Almost decided on what to buy

[BAPIEMAI]

Another Philosophical question...

I have found an M3 with the 50mm f2.8 for 1300 euro. It is a much cheaper outfit that the one I want (M6/7/P with Summicron 50mm).

The problem is that when I decided to spend on a Leica I said to myself: You will get the one you want with the lens you want no matter the cost!

So what do you suggest ? Do I buy now and save lots of money or do I wait untill I can get the Leica I want with the lens I want (or the Zeiss Ikon which by the time will be available even better).

 

[denishr]

The price seems too high....
You'd better wait for a better deal, or try the original gear you want...
I purchased an M6 Classic from USA for $975 a while ago...
And the lens offered above isn't really the greatest. I'd suggest at least getting a Summicron, if not the M6/M7 (it's the lens that counts!)

Denis

 

[rover]

Hmmm, 1300 euro is about $1,680. Here in the US I would expect that is a little much for that combo (just an opinion).

There is a big difference between an M7 and an M3, how important is a meter to you? Will you want to shoot with wide lenses? Is AE important?

I would think you can find a used M6 TTL with a 50 Summicron for less than $2,000 (usd), so not too much more than you will pay for the M3 Elmar kit you are looking at. If that is what you want, I would wait.

 

[BAPIEMAI]

I am surprised about ' would think you can find a used M6 TTL with a 50 Summicron for less than $2,000' And I thought it was such a deal.

Damn prices are cheap in the US !!!

I don't care about the meter or AE I will use an external one as I do with my Mamiya (don't laugh but the meter I use with the Mamiya is my Canon EOS 30 with a 28-70 f2.8, for the Leica I will get a real one)

Actually the ideal would be an M6 or an MP

 

[rover]

A good deal, private sale on Photo.net or something like that, you could find an M6TTL around $1300 and 50 Summicron for $600. It may take some time and luck to see it before someone else does, but it can be done. I don't know if you will get hit with a VAT (we don't in the US, luckily) so that may be another concern.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Watch ebay, I bought a Leica M6 with 50 summicron, 35 summicron, polarizer/hood (the good one) boxes, etc. for 2100.00 usd about a year and a half ago, this is a good time for people that owe tax money to sell off items cheap! I may be the exception but it pays to monitor the auctions sometimes.
I would get the camera that works with the focal length you like the most, if you like 50mm you can get any M body. I have a 50mm/1.4 summilux and the M3 does a great job and focuses it more accuratly than say an M6 .72. I really like wider perspectives so I just bought an M4-P and a VC 28mm/1.9, the M4-P has 28mm framelines so I don't have to get the aux. finder.
If you can control your GAS (Gear Accquisition Syndrome) then wait and get what you want! if not, get an M3 and you won't go wrong either, but that deal you mentioned is a tad high!
Good Luck!

Todd

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Follow Todd's advice, bapiemar. Another thing: buy what you want. Don't compromise because of money... Otherwise, you'll buy to sell again, and, with Leicas, you want to keep the stuff.

Besides, as it was said above, an M3 with an Elmar lens for 1300 euros is a bit over the top. It'd have to be mint, recently CLA'ed, in the box, with papers and looking gorgeous (same for the lens). Check eBay and you'll find that there's a number of M6 and M6TTL going for reasonable prices. And Summicrons can be obtained for around $600-800.

Good luck and be patient when you shop! 🙂

 

[BAPIEMAI]

The M3 is sold (thank god) in it's place in the same store there is a mint M6 which costs 1600 euros. Again I am tempted but here is the problem: I checked the bay and I found lots of M3s and M6s much cheaper but I am not sure if I can trust a purchase from the other side of the globe (most better deals come from the states).

How many of you have purchased your Leicas through the Bay ? Have you been scammed or was everything ok ?

Also in the store they had the CM new for 800 euro. I have to say I almost bought it since I had that kind of money with me. The darm thing was beautiful a small. Do you thing that the purchase of the CM is worth it lenswise ?

 

[denishr]

First, I wouldn't buy a Leica off ebay, unless I absolutely trust the seller, who would also have to be a Leica user and a completely trustworthy person. I'd recommend trying to find one on photo.net Leica forum - there are many for sale there (I bought mine that way, and I'm in Croatia).
Second, I'd definitely pass on the CM (is it a CM or CL?). Try a real camera first - M6 is a good choice, and won't restrict you in the lens choices as much. BTW, you also have to know which VF/RF magnification you want - that's one of the most important things with rangefinders.

Choices with M6 are .58, .72 and .85, if I'm not mistaken. Higher number means higher magnification. You need higher magnification if you want to use longer lens, or lower magnification if you shoot mostly with wider lenses.

I think you should check out some of the better Leica pages (like the Leica FAQ, or Cameraquest's Web site), and get familiar with all the options, possibilities and dangers first, before you shell out so much cash....

Denis

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

The european prices are way higher than what you could expect to spend here in the US. A M6 TTL should run you no more than $1200-$1300 USD depending on condition (excellent to mint). A 50mm summicron used should be about $600-700 USD (exc to mint). Nothing wrong with the M3 as opposed to the M7, depends on how important AP and light meter is to you, but the prices you saw earlier were way overpriced relative to US possibilities. I'd wait for one on Ebay or photo.net and purchase in the US. Or if you have a friend in the US, have him/her purchase in the US for you and ship it out. good luck

 

[ddutchison]

...
How many of you have purchased your Leicas through the Bay ? Have you been scammed or was everything ok ?

Not a Leica, but I did buy a lens (a New in box Rokkor 40/2) from hermanp He's located in Holand, sells a lot of Leica stuff and has been around for a long time. I'd recommend him highly.

Though I've never bought anything from him, another very well recognized Ebay Leica dealer is umana , located In Italy

No doubt there are others who have similarly good reputations, these are two who I would recommend.

 

[BAPIEMAI]

Thanx for the replys. The Leica I want will be with the higher magnification since I'm only interested in the 50 Summicron. Either the M3/6/P are ok for me because I do not care about automation, that is why I will never get the M7 (I would rather get the G2. Battery operated Leica is such a stupid idea).

By the way I saw in the display case a black and a black/chrome MP. Man I want these bad but I did not even ask the price because there is nothing more humiliating than seein a huge 30 year old gorilla crying like a baby ! Imaging that the new M7 costs 3000 euro !!!

The Leica for me is totally for fun, my main camera is a Mamiya 645 1000s and my tool for professional work is (don't laugh) Olympus E-300, my Canon system collects dust since the EOS 30 with the 28-70 is actually bigger than the Mamiya.

Another question: except than the meter (which I don't care about) is there any real difference between MP and M6 ?

 

[Tom Diaz]

Bapiemai, regarding the M6/MP difference: My M6 TTL shows occasional "flare" or "white-out," of the rangefinder spot when light hits it a certain way. Apparently that is a design problem with models starting with the M4-2. It was corrected in the MP and M7. Also, there are apparently numerous other internal mechanical and manufacturing improvements inside, and finally the camera is slightly smaller than an M6. In short, it is a more modern camera while still being a classic Leica. Some people believe the MP is the best Leica ever made or at least the best since the M3. (I would say probably the best ever, because I think in this day and age you should have a built-in TTL meter even in a Leica.)

As you can infer from this, I am in the "buy what you really want" camp. Even a used Leica is so expensive that you're in the big time. Save and wait and get what you want.

By the way, since you're paying with Euros you might want to check out www.camera-exchange.de. I found him an excellent dealer and bought a great Leica set from him at a great price (back when the dollar was a little stronger!).