r/LeicaCameras

I’m trying to get my hands on a Canadian made Leica and someone is selling what they are claiming to be a rare M4-2 red dot version. It seems to look okay however the serial number seems out of range for variant. Is it possible this could be real if the serial number is 1505458? They’re selling with the m4-2 winder and meter mr as well.

Hello everyone! I currently shoot with an X100VI and am looking to buy my second camera. While visiting the Leica store in Hanoi, I tried the Q3 43 and was absolutely blown away by the shooting experience and the image quality (the staff let me use my own SD card). I've been obsessed ever since, but a new Q3 is out of my pocket hahaha.

I’ve been browsing the used market and watching YouTube reviews, and I'm seeing decent prices on the Q2, M240, and M9. I don't have much experience with the M system other than knowing they are strictly manual focus.

What do you think is the best "entry-level" gateway into the Leica system for someone in my position? Thanks in advance for the advice!

Hey everyone,

I'm currently in the market for a 50mm, and I'd love some real-world input from those who have shot these lenses.

I recently sold my M10 to move to an SL3, and I also shoot film on an M6. I love adapting M glass to the SL body, and I’ll be adding a high-res digital M (M11 or M11-P) in the not so distant future.

I'm deciding between these three contenders:

- Summicron-M 50mm f/2 v4

- Summicron-M 50mm f/2 v5

- Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH V1

I currently have a Light Lens Lab 50mm f/1.9 loaner in the house to play around with, but I'm looking to invest in Leica glass for the long haul to round out my kit (currently running a 28mm ASPH v2 and a 90mm Elmarit-M, and a 28-70 Vario-Elmarit-SL f/2.8 ASPH.).

I tried these lenses in store, and I have to say I love the compact size of the Crons. I prefer the ergonomics and focus tab of the v4, but I specifically want a "Made in Germany" copy.

My biggest hang-up: I am not a fan of built-in hoods. I dented the built-in hood on my 90mm after a fall, and I'd prefer to avoid them entirely. I know the Cron v5 and the Lux ASPH both have built-in telescoping hoods, which makes me lean heavily toward the v4 with its clip-on hood.

For those who shoot these on higher res sensors, does the older optical formula of the v4/v5 hold up to the high resolution, or is it worth compromising on the built-in hood to get the speed of the Lux ASPH.?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’ve been getting more and more interested in the Leica brand lately, but I’m really struggling to decide which way to go.

To give you a little background: I’ve shot exclusively with Canon for about 15 years. I started with the EF system (6D Mark II and 5D Mark IV) and then switched to the RF line, using the R, R5, and R3 with some great glass. I used to do professional work with this setup, but recently, I completely lost the joy of being a pro photographer. Now, I’ve decided to just shoot what I really enjoy, which is:

• Street
• Landscape and Architecture
• Travel
• Motorsport (F1 once or twice a year—speed isn't the main priority, it’s more about the atmosphere)

I’ve had my eye on the Q system for a while, mainly because of the small form factor and because it looks like a perfect travel camera.

However, the fixed 28mm focal length is a bit of a concern. The Q3 43 is a solid option, but 43mm can feel too narrow sometimes, even though the depth of field is superb. You could stitch panoramas, but that’s extra work and can look a bit odd with a wide-open aperture. Buying both cameras is an option, but that’s very expensive for two fixed focal lengths.

Someone suggested I look at the M series, but I don’t think a rangefinder is for me. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be, and the limited range of usable focal lengths feels a bit restrictive—I really enjoy using the 70-200mm on my RF bodies.

Then the M EV1 appeared, and I thought it was the perfect camera. I held one in a store for a few minutes and loved the build quality, but the price for a digital M with manual focus felt a bit unreasonable for me. The salesperson told me, "You should just buy an SL; you can easily mount any M lens, and you get the L-system with autofocus and a better overall experience." But the SL3 felt a bit slow, the SL3-S resolution is too low for me, and now the SL3-P seems "perfect", yet I still have my doubts. The SL cameras are just so heavy.

It’s almost impossible for me to test these cameras properly. The nearest official Leica store is hours away, and the local retailer charges a high "rental fee" that may or may not be deducted if you end up buying.

TL;DR: I’m curious if any of you have switched from Canon to Leica and which system you ended up with. I just want to shoot street, architecture, and travel—how was the transition for you, and did you miss anything from your Canon setup?

I want to share my experience, because I think it says something about the level of support we get as Leica owners.

I updated my D-Lux 8 to firmware 1.7.0 and, unfortunately, the battery was low during the update, which corrupted the firmware. Since then the camera won't power off — the lens retracts, it sits on the Leica logo forever, and the only way to shut it down is to physically pull the battery. Everything else works.

I did my homework before asking for help. I tried a menu reset, reinstalling 1.7.0 via SD card (blocked — "already the latest version"), and downgrading via SD card (blocked — "update file is older than current firmware"). So there is literally no way for a user to re-flash the firmware once you're on the latest version.

I took it in person to the Leica Boutique in Lisbon, hoping for a quick counter re-flash. Instead I was told the camera has to be sent to Germany and could be there for months — just to rewrite firmware that got interrupted.

I get that a proper reflash needs Leica's internal service tools. But months, for a firmware operation, on a camera that otherwise works perfectly? For a brand at this price point, that's a genuinely disappointing level of support. It's a shame there's no regional service option, no loaner, and no user-level recovery path for something as basic as a corrupted firmware update.

Has anyone here:

1. Actually recovered a D-Lux 8 (or Q/M) stuck on the logo after an interrupted update, without shipping it off?
2. Had Leica turn around a firmware-only repair faster than "months"?
3. Found any regional service center (outside Germany) that can do the reflash?

Not trying to just vent — genuinely hoping someone has a faster route. Thanks.

Just upgraded my D-Lux 6 for a 100 year anniversary D-Lux 8 and so far am loving it! Please send any and all tips/tricks, must need d accessories and finally curious for those in the know is the 100 year actually meaningful and/or do you think there will be more metal grey D-lux 8’s than 100 yr 8’s made? Thanks in advance!