Cool Leica Gear - gone in favor of digital.

[Tuolumne]

I have decided to become realistic about what I use and what I like. I'm using digital more and more, so I am thinning out my collection of Leica film gear. It's all in wonderful condition, sent on consignment to Tony Rose at Popflash. He has it listed here.

A few highlights:

1) M2 - really excellent condition, recent CLA. I know many people here adore this camera. I could never really warm up to it.

2) M3 DS - from the early days when Leica was afraid a single big sweep of the film advance would break the film.

3) M3 SS - One of my favorite M bodies. The legendary view finder is crystal clear and bright. Also recent CLA.

4) M4 - My second favorite M body. Excellent condition with a recent CLA.

5) M4-P 50 year anniversary model with matching 50mm rigid Summicron.
The M4-P gets short shrift among Leicaphiles, perhaps because it was made in Canada. This camera was my favorite: smoothest, quietest Leica I own. I realize this has alot to do with the vagaries of how these cameras age and were treated, but this one is really sweet.

6) Goggled 35mm Summaron. I used this on my M3. Why I thought I had to look further to find a better 35mm Leica combo is beyond me.

7) Leica IIIf red dial - One word - classic.

What Leica body did I decide to keep? The M5! Anyone who owns one knows it is the best film Leica ever made! I also am keeping my R-D1 and most of my Leica lenses. I may get an M8.2, used.

Yours in GAS,
/T

 

[ray*j*gun]

I also think the M-4p is the best.... both the look and the feel. It would be the last to go.

 

[capitalK]

What Leica body did I decide to keep? The M5! Anyone who owns one knows it is the best film Leica ever made!

I feel bad for taking your second M5 then 😀 I'm very happy with it as a first M... maybe I don't even need to try the rest 😛

 

[maddoc]

I would have kept the M4-P + matching Summicron. You might not use it now or in the near future but one never knows .... 😉

 

[Tuolumne]

I am a slave to my light meter. I just feel more comfortable using a camera that has one built in.

/T

 

[hans voralberg]

Sigh, if I'm in the UK now I'll buy the M3 in a heartbeat. Nice kit you got there.

 

[Austerby]

Coincidentally, I've just done something similar with my gear, but being in the UK I've sent it to Ffordes who are listing it now.

Mine included an M2 (similar experience to yours) and MP 0.58 and M7 with MP finder. Lenses include my Noctilux. 35/2v4, 50/1.4asph and 75/2.

All great stuff but I've decided to keep my M3 and IIIa plus an R3A and a modest set of old and new screw mount, Leica-M and my CZ Sonnar.

I'm also selling off some MF gear too, but not because I'm thinking of going digital - I'm thinking of a Bessa 667!

 

[Tuolumne]

Coincidentally, I've just done something similar with my gear, but being in the UK I've sent it to Ffordes who are listing it now.

Mine included an M2 (similar experience to yours) and MP 0.58 and M7 with MP finder. Lenses include my Noctilux. 35/2v4, 50/1.4asph and 75/2.

All great stuff but I've decided to keep my M3 and IIIa plus an R3A and a modest set of old and new screw mount, Leica-M and my CZ Sonnar.

I'm also selling off some MF gear too, but not because I'm thinking of going digital - I'm thinking of a Bessa 667!

I've always wanted an MP 0.58. Must resist...must resist...must resist...:bang:

/T

 

[Ben Z]

What Leica body did I decide to keep? The M5! Anyone who owns one knows it is the best film Leica ever made!

😀 I'll never forget the workshop I once did with John Shaw. A few guys wanted to talk gear, the typical arguments this-vs-that erupted, and of course they turned to John to settle them. John smiled and said, "By definition if you own it, it's good." Works for me. I probably had every model of Leica they made, save for the finderless ones, at one time or another. I'm down to 2x M4's, those are my faves. And the M8u. And my good news is I've run out of GAS for cameras. My bad news is it's been replaced by GAS for other things.

Good luck with your future acquisitions. Smart of you not to have sold all the lenses...wish I'd hung onto all the ASPH's I had at one time...would sell them for a tidy profit now :bang:

 

[capitalK]

Is there an opposite to GAS? LOG? Liquidating Old Gear? 😀

 

[hermannhkg]

In the years I've sold an M-3, two M-4s and the M6 and never looked back.

Now I kept the M4-2, my favorite!

Regards,

Hermann

 

[35mmdelux]

THKS for the Noctilux and not giving it to Tony. What would I have kept? Well, everyone has their favorites.

EDIT: If I had to downsize radically I'd probably keep my MP, 21mmVC, 50mm Lux ASPH.

 

[kdemas]

T,

I am an M5 user as well. it would probably be my last film M if it came to that (though the M7 is also up there for me). I've done some "inventory thinning" myself and I really only miss one camera I got rid of (R9 believe it or not).

Kent

I have decided to become realistic about what I use and what I like. I'm using digital more and more, so I am thinning out my collection of Leica film gear. It's all in wonderful condition, sent on consignment to Tony Rose at Popflash. He has it listed here.

A few highlights:

1) M2 - really excellent condition, recent CLA. I know many people here adore this camera. I could never really warm up to it.

2) M3 DS - from the early days when Leica was afraid a single big sweep of the film advance would break the film.

3) M3 SS - One of my favorite M bodies. The legendary view finder is crystal clear and bright. Also recent CLA.

4) M4 - My second favorite M body. Excellent condition with a recent CLA.

5) M4-P 50 year anniversary model with matching 50mm rigid Summicron.
The M4-P gets short shrift among Leicaphiles, perhaps because it was made in Canada. This camera was my favorite: smoothest, quietest Leica I own. I realize this has alot to do with the vagaries of how these cameras age and were treated, but this one is really sweet.

6) Goggled 35mm Summaron. I used this on my M3. Why I thought I had to look further to find a better 35mm Leica combo is beyond me.

7) Leica IIIf red dial - One word - classic.

What Leica body did I decide to keep? The M5! Anyone who owns one knows it is the best film Leica ever made! I also am keeping my R-D1 and most of my Leica lenses. I may get an M8.2, used.

Yours in GAS,
/T

 

[dcsang]

I'm curious which digital you're using 🙂

Dave

 

[Tuolumne]

I'm curious which digital you're using 🙂

Dave

My all-round go-to digital is the Panasonic Lumix G1. It does so many things right. Great image quality and very light weight. The lenses are a bit slow but I just slap on an M-adapter and use my Leica glass if I need faster lenses. The 2x crop factor is a bummer, but nothing is perfect. I still use my R-D1, but my old eyes are really getting to depend on auto-focus. For a carry-around camera I'm using a Leica Dlux4. I'm thinking of adding a Nikon D700. I have a lot of great Nikon glass, and I'd like a high-iso, full frame digital to make use of it.

/T