the Leica Trifecta
the Leica M9, the Leica IIIf, and the Leica CL
{taken with iPhone 11 + portrait mode}
Change can arrive in different forms. It can be a gradual process, forming a gently sloping diagonal line if plotted on a graph over time. But it can also present as a horizontal line, followed by a sudden spike, transitioning to a new plateau. My history as a photographer has followed the latter model, and this recent development is no exception.
Over the past 3 years, I have been extremely content with my camera setup, giving little thought to equipment and concentrating instead on subject and technique. This has reflected well on the quality of my photos, leaving me feeling pleased and fulfilled with my work. Then, some time over the past few months I began to sense hints of staleness creep in, as if I was ready for a shift of sorts. I was thinking something subtle. Maybe a new lens? Or perhaps I might finally try studio lighting.
Instead, this is what came next.
Earlier in the month, my husband saw an opportunity to purchase some pre-owned digital Leica equipment. Inspired in part by my musings on feeling ‘ready for a shift,’ his decision was swift. Swift, but I should add, not impulsive. He already owned a Leica IIIf film camera, and had been considering buying a digital Leica for years. However, the more research he did the more uncertain he was as to which model to choose, so the purchase remained an abstraction. And now it was as if the universe was helpfully nudging him: ‘Here, try these!’
In short, quite unexpectedly we had a Leica CL and a Leica M9, each outfitted with a ‘native’ lens, arrive at our muddy rural doorstep, joining the cherished Leica IIIf.
It was decided in advance that the CL would be officially mine and the M9 his, although we could swap whenever we wanted and pool lenses.
Two weeks in, we are ready to sell all of our DSLR equipment.
We had expected the Leica would be a supplementary system rather than a replacement, so this is a bigger change than anticipated. And I suppose trying to make sense of it has given me the push I needed to cobble together this website - where I shall attempt to keep track of various aspects of my work, including photography with this Leica trifecta.
