Selling my Leica....

jmooney

jmooney

Guy with a camera
Local time
6:13 PM
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
343
Location
Morrisville, PA
View My Gallery
I'm at a unique place right now. I've realized that I currently have 3 camera systems going and none of them is a complete set, meaning that none do everything.

The realization I've come to is that I have the most tied up in my M system. I love it, it's awesome. I love using it, and love being a part of the "Leica Nation." The problem is I'm an amatuer, I shoot because I love to and I have a limited amount of money I can put into my work. Right now I, as I said, I'm in 3 systems and I feel like I can't do anything well.

I've been struggling A LOT with the whole darkroom vs. lightroom issue as well but I think I've settled that. I want to work in the darkroom, the lightroom doesn't appeal to me, I have no rational reason for it. I just want to make my photographs with chemicals in the dark. I think I'm having issue with it because I can't rationalize my decision other than what my gut tells me.

Anyhoo, I have the most money wrapped up in my Leica M system. I'm also trying to get going with 8X10 LF, and I need my Nikon digital system for family snaps and such. I've been using the M6 as my daily carry cam and for things I want to snap, but I could just as easliy do that with a Nikon body and lens and I could share some of the lenses with my digital system.

It makes more sense financially but I don't know about giving up my Leica.

Anyone faced a similar decision before? What did you do? Would you rather have a system that would do all you needed or stick with the Leica because it's a Leica and you love it?

Sometimes I feel like getting rid of all the digital stuff but that's not possible. It's primary use is documenting my daughter's life (she's 3) and my wife scrapbooks and loves being able to print them herself and I do like being able to chimp and see that I got the shot when it comes to my daughter. I also have no color darkroom stuff so all my color work is done as digital.

My real work, my art, my impressions of my life are all done in B&W, I know it's come a long way but I don't like digital B&W conversions. They don't look right. I'm moving toward doing most of this work as contact printed 8X10 but I still need a smaller format available to this work as well.

I know this is total rambling and stream of consciousness but I truly value the thoughts and opinions of my fellow RFF members.

Any thoughts or advice anyone can offer would be much appreciated.

Take care,

Jim
 
Trust me Jim, you don`t want to sell the M6...........

I use digital for most of my paid work (portfolios) but for my work that I do when it`s highly styled PinUp`s and fetish styles it`s always with a Leica and real film!!!! be it from the 1940 to 46 IIIC system or shot with my 1980`s M6 with fast 1950`s Canon and Nikon lenses, I still have my 1970`s Canon F-1 as well as a secondary fill in camera in case something goes wrong, REAL FILM always wins in the end for me and my decisions.......

I would regret selling my M6, or any other one of my cameras right now, I have JUST all what I want for now, except I have a project now that`s going to cost some $$$$ and involve my M6 in a total Hybrid mod and for this I have to take it one day at a time and just save up to buy parts and WAIT a while longer than I want it to be I`ll put it all together, i`m not going to sell something, or sacrifice one of my rare cameras, this I`ll regret later, just to buy gear quickly, I say work with what you have and if you want something new, take your time and save up for it slowly.....

I did make a decision about one year ago, though when I sold my extensive MINOX collection, I had rare Black Paint one`s and complete systems (at least 4) and I sold it all, why? because it was just sitting around as a collectable - (I`m glad I sold it when I did too, while the bubble has burst with collectable Minox at the time being, they are`nt bringing the prices they did 2 years ago).

The used camera market is at a all time low, so cameras are NOT MOVING NOW and it`s a hard time to sell now anyway, so I say hold on to everything for now, you won`t make a fair market price with anything with the depressed economy the way it is now.

Set your priorities and make sacrifices without selling equipment, if you think the M6 is fun and you enjoy working with it, KEEP IT! stick to the M6 and blk n wht film, your going to love yourself for that decision in the long run - you can always sell it lateron once the market get`s back on it`s feet again! 🙂

Tom
 
Last edited:
Sell what you use least.

Sell what you use least.

I have 9 different systems. 35mm leica, 35mm canon, 6x7 Pentax, 645 Bronica, 645 Mamiya, Fuji GSWIII 6x9 and Fuji GWIII 6x9, Fotoman 6x24, Ebony 4x5 and Shen Hao 8x10. I am always trying new cameras to see what i enjoy shooting. Of all the systems my mamiya system gets used so seldom that i decided to sell it. Each system serves a different purpose. I also had a Canon 1DSII but never really liked digital so i sold that camera.
I pic a system based on my mood and what i plan on shooting and to some extent on how i will print the results. My advice is to sell anything that you don't enjoy using or whichever system gets used the least.
 
Too many systems are distracting. Find what you like and stick with it. The grass is always greener where you aren't. Don't let it distract you. 🙂
 
Unless you need the money for any other reason, I don't really see the reason for selling your gear. I don't buy the argument that having several systems is distracting. It's distrating ONLY if you bring all of that gear with you while out for the day; otherwise, you bring one system with you for the day or one a trip, and the others stay at home. No worries, no distraction.

Again, unless there is a financial reason to do so, keep your gear. Wrt to the lightroom v. darkroom conundrum... get over it. Use the darkroom when the mood strikes, or lightroom when that mood strikes.
 
You seem to contradict yourself with your decision - you want to work in the darkroom, but you are selling (or at least considering) a film camera. You love B&W, but you keep the digital. You need to think this through some more - I know it is a difficult decision. Maybe you should keep all three of your systems - I have many more than that, but I won't sell any of them - I would miss each of them.
For film I shoot Nikon 35mm, Voigtlaender Bessa R2A, Contax G2, Canham DLC45, Wehman 8x10 and a Mamiya 645. l love all of them for different reasons. For digital I use a Canon 5D.
 
