fredmiranda.com

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

3 4 end

Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

Keith B.
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #1 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

Alternative to Nikon? Yes. Substitution for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji? No.
I used Leica M cameras with film, and am in almost daily contact with a friend that has had the Leica digitals from M9, M10, and currently M11P and Q3. I regard Leica as a viable system IF you want a small camera and primarily use normal and moderately wide lenses and don't need to focus closer than 70 cm.
Within this limited remit, no one makes really good lenses that are as small as Leica M.
No one makes a whole lineup of really good lenses** that can be easily and accurately zone focused except Leica.
**Again, normal to moderate wide lenses.
Conclusion: If you are game to be limited largley to lenses from 50mm down to, say...21mm and want something small to carry (and all the other caveats) Leica M digital is a viable choice. If you don't mind an EVF, the new EV1 M body could add the flexibility of an increased range of lenses, and...thankfully for your bank account... not just Leica lenses.
I would get a digital M body and maybe 35mm, 28mm, and 21mm lenses if I had the $$$$$$$$.
You'll never know if the limitations of the M system would be fun...or torture... until you use them.

Nov 07, 2025 at 11:14 PM

johnvanr
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #2 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

What you really seem to be asking is if a Leica Q is an alternative to a Nikon system.

It is if you only use one lens on your Nikon and don�t mind slower autofocus.

In all other cases, it�s not.

The only real alternative to a system is another system. Of those, considering bulk and weight, Leica would be the worst choice if you choose the SL line. The M series is a whole other ballgame, one that requires real hard thinking if it is to become your only system.

Nov 08, 2025 at 12:07 AM

RustyRus
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #3 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

If you have the extra budget, there is nothing that beats the user experience of a Leica M/Q camera.

They aren�t as practical but they are way more fun IMO. They are also the camera I want to use every time I walk out the door.

It sort of goes like this though, don�t buy a Porsche if you can�t afford to change the tires and brakes for 10k in a year-

Same with Leica. Expensive, less practical but my favorite camera and lenses I have ever owned. If I didn�t ever need video, I probably wouldn�t own any other camera system. Buy off the used board, give it a shot and or and probably loose nothing if it�s not for you.

Good Luck

Nov 08, 2025 at 12:12 AM

LostLensCap
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #4 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

For what my opinion is worth, Leica is to cameras and lenses what luxury watches like Rolex etc., are to time keeping. More of a status symbol than a serious tool. (jmho)

Nov 08, 2025 at 12:19 AM

Keith B.
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #5 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

LostLensCap wrote:
For what my opinion is worth, Leica is to cameras and lenses what luxury watches like Rolex etc., are to time keeping. More of a status symbol than a serious tool. (jmho)
Leicas are useful/serious tools if your main thing is walking around with 50/35/28 lens and snapping away. Just limited in capability beyond that.

Nov 08, 2025 at 12:34 AM

Lance B
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #6 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

bernardl wrote:
The Nikon f1.8 S primes are absolutely top notch, in particular the 20mm, 50mm, 85mm and of course the 135mm but the Plena is quite large. The 24mm and 35mm are also very good, but not quite as outstanding. Still better than any equivalent DSLR prime ever made.

In fact as recently as 3 days ago I shot some portraits quite casually under office lights with my Zf and 85mm f1.8 S and a colleague owning a Leica Q2 was stunned by the optical quality coming out of that lens.

Cheers,
Bernard

Bernard is quite correct as far as the Nikon f1.8 lenses are concerned; "The Nikon f1.8 S primes are absolutely top notch, in particular the 20mm, 50mm, 85mm". However, and this is just my opinion, but I am a big fan of the Z24 f1.8S and think it very underrated. I also think the Z35 f1.8S gets a bad rap simply because it isn't as outstanding as the other f1.8S. I Had both of these lenses but sold them to help fund other lenses, but I still wish I had the Z24 f1.8S. Photography Life gave the Z24 f1.8S a great review. The Z35 f1.8S became redundant when I got the Z35 f1.2S, one of the best lenses Nikon has ever made, IMO.

Nov 08, 2025 at 03:16 AM

fjablo
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #7 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

So many odd notions in this thread.

What's with that hyperfixation on "top of the line" glass? Show me a modern prime lens that's actually bad. And btw some of Leica's "top of the line" glass like the Summilux 50 is - in some technical aspects like across the frame sharpness wide-open - inferior to Nikon's 50mm f1.8S. Does it matter? Nope.

Then people seem to be confusing Leica M and the Q series all the time in this thread..

