Decisions - which film body??

[ZoomP]

Guys,
I am currently using my Canon 5Dm2 mostly for candid protraits, family and street photography. Recently bought a Leica Summicron-R 50 f2 with EOS adaptor and got hooked on Leica glass. I've subsequently bought a Summilux-R 50 f1.4 and Summicron-R 35 f2.
These glass got me started about the possibility of shooting film. I've seen some of the scans posted online and it seems like there's something magical and real about films.
I looked at the Leica M lines. Was comtemplataing getting a used M2, M3 or M4P that's on sales. Just bought a Olympus 35SPN to try out but perhaps due to my lack of technical skills, I don't seem to enjoy using a rangefinder and find that I've got difficulty looking at the frames through my glasses. One question... How does one do DOF on a rangefinder? There's no focus point other than the centre right?
I also thought about getting a R body to shoot film with my R lens. Narrowed down to a few.. R4s, R5, R-E or go mechanical with R6.2.
The question now is should I save some dough and go the SLR route with the R body or still get a M body and buy a M lens? Do note my main purpose is to go film.
Your advices greatly appreciated.

 

[elshaneo]

As a start, if you want to go cheap, get the Leica M2 and the Voigtlander VM 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar, and in case you find that rangefinder is not for you, you can sell them back and not lose that much or nothing at all.

I also have the Leica R Summicron 35mm f/2 that I'm using with my Canon EOS 5D Mark II but I'm having a bit of difficulty focusing properly especially in low light situations, what about you? did you managed to find a solution? Thanks !!!

 

[ZoomP]

As a start, if you want to go cheap, get the Leica M2 and the Voigtlander VM 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar, and in case you find that rangefinder is not for you, you can sell them back and not lose that much or nothing at all.

I also have the Leica R Summicron 35mm f/2 that I'm using with my Canon EOS 5D Mark II but I'm having a bit of difficulty focusing properly especially in low light situations, what about you? did you managed to find a solution? Thanks !!!

What's a good price for a M2? Wouldn't it defeat the purpose of buying a M body without a M leica lens?

I have no noticable issue with focusing in low lights. Are u using adaptor with "AF" confirmation chip?

 

[shayallen]

I was in a simular situation as you a few months ago and have scene sold most of my digital equipment to buy Leica gear! I kept just enough digital equipment to keep the wifey happy with kid shots. I just got a M4-P from KEH to go with my M7 and I am very happy with it... If you buy smart you can always get your money back. I also decided to go with Leica lenses as well and am about to buy more!

You are about to take a step which it seems there is no return!

 

[ZoomP]

I was in a simular situation as you a few months ago and have scene sold most of my digital equipment to buy Leica gear! I kept just enough digital equipment to keep the wifey happy with kid shots. I just got a M4-P from KEH to go with my M7 and I am very happy with it... If you buy smart you can always get your money back. I also decided to go with Leica lenses as well and am about to buy more!

You are about to take a step which it seems there is no return!

Bro, how u getting used to RF? I got someone here selling a decent condition M4P for about 900 USD. Any issue with Canada made body?

Hmm... Is it hard to go for SLR to RF?

Nice collections of pics you have there... Are all the B/W taken with the leica? How u check for DOf?

 

[Axel]

...
The question now is should I save some dough and go the SLR route with the R body or still get a M body and buy a M lens? Do note my main purpose is to go film...

Whats about buying a film EOS-body like EOS30, 3,5 or so?
You can share all EF-lenses you used on your 5D until now and
shoot film as much you want.
And you can use your Leica-lenses on it like you do now with your 5D.

Regards, Axel

 

[ZoomP]

Whats about buying a film EOS-body like EOS30, 3,5 or so?
You can share all EF-lenses you used on your 5D until now and
shoot film as much you want.
And you can use your Leica-lenses on it like you do now with your 5D.

Regards, Axel

Tat's another option, but I want my Leica!!! Haha!

 

[shayallen]

Getting used to RF was easy I have only had my M7 for 3 months. I learned most everything I needed to know from this forum it is great! All but one of my B&W pics were done with Leica M7 and soon I will post some from my M4-P as soon as I am done with this Darn Roll! Not sure what you mean about DOF there is no DOF button to see what you will get.

You should be able to get an M4-P in really good condition for $900

One more thing about this forum. Some on here like to poke fun at Newcomers and I usually find their pictures are not very good! I find that so funny!

 

[elshaneo]

The Leica M2 should be around 600 to 850 USD depending on cosmetic and mechanical condition. The Voigtlander lens is cheap and awesome value for money, it performs admirably even compared to the Leica lenses ;-)

Yeah I'm using the adaptor with AF confirmation on the Leica R 35mm Summicron, but still it's not clear enough for me when I focus in low light situations, I guess that I'll need to do an eye check-up soon ;-p

What's a good price for a M2? Wouldn't it defeat the purpose of buying a M body without a M leica lens?

I have no noticable issue with focusing in low lights. Are u using adaptor with "AF" confirmation chip?

 

[ZoomP]

Getting used to RF was easy I have only had my M7 for 3 months. I learned most everything I needed to know from this forum it is great! All but one of my B&W pics were done with Leica M7 and soon I will post some from my M4-P as soon as I am done with this Darn Roll! Not sure what you mean about DOF there is no DOF button to see what you will get.

You should be able to get an M4-P in really good condition for $900

One more thing about this forum. Some on here like to poke fun at Newcomers and I usually find their pictures are not very good! I find that so funny!

Thanks. Don't worry abt the newbie thingy. I've been to too many forums already. How does one do rule of third or focus on different part of the frame on a RF? How do you know the Depth of Field?

