Is a Leica just another Black Box, is it really worth it?

To save you reading the rest of this — I think the answer is yes! But… it’s a touch more nuanced than that, so carry on reading.

When we talk about Leica, we’re not just talking about a camera. We’re talking about arguably the most sought-after camera brand the world has ever known. A brand that carries with it a reputation for luxury, exclusivity, and heritage. Leica cameras have a cult following like no other, and the conversation around them is rarely just about photography.

Here’s the paradox: Leica is often “behind” the competition in terms of features and digital innovation. Their cameras are sometimes three to five years behind the curve compared to Sony, Canon, Nikon, or Fuji. The so-called “Leica Tax” comes up often you’re paying more for less tech, for features that may have already been standard (and even surpassed) elsewhere in the industry.

So why on earth do people — myself included — want one so badly?

Let’s break this down.

Digital Substitutes… Kind Of

In the digital space, you could argue there are substitute:

• Fujifilm scratches the itch for a rangefinder-style everyday carry.

• Panasonic covers the larger mirrorless / DSLR-style body — their S series is practically a twin to Leica’s SL range, and even shares the same glass.

We could argue this digital side of things for weeks. But what I really want to talk about is film photography. Because when you shoot film, the body itself makes less difference to the final image. Film stock and lenses carry most of the weight. A Canon, Pentax, or Nikon body is also just a black box that holds film and helps you expose it. So why is Leica still the one people obsess over?

The Allure of Leica

• Aesthetics
  A Leica isn’t just a tool it’s an object of design. The minimalism, the weight in your hand, the brass edges that wear with use. It feels intentional, crafted, and timeless in a way most cameras simply don’t.

• Social Standing & How It Makes You Feel
  Let’s be honest: carrying a Leica isn’t just about taking pictures, it’s about taking picture of your Leica (sorry, but you know it’s true). It’s about what it signals. To yourself, and to others. It says you care about photography, tradition, and quality — even if some of that is perception. Owning one r seeing on e on a shelf makes you want to pick it up.

• Mechanical Repair & Longevity
  Leica film bodies are built like tanks, and crucially, they’re designed to be serviced. You can send a Leica film body for a CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust) done by Leica and it’ll be good for another few decades. That’s not something you can say for many other brands where repair networks are thinner, or parts simply no longer exist.

• Lenses
  This is where some of the strongest argument come in and where Leica really separates itself. The glass is legendary, and has legacy in the literal sense of the term. With sharp but with character, clinical yet romantic. A Summicron or a Summilux isn’t just a lens, it’s a signature. Put that on even the most basic film body, and the results will have a certain look that’s unmistakably Leica. You can pull a lense from the 40’s and still use it on a modern body it’s incredible, but what doesn’t come out in the argument a lot is the fact that you can use an old body with a new lens. A clinical clean and clear lense of a body from the 50’s. This is the most compelling argument for me, the fact that you can shoot film with new lenses and have the option to work backward through Olmsted a century of lenses from the same company.

So… Could it be worth It?

For pure tech specs and features, and a modern camera that can compete with the likes of AI eye tracking? Probably not.

For the experience, the heritage, the lenses, and the way it makes you feel? Absolutely.

And I suppose I’m wondering if that that’s the point. Is it the case that the allure of Leica isn’t about being the fastest, the most advanced, or the cheapest. It’s about something deeper a connection to photography itself and the motion and notion of embedding yourself in the craft. So should I try and get one, or do I stick with the Japanese Leica, the Canon 7?