What is so special about Leica?

Guys, I did not want to start any war. For me, hiw silly it might sound, the most important thing is the image itself. I was using tamron lenses before I was able to afford some good L lenses. There is a difference in IQ. So typically if something is more expensive, or just like in case of leica, super more expensive, I was thinking it will produce images I was not able to dream about. This is why I stayed away from threads about leica for several years, I did not want to know. I was surprised to see an IQ that is behind modersn canon or nikon. Simply this.....I do not even discuss the luxury aspect of owning one.

cputeq007 wrote in post #14716355
Superb glass with outstanding resolution at low ISO, small/light form factor (for the most part), discreet body and quiet shutter, outstanding build quality and feel.


I guess it's an acquired taste - I'd love to have an M9 with a few small primes to take out when I don't feel like lugging my DSLR but want something better than my S95.

I fully agree with this, i would love to get something smaller and suited to street as well....but not at the cost of leica for sure.

light_pilgrim wrote in post #14716379
Guys, I did not want to start any war. For me, hiw silly it might sound, the most important thing is the image itself. I was using tamron lenses before I was able to afford some good L lenses. There is a difference in IQ. So typically if something is more expensive, or just like in case of leica, super more expensive, I was thinking it will produce images I was not able to dream about. This is why I stayed away from threads about leica for several years, I did not want to know. I was surprised to see an IQ that is behind modersn canon or nikon. Simply this.....I do not even discuss the luxury aspect of owning one.

What Leica IQ is behind the modern Canon and Nikon? The 40D shots posted trail a long way behind a Leica S2.

Well, as the owner of an M-4 I purchased in 1966, I know the difference in the M series and SLRs is significant. Back in those days, the purpose of an M body was superior mechanical performance and absolutely superior optics.
Leica has apparently gone for the Lawyer/Doctor crowd. Limited editions would seem to be proof of this fact. There is nothing wrong with that. They're just going for a different group of consumers than the 99% of us.
One source I saw said that their sensors are made by Kodak. The M8 (or M7, I can't remember) had serious sensor problems which the M9 corrected. I would never (be able to) buy one, but if my Lawyer gave me one, I'd use the heck out of it. I'd prefer the M9-M, however (B&W only).