 

[ZoomP]

The Leica M2 should be around 600 to 850 USD depending on cosmetic and mechanical condition. The Voigtlander lens is cheap and awwesome value for money, it performs admirably even compared to the Leica lenses ;-)

Yeah I'm using the adaptor with AF confirmation on the Leica R 35mm Summicron, but still it's not clear enough for me when I focus in low light situations, I guess that I'll need to do an eye check-up soon ;-p

Will you get a repainted black version M2 with CLA done by Youxin? It's around 850 USD.

 

[mike kim]

Thanks. Don't worry abt the newbie thingy. I've been to too many forums already. How does one do rule of third or focus on different part of the frame on a RF? How do you know the Depth of Field?

Basically, you have to focus and recompose. No big deal, really. As for depth of field, I use the scale on the lens to have a rough idea.

 

[MCTuomey]

maybe ask yourself what's more important to determine: whether RFs are a tool you can use or whether film will be a useful medium for you. if it's the latter, axel's advice is relly good. pick up an EOS 3 or, if you want less intrusion, an A2. that's $200 or less. use your nice R glass. shoot a couple dozen rolls and see what you like or don't like.

if you're thinking RFs might be useful, take shane's advice. of course, you can answer both questions by picking up an M2 and a VC lens, which'll keep the $ commitment reasonable. but i see you've already mentioned a problem seeing fully thru the VF, so going with a film SLR might be a mid-step that makes sense for you.

don't listen to shay. he's on his RF honeymoon and can't be trusted with a rational judgment 🙂

 

[elshaneo]

At 850 USD, if the black paint job looks good and mechanically the Leica M2 is in top condition + CLA by Youxin, I would say that it's a very good deal indeed ;-)

Will you get a repainted black version M2 with CLA done by Youxin? It's around 850 USD.

 

[shayallen]

"don't listen to shay. he's on his RF honeymoon and can't be trusted with a rational judgment "

MCTuomey you are so right I would buy two of everything if I could and work backwards to see what I like! Do you have any money I could borrow?🙂

 

[ZoomP]

At 850 USD, if the black paint job looks good and mechanically the Leica M2 is in top condition + CLA by Youxin, I would say that it's a very good deal indeed ;-)

Paintwork is by Rangefinder Restorations. Good deal?

 

[elshaneo]

Rangefinder Restorations have great reputation !!! That's an awesome deal, if I have money enough right now, I would have been very interested ;-)

Paintwork is by Rangefinder Restorations. Good deal?

 

[Tim Gray]

I would also recommend getting a Canon SLR - a 1V, 3 or Elan 7 depending on how much you want to spend. You get to use film and your current lenses. If in 3-6 months you are still liking film, then look into a rangefinder.

I personally like shooting on a rangefinder, but it's not for everyone. Actually, its not for most people, which is why most of the market moved on to SLRs 50 years ago. Some things like DOF and framing are more casual. If you like taking pictures with just one eyelash in focus, you might be better off on an SLR.

DOF considerations usually go like one of the following for me:
1 - I don't think about it at all.
2 - I'm scale focusing, so I try to have enough DOF (as judged by the DOF scale on the lens) to work with.
3 - I want a shallow DOF, so I shoot around f/2-2.8 on my 50mm, which is enough to give some isolation, without being disruptive.

f/1.4 use is usually low light and falls under number 1 above.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Hey, rangefinders, learning to focus first and then frame, manual wind, setting your own shutter speed and f-stop, and so on...don't forget that some of us went from mixing bear grease with powdered charcoal and putting our pictures on cave walls straight to rangefinder Leicas and film back when we couldn't afford a light meter. You can adapt. If money is a major issue get an elderly Leica. Make sure that it functions properly but don't worry about scratches or brass showing through the chrome or chips of vulcanite (that black leather like covering) missing. Unless one comes with the body in a private sale DO NOT buy a 50 at this point. Get a 35 and an 85 or 90. Nikon and Canon glass is as good or better than Leitz glass of the 60's and 70's and a lot cheaper, even if you have to buy M bayonet adapters. Sometimes they're already there. A beat up mount or some scratches on the glass won't affect your photos but your wallet will love you.

I just posted some pictures on my blog http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com that I shot of anti war demonstrators way back in 1969. I'm still using the same stuff I used then. It's well trained! With a bit of patient searching you can do it for a thousand bucks.

Use the depth of field scale on the lens, or focus on something about 1/3 of the way back from the closest thing you want reasonably sharp. Take a gander at your exposure counter from time to time. You don't want to run out of film at ther wrong moment. Enjoy the buttery smooth wnd lever and the nearly inaudible "thwwwp" of the shutter and the release button's ease to push.

On Saturday morning put your DSLR's film card in a stamped self-addressed envelope and drop it in the post. Now you HAVE to shoot with the Leica. No better way to learn fast! Load the camera, put a spare roll in your pocket "just in case". Tell yourself "I will NOT make more than 3 or 4 pictures of each situation". Try to get maybe 10 good photos on that roll. You won't, but you'll find that your percentage of keepers goes way up.

 

[JustPlainBill]

ZoomP,
Leica SLRs aren't my thing. But you've bought three nice lenses for one. I suggest that you buy a used Leica R body to try them with. A knowledgeable seller should be able to help you get one that suits your lenses. If/when you want to try a rangefinder Leica, I suggest an M2 or one of the versions of M4 and a 35mm lens. My favorite is a 35mm f2.5 Nikkor in Leica screwmount with an adapter ring to the M2/M4 that I've had for more than forty years. Good success.
JustPlainBill