sojournerphoto
Veteran
Yes, I like little prints too. Mine would be only 6 by 7 from the Mamiya.
What paper do you use from office depot?
Mike
What paper do you use from office depot?
Mike
Vince Lupo
Whatever
You can use Crane 24lb Resume, or Crane 32lb Premium (either the white or ecru, depending on your taste). They're both 100% cotton (the most important thing), and they hold up in water.
sojournerphoto
Veteran
Thanks Vince
Mike
Mike
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Vince Lupo
Whatever
Woo-Hoo!
River Dog
Always looking
Unwrapping is the best bit 
"No, honestly darling it was a bargain and I actually save money in the long run!"
"No, honestly darling it was a bargain and I actually save money in the long run!"
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Yes that is the best bit! The worst bit is having to charge the battery to use it!
And my wife does know what it cost - but hey, business expense, so it's not coming out of her pocket!
And my wife does know what it cost - but hey, business expense, so it's not coming out of her pocket!
Jealous! Congrats, I think you made the right choice. What were you able to keep from your collection?
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Vince Lupo
Whatever
Thanks - In the long run, I think I did too.
Presently, this is what I've decided to keep, film camera-wise:
Leica III
Leica IIIf Red Dial/Self Timer w/grey vulcanite and Leicavit
Two Exakta VX bodies and a few lenses
Two Hasselblads (500C & 500CM)
Contaflex TLR w/4 lenses etc
KW Reflex Box
Some Miscellaneous Cameras (Moscow 2 folder, a Kodak Retina, Super Altissa, Nikonos III)
As well, I have a bunch of Leica / Leica mount lenses, so no immediate worries there.
Still to sell are:
Robot Royal 36 kit
Contax II kit
Kiev III kit
Multiple Exakta cameras and lenses
Hasselblad 500 ELM and 150/4 CF Sonnar
Think that's about it.
River Dog
Always looking
I was looking at a Varex VX (Pancolor f2), Varex IIa (Biotar f2) or Exakta V (Tessar 5cm f3.5) because of their looks mainly. How did you get on with them, any tips, any favourites? I use all my film cameras, so operation and IQ is important.
kokoshawnuff
Alex
Definitely keep your favorite Leica film camera (whichever that may be) and a medium format. An M9 is the way 98% of all Leica users would go if they had the funds to do so, but to get one at the cost of all your film cameras would be a mistake. Film is great and if you abandon it as quickly as you are planing, you won't be happy.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
For pure looks, this is my favourite:
Exakta II (Version I) w/Zeiss eye-level prism. If you don't mind the fully removable back door and fixed waist-level finder (hence the Zeiss prism), these are super-duper cameras.
I've always liked the VX Version I -- it has the hinged back, but it also has that beautiful curved advance lever. Plus, to rewind the film you flip a lever just next to the film advance lever. With the later ones (VXIIa, for example), you have to hold a button down to completely rewind the film, which I find really annoying.
What I'd watch out for is pinholes in the shutter -- fairly common, particularly with the second curtain. As well, I'd avoid the later cameras like the VX1000, as I just don't think they're in the same qualitative league as the earlier ones (though I'm not totally up on the RTL1000, as I've never used one). Get the best one you can possibly get, and you will be rewarded with a great camera. My repair person (Frank Marshman) says that they're actually pretty straightforward to work on, but oftentimes good shutter curtains have to be scavenged from other Exakta bodies to make a good set.
Lenses -- my favourites are those early 50mm lenses (the Tessars, Xenons, and the Exaktars), and the external auto Schneider 50/1.9. Also, the Kilfitt 40mm Makro-Kilars are quite versatile and very sharp. Telephoto-wise, I like the Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8 -- tack sharp. The 75/1.5 Biotar is magical. Wide angle, I like the Schneider 35/2.8 Curtagon. Steinheil and of course Angenieux made some beautiful lenses for them too.
Admittedly, they are not speed cameras, but if you want speed there are plenty of other camera options out there. As well, the ergonomics take a bit of getting used to. But I've been using them since I was 12 (33 years!), and they can be as addictive as Leicas. Did you know that at one time there were more lenses made for Exakta than any other camera system? They were arguably 'the' SLR system to have during the 1950's, but unfortunately they didn't keep up with the competition, and as we know Nikon, Pentax, Canon etc passed them by. I still love them though!
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jky
Well-known
Congratulations, Vince. Tell us what you think after a bit of use.... it's a fine camera.
So I ended up selling off seven film cameras and maybe a dozen lenses for the M9. All good, usable equipment that will get more film through them than if I held onto them. I still have a good selection left. Nice to know that the money spent on the camera equipment was easy enough to recover.
Vince- I will let you know if it was worth it.
Vince- I will let you know if it was worth it.
astroboy888
Newbie
Looks like you're getting the M9 anyway! Good luck and I'm sure it will make you happy.
I had two M8's and sold them for a M9 last year. All shops here were selling them at no discount for $8692, on top of that most shops did not have ready stock so you still had to wait. I was lucky and got mine for at a slight discount for $8307 after another customer cancelled his at the last minute.
After using the camera for about a week I came to the conclusion that I would have been better off just using a M8 and spending the money on Leica lenses instead.
It's been about 6 months since I bought my M9 and I'm now onto my 2nd. Sold the 1st after the camera developed issues with the memory card. It would sometimes read a card and at other times not which really got frustrating.
My 2nd M9 will shortly be going back to Germany shortly as the shutter became sticky. Over night it became sticky. At times it would not come back up after depressed and now it feels like there is sandpaper every time I press the shutter button. It's also got an issue with the viewfinder alignment.
Do I like the camera, yes for sure! Am I just unlucky with both my 9's, I don't think so as I know others who also have had issue with their 9's. Everything from memory card issues, shutter and paint peeling.
