Hello to the team. I posted some time ago a post about leica m2 and 28mm lens. Luckily i tried this combination before buying it blind and i realised i cant see the edges of the frame except if i move my eye around. If thats about the leica experience i will pass. At the store i found the leica m2 there was another interesting camera, the hexar af. I wanted to try this camera for a long time and it is light, not so big not so small and i could see the framelines really easy. I could do the compromise and go to 35mm but this camera is old and i have heard a lot about its failing electronics. Is there anyone who can repair it in Europe if something happens ? The cost was 650€ so i dont want it to brick and not being serviceable. Are there any good alternatives on film that dont exceed 1000€ ?
The M2 does not support 28mm frame lines; 28mm was not an in-built frameline set until the M4-P. The best Leica M for use with a 28mm lens is the Leica M6TTL 0.58x as the lower viewfinder magnification lets you see to the 28mm FoV easily and with room for glasses wearers beyond that. Unless you're willing to fit an accessory viewfinder. I wear glasses too, so when I'm using nearly any other M aside from the M6TTL 0.58x, I fit an accessory 28mm viewfinder for comfortable framing.
My current M film bodies are the M4-2 (supports 35, 50, 90, and 135 mm frame lines in a 0.72x viewfinder) and M6TTL 0.85x (supports 35, 50, 90, 135 mm frame lines with more magnification which nets a larger focusing patch and slightly better focusing accuracy). With both of these, I fit accessory finders for lenses shorter than 35mm.
It seems you want to stick with a film M or other film camera.... BUT if you go to a digital M, pick the M typ 240, 246, M10 series, or M11 series bodies. With all of these, you can fit an accessory optical finder if you prefer that way of viewing, or use a Visoflex EVF. Once you have the latter, the optical finder framelines don't really matter at all because you're viewing through-the-lens like an SLR, but you have the Leica M body form factor instead of an SLR form factor body. (Or just eschew the optical viewfinder entirely and go for the M EV1, which conveniently puts the EVF in the body; nothing to add.)
(Since I have the M10-R and M10 Monochrome, and the Visoflex 020, it might seem redundant to buy an M EV1, but I suspect my next Leica purchase will be for that since its built in EVF is much more convenient. Of course I'd still have to compromise in yet another dimension: the Visoflex 020 on either of the M10s nets a tiltable viewfinder head so makes it easy to work with when the camera is going to be low to the ground or on a copy stand...)
I like my choices of M4-2, M6TTL 0.85x, M10-R, and M10 Monochrome. I know nothing of the Hexar AF other than what I've read on line, so I have no opinion of it or comparison with it. I had Leicaflex and Leica R equipment for a time, still have several lenses from that system that I adapt to the M (and to Hasselblad X). The only 35mm film SLRs that approach Leica M body size are the Olympus OM-1/2 and Pentax MX/ME as far as I recollect, but they're not capable of using Leica M lenses due to much greater mount registration (body depth from mount to film).
If you want to use Leica M lenses, don't like the M series frame line optics, and will use a digital body, you have more options. The Sony E mount and Nikon Zf mount are good options; there are others as well.
Forget about GAS. Just buy what you want to shoot with, whatever compels you to make photographs, and buy that. Then go out and make photographs.
G
