Leica

The r/BuyItForLife community holds Leica in high regard, particularly for film cameras and optical products like binoculars, citing extraordinary build quality and decades-long serviceability. The overwhelming caveat, however, is price — Leica is consistently described as one of the most expensive options available, making it accessible only to a niche of enthusiasts or professionals. Digital Leica bodies receive more skepticism, with many arguing that no digital camera qualifies as truly BIFL, while Leica's film cameras and lenses are seen as genuine generational heirlooms.

Leica film cameras, lenses, and binoculars are genuine BIFL products with decades of proven durability and ongoing manufacturer support, but their extreme price limits them to a niche audience, and digital Leica bodies share the same obsolescence risks as any digital camera.

Leica's film cameras and lenses are praised for extraordinary durability, with cameras from the 1930s through the 1980s still in active use. Their binoculars and optics are consistently ranked among the best available, and the company's ongoing parts production and repair support for vintage models is seen as a gold standard for BIFL commitment.

• Film cameras from the 1950s–80s still function perfectly decades later
• Leica still manufactures spare parts for cameras from the 1950s
• Lenses compatible across decades and even usable on modern digital bodies
• Binoculars ranked alongside Swarovski and Zeiss as top-tier optics
• Cameras used by photojournalists in extreme conditions without failure
• Strong resale value; some owners report making a profit on used Leica gear

The most consistent criticism is the extreme price, with some arguing cheaper alternatives offer comparable results. Digital Leica bodies are seen as poor BIFL candidates like any other digital camera, and a minority of commenters view the brand as more of a luxury status symbol than a purely functional tool.

• Extremely high cost puts Leica out of reach for most buyers
• Digital camera bodies not considered BIFL due to obsolete sensors and electronics
• Some argue Leica has become a 'jewellery company' chasing brand prestige
• Repair turnaround from Leica's own service centers can take 6+ months
• Comparable results achievable with cheaper film cameras like Nikon FM or Minolta

One commenter who shot 500+ weddings professionally on Leicas reported zero failures over a decade, while Sony bodies used alongside them started failing after around 200,000 clicks.

A user noted that Leica is unique among camera brands in still servicing and repairing cameras from the 1950s, making it arguably the only true BIFL choice in the category — everything else eventually becomes orphaned.

Several commenters acknowledged that while the BIFL credentials of Leica film cameras are beyond dispute, the practical reality is that a Nikon FM or similar mechanical film camera will do the same job for a lifetime at a fraction of the price.

A professional optics user described Leica binoculars as reaching the tier where all top brands are excellent, so the choice comes down to personal feel — but noted some reliability concerns with Leica spotting scopes specifically.