The Q is "just" a modern fixed lens autofocus camera with a nice lens, a very nice user interface and an insanely high price point. It is considerably smaller than any current FF Z-mount camera, but not really *that* different to other modern cameras. I'd look into the Sony a7CR or even the RX1R III as alternatives - user experience is not as nice as the Leica, but you get interchangeable lenses and/or a lower price point and vastly superior autofocus.

The M is a completely different thing. Completely different user experience with the Leica M being unique in offering a true optical rangefinder (the Pixii also does that, but somewhat limited camera overall). Imo a comparison between an M and the Nikon Z's doesn't make much sense. They're both cameras and that's basically where similarities end.

Nov 08, 2025 at 04:21 AM

youie
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #8 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences in regards to my inquiry.
I realize that I made the correct choice of asking the question in this forum instead of only going by what you see on YT.
I don�t have the funds for owning two different systems, even if Leica seems interesting, but not enough to depart from Nikon completely.
Sometimes you don�t know how you got till it�s gone, right? Some of the 1.8S are having rebates right now, so I think I will give one a try.
Best regards to all.

Nov 08, 2025 at 07:36 AM

Luke_Miller
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #9 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

In my case Nikon is the alternative to my Leicas. When the time came to transition to mirrorless I kept my Nikon F-Mount gear and went Leica. So my SL bodies with Leica primes and zoom lenses are my primary equipment. I do have a Z8 and several Z-Mount lenses for the occassions where that is the better choice. In Z-Mount I have the 50nn f1.8, 24-120mm f4 and the 135mm Plena. All are superb and I feel I do not give up much (if anything) relative to my Leica lenses. I think you will be very pleased with any of the Nikon Z-Mount offerings. All that I have tried are noticeably superior to their F-Mount siblings.

Nov 08, 2025 at 08:32 AM

taildraggin
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #10 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

Discussions that lack context... I look at the question the other way 'round. Can anything in the Nikon line replace a rangefinder Leica M - for street photography?

So, for street use (context), no. Leica M are the best street cameras. For just about everything else, yes, get a Nikon.

Why? They're smaller, faster and simpler to use than everything else. One of the best -- and least articulate -- street photographers, Garry Winogrand, explains it terribly, but, uniquely. He thought aggressively about what he needed. Capturing the momentary scene far exceeded creating a painterly magazine "illustration", like fashion photography. It's purpose-built vs general purpose. Cool.

They're not photographic tools.

" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">

I love my Zf with the CV 28 or 50s on it. It's fast to shoot, but a lot bigger and heavier than it needs to be (largely, due to architecture to support video) and it's overstuffed with crap that, at best lies dormant, at worst, gets in my way for stills shooting.

PS: I still think the small 15oz Leica Barnacks are the ideal concept, with the M series being overweight porkers.

Edited on Nov 08, 2025 at 10:25 AM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2025 at 09:59 AM

LBJ2
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #11 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

taildraggin wrote:
Discussions that lack context... I look at the question the other way 'round. Can anything in the Nikon line replace a rangefinder Leica M - for street photography?

So, for street use (context), no. Leica M are the best street cameras. Just about everything else, yes.

Why? They're smaller, faster and simpler to use than everything else. One of the best -- and least articulate -- street photographers Garry Winogrand explains it best...

I love my Zf with the CV 28 or 50s on it. It's fast to shoot, but heavier than it needs to be (largely, due to architecture to...Show more →

Interesting perspective. Thanks for posting, not a video I would have seen otherwise 👍🏼

Nov 08, 2025 at 10:04 AM

OwlsEyes
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #12 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

I'm a long time Nikon shooter who spends 95% of my time taking pictures of nature. My Nikon cameras and lenses excel in this area and while one might quibble about if they are the best in autofocus or 2nd/3rd to Sony and Canon, the optical quality and feel of the cameras are well suited to 95% of my shooting.
I will also add that I have a bit of a reverence for some of the classical tools. I grew up in the 70's where the mechanical precision of cameras was much like that of fine watches. I'm not wealthy, I'm not a hipster, I'm not a "Leica Man," but I do like to use these tools from time to time. In addition to my full Nikon nature kit, I have a Hasselblad X2D and one lens. This is my specialty landscape camera because of its 100MP and amazing IBIS that allows me to shoot 1 second exposures without a tripod. While the camera is about as electronic as it gets, it does not feel like the coputational wonder it is. In fact, if feels like a mechanical brick... I just love to use it, even if it is used for only 3% of my photogoraphy (at most). In addition, I have shot and owned many Leica SLRs, Rangefinders, and APSC cameras. The cameras feel good in the hand and, other than the SL series, seem to be invisible. I am not a street photographer, but I like to pretend to be one when I am in cities. During these times, I often bring an M-series camera... now it's an M8... an old clunky 10MP camera with more problems than I dare admit... but I love to use it when walking throughout San Francisco or Tokyo or... well you get it.