"Would you rather have a system that would do all you needed or stick with the Leica because it's a Leica and you love it?"

I guess the question is, why do you love it? Because it makes you part of a club? Because it feels good in your hands? Because of its history? Because it allows you to take exactly the kind of photos you want to take with a camera?

Would the 8x10 serve that purpose better? Lots of questions to ask.
 
I've had similar issues and am shooting 8x10 and Nikon digital, but I've owned several Leicas and I regret not having one currently.

One thing that will save resources and simplify your life is to adopt the "one lens per camera" credo. Get over the "need" for ultra-wide and tele lenses and I bet your photos will be better too.

I also dropped down and traded my D300 for a D70, which freed up money for film, Leicas, etc. For what I use a digital for -- exposure testing, family snapshots, eBay pix, the occasional portrait job -- a five year old D70 for $275 does exactly the same job as a $1500 D300.

FWIW, I use a 14" on 8x10, a 50mm on my APS Nikon (helps me match the 8x10), and when I buy another Leica I will probably go for a 35 or 40 for an alternative, semi-wide view. But I'd probably be just as happy with "normal" 50mm on 35mm equivalent lenses -- for all formats.

It simplifies things -- and leaves you time, energy, and money to actually shoot.
 
Last edited:
Ohhh I`ll add this.......since you like Black and White sooo much, look at your M6 and pair it up with your favorite lens (one single lens) I don`t know if your a 35mm/50mm or longer fan, but see it this way - if you could pick JUST ONE lens to work with your M6 pick it! - And that`s the combo you continue to use.....

If I had to pick a lens for keeping on the M6 full time, it would be a
Mid 1950`s Canon f1.5/50mm - EVERYONE should have one of them I think, just might not be enough of them to go around, if everybody wanted one 😉

Tom
 
You can use the Leica for family snaps? M6 and a 35 and/or 50mm lens. is all you need there.

Get a 18-200 and leave that on the nikon 24/7.

Sell everything else.
 
Last edited:
You shoot because you love to and you love to shoot the Leica, so don't sell the Leica!

Shoot 8x10, stick to one lens so that your routine becomes just that, and contact print, using one film so you get used to that. It will become simple.

Your decision with digital is already made, as you are using that the way you wish.

Also, do some Leica b&w work of the family.
 
I recently made the choice and sold my M6.Bought a bessa R3A.It wasnt that hard of a choice to make.The M6 was a great camera but the bottom line is the bessa does the exact same job as the M6 at one third of the cost.If you must have the mistic of leica then keep it .If you need a good camera body that doesnt tie up a lot of money go with a bessa body.
 
Keep your Leica, time will more than likely change you mood and your appreciation of where exactly it fits into your work/life.

Years ago I sold a near perfect Canon system built around F1N cameras and top Canon glass, including several "L"series lenses that I absolutely loved, when I bought a very nearly complete Hasselblad system.

It was a huge mistake that only became clear about a year afterwards, when I realized that I was struggling to do things that were best done with the Canon set-up I no longer had. Sometime it was for technical reasons, but most often it was because of the way that I related with the cameras in different situations.

I found that new kit can focus (contract) your work in new ways, but eventually, it becomes the tool it was meant to be and as your interests (re)expand to a more day-to-day practicality or in new directions, you will need the larger set of tools.

My 2¢...

Cheers
 
you have to prioritze your photography goals. Having a lotta systems doesn't make a lotta sense unless your rich or professional.

I have several Leicas and an F6 to round out my 35mm kit- couple ASPH lenses for my Leicas, and a fast 50 zeiss for the F6. don't need anything else. When I want to power up I have a Hasselblad with portrait & semi-wide lenses making up my kit.

In your case, a couple cameras and couple lenses is really all you need -- a semi-wide and a portrait lens should cover it all.
 
Last edited:
Hmm, I understand where you're coming from. I recently considered selling my M3 to get a Contax G2, but I decided against it. Bresson said it best when he mentioned the Leica was an extension of his eye. The feel of it is perfect for me anyhow, 35mm speaking that is 😛
 
My Leica has been almost unused during a bit more than two years. I wrote and composed the eBay ad, complete with nice pictures to sell it. I always stopped at the lact commt click. I just could not actually do it. Now I am glad I did not sell it. I use it again.

Keep it.
 
i sold an extensive M3 system years ago in exchange for a blad. biggest photo gear mistake of my life (i was still shooting 5x4 back then). this year i bought an M3 from an RFFer and it gets used weekly and is my never-to-leave-my-glovebox tool of the year. i also have a lot of Bessas and even more CV lenses (but not all...yet) which get used for work alongside a leica dslr and an RD. i'll never sell the M3 even if i don't collect all the Leica lenses back again. the mechanical age is never going to end.

-dd
 
Jim I have to start off by saying I really like your avatar image, it has a wonderful warm feel about it.

As far as the question, If you don't need the money I would keep the M. At some point you will want to take a walk with it again.
 
Most of us have sold kit we don't use, because we've too much money tied up in it. That's how I stopped collecting screw Leicas in the mid-70s; I kept only the first Leica I ever bought (IIIa) -- and my Ms, because I used those (and still use them).

You know you use and like using the Leica. Are you as sure about 8x10? I always thought I'd use LF and ULF far more than I do; the 8x10 and the 12x15 may go untouched for a year at a time, and I almost never shoot 4x5 inch. Even 5x7 comes a poor second to my Leicas.

Cheers,

R.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom