Sell the M2 and buy an X100 - a mad move?

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rayfoxlee

Raymondo
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As well as a DSLR and a digital compact, I have an M2 and M7 and a few lenses – mainly CV, but also a Summicron DR and 90mm f4 Elmar. The M2 doesn’t get very much use and the main reason I hang onto it is for a mechanical backup to the M7 (which I love using) although I do find the lack of electronics strangely liberating – and frustrating. I have lost count of the times that I have metered with the clip-on CV, only to forget to transfer the settings. Duh! Add to that and my continuing struggle to get the quality from 135 film, I am wondering whether to sell the M2 and get an X100 as my walk-about and holiday camera, rather than lug a hefty DSLR around or have my film in my M7 constantly x-rayed (this happens on cruise ships every time you go ashore and again when you return). I read such great reports of the little Fuji – it may even spoil me for using the M7.

A mad move? What part of the X100 experience might be disappointing? It may just worsen the indecision of which camera to take out, of course!

Any observations would be helpful.


Thanks

Ray
 
What will you get for the M2? Mine is of sentimental value as well so it will never be sold by me. Maybe your M7 really is enough. The X100 is terrific. I don't have a DSLR but I can't imagine taking it on holiday. I could happily travel with just the X100. On another travel thread it was proposed that the OP get a backup X100 as well. Not a crazy idea. Can't you just add the X100 and decide about the M2 later?
 
I have lived to regret every Leica I have ever sold. I have sold many digital cameras and lenses and rarely regret those. I think it would be easier to save up for a X100 and have both. It's your M2 though.
 
I seldom use my M2 but I certainly wouldn't part with it to get an X100.

We're not much help at being logical are we? :p
 
Trading one of the finest cameras ever made, with possibly the best viewfinder of all the Leica M's is not a good choice! Adding a new for this week, digital gizmo, doesn't have to be the so called 1" sensor from Sony! The sensor ain't 1". Yes! KR is right..Someone offered to buy my seldom used M2. Parts are no longer available for some areas..i thought about it over a soda/pop and decided NO. i will keep it.. no matter what.It is still working OK.
Please note i shoot mostly with my M3, which needs a major service.. The M6TTL gets left out because of the lousy frames..
Using film cameras requires Thinking! I shoot more rubbish when it's all auto. I switch off.. Forget to set even ISO!
 
rayfoxlee said:
As well as a DSLR and a digital compact, I have an M2 and M7 and a few lenses – mainly CV, but also a Summicron DR and 90mm f4 Elmar. The M2 doesn’t get very much use and the main reason I hang onto it is for a mechanical backup to the M7 (which I love using) although I do find the lack of electronics strangely liberating – and frustrating. I have lost count of the times that I have metered with the clip-on CV, only to forget to transfer the settings. Duh! Add to that and my continuing struggle to get the quality from 135 film, I am wondering whether to sell the M2 and get an X100 as my walk-about and holiday camera, rather than lug a hefty DSLR around or have my film in my M7 constantly x-rayed (this happens on cruise ships every time you go ashore and again when you return). I read such great reports of the little Fuji – it may even spoil me for using the M7.

A mad move? What part of the X100 experience might be disappointing? It may just worsen the indecision of which camera to take out, of course!

Any observations would be helpful.


Thanks

Ray
Click to expand...

While I can not comment on your situation directly, I can give you the experience I felt when changing from an M6 to the X100. At the time the main driver was time saved in post processing, specifically dev time. I made an incorrect assumption that I would be able to use the X100 a lot like my M6.

I had planned on using the camera in manual focus mode, and zone focusing (like I often did on the M6). I quickly found though that I had miss judged completly how I used the rangefinder focusing system, while I did zone focus, a lot of the time it turned out I made small quick adjustments.

It didn't take long for me to get annoyed at the poor autofocus system either.

The X100 to me was a fustrating mistake. While produced wonderful files, it was a pain to use. This has all become much clearly recently with returning to Leica with the Monochrom, which is a joy to use, and I feel is already producing better images (from a artisitc, not techinical POV) then I ever did with the X100.

That said, you'd keep the M7, a situation I was never in. I expect from your discription and background, you'd find the focusing in the X100 as clunky, slow and de-motivating.

Hope this helps
Peter
 
If you're happy with the M7, then for me, I would not need an M2 also.

The whole x-ray thing gets me down too, but it's psychological mostly I think, I've never actually seen x ray damage on my film.

