Advice for a student and film lover! [Film Leica Advice]

S

Seraj

Student of Photography
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Hey all!

As you'll see I am new to RFF, but I figured this might be a good place to get some advice.

I am a art student and a photographer on my own time. I shoot film for school and digital personally with a Nikon D800. I am looking to invest in some film equipment as I tend to find myself enjoying the manual processing of images a lot more then I do working in the digital darkroom. I have access to a darkroom, etc.

I want to get a Leica M. I have drooled over them for many years, and the Monochrom now has its own savings account in my bank where I deposit little bits to eventually get one.

But I want a film M! I want a film M that will last me as long as I feel like having it around. I also want to challenge my own technique, teach myself some new things, and become a better photographer.

With say a cap of 2/2.5k what do you think is my best choice?
I am automatically drawn to a M3 + Summicron 50mm f/2 + Light Meter. Call it some homage to Cartier-Bresson (whom I love) and the classics, but it appeals to me.

Thank you in advance.
 
It looks as if you have already decided on the M3+Summicron combination, and money is of no object (from what you say), so go for it. It will last you a long time, if you get your hands on a relatively excellent condition one that has not seen a hundred CLA's. Contrary to popular belief, Leicas don't NEED constant overhauls ...
 
If you're a 50mm shooter, an M3 & 50mm will be perfection, or at least it is for me. If you're unsure whether you could live with just a 50mm, then perhaps an M2 for some added flexibility. Either way, if you want to challenge yourself, a meterless M is a great teacher. Get yourself a single M & lens, and spend the rest on film & paper.

Welcome to RFF & the best of luck with whatever you choose :)
 
If you want metered, M6

If you want unmetered and:
fast reload/rewind but optimal fondling, M4
fast reload/rewind for cheap, M4-2 or M4-P
only shoot 50mm (or longer focal lengths), M3
want to shoot 35 without an accessory viewfinder, M2
 
Its less that money is no object, more that for the next few years of my education I will continue to use film as a medium. I also want to continue to use film as a medium for the rest of my life assuming it remains available, so I want a camera that lasts.

I'm just curious if there were suggestions towards another camera. M4/M6TTL .85 etc.

Edit:

Also any suggestions as to where to buy one? I've been peeking at KEH, Adorama's Used, and B&H Used.

I saw some on Ebay that seemed tempting, but I am not the biggest fan of Ebay.
 
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You cannot go wrong with m3 and 50 summicron.

I assume you want a 50mm lens and are not considering other focal lengths? The 40mm summicron is very nice too, but is slightly wider. Consider the other 50mm lens offerings from zeiss, voigtlander, and the 50 m-hexanon too if you want to save money. Also consider carefully which 50mm summicron version you want. They all render differently and there are quite a few versions in your price range. You should be able to afford any other than the new and very expensive APO version.

The sekonic l208 is a fantastic tiny handheld meter and would be my choice. The l308b is also good. Both simple and easy to use.

If you want a meter to attach to your camera, the voigtlander vcii is a good solid choice.

If you plan to branch out into wider lenses, the m3 is not a great choice unless you want to use optical viewfinders. For 35mm and 28mm focal lengths you should probably get a different camera. Wider than that and you are likely using an optical vf anyway so the m3 is fine.

If you want a built in meter and still a high magnification, go for a .85x m6.

Any film m in good condition should last ages. I wouldn't worry about that.
 
I am repeating myself I know. Look at the classifieds, there is an Elmar 50mm and a M5 for sale from the same member in two ads.

I would get that one, but that's me ...
 
Do you happen to wear glasses? If so, then choose a lesser magnification finder. I wear glasses and the 50mm frame seems optimal with the standard .72x finder. the 35mm frame is already a bit hard to see as a whole and 28 would be impossible if my camera had one.

In the M3's .92x finder, the 50mm frame should look roughly the size of the 35mm frame in a .72x finder. Or so I hear.

Consider the fact that the classic M3-2-4-s are very old at this point and not all of them have aged well. Looking for an M6/6TTL might make more sense, especially if you want a meter anyway. But few Leica owners base their choices on practical considerations alone :D
 
For Leica M mount cameras, I've had M3, M6, MP, Zeiss Ikon, and Bessa R4A. The favourites are M3 and Ikon. The M3 for it's beautiful simplicity, the Ikon for it's modernity. The Ikon has a metal shutter (no worrying about burning it in the sun), great finder, aperture priority etc.

If you want the M3, you won't regret it. I'd advise to buy from a reputable store or user here though. They are old cameras, and getting one with faults is easy enough.

