Considering my first Leica M body (film)

[valdas]

I agree - any M is a great camera, but so is Zeiss Ikon. My route was the opposite - I already had M6 Classic and M4 and then bought Zeiss Ikon. In fact, I use more ZI and Bessa R4M than my Leicas… I cant’t explain why, maybe auto exposure in ZI is the feature that I like a lot - it makes street photography somewhat more convenient.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

I agree - any M is a great camera, but so is Zeiss Ikon. My route was the opposite - I already had M6 Classic and M4 and then bought Zeiss Ikon. In fact, I use more ZI and Bessa R4M than my Leicas… I cant’t explain why, maybe auto exposure in ZI is the feature that I like a lot - it makes street photography somewhat more convenient.

I have often thought to myself that the only camera that could coax me out of digital and back into film would be a Zeiss Ikon. I don't hunt them on eBay or other web based sources and I've never see them available in my local wonderings but someday one will pop up and then I'll have some decisions to make.

All the best,
Mike

 

[pixie79]

The Zeiss Ikon has a wandeing rfdr square! I did Not like using one!

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Not sure why you say the M7 can't be serviced. DAG did mine recently.

I was referring to mechanical components all other M cameras share in common. If the M7's electronic components (mechanical in other M cameras) break/die, they cannot be serviced or replaced.

 

[deadrangefinder76]

M2 all manual even the film counter 🙂

btw, film counter when you mess it up during the shooting, its an adventure.

Excellent!😊

 

[BillBingham2]

Having owned an early M6 and an M4-P, M4-P.

If you want to go old school, Rewind Button M2.

B2 (;->

 

[chuckroast]

M2 all manual even the film counter 🙂

btw, film counter when you mess it up during the shooting, its an adventure.

Excellent!😊

Other than the counter - which you do have to get used to - I find the M2 no different to shoot than my M4 or M5. I use a spotmeter most of the time so onboard metering isn't a consideration.

IMHO, very wide or very long lenses should be used with aux finders, so having tons of framelines isn't a consideration.

But build quality is. Any M built after the M5 seems to me to me to not be as finely screwed together as the older ones. I recenly played around with a pristine M4-P that had just been CLAed. The canera looked new. But it was noticeably less smooth running the film advance than any of my old Ms.

M2s are a deal right now. You can find then for $1200ish. Even if it needs a CLA, you're still below $2K.

It's not that the newer Ms are terrible cameras. It's just that they are not good values that cost a lot and don't actually add sufficient incremental function to justify the price.

I just spent 2 weeks shooting with my M2 on the Ionian coast of Greece with a 21 Skopar, 35 Cron, and a 50 Cron and it was flawless.

 

[38Deardorff]

I agree - any M is a great camera, but so is Zeiss Ikon. My route was the opposite - I already had M6 Classic and M4 and then bought Zeiss Ikon. In fact, I use more ZI and Bessa R4M than my Leicas… I cant’t explain why, maybe auto exposure in ZI is the feature that I like a lot - it makes street photography somewhat more convenient.

The OP already has a ZI..... now he's looking for an M. 🙂

 

[38Deardorff]

M2 all manual even the film counter 🙂

btw, film counter when you mess it up during the shooting, its an adventure.

Excellent!😊

IMO not really.... i rarely look at the frame counter.... & it's pretty easy to tell when the film won't advance anymore.....

 

[kxl]

I ended up ordering this (Serial #: 300****), build circa 2004? An MP wasn't on top of my list, but as soon as I saw this one, I could not resist. I'll be sending to Steve Choi @ Steve's Camera (he's about an hour's drive away) or to Youxin Ye (I've exchanged emails with him) for a CLA.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experience and expertise.

-Keith

 

[38Deardorff]

I ended up ordering this (Serial #: 300****). An MP wasn't on top of my list, but as soon as I saw this one, I could not resist. I'll be sending to Steve Choi @ Steve's Camera (he's about an hour's drive away) or to Youxin Ye (I've exchanged emails with him) for a CLA.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experience and expertise.