If you struggle with quality from 35mm film, you could consider what I am doing, and go medium format only, get a portable one like Plaubel Makina, RF645, GF670 etc.

I think your idea makes some sense though, the X100 looks very nice. And if you feel you've made a mistake, you can always buy another M2, they're not that thin on the ground yet.
 
The only thing that's mad when it comes to camera gear is having a specific list of requirements and preferences, and then trading equipment that fulfills those requirements for equipment that doesn't.

If you're going the other way then it's about as sensible as it gets.

What might disappoint you about the X100 is overall speed and manual focusing. I sold mine a while ago when the XP1 came out, so I don't know if firmware updates have improved on things, but I remember the sluggish feel being the only real downside to an otherwise excellent camera. Image quality likely won't disappoint, but I would wait and see what Fuji announces this year before doing any buying. There will probably be a small flood of X100s on the used market should they announce something similar.

I actually just sold my M2 to pay for an RX100. Probably one of the most liberating things I've done in a long time, and I'm not regretting it one bit. Then again I only did it because I prefer my M5 in use and I don't need a backup since I can just grab a different system should it need to go in for repairs.
You sound like you're in a similar position, so unless you have some kind of sentimental attachment to the M2 that isn't related to actual photography then personally I say go for it (whether it's the X100 or simply a different camera).
 
Thought about something similar many times, namely that of keeping my M3 & 50 for my b&w film shooting, while buying an X100 for my 35mm/ colour digital shooting, for pretty much all the reasons you mentioned above. Its hard to tell if you will miss something or not, I've sold 3 M-mount cameras, and only regretted one. If in doubt, perhaps loan your M2 to a trustworthy friend for a while, and see if you miss it.
 
Have Both and Use Both

Have Both and Use Both

Have both an M2 for five different M lenses and a year old X100. I use both and am torn between keeping both. I am torn as to how much money I have sunk in those lenses and sometimes the hassle of shooting film and how great the technology is that the X100 represents.

I spent two months in Nepal and SE Asia last winter and only carried the X100 and have absolutely no regrets. It is now the camera I throw in the bag when I don't want any hassles. And shooting it in auto mode brings home great images about 9 out of 10 times.

If you are not using the M2, then sell it. If you can get a used X100 for $800 or so, do so.
 
I was in your position a month ago except that I have three M bodies including an M2. I sold the DSLR and bought a Sony NEX-7 and use my Leica lenses on it.
 
My mantra to keep me out of trouble over the last few months... "wait for Photokina"

While the event may come and go and I may not get anything as a result, it's kept me from buying into the X100, canon 5D III and some other cameras. And I'm happy :)
 
I love the smoothness of my M2 and their speed of use. I've a GXR + M-mount module that I intend to use in low light or when speed isn't an issue. I haven't used it yet prefering the ergonomics of the Leicas, and the characteristics of film.
Pete
 
About a year ago i started to sell all the gear I never used (at least the stuff worth selling). I found it kinda liberating.
 
The x100 is a wonderful machine. If you don't particularly feel connected with the m2, do it. They're just cameras and you can ALWAYS buy it back if you feel you made the wrong decision.
 
I'd say do it.

I sold a bunch of stuff to get my X100 - I kept my CL and all the lenses, but if that had gone, I don't think I would have missed it.

The X100 is a classic camera, I reckon. The first digital I've had real affection for. Not perfect, but unique.
 
I wouldn't think of it as selling an M2 to get an X100. If you have an M2 you are not using, I would have no concerns about selling it. Let somebody else get enjoyment from it. I sold an M3. It gave me good service and I enjoyed it while I had it, however got some other cameras and it ended up on the shelf. Have had no regrets that I sold it.
 
mine was a slightly different situation, but i actually traded my much loved but too big canon 5d for an x100. and ive never regretted it. though i rarely used the 5d as an AF camera, i didnt see much difference in AF speed with the x100. re IQ, the x was similar up to 800, then easily surpassed the 5d.

the x100 is NOT a manual focus cam, so complaints about this feature, while somewhat accurate (there are easy workarounds) are wholly misplaced.

as a travel camera, it was the only digital i brought on an extended holiday in france this year--great decision! small, compact, unobtrusive, it proved a great pano, street and indoor lowlight tool. the results were excellent, and the experience of one FL was liberating and illuminating as it forces one to become a better photographer.
tony
 
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