So, to answer your question, the Leica Q3 cannot replace your Nikon gear unless you find that all 95% of your shooting will be met by a 28mm f1.7 or 43mm f2.0 lens. However, if the camera inspires you to shoot more and be engaged with your photography, maybe it is the camera for you. For me... and the latter is the key... if I had to choose one camera and sell the rest, I'd be keeping my Nikons.

bruce

Edited on Nov 08, 2025 at 09:13 PM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2025 at 10:54 AM

Nifty Fifty
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #13 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

OwlsEyes wrote:
So, to answer your question, the Leica Q3 cannot replace your Nikon gear unless you find that all 95% of your shooting will be met by a 28mm f1.7 or 43mm f2.0 lens. However, if the camera inspires you to shoot more and be engage with your photography, maybe it is the camera for you.

That sounds a bit like it doesn't matter which lens you use as long as you like the focal length. Unfortunately, that's not the case (at least for me), otherwise I would have had a Q3 43 long ago, because I almost exclusively use standard lenses and would like a small, lightweight camera with a decent EVF. Unfortunately, I really don't like the rendering of the 43mm APO Summicron. Contrast, resolution, and sharpness are pushed to such extremes that the images often have far too much of all of it for my taste. It often repulses me. I simply don't like the rendering in general; I can't even pinpoint exactly why. I often just don't like the images from the Q3 43, which I find very unfortunate. But that's purely a matter of taste, of course. I just wanted to point out that things aren't always so simple.

Nov 08, 2025 at 11:39 AM

sum1sgrampa
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #14 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

Here's a suggestion everyone is sure to scoff at

Get yourself a small, light, great looking body for $1800, the OM System OM-3 with;
80 MP Computational High-Res
Creative Dial
Pro Capture
Built in ND Filters
In-camera Focus Stacking
Weather-sealed
BSI Backlit Stacked Sensor
and ;
Pan-Leica 10-25 1.7 $1900
Pan-Leica 25-50 1.7. $1900
OM 50-200 2.8. $3700

Go out and shoot anything you want covering 20-400 EQ FL, have a blast, stand in front of something interesting, and pat yourself on the back for all the great images and all the $$ you saved

Nov 08, 2025 at 01:21 PM

RexGig0
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #15 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

youie wrote:
Hi all,
The title of the thread may be a little misleading, because it could be another camera brand. But I always was "interested" by the Leica brand.
Let me explain, I'm a Nikon fan, I have been shotting Nikon for several years. I appreciate top quality optics, but I'm not getting any younger. At the beginning I was using DSLR's, that I found quite "big" . When Nikon introduced the mirrorless option, I thought to my self, finally I will be using top of the line line optics but in a small form factor. But it turns out, the best in...Show more →

Not advice, but, some thoughts, to offer perspective:

Leica lenses are not, necessarily, more �excellent� than Nikon lenses. Much depends upon the specific choices in optical correction that the shooters want to see, in the images. I see no reason to buy a highly-corrected 28mm lens for the Leica M system, for example, because the Nikkor AF-S 28mm f/1.4E is so very excellent. Similarly, I see no need to own a 28mm-equivalent Q camera.

Leica lens designers have made specific choices in optical correction, that produce images with characteristics that I like, for specific reasons/purposes. The Summilux-M 50mm ASPH was THE lens that prompted me to acquire that lens, and an M10 camera, in 2018. Notably, optical �perfection� was NOT my goal. This Summilux produces aberrations, that I see as acceptable, to get the �character� I want to see. (The final 7+ years of my 34 years in public service had included the oft-grim added duty of forensic/evidentiary photography. My Summilux, and M10, were seen as tools to create IMPERFECT images, an antidote, as it were, to help me learn to care about photography, again.)

In hindsight, perhaps I should have simply bought a Nikkor AF-S 58mm F/1.4G, and some other �character� lenses for the Nikon system, rather than adding the Leica M system.

The Nikon Z system was not yet a known option, when I bought into the Leica M system. Now, it is feasible to use Leica M lenses adapted to Nikon Z cameras. If my Leica M10 and M Type 246 cameras were to all die, some time in the future, I may well opt to continue using my M lenses on Z cameras. I bought my Nikon D5, and my Leica M10, in 2018, when they cost about the same. Leica cameras have become terribly expensive.

I will admit that Leica Q cameras do not appeal to me, personally. If I want/need AF, I want it to be Nikon-level AF.

