What does “imperious” build quality mean? Built like an emperor?

I have a Tower camera. A copy of a Leica 3 made in 1951, I think, with a lens by some upstart company in Japan. It just says “Nikkor”. It’s very nicely made – almost like a watch. Japan had an emperor and he was small. I think my Tower might be imperious.

Imperious
Adj. meaning arrogant or domineering. This perfectly describes the build quality of Leica cameras.

Pre my washing up – Leica or XXXX?

Spoiler – it wasn’t Leica

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/leica-man.htm

hehe

Thankyou GT for explaining the “Leica Look”. The reason it puts me off is I think photography should be about the photographer not the camera.

I prefer the William Eggleston look or the Wolfgang Tillmans look etc.

The reason it puts me off is I think photography should be about the photographer not the camera.

Huh? You want all cameras to look the same?

I mean, the Leica system is very different in technology than many others, of course it looks different, right? And if you like it, then would you not use it to your advantage?

Disclaimer – I don’t have a real Leica, just a smartphone with a Leica-designed camera system and software.

The Leica look:

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/no-exif-4-the-leica-m6-at-the-builder-movie-shooting-2017.html

Thankyou GT for explaining the “Leica Look”. The reason it puts me off is I think photography should be about the photographer not the camera.

I prefer the William Eggleston look or the Wolfgang Tillmans look etc.

Well I definitely applaud that sentiment! I don’t think the two have to be mutually exclusive though. I think that bonding with your camera, developing the muscle memory for it so that you can shoot really quickly is a key part of creating your own look. It’s quite profound how one camera can make you shoot a completely different way to another. But yes, I agree 100% with you’ the camera is just a tool.

Be Warned: Shooting with the Leica M240 is Addicting

Worth a read for both the lovers and haters.

^ that’s the down to earth leveler

*goes off to fondle a Leica*

My smart phone has a lecia camera, but after research, it is more of a licencing thing to use the name.

That said it’s an excellent all round snap shooter. But it’s not really any better or worse than any other high end phone camera snap shots.

I’d have to agree with the above.. You have to get used to what you have to know what works and what doesn’t.

Give Eric Clapton a squire guitar and he’ll make it sing like a bird, you have to know your tools.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/photography-blog/2012/dec/28/leica-m-e-rangefinder-photography

Also this Guardian article. The M-E is now a little dated, essentially a cut down M9. Things have moved on to the 240 and M10 but you get the gist.