Worst thing about sending a camera in is the turnaround time. Anywhere from 3-6mths. Only benefit is asking Solm to do some custom engraving when the camera is there.
In the past 2mths, I bought a M6 classic which I sold for a M7 and recently added a lovely repainted M2. Bought myself a Epson v700 digital scanner and learnt to develop my own B&W negatives. Yes, it can be a little tedious scanning the negatives, but it's a great journey and fun to boot. I'm enjoying learning as much as I can about film and realize how little I do know!
If I could turn back time, I would stick with the M8 and spend money on Leica Lenses (what a great investment) instead of a M9. Every extra dollar I can save is now going to buying Leica glass. If I had an extra $50,000, I'd dump it all in buying lenses and just keeping them all in their boxes.
Every couple of years, I sell the lenses and make money on them. Go figure.
I had two M8's and sold them for a M9 last year. All shops here were selling them at no discount for $8692, on top of that most shops did not have ready stock so you still had to wait. I was lucky and got mine for at a slight discount for $8307 after another customer cancelled his at the last minute.
After using the camera for about a week I came to the conclusion that I would have been better off just using a M8 and spending the money on Leica lenses instead.
It's been about 6 months since I bought my M9 and I'm now onto my 2nd. Sold the 1st after the camera developed issues with the memory card. It would sometimes read a card and at other times not which really got frustrating.
My 2nd M9 will shortly be going back to Germany shortly as the shutter became sticky. Over night it became sticky. At times it would not come back up after depressed and now it feels like there is sandpaper every time I press the shutter button. It's also got an issue with the viewfinder alignment.
Do I like the camera, yes for sure! Am I just unlucky with both my 9's, I don't think so as I know others who also have had issue with their 9's. Everything from memory card issues, shutter and paint peeling.
Worst thing about sending a camera in is the turnaround time. Anywhere from 3-6mths. Only benefit is asking Solm to do some custom engraving when the camera is there.
In the past 2mths, I bought a M6 classic which I sold for a M7 and recently added a lovely repainted M2. Bought myself a Epson v700 digital scanner and learnt to develop my own B&W negatives. Yes, it can be a little tedious scanning the negatives, but it's a great journey and fun to boot. I'm enjoying learning as much as I can about film and realize how little I do know!
If I could turn back time, I would stick with the M8 and spend money on Leica Lenses (what a great investment) instead of a M9. Every extra dollar I can save is now going to buying Leica glass. If I had an extra $50,000, I'd dump it all in buying lenses and just keeping them all in their boxes.
Every couple of years, I sell the lenses and make money on them. Go figure.
Ronald M
Veteran
If I had to dependent on far away labs, film cameras would be long gone.
Maybe a lighter smaller Nikon for personel use. Or the new Fuji x100.
Or you could learn to develope film.
Maybe a lighter smaller Nikon for personel use. Or the new Fuji x100.
Or you could learn to develope film.
Riccis
Well-known
This is my suggestion, buy the M9 and sell me your M2... Actually, anyone selling their M2/M3 feel free to contact me.
I know we all have our preferences but I still don't understand why some folks state that they prefer digital for their color work. Maybe I'm spoiled by my lab that delivers beautiful color scans ready for print without me having to spend any time post-processing or color correcting.
Cheers!
I know we all have our preferences but I still don't understand why some folks state that they prefer digital for their color work. Maybe I'm spoiled by my lab that delivers beautiful color scans ready for print without me having to spend any time post-processing or color correcting.
Cheers!
sojournerphoto
Veteran
Yes, if that's the case you are spoilt
Here in the UK I've never got good scans from 35mm at the first go, and the cost is rising rapidly.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
This is my suggestion, buy the M9 and sell me your M2... Actually, anyone selling their M2/M3 feel free to contact me.
Cheers!
Unfortunately my motorized M2 is on its way to its new owner in Hong Kong! M5 is gone too, and already with its very happy owner. How about a nice Robot Royal 36 instead?????
Vince Lupo
Whatever
So I had some obvious bedtime reading last night - the M9 instruction manual! Seems all pretty straightforward, and I'm looking forward to getting to know this new camera.
First impressions: Feels as familiar as my other M Leicas, which is a good thing! Definitely a bit thicker, but nothing that makes it feel like a totally alien experience. The black body and the screen seem to show finger grease pretty easily (or unless I just have really greasy fingers, which is of course possible!), and the camera strap is quite honestly (IMO) really crappy -- I think I'll use the one that I bought 20 years ago for my M6! And right now I'm eyeing those Luigi half cases....Mmm, Italian leather.....black with red stitching....
Other than that, so far so good. I'll try to post some initial test shots soon -- my wife has already had enough of me pointing the camera at her (though she's anxious to try it out herself!), and the cats won't hold still, so I'll have to venture out into the world to take some shots!
First impressions: Feels as familiar as my other M Leicas, which is a good thing! Definitely a bit thicker, but nothing that makes it feel like a totally alien experience. The black body and the screen seem to show finger grease pretty easily (or unless I just have really greasy fingers, which is of course possible!), and the camera strap is quite honestly (IMO) really crappy -- I think I'll use the one that I bought 20 years ago for my M6! And right now I'm eyeing those Luigi half cases....Mmm, Italian leather.....black with red stitching....
Other than that, so far so good. I'll try to post some initial test shots soon -- my wife has already had enough of me pointing the camera at her (though she's anxious to try it out herself!), and the cats won't hold still, so I'll have to venture out into the world to take some shots!
River Dog
Always looking
Thanks so much on the invaluable information on the Exaktas - I fear I am going to get addicted to them, for their looks as much as anything. Great info. for me to start another journey. Love your portfolio too!