To own a Leica camera is like being in a really really cool club. That little red dot. That rectangular body. And that sexy lens. It’s the perfect tool for making pictures.
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was late spring 2012. I had finally worked up the courage to go to Samy’s Camera on Fairfax in the hope of trading in all my Nikon gear to put toward my first Leica rangefinder camera.
I watched that Wim Wenders short video for the Leica M8 on repeat, dreaming of the day where I might hold my own Leica in my hand. Something so simple and elegant. And that sound, that click that is so unbelievably sexy when you press the shutter release, the shutter opens and closes, and you’ve made a picture.
When I arrived at the store, I think I literally said “today’s the day.” There is a specific person you need to see who will look at and price out all your gear you want to trade so I made sure to come on the day he worked. My goal was the hope that my gear would cover at least the M9 body and I would put fresh cash toward a lens. I was introduced to Ted Szilagyi who sadly passed away a few years ago. He was the Leica specialist who could talk to me about the camera I was about to buy. He had a big smile. This was before Samy’s on Fairfax remodeled so Leica could have their own special area up on the third floor. Until then, Leica was at the counter with all the other camera brands.
Ted walked me through everything. He was as excited as me. I was in awe. I remember when he unboxed the M9 and he said “this camera has never been touched by human hands.” That was cool, I thought. He found a memory card, slotted it in, popped on a lens and had me demo the camera. I had never shot a rangefinder camera so it was all new to me, especially how to focus. I acted like I knew what I was doing.
The sales clerk came back and gave me a number for my old gear. I was a little short and kindly asked him if he’d bump it up another two hundred because I was hoping my old bodies and lenses would at least cover the body of the new camera. I told him I’d spent a lot a money at the store over the years (which I had, honestly)! He agreed, and Ted and I picked out a lens. I didn’t have a ton of cash so I went with a Leica 35mm f/2.5 Summarit Lens. I got weak in the knees. I was ready to make some pictures.
I still own and cherish that camera. I ended up putting black tape over the red dot and the M9 engraving. I thought I was a badass street photographer who wanted to float under the radar. I was silly, but I’ll never forget that day of buying my first Leica for as long as I live.