>>4006788I don' think there's anything specific to Leica, other than their optical quality lend themselves well to pop, but you absolutely can get similar results with other brands depending on the lens. I think you can even get close with good processing.
I think it's a super nebulous / ill-defined / subjective concept, but attached the two most helpful comments I've seen on it. A few example pictures that to me describe what the "pop" is. I don't know the tire shot, but the color portrait is a 28 lux at f1.4, Ali is a 35 lux at f2, and the last portrait is a 35 lux at f1.4.
For me, it's some combination of:
>High micro-contrast / sharpness with what's in focus, with good bokeh rendition. The subject is sharp, with a nice gradual fall off that is not distracting. You can tell what's there, even with it being out of focus.>Good subject isolation. The subject doesn't feel so isolated that it looks almost like a green screen, and likewise the subject isn't just blending into the surroundings. They stand out as a part of the scene. >Some combination of perspective / framing / lighting that aid to the pop.There's just a quality of "depth" to me that makes the image feel more "real". This makes 0 sense, but it almost feels the image is a frame from a video as opposed to just a still image.
For a film 35mm Leica, the screw mounts will get you best value, but not quite the same options / experience as an M. The M4-P is my favorite as far as having some of the modern upgrades on a more budget friendly price. M3 if you want the most classic M experience, and prefer longer lenses. I love using Leica, but think they are also incredibly overhyped and overpriced, lenses especially.