I do not worship any brand. I do not hate any brand. I am not any kind of expert. Life is good.

Nov 08, 2025 at 01:33 PM

Edward Teller
Online
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #16 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

youie wrote:
Yes, and actually it's a very good suggestion, but are the 1.8 lenses as good as the Leica lenses?
I could rent a Leica Q3, but where i live it costs an arm and a leg to rent one.

Are the Nikon Z 1.8 lenses as good as the Leica lenses? As a user of both systems I would have phased that differently. The Leica lenses are smaller than the Nikkor lenses, we can say that, but here are the relative MTF charts for the $9,945 Leica APO- Summicron ASPH, and the $467 Nikkor Z 50/1.8 S lens.

MTF charts are certainly not everything, but Nikkor Z lenses are more than competitive optically with anything Leica has ever made.

Edited on Nov 08, 2025 at 01:50 PM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2025 at 01:46 PM

RustyRus
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #17 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

youie wrote:
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences in regards to my inquiry.
I realize that I made the correct choice of asking the question in this forum instead of only going by what you see on YT.
I don�t have the funds for owning two different systems, even if Leica seems interesting, but not enough to depart from Nikon completely.
Sometimes you don�t know how you got till it�s gone, right? Some of the 1.8S are having rebates right now, so I think I will give one a try.
Best regards to all.

Silly question-

Have you thought about the 1.4 Line? In my own personal opinion, I would take the 35 1.4 over the 35 1.2 any day of the week. It has classic bokeh, great IQ and is stupid cheap.

Not sure what you value in a lens but that 35 1.4 is special. Had Nikon put an S badge of something Like a V for vintage, it would be all the rage.

Also if you really want something different with Nikon, maybe try out the Voigtlander lenses or even adapt. Nikon adapts lenses very well from other brands-

Good Luck

Nov 08, 2025 at 01:47 PM

OwlsEyes
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #18 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

Nifty Fifty wrote:
That sounds a bit like it doesn't matter which lens you use as long as you like the focal length. Unfortunately, that's not the case (at least for me), otherwise I would have had a Q3 43 long ago, because I almost exclusively use standard lenses and would like a small, lightweight camera with a decent EVF. Unfortunately, I really don't like the rendering of the 43mm APO Summicron. Contrast, resolution, and sharpness are pushed to such extremes that the images often have far too much of all of it for my taste. It often repulses me. I simply...Show more →

I guess this all depends on whether you want a certain style strait out of the camera or if you want to control this in post.
I have everything from ultra sharp optics to soft optics, but I can turn almost any decent lens into what I want. Obviously, there are exceptions, as the 135 Plena and old Leica Noctalux's have very unique bokeh...

I don't have a Q43, as this is not appealing to me... I've got my X2D with a 28mm (about 22mm FOV on an FX body) lens for landscapes, M8 w/ old 28mm f2.8 for street (about 35mm FOV on an FX body), and a wide range of Z-Nikkors...

The Q's are great for people who want that type of camera... not what I'd suggest unless you are wanting a one lens one body affair for the long haul.

Nov 08, 2025 at 03:07 PM

tzhang4284
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #19 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

Edward Teller wrote:
Are the Nikon Z 1.8 lenses as good as the Leica lenses? As a user of both systems I would have phased that differently. The Leica lenses are smaller than the Nikkor lenses, we can say that, but here are the relative MTF charts for the $9,945 Leica APO- Summicron ASPH, and the $467 Nikkor Z 50/1.8 S lens.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tpttTfv/0/KGxJmgbKmZ92JKVGhwr7bC3hxhBHGCpbpMB2Vb6SB/L/i-tpttTfv-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-FcML5n7/0/LTmJZckk5P8HsShDdvjXFt7pZBg2vWcddGfxB5bZV/XL/i-FcML5n7-XL.jpg

MTF charts are certainly not everything, but Nikkor Z lenses are more than competitive optically with anything Leica has ever made.

The 50mm APO is a 10+ year old design at this point. A better comparison is the 35mm APO-M and Q3 43mm APO-M. Performance to size ratio is insane. Price is also admittedly insane.

Nov 08, 2025 at 03:28 PM

jrscls
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #20 · Is Leica a good alternative to Nikon

I have never owned a Leica, but my �alternative to Leica� is the Zf and a CV 40mm f/1.2 Nokton. This kit along with the 24-120 S is great for travel and serves as a second body to my Z8. It uses the same battery and can use all my Z lenses on both bodies in a single system.

Edited on Nov 08, 2025 at 04:47 PM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2025 at 03:41 PM

1 2 3 4 end
FM Forums \| Nikon Forum \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 4 end