Advice for a rangefinder newbie

Another general practice I've found of immeasurable help: If you haven't already, visit some secondhand camera stores and handle some Leicas. Make a day of it. Ask to be shown every M-variant you see in a showcase. Peer through their viewfinders, operate their shutters, play with their opening latches and rewind knobs. Take the lens and replace it. Get an idea of how they feel in your hands, and what all this business of cranks and framelines is all about. Take notes, if you're not afraid of being labelled an anorak. (M2: Nice finder. M3: Nicer finder. M6 TTL: Rewind knob hurts my teeth.)

Makes buying one through the mail a lot easier, if it comes to that. And it may come to that- in general, the best prices for reliable secondhand camera bodies are found on fora like this one.
 
Maybe it would even be worth getting a cheap RF camera to play with, just to make sure that the RF way of shooting is really your thing, before lashing out the big money. A Canonet or similar? Anyway, a backup is always useful ;)

Jamie
 
Freddy, I second Remy's thought. And Jamie's.

I prefer RFs, having returned to them recently. I started my re-acquaintance after some 20 years with a fixed-lens RF for about $40. Eventually moved to a Leica. Still have the SLRs though they get little use outside of soccer and sports.

You will appreciate a Leica and be able to assess one a bit better having shot awhile with one of the little RFs, too.

Think transitionally, is my observation.

Welcome to the board!
 
I won't be trading in my old SLRs, my Canon A-1 (I have a beat up Yashica too)I've had since school and means to much to me. I became interested in photography again when digital began to take off a couple of years ago but the whole digital scene is beginning to leave me a little cold. I thought the style of rangefinder photography might re-ignite the passion.

I think there's a Leica store somewhere near the British Museum here in London so I'll take a trip down there this week.
 
There was (still is?) al Leica shop at the Pied Bull Yard. There also was another shop selling Leica's and other brands.
 
I have to agree with 35mmdelux about the M4-P

I have never understood its bad press.Its a great RF camera.
I bought an M7, brand new, a few years back and I have to say was a bit disappointed.This is just my opinion ,because it was a great camera,(so dont start haing a go at me...just my personal opinion)but I didnt regret selling it 6 months later.Instead I bought an M4-P.I had my heart set on another M3,but a few close,reliable,working photo-journalists said "woah dude,try the M4-P.Its a culmination of years of engineering and a totally under-rated piece"
I bought one and have never looked back.
I am a user, not a collector,and yes,my M4-P would not go for as much on Ebay as an M3,but I love it,its mine,and I feel at one with it.A feeling I never got from my M3s or my M7.
I use the VIOOH on my M4-P,which of course gives you multiple choice.I dont think it detracts from my work in any way and I have a Voigtlander Light meter mounted on top of it.
The VIOOH can be picked up pretty cheap on EBAY,so maybe its an option if you want a 35mm lense,and an M3.

Ulyssescat
 
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