M2, M4, M4-2, M4-P, M6 or M6 TTL

[ampguy]

Wow

Wow

My friend with an MP says his favorite lens is the 35/2 asph that came with his MP, a black enameled version.

Do you still have the M8 Carl?

I just got a black paint MP, I've changed my mind, you need a black paint MP?

 

[Philippe D.]

i still have M2, M4-2, M4-P and a M6 as Leica film cameras.
If i would keep two of them, that would be the M2 and the M6.
The M6 i use (only a little now, since the M8 came into the family, you know...) more than the M2, but this 'typ 2' with a Summilux 50 1st. gen. and a Leicavit MP looks so beautiful, it's like a gem.

 

[ernstk]

I have an M2 and an original black paint M4. I have used the M2 more, and despite the M4 looking wonderful in black, the M2 feels a nicer camera. It's smoother and feels more solid. Not sure why this is, but it definitely feels that way. The M4 finder is fractionally brighter but not enough to be an issue.

Ernst

 

[Dralowid]

I use an M6ttl and am very happy with it.

I use it because I have it and I have it because it was the best price/condition/chrome offer at the time I bought it.

(I wanted and need the meter, my sunny 16 is a bit erratic)

As to the flash/ttl, I use this when I need it which is not that often.

I wouldn't buy another M unless it were digital. Personally I think many of the differences between the later Ms are a matter of taste.

I am much more picky about ltms

Michael

 

[PHOTOEIL]

Why can't I vote? What have I done wrong to deserve this?

 

[FPjohn]

Hello:
No M3 in your poll. I voted M6 as a second choice. Both are fine cameras of course.

yours
FPJ

 

[moonwrack]

I suggest a M6 for compactness, reliability (due to recent production so less wear, theoretically) and the convenience of a built-in meter, backed up with a CLA'd M4-P, which has the same framelines and same easy-loading. Use the M6 for colour transparency and the M4-P for mono. With experience (and bracketing) you don't always need a meter for mono.

 

[LeicaM3]

M3.
A rare example of how to get it right the first time.
Cost savings and cutting corners since then.

But you can get a M2 first, so you can see the difference when you get the M3 to match.

 

[Uwe_Nds]

M6 Classic as since yesterday, I am a proud owner.

Best regards,
Uwe

 

[Back2theFuture]

I voted M6 Classic, because after so many times I wanted to buy one, and used more common sense for the time being, buying an amazing M3 DS, using that with my Bessa R for a few years, then ordering an R2A recently, Ive found that an M6 would benefit myself personally more, so Ive sold the M3 and am returning my R2A, and buying an M6 Classic, with my 35 Skopar and 50 Nokton, for me, I dont need anything else. BUT that said, its definitely a personal choice I tihink, like many agree, based on needs, experience, preferences etc, not to mention its a big step for a lot of us without major disposable income to take lol, I know I didnt sleep the night before deciding to buy one.

 

[Damaso]

I just brought another M6 TTL, do I get to vote again? I do like my cameras but I am also looking forward to trying out the rest of the line especially the M3 and M5. For my 30th birthday next year I hope to find an M4-2 that was int he bach produced the year I was born just because I think it would be cool...

 

[dof]

I had to vote for the M6 TTL. There are a number of reasons that I truly enjoy using it:

- The built-in light meter.
- From a user interface design perspective, the shutter speed dial turns in the correct direction compared to the M6. (Yes everyone has preferences, however this is a comment on the design principle.)
- The TTL circuit provides the best flash exposures of any camera I have used. (Please do not bother to chime in about how Leicas are only meant to be used in available light - what a load of personal bias that is!)

Of course it also has a few occasionally frustrating quirks of design that are shared by all of them:

- Slow sync speed (flash comment above also applies)
- No dedicated on/off switch. This is the one feature of the M7 that I wish this camera had.

 

[Chris101]

I voted on this quite some time ago. M4-P because it's the M that I have and also because it's very cool, being made in my own continent and all.

 

[edodo]

The M4-P has 28mm and 75mm frameline, plus a transparentclearlikeM4's finder and the brass top M4-Ps (means not on the late serial n° zinc top) has the old accurate frame lines. Now a black paint M4-P wouldn't it be kinda sweet hey?

 

[Henk]

I vote for M4-P, because I have one, and I vote M2, because I finally hope
to buy one Monday. That way I finally can stop switching TRI-X and portra 400 VC in my M4-P all of the time. Love Leica

 

[Maxapple88]

The M4-P has 28mm and 75mm frameline, plus a transparentclearlikeM4's finder and the brass top M4-Ps (means not on the late serial n° zinc top) has the old accurate frame lines. Now a black paint M4-P wouldn't it be kinda sweet hey?

Thank you, finally someone 🙂 I totally agree. Was thinking about stripping down the black chrome and painting black but... what if it goes wrong? Don't wanna take that risk.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

I agree with dof, above. Unless you're invested in the older, smaller shutter speed dial, the M6TTL dial is better. Easier to turn and it turns in the right direction.

 

[johnastovall]

Where's the M3? I was out shooting mine earlier in the day.

 

[thomasw_]

M2 all the way, back then and now and even tomorrow. I still think it is the most versatile classic M. But if you want to shoot the 5cm FL for the most part, the M3 is as good as it gets. But the M2 HAS beauty and simplicity as her defining attributes; not to mention "sturdiness": with the M2, M3 and MP models, the rewind knob seems so sturdy compared to the the M4-like knob. It may not be as quick to rewind, but once you get the knack, rewinding is completed in a jiffy ;P

 

[Nokton48]

I voted for the M2. The liberation is in the simplicity, which affects the "decisive moments".