Advice needed on kit setup

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Lloyd Dabbler

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Hello all! I have been following this forum for a few weeks and wanted to compliment everyone on their community spirit. I've learned so much, just by reading along. Now, to my question:

Because of an untimely passing, I have the opportunity to pick through an old friend's rangefinder gear and I am at a loss as to how to proceed. I have shot with SLRs for a long time, but have no experience with rangefinders. Basically, I can choose whatever I want to keep and the rest is going to my friend's brother, who also gets to choose, and so on. What's my pick without being greedy? The set:
Bodies- M7 Leica black, M6 Leica LHSA shiny black, MP Leica shiny black.
Lenses- Lecia 50mm f2 Summicron, Leica 90mm f2.8, Leica 28mm f2.8 ASPH, Voigtlander 50mm f1.1, Voigtlander 21mm f4 and a Konica 35mm f2 that I'm not sure fits Leica as it does not have the bayonet ears.

Anyway, all opinions are welcome.
 
Sorry to hear about your friend.
Assuming you are just taking one camera and lens, you couldn't go wrong the the MP and the 50 summicron. Perhaps the 28/2.8 elmarit if you add second lens.
I mean, really, you can't go wrong with any of those cameras. Actually the LHSA M6 would be pretty cool as well.
 
It's too bad that you got this opportunity the way you did.
However, it may help you to consider how you have used your SLRs; do you shoot all manual or do you prefer to use AE? Are you primarily a wide angle user or do you prefer other focal lengths?
Depending on how you answer these sorts of questions, you should be able to get a sense of which of the gear night work best for you. For example, if you're used to shutter priority AE, the M7 may work better for you. EDIT: I got the AE for the M7 backwards, but I think this is still a valid approach.
Is the brother a rangefinder shooter? It might be easier to let him have first choice and then go with what's left. I say this as there isn't any bad gear in that list of your choices. Unless some is not working correctly, they are all good/great cameras and lenses.
Can you use the gear for a short while and then decide? That would allow you to really find out which--if any--of those would suit you best.
Rob
 
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I’d want two bodies one with a 50 and the other with a 35, and that would cover 90% of my needs, maybe a 21 indoors and a 90 for emergences, but other folk will have their own ideas. it is really down to what you want to do, I lug a compact 90 all over the place and can’t remember the last time I used it, personally I prefer an SLR for longer lenses anyway
 
All your options are excellent. Assuming everything is in the same condition, I'd follow Rob's advice and consider how you use SLR's. If you typically shoot on AE on full automatic, then the M7 might be the better choice as it's the only one with aperture priority. Otherwise, the choice between the M6 and the MP might come down to personal preference. Which one feels more comfortable in your hands?
 
Based on my shooting style I would choose :
- M7: 21 - 35 - 50/2 - 90 for a 4 lens kit
- M7: 21 - 35 - 90 for a 3 lens kit
- M7: 35 - 90 for 2 lens kit.
I'd say the three lens kit will cover 99% of shooting needs while the two lens kit will cover 95%.
After that is the question of how much you want to carry.
Personnaly I currently use 24 + 35 + 75, but I had a wider choice to start from 😉
 
I'll advise what others have said. For focal lengths choose what you would use with your SLR and a body that has AE if you are used to that in your SLR. All items you listed are excellent and if in equally good condition the choices would be tough to make. Condolences on your friends passing and I am sure that is not making any decisions easier either.

Bob
 
Bill,
Maybe not follow my advice since I got the AE system for the M7 wrong?😱😀
Lloyd, Bill's advice is better!
Rob
wgerrard said:
All your options are excellent. Assuming everything is in the same condition, I'd follow Rob's advice and consider how you use SLR's. If you typically shoot on AE on full automatic, then the M7 might be the better choice as it's the only one with aperture priority. Otherwise, the choice between the M6 and the MP might come down to personal preference. Which one feels more comfortable in your hands?
Click to expand...
 
The MP and the Leica-brand lenses will last the longest and hold their value, in theory. You don't mention the viewfinder magnification but that plays a role in which body is most usable for you.

Personally, for shooting, I'd probably go for the M6 and 35 Hex (you might need an LTM to M adapter for $50) followed by the VC 50/1.1 and the 21/4 if it isn't too much to take them too.

If I were a cold hearted ******* I would figure prices for everything and sell it since all you really need is a M2 and 35mm lens ;-) Donate the rest to charity!
 
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Ultimately, it depends on you and whether you desire/need AE. If I were in your shoes, there's no question: MP + 50/2 Summicron. If you are permitted two lenses, the hexaonon 35/2 in M-mount would be my choice.
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. I've chosen the MP, the Leica 50mm and the 28mm, simply because I am familiar with those focal lengths and the MP to force me back to basics.
 
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