For $2k, an M3 plus lens is easily in reach, an M6 is too.
 
I would say, that depending on whether you are more of a street shooter or more of a people's shooter, you should start with the choice of a lens. In the first case, I would go for a Summicron ver 3 or 4, in the second case for a rigid or DR Summicron - or, if you can squeeze it within your budget, the 50 Summilux pre asph. An M4 is ok for 35mm and 50mm, if you do not wear the glasses - with glasses the 35mm frame starts getting tight. The M3 is great for 50mm and good for 90mm, but useless for 35mm. Personally, I would choose the M3 single stroke, with a DR Summicron, complete with goggles, for the times, when you want to come in closer. The reason is simply, that this lens has a unique rendering, no longer available in current offerings, and is built like a tank. Do not forget the reversible lens hood with cap and a good quality yellow or yellow green filter, multicoated. For the light meter, I would use a digisix - very small and light, and learn to take incident readings. Some Tri X ( Arista Premium 400), d76, and you are set.

DR Summicron+ Tri X


2008050817 by mfogiel, on Flickr
 
kshapero said:
M3 and a cron. heaven
Click to expand...

Yes, this would be a good choice. I prefer the M2 and 35mm Summicron if limited to one focal length.
I'd recommend these over a camera with an internal meter. I think the use of an incident meter combined with sunny 16 technique will teach you a lot about lighting that you will miss by regarding an internal meter. What you learn about light in this period of film will stand you in good stead for your future photography.
Pete
 
For the budget you have you can get a new Zeiss body and a 35mm. Not knocking the M3 but it is over 50 yrs old and you would need a meter. The Zeiss also gets you a GREAT viewfinder. I have had 3 Leica bodies and the Zeiss viewfinder still outshines them all.
 
Spicy said:
If you want metered, M6

If you want unmetered and:
fast reload/rewind but optimal fondling, M4
fast reload/rewind for cheap, M4-2 or M4-P
only shoot 50mm (or longer focal lengths), M3
want to shoot 35 without an accessory viewfinder, M2
Click to expand...

This.


I'd get an unmetered M, since incident meters are much more accurate than reflective meters that are built into camera's.

My choice would be an M2 or M4. Nice uncluttered viewfinder, simple operation and tough as a nail. I have one of each and they both have served as press camera's and simply keep on cracking.

My favorite focal lengths with them are: 21-35-50-85.

I'm planning on getting a D3200 w/ micro-Nikkor 3.5/55mm in a few months and will use it to shoot outdoors but also in a set-up that allows me to re-shoot my negatives and invert them in software, so I will not need a scanner.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your stay! Good luck on picking your kit!
 
Thanks for all the responses! So I generally shoot with a 50 as it is, my D800 almost always has my Nikkor 50mm 1.4g attached to it. This next project will be a little more aimed at portraiture, people, candids, and even a little self portraiture (whelp).

I am thinking an unmetered M is going to happen. I will probably end up picking up a few of these as the years go by, I have a lot of love and respect for early Leica! I love the shot of the dog! Gorgeous!

As for reputable stores, are there any I should be looking at aside from KEH, B&H, and Adorama?

Edit:

I do not wear glasses, but thank you for the info. I would possibly be interested in 35 later on, but really 50 is where I generally stay.
 
"I am automatically drawn to a M3 + Summicron 50mm f/2 + Light Meter. Call it some homage to Cartier-Bresson (whom I love) and the classics, but it appeals to me. "

That's it. You got it right the first time! Go to the head of the class. And welcome, BTW
 
Why not a Hexar RF? Konica Hexanon lenses are superb and it is M-Mount...
There is also the CLE that is my favourite camera. Light and compact and the M-Rokkor 40mm is a summicron...
But it seems like it is all about the feel of the camera for you and I fully understand that! The thing is that I almost never shoot in conventional sunny 16 conditions. In the subway and on the streets, Aperture Priority has become a must for me and has made my life way easier for the wet prints... More concentration on the scene.
I know I'm spoiled.
 
The M3 has a quality of its own. I also have an MP but the M3 still is different, maybe it's just the freedom from the meter and more guesswork. It will be a great experience for you to choose time and aperture and then meter and see how far you are off.

You'll be surprised how often you could do w/o a meter. You just focus more on the subject and compostition than technical perfection - ok, you should be somewhat right with the exposure and not off by 3 stops ;).
Enjoy your M3 and don't get anything else. One day you will fullfill that longing anyway... she's already called your name :D:D:D
 
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