Dreaming of a leica M

Patrick,
One of the best sources for quick M system information is actually one of our RFF sponsors:
http://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm
http://www.cameraquest.com/mlenses.htm
IMHO, the best "bargains" around are the Canadian M4's, especially the M4-2. Collectors seem to place more value on the German made bodies, but I've never seen any evidence that the Canadian models are inferior in any way. The M3/M2 still had brass gears, and as a result, more of that Leica "feel" to them. M4 and later changed to steel to accommodate motor drives. Before selecting a body, you need to consider whether or not it will need a $300 CLA, and figure that into your equation. If you need the CLA, try DAG Camera. If you sink $2-3k into a new M7 or MP or whatever, you are going to be afraid to scratch or harm it in any way. This will inhibit your photography. And the previous advice about exposure and metering is very wise. It's easy for a meter (internal or external) to become a crutch and not a tool.
 
I believe the M4 has brass gears and is not suitable for use with a motor drive. The steel gears started with the M4-2. If you are looking at meterless Ms then I can say I like the M4 but can't compare it to other Ms never having owned them.

Bob
 
Nikon Bob said:
I believe the M4 has brass gears and is not suitable for use with a motor drive. The steel gears started with the M4-2. If you are looking at meterless Ms then I can say I like the M4 but can't compare it to other Ms never having owned them.

Bob
Click to expand...
I stand corrected on the original M4, which I don't own. I do have a Canadian M4-2, which has the motor connection, and steel gears, I presume. It's nice, but the film advance is not as smooth as my brass-geared M2 or M3. The M4-2 is a darn good workhorse for the money. I don't mind taking it and using it everywhere.
 
Mike

I did not mean to sound abrupt it was just that I have the M4. The M4-2 seems to have had some bad press when newly released that is not deserved judging by what current owners are saying. This may tend to make it a real bargin for a very useful M model.


Patrick

You may find this useful also http://www.nemeng.com/leica/ndx_m.shtml .

Bob
 
M3 if you don't need meter. Classic M6 if you don't mind having a meter ... actually I didn't find the meter a bad thing to have and what I do is just like what ppl who have handheld meter would do ... whenever the light changes (e.g. walking into a street with high buildings around) I will point my M6 or already-sold Bessa R2 to ground and adjust shutter/aperture accordingly, I will then just point-and-shoot before I walked out of that street 🙂 Zeiss Icon should be a nice camera but I think there won't be too many used (anyone has a new one yet? ) ones available ...
 
Get an M2/M3 (600-700) and save your money for the glass! Use a handheld meter and you won't miss as many shots fumbling with the shutter speed dial and apeture, just meter once or twice and open or close a stop as the light changes (much faster with better success) good luck!

Todd
 
If you're used to the internal metering, go for a metered Leica.

You can also get the meterless body and see how you like it. It's never a loss, because you can sell these cameras fairly quickly.

And now, here's the twin sister to Ralph's camera! Notice the collapsible 'cron...
 
Well... It is a weird debate if people want internal meter or not... I have a MP and sometimes I find the meter a bit distracting, so I just take the battery out! Easy as pie... (don't know why people say that because pie is hard to make...)


Flowen
 
Justin,

You mean the MP that just finished the auction a while ago with a starting price of like $30000 something? 😛

I don't even know if people bid on it.


Flowen
 
Flow said:
Well... It is a weird debate if people want internal meter or not... I have a MP and sometimes I find the meter a bit distracting, so I just take the battery out! Easy as pie... (don't know why people say that because pie is hard to make...)
Click to expand...

Not weird, really, Flow. Not everyone can afford to spend several thousands of dollars for an MP, though several hundreds for a meterless M3/2 and an MC/MR meter is in the reach of many of us.
 
RML said:
Not weird, really, Flow. Not everyone can afford to spend several thousands of dollars for an MP, though several hundreds for a meterless M3/2 and an MC/MR meter is in the reach of many of us.
Click to expand...

Oh no... I just thought the discussion sounded more like if people thinks the internal meter is distracting or not. That is why I post that...


Flowen
 
patrick,

I'd get a metered one as you originally suggested.
If it turns out you like a separate meter just remove the battery.
Hence you'll have the choice after you buy the kid and can always change later on in life (if you buy one you're likely going to stick to it for a while).

Good luck with saving.
(On ebay an M6's do sell under 1000 Euro if you are patient)

Mad_boy
 
mad_boy said:
patrick,

I'd get a metered one as you originally suggested.
If it turns out you like a separate meter just remove the battery.
Hence you'll have the choice after you buy the kid and can always change later on in life (if you buy one you're likely going to stick to it for a while).

Good luck with saving.
(On ebay an M6's do sell under 1000 Euro if you are patient)

Mad_boy
Click to expand...


You could buy a metered body for say 1100 USD (M6) or buy a non metered for 650-700 USD (M2/M3) and add a VC meter II for 145 USD, lets see thats 845 dollars which leaves 255 towards a nice summicron or you could get the VC 35 pancake II, 40 Nokton or a nice Canon 35/2.8, or......

This is assuming that Patrick is a cheap a$$ bastard like myself that likes to shoot his cameras and not fondle them, not that there is anything wrong with being a leicabater 😀 😀 😀

Todd
 
Patrick,

As mentioned earlier, the M7 is the only M with AE. I've had one for a little over a year now and love it. It wasn't cheap, but it was probably not all that much out of line with purchasing a new M at any time in the last 50 years, if you take inflation into account. Another justification is that its less expensive than the current professional digital models from the major players and, unlike them, will probably still have some value 8-10 years from now (as a collectable, if nothing else.).

Tom
 
Im gonna save for a M7 maybe by the time ive got the money the digi M will be out.. cheers guys..
 
Patrick,

there is a flaw in your plan.
If you save for an M7, and the digital M would be indeed released,
I fear that you will need to save for much mich longer.

Why not go for it all the way then.
Use your current savings to buy Leica actions (at 2,5 Euro cheap at the moment 🙂 )
and continue to save in the mean time.

If Leica survives and brings our a successful digital M the share price will have gone up so much that you can actually afford it 😛 .
If they go bust :bang: you use the new savings to get an M3 🙁 .

mad_boy (well deserved name for this post!)
 
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