I have been a pro shooter for 15 years now, and have always used Canon gear. Today, my kit includes the 1Ds Mark III and over a dozen L-series, or special purpose lenses. I can honestly say that this little Leica gives my pro system a run for its money, at a fraction of the cost, and weight. It also allows me to keep a very low profile if needed, even though this camera is gorgeous.
The lens produces astounding sharpness, the color and contrast of the JPEGs are amazing right out of the camera, and yes, the dynamic black and white mode does produce that magical "Leica feel" right out of the camera. I was skeptical at first, however, even after one sunset test shoot, I would also agree with other users on this point. At 460k, the LCD screen has ultra high resolution, while all camera operations are quite fast. It's simply an incredible camera.
As for the cons that other users mention...in my opinion, no, the mode dial is NOT that easy to accidentally turn. Once you pick up the camera you'll see that your index finger, once poised over the shutter button, simply won't be close enough to the mode dial for an accidental spin. Also, the autofocus for spontaneous shooting, even in low-light is also plenty fast enough, and does not unnecessarily go hunting for subjects, in my opinion.
CONS: (1) Do not waste your money on the optional 24mm viewfinder. The optics, even at $350, do not zoom to match whatever focal length the lens happens to be at, which forces you to shoot at 24mm each and every time, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a zoom lens capability. Additionally, it does not even offer shoot information in the display, unlike a DSLR which does this and makes traditional viewfinder shooting possible.
(2) Don't waste your money on the Leica battery. Instead, buy the one for the Panasonic LX3, which is identical, only it doesn't say Leica and costs about half as much. The principle of Leica charging more without giving you any additional battery capacity simply irritates me.
OPTIONAL: I did splurge for the brown leather Leica case. It's a little overpriced to be sure, but if you've read this far, then you're someone willing to pay $700 for a point and shoot anyway, so you might as well just complete the package. It's pure class all the way around. If your goal was also to bask in Leica social cachet, then this case completes the package. If you're a pro shooter, then it also provides instant reassurance to your clients that yes, "this guy is actually pulling out a point and shoot camera on this shoot, but oh wait, it looks like a serious machine. It's all good."
In the end, I promise you will NOT be disappointed. This little gem is worth the money, and has definitely earned the following it has already attained.
Happy shooting...
~WC
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