this camera. In Belgium, you can find a well used Leica T for around €850-950, which is a lot of money for an older camera. On eBay in Japan, I found a brand new, still unboxed Leica T in for about €1,000. Everyone knows that cameras are generally cheaper in Japan, so here it would likely cost a few hundred euros more. Unfortunately, high import taxes would eat up any savings.

An Opportunity

Then, something amazing happened during my search—I found a brand new Leica T in a coastal store – in Belgium, completely unused and still in its box, for just €599. It was on sale—do Leica cameras ever go on sale? Well, this might have been the first time. To be honest, I didn’t jump on it right away because I still had some doubts. But eventually, I thought: It’s a Leica! And these cameras hold their value well, so why not?

Before finalizing the purchase, a few things crossed my mind that ultimately led me to buy the camera, and I’ll list them below:

1. I didn’t buy the camera as a collector’s item, although a Leica is always a good investment. In this case, since it was a brand new camera, complete with all its accessories and packaging, and it’s the original model, I knew it was worth more than what I would paid for it.
2. I don’t own any original Leica lenses for this camera, and since they’re incredibly expensive, I’m not likely to get any soon – unless also “on sale” 🙂 . However, as Emily mentioned in her video, the Leica T is compatible with Lumix full-frame L lenses, and with an adapter, I can use my vintage Minolta Rokkor lenses, like the legendary MC Rokkor 24mm lens and the equally legendary Minolta 35-70mm zoom lens—lenses that are “Leica-like” due to the Leica/Minolta collaboration.

And that’s how I became the proud owner of my second Leica—the Leica T Type 701 black edition !

The Unboxing

If you’ve never bought a Leica before, you’re in for a surprise when you first unbox it. It’s true what they say—unboxing a Leica feels like Christmas. The box opens in a very special way, revealing a second box that looks like a jewelry case, complete with magnetic closures and drawers for the “jewels”. Each accessory is not only in a plastic bag like with other brands but also wrapped in a silky black pouch with the Leica logo, making it feel like you’re getting even more little gifts. The camera itself sits on top in a sturdy, luxurious box.

The camera looks stunning, and when you hold it for the first time, the body, milled from a single block of metal, is surprisingly solid and smooth. You can almost feel the premium Leica quality in your hands. Did you know that each camera is sanded and inspected for 45 minutes to ensure perfection? I’ve included a video below to show you more.

The Leica Present Box Experience :

The camera :

Well, that’s it for now. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lens or an adapter for this camera yet. So, after purchasing the Leica T type 701, I set out to get a few essential accessories, including a Lumix full-frame L lens for general use, some adapters for my Minolta/Leica Rokkors, a must-have screen protector, and a leather half-case to protect the aluminum body from bumps and scratches. The case is especially important if you want to keep the camera’s value intact.

Well, stay tuned, because I’ll be posting more soon about this very special camera. I can already tell you that I’ve gained a lot of experience with it, learning both the pros and cons.

This is partly because everything I’m publishing now was actually written quite some time ago, which sometimes makes it difficult for me to keep the timeline intact.

What I can tell you right now is that I’m absolutely in love with this camera, even though it took some getting used to at first.

So, until next time!

Marc.

Links : https://www.designboom.com/technology/leica-system-t-mirrorless-camera-04-25-2014/

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and that it might have sparked your interest in Leica cameras. If you liked it, please like and subscribe.

This article was written by Marc R.
While I primarily speak Dutch and have some knowledge of English and a little French, ChatGPT helps ensure my writing is grammatically correct. I often mix Dutch and English in my drafts, and ChatGPT steps in to translate and correct.

As I mentioned earlier, the timeline is important. In the meantime, I’ve already taken some photos with the Leica T, and you can find the first set of them now. Follow the link below, which will take you to a new post on La Gallerie featuring photos taken with the Leica.