What was your First Leica and First Lens for it?

[Rangeman133]

I've been shooting my DSLR for about 4 years now. And Been shooting with my olympus xa rangefinder for 3 years. Over time, I find myself enjoying the olympus xa more, and the DSLR gets left behind.

When I joined this forum, it was about the time I was seriously considering to get into the M system of Rangefinders...I had planned to get an R3A and a Zeiss 50mm f/2 plannar. My Budget back then was $2000. But I ended up not buying anything though.

But now I'm back, and I've budgeted myself $2000 again. Not just that, but I've done more research, and have decided to go with a Leica M6, and my first Lens, which will be a 35mm f/3.5 summaron. I would have preferred to get a ver. 4 summicron (with the focusing tab, w/o the built in hood), but can't find one for about $800 or less.

So I decided to go with the M6 and 35mm f/3.5 summaron. Would you recommend this set up?

I like the 50mm focal length, but I feel the 35mm will be more versatile, and force me to think about composition more. Maybe its just me, but I feel a lot comfortable shooting and composing with the 50, than 35. The Olympus XA was mainly just for snap shots. But now I want to actually think about my photography more...hope this new setup forces me to get creative!

 

[thegf]

i got an m6 and a cv 35 f/2.5. it's been good to me (i still have it). then i got a planar 50mm and a nokton 40. after taking it on a vacation and not using it much, i'm starting to think that maybe leica isn't for me. if i had a smaller P&S, i'd likely be more inclined to actually shoot photos.

image quality is awesome though.

 

[KarlG]

I started out in the rangefinder world with a Zorki-4 and Jupiter-8 & then picked up my Canon Serenar 35mm f/2.8.

First Leica was the M4-P and I still love using it (with any of my lenses) - if I were in your position, I would consider getting something like the M4-P or M2, which can be had for around $650 if you look hard enough and then spending the rest on a lens (I would get the Zeiss 35/2 again, but if your preference is for a Summicron, the saving on the camera body should pay for it!)

 

[kiemchacsu]

My first Leica was a Leica M6 classic and I am still using it. I was lucky enough to find a mint complete in box M6 in an small town in Germany back in 2009 when I was travelling there, with the price 600EUR. The camera had to be on the shelf for a couple of months before I got my first Leica 50/2.8 Elmar (old one). It's a good lens but finally I sold it because at that moment I had three 50mm lenses: 50/2.8, 50/2 collapsible and 50/2 tabbed version. The 50/2 version 4 still remain with me now.

 

[healyzh]

My first was my M6 TTL, and my first lens a Soviet made Jupiter-8 50mm f/2. While it's a good lens, it has ergo issues, in that it's not as effortless to use as my other lenses. Personally I'm inclined to recommend a Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 MC as your first lens. It's a solid performer, not perfect, but quite close. Another thing I like about the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 is it's equally good on my M6 TTL, and my M9.

Probably my best bargain lens is a 1935 Leica Summar 50mm f/2 I picked up recently for $200. The class is exceptionally clean for a Summar. It's a fun lens, and one I need to use more.

 

[Shac]

A used M3 and 50 Rigid in 1971 - sold it b/c of a light leak that was difficult to find. But the disease had struck & 4 years later an M4 appeared - the rest is history

 

[maddoc]

M6 + 35mm Summilux-M pre-ASPH. The lens stayed and the camera sold, preferred the M4-P over the M6. 🙂

 

[david3558]

M6 TTL .85 + V3 Summicron 50/2. That was a month ago, I now have the same lens and the MP .72

 

[shyoon]

Started off with an M4 with the 40mm Rokkor, then upgraded to a 35mm Summicron. Ultimately replaced by a Mamiya 7 with the 80mm.

 

[david3558]

Nice, the M2-R is really cool 🙂

 

[Robert Lai]

IIF with a LTM Summicron 50 (1st version) collapsible that DAG overhauled.

 

[merciless49]

I had a Leica M3 DS and VC 40mm f1.4 MC version on it. Awesome combo, but I had to sell the body, still clinging onto the lens though.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Mine was a Leica M2 lever rewind with Canon 35mm f/2.8 (chrome), 90mm Elmar and 135mm Hektor. They all came together for a price I couldn't pass up.

Since then it's been a GASsy downhill slide...
DR Summicron
M2 Rapidwinder
M4
10.5cm /2.5 Nikkor
Canon 50/1.4
Canon 35/2
UC-Hexanon
ZM 21/2.8
35/3.5 Summaron
SA 21/3.4
ANOTHER SA 21/3.4
CV 75/1.8
90mm T-E
Canon 50/1.2
CV 15/4.5 x2
135/2.8 Komura
M8
M9
M4-P

Phil Forrest
(no, I don't own all that gear right now.)

 

[jazzwave]

M4-P with CV 35/1.4 Nokton....

 

[kokoshawnuff]

an M6 and a few Voigtlander lenses (Nokton 35 f/1.4, 75 f/2.5). Still have the camera and a few more, but now several modern leica lenses, and some screw-mount lenses....

 

[sc_rufctr]

Late M3 and DR Summicron. That was a long time ago.

Still have and shoot both. (were did the years go?)

 

[jdriffill]

I bought an M6 and an Elmar 50mm f2.8 in 1999. I have bought many other cameras and lenses since, but, with the benefit of hindsight, I need not have bothered. Experimenting with all this different equipment has been -- and remains -- great fun, but when it comes to actually taking photographs, I keep on using the same few things.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

an M4 + 1.5/50 nokton. in hindsight, I would have preferred a 35mm first but the nokton's still a great lens.

 

[luuca]

I abandoned the dslr world and I started with an used MP and a summicron 35 v4

and still this is my favourite couple

 

[Frontman]

I actually started out with a Leica copy, a Zorki 1 with an Industar lens. The shutter was full of holes, but otherwise it worked. I shot a lot of film with the camera, and had fun shooting with something so primitive.

Then one day I was looking around a used camera shop and came across an old Leica IIa. The price was cheap as the base plate was missing. It was worlds better than my Zorki, far smoother and quieter. I bought the camera, and then used a base plate from a Zorki parts camera.

From the IIa I moved to the IIIc, and then I got an M4, and M6, another M4, and countless Canon P, 7, L types, then Nicca, Leotax, Yashica, etc. In my backpack now is an M4 with a Canon 50/1.2, and a IIIc with a first model Summicron, oh, and a Hexar AF.