It's time for change. Hello Leica.

After more than 30 years shooting images with Nikon Full Frame cameras and Nikkor Prime lenses, I felt that technology was moving on with mirrorless cameras and that there were less and less photographers clinging on and using DSLR cameras with mirrors like myself. So I have spent the last weeks researching mirrorless cameras. I love my Nikon D850 DSLR and the investment in that body complete with an array of Nikkor Prime, wide angle and zoom lenses is obviously substantial, so considering a change is not one that I do lightly.

The obvious (and easiest) move for me would be to go over to Nikons mirrorless range and invest in the Z8 and new lenses. I am already very familiar with Nikon bodies so the jump to the Z8 would not be enormous. My Nikkor lenses are F mount and would not fit the newer Z mount on the Z8 range. Before making that move however, I wanted to look outside the Nikon world that I'd inhabited for many years and understand what other brands were doing "IF" I was going to make the jump from DSLR cameras. It also feels like how I felt when I ditched vinyl in the 90's for the "future" of CD's and look how thats turned out ? I've spent the last 5 years finding all the vinyl I binned for the awful digital music I was conned in to buying. So I am very nervous about making the same mistake again and regretting moving to mirrorless cameras. However, if you are moving from Nikon F Mount equipment now is the time to see what else is out there.

'Steve McCurry using his Leica SL3-P and 24-90mm f/2.8 lens'

As part of my early reading a couple of weeks ago I came across an article about Steve McCurry, a magnificent photographer who's work I have always admired and respected. Steve talked about making the same move from mirrorless in 2019 when he also left Nikon and decided to join Leica on the strength of their lenses. I've always admired images from Leica lenses but had massive reservations in the past about their camera bodies. However the article by Steve McCurry really struck a chord with me, especially when learning more about their new body the Leica SL3-P, which turns out to be a mighty powerful beast and well built workhorse. Steve McCurry explained how the quality of Leica lenses meant that he could ditch the array of Prime (fixed focal point) lenses and that 95% of his work was done on a 24-90mm f/2.8. Thats where I find myself currently, carrying around a raft of heavy and bulky Nikkor Prime lenses. Could I also really do everything on that one lens, as good as it is? Could I really ditch all my prime lenses that give me the fear of god when arriving at airport security with a bag full? I guess, if Steve McCurry can do it, then I am damn sure I could to?

The gaps in just using that one lens for me though, would be ultra wide angles for landscape images. My Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 is my go to lens for wide angles at 16mm, and Steve McCurrys lens is 24mm at its widest. Thats a considerable difference to my current 16mm lens, but Leica do a 14-24mm f/2.8 which is on paper is even wider and more open than my current landscape lens, so thats another tick in the Leica box. My other favourite lens is my Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 which is my go to portrait lens and has lovely depth of field or Bokah when wide open in low light. Again Steve McCurrys lens is only f/2.8 wide open, so would that be enough in low light for the images I love? Leica have just announced a new 50mm lens for L Mount cameras that opens up to f/1.4 so thats perfect. A like for like on paper equvilant for what I use now, but a Leica, not a Sigma, so whats not to like about that change? I hate flash photography and never use it, so having a fast wide open prime lens for portraits is so important for me in low light situations.

'Iceland - Shot on my Nikon 16-35mm f/4. My current"Go To" Landscape lens'

'Shot on my current "Go To" Nikkor Portrait lens'

So thats where I have ended up, and have decided to make the move over to mirrorless and to Leica. I'll have the Leica body SL3-P and Steve McCurry's workhorse lens the 24-90mm f/2.8 this week with the 14-24mm f/2.8 for Landscapes by early November, with the 50mm f/1.4 for portraits to follow, hopefully in time for my trip to Varanasi and Kolkata in India late November. I'm really looking forward to trying out my new Leica gear. It's a new shooting architecture to learn, but I am excited to try it. I currently focus using the 1 spot back button focus technique on Nikon. Leica does not work the same way, but all the reviews I have seen the software remains locked on faces and eyes removing the need for manual back button focus on the eyes. We shall see!

So life moves in. It's a very sad goodbye to Nikon who have served me so well over the years. However if I am making the move to mirrorless cameras then I think the move to Leica and it's lenses can only be a good thing from it's reputation and images that I have seen.