Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
Hi, all - first posting here!
I used to have a M4-P with three lenses that I bought back in '84, but it all got sold in the late '80s to pay the mortgage. I slogged on with my traditional Nikons, but kept dabbling in other inexpensive RFs. A few years back, I settled on a Bessa-T with 40/2 'Cron and 90/4 Elmar-C. I really like the T and get very nice images, but I started missing an integrated RF. (The bulk of what I shoot is railroad action stuff, which is all DSLR at this point. However, I do really enjoy B&W street candids - I just haven't been doing a lot of it lately. I want to get back to them.)
So, recently I decided to start looking for a Leica M body of some sort or another. I've always had a soft spot (in my head?) for M2s, so that was my first area of attention. I figured I'd snag a user for $400 or $500, send it to DAG for an overhaul for another $300 or so, and I'd be set for around $800.
Problem: I really like the Triggerwinder on my Bessa. TA makes a limited number of M2 Rapidwinders, but they aren't readily available and they cost more than the M6/7 version. An online acquaintance put a bug in my ear that maybe an M6 would be a wiser choice, being considerably newer and only slightly more expensive than a M2, so... I ended up buying Erik's M6. It'll be here Monday.
So, I'm set, right? M6, 40, 90... what more do I need right now? Uh-huh. I stopped at our local Wolf Camera, which used to be/still is a pro dealer. They had a few white boxes in the case marked for clearance, all brand new stuff. What do we have here?
Digilux case... ball head... point and shoot... 35/2 ASPH... another point and shoot...
Huh? ASPH? $1039?
I slept on it, had a bit of discussion about it on pnet, and went back the next night. Everything checked out - brand new (never even been mounted on a body from what I can tell), case, hood, all three caps, passport and warranty cards, certificate. I decided I'd go for broke and ask if they could to any better.
$842.39. I think I did OK. 😉
So, I now find myself with a great new body, a top quality 35, two great old-look lenses, and an extremely empty wallet. Life is good!
Now, do I continue shooting XP-2 Super for my B&W work with minilab processing and scans, or do I dig my darkroom out of the boxes and start shooting Tri-X again? Decisions, decisions... but it's fun!
I used to have a M4-P with three lenses that I bought back in '84, but it all got sold in the late '80s to pay the mortgage. I slogged on with my traditional Nikons, but kept dabbling in other inexpensive RFs. A few years back, I settled on a Bessa-T with 40/2 'Cron and 90/4 Elmar-C. I really like the T and get very nice images, but I started missing an integrated RF. (The bulk of what I shoot is railroad action stuff, which is all DSLR at this point. However, I do really enjoy B&W street candids - I just haven't been doing a lot of it lately. I want to get back to them.)
So, recently I decided to start looking for a Leica M body of some sort or another. I've always had a soft spot (in my head?) for M2s, so that was my first area of attention. I figured I'd snag a user for $400 or $500, send it to DAG for an overhaul for another $300 or so, and I'd be set for around $800.
Problem: I really like the Triggerwinder on my Bessa. TA makes a limited number of M2 Rapidwinders, but they aren't readily available and they cost more than the M6/7 version. An online acquaintance put a bug in my ear that maybe an M6 would be a wiser choice, being considerably newer and only slightly more expensive than a M2, so... I ended up buying Erik's M6. It'll be here Monday.
So, I'm set, right? M6, 40, 90... what more do I need right now? Uh-huh. I stopped at our local Wolf Camera, which used to be/still is a pro dealer. They had a few white boxes in the case marked for clearance, all brand new stuff. What do we have here?
Digilux case... ball head... point and shoot... 35/2 ASPH... another point and shoot...
Huh? ASPH? $1039?
I slept on it, had a bit of discussion about it on pnet, and went back the next night. Everything checked out - brand new (never even been mounted on a body from what I can tell), case, hood, all three caps, passport and warranty cards, certificate. I decided I'd go for broke and ask if they could to any better.
$842.39. I think I did OK. 😉
So, I now find myself with a great new body, a top quality 35, two great old-look lenses, and an extremely empty wallet. Life is good!
Now, do I continue shooting XP-2 Super for my B&W work with minilab processing and scans, or do I dig my darkroom out of the boxes and start shooting Tri-X again? Decisions, decisions... but it's fun!
