I visit Budapest very often. In previous years, when I was dancing, I would come for rehearsals, performances, and workshops. Now my brother has been living there for seven years, which gives me one more reason to keep returning.
In November 2024, I had just received a loaner Leica M11 with a Summicron 28mm from Leica. My Leica Q3 had developed a problem with the EVF glass and I had to send it in for repair.
The adjustment on the first day was somewhat abrupt. Manual focusing was a challenge at first, but since I had already gotten somewhat used to the logic of it from the Q3, I found my rhythm quickly with the far more precise rangefinder system. The real difficulty was in composition. I wasn't used to looking without seeing the final result on a screen, and at first I felt like I was struggling.
All of that changed, however, when I saw the photos on a large screen after my first walk. I realized that I actually liked the results a lot, and that my insecurity about composition was purely a matter of habit. I simply had to give myself time to internalize the new way of thinking.
Rangefinder cameras are far more intuitive. They let you photograph without feeling like you're intruding on the environment. You learn to visualize the frame in your mind — to click mentally before you even raise the camera to your eye. The camera stops getting in the way.
A month later, when I got my Q3 back repaired, I realized how enormous a difference the way a camera forces you to see the world can make. I have to say that, especially for street and travel photography, I much prefer not having an electronic screen in front of my eye. It helps me far more to visualize the scene in advance, rather than simply validating it digitally before pressing the shutter. It brings an element of surprise that has been missing since the era of mirrorless cameras and digital confirmation.
