David Degner » Photographer

In between talking with editors I stopped by the largest photo conference around. I could tell the content was targeted to a different audience when the first large booth advertised Nikon’s consumer cameras by having a couple of models photographing each other as they sat on Vespas with a backdrop of Rome.

One highlight of the show was playing with the Leica M9. The booth was swarming with fondlers the first time I walked by. But when I returned there was enough space for me to squeeze in and try out a few things.

This camera fixes the issues of the M8 and is a viable alternative to my M6. I put my old 35/1.4 on it and wasn’t very impressed by the image quality. But when I tried the new ASPH 35/1.4 I was floored by the silky soft and tack sharp photos. It will give a very distinctive look to any images shot wide open.

I have to commend Leica for getting it together and making a lot of good moves with this latest lineup of cameras.

Their choice of 3 distinct cameras to fit three distinct styles of shooting, one for consumers (X1), one for reportage (M9), one for the studio (S2), will distinguish their cameras from the other companies that try to please all the markets with all their cameras.

Their advertising for these cameras is impressive and the photos they use are alluring, almost a cliche of photojournalism. The advertising is so effective that I’ll have to buy one as soon as I save up $7000…GULP.

P.S. I didn’t realize how similar in color my site is to Leica’s site. That is pure coincidence. I originally ripped off Magnum Photos color scheme, but it was too depressing so I lightened it about a year while ago.