-Keith

Nice score! Congratulations. K, why not run a few rolls of film through it first? In the decades i've used Leica Ms, I've never had a newish Leica that was remotely close to needing a CLA......

 

[deadrangefinder76]

IMO not really.... i rarely look at the frame counter.... & it's pretty easy to tell when the film wonI't advance any

It is your opinion, generally we feel that, and we do , we know what you talkin about, but what I am saying is ''oppps'' where am I? what is my count stop and next one? still a big deal for me, so that I could slow down. I am not just rapidly shoot and shoot til used up. . Especially if you are in the decisive moment, expression like '' oh no I need to reload, wait, ''oh its gone''...bye bye...Lol.

 

[kxl]

Nice score! Congratulations. K, why not run a few rolls of film through it first? In the decades i've used Leica Ms, I've never had a newish Leica that was remotely close to needing a CLA......

Yes, I will likely do that. I was just thinking that a 21-year-old body may be due for a CLA--is a 2004 build still considered newish in the Leica M world?

 

[santino]

You know what, my 1950 something M3 is still running strong without a CLA in decades. Give it s try with slide film and you might be surprised!

 

[38Deardorff]

It is your opinion, generally we feel that, and we do , we know what you talkin about, but what I am saying is ''oppps'' where am I? what is my count stop and next one? still a big deal for me, so that I could slow down. I am not just rapidly shoot and shoot til used up. . Especially if you are in the decisive moment, expression like '' oh no I need to reload, wait, ''oh its gone''...bye bye...Lol.

Fair enough.... I usually know where i am (beginning /mid/near end of roll).....& we'll always miss something when we are reloading. I'll admit that sometimes i'll change films before the end of the roll to avoid missing a moment..... if the situation calls for it.... we can work with 2 cameras....the typical photojournalist theme.

The frame counter system has never been enough of an issue for me to bypass the M2. Like ChuckR..... it's been my favourite Leica M.....

 

[deadrangefinder76]

Fair enough.... I usually know where i am (beginning /mid/near end of roll).....& we'll always miss something when we are reloading. I'll admit that sometimes i'll change films before the end of the roll to avoid missing a moment..... if the situation calls for it.... we can work with 2 cameras....the typical photojournalist theme. View attachment 4873313The frame counter system has never been enough of an issue for me to bypass the M2. Like ChuckR..... it's been my favourite Leica M.....

Cool Thanks!

 

[38Deardorff]

Yes, I will likely do that. I was just thinking that a 21-year-old body may be due for a CLA--is a 2004 build still considered newish in the Leica M world?

A reissue MP in the Leica scheme of things is still a new kid on the block. Mine was also in the same serial # range...
BTW....i'd be more concerned if the camera was virtually unused and had sat in someone's collection for years. It's quite common to see well-used cameras for sale that the description reads "still has L seal" (the wax seal inside the lensmount that shows it has not been opened for service).

 

[Tuna]

Yes, I will likely do that. I was just thinking that a 21-year-old body may be due for a CLA--is a 2004 build still considered newish in the Leica M world?

Congratulations on the purchase.

I have an MP from 2005 - no issues. Not saying yours won’t but they built them right back then so, as was already suggested, running a few rolls through might give you a better idea of spending on a CLA or not.

 

[kxl]

I have often thought to myself that the only camera that could coax me out of digital and back into film would be a Zeiss Ikon. I don't hunt them on eBay or other web based sources and I've never see them available in my local wonderings but someday one will pop up and then I'll have some decisions to make.

All the best,
Mike

What makes the ZI even better is the now discontinued Megaperls 1.3x magnifier, which I had bought for my Nikon FM3A 😉😉

 

[chuckroast]

Yes, I will likely do that. I was just thinking that a 21-year-old body may be due for a CLA--is a 2004 build still considered newish in the Leica M world?

Depends on how much the camera was used and how. Every 20-30 years is likely about right.