Favorite vs. Greatest Rangefinder?

M3

I was lucky to find a copy (sight unseen) on BH better than the ones that Youxin had at his place. Mine is a single stroke with a serial just under 1,000,000 (Youxin said that it counted as a 1mil+ copy). He also told me that it was CLA'd by a woman who happened to be one of the best Leica techs. I bought a 50 Summicron DR from him (as well as the rear buttons, new leatherette, general cla/cleaning, leather body case, Caps, brass era-specific UV filter, etc.). My speeds needed no adjustment. I should have had him replace the lugs, as I am using it with an A&A silk cord, now.

I love the camera. Is there a greater camera? I have many others. The only one that even compares to it is my Mamiya 6 (though it can break so easily). I have some old Nikon F cameras, they're so hollow and jingly in comparison. I've never used anything so satisfying and perfect as an M3.
 
Sparrow said:
... while not wishing to denigrating their owners, as this is frowned on I understand ... the m5 is in fact big and ugly, and lacking an aesthetic sensibility is probably not the best starting point for a photographer you would think?
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I once saw, somewhere on the web, a picture of someone's black M5 (well-used) with a black Voigtlander 35/1.7 (lots of brass showing). One of the most beautiful kits I've ever seen. :)
 
My favorite was the Zeiss Ikon ZM, mainly because of the gorgeous viewfinder in which I could easily see the 28mm frame lines with my glasses on. And the ZM has the rubber bumper ring around the eyepiece. What is it with Leica and those metal eyepiece rings?? Scratched the heck out of several pairs of glasses!

Best? Well, the one I always wanted but never acquired before I went digital was a black and nickel Leica II. I'll just have to live vicariously through the images of them posted here. :-(
 
Best I own: 35mm, Leica M6; 120, Agfa Record III.
Best I'd love to own: Leica MP. And I like the Zeiss Ikon ZM too.
On the digital side of things, I'd love a Leica M240, but it's not going to happen! :)
 
Sparrow said:
... while not wishing to denigrating their owners, as this is frowned on I understand ... the m5 is in fact big and ugly, and lacking an aesthetic sensibility is probably not the best starting point for a photographer you would think?
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"In fact," beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ask you wife if you have any questions.:D

you want big and ugly, try a Mamiya 6. Still a great camera.
 
Best/favorite of mine but probably not you would be a boring M6 classic with extra frame lines removed and a clean bill of health. Add any 35 VC lens that doesn't wobble and a Heavystar hood and Domke strap. Everything else is just overkill.
 
I have two favorites: M7 (.58) and M9. The M7 is fast to shot. I can do AE or full manual. How much better can that be? I've owned and shot with M5, M4-P, M6, MP. Each is an excellent camera; however I find the M7 exceptional. In all probability I will never sell the M7, its with me for the long haul.

Been shooting with M9 the past few weeks and really like it. For once I can shoot the lenses as intended and for what I paid. I won't trade out the M9 until there is a Substantive improvement, not the incremental BS that has everyone tripping over themselves to get the latest iteration.
 
Frank Petronio said:
Best/favorite of mine but probably not you would be a boring M6 classic with extra frame lines removed and a clean bill of health. Add any 35 VC lens that doesn't wobble and a Heavystar hood and Domke strap. Everything else is just overkill.
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Hard to argue that Frank!

My Leica M6 was a .85 classic and I loved it with a 35mm lens, or a 50mm.

But somehow the little Leica II is still with me while the M6 went so when heeding the saying "The best camera is the one you have with you", my best rangefinder is the Leica II.

Dunno, just suits me best I guess...:)
 
johannielscom said:
Hard to argue that Frank!

My Leica M6 was a .85 classic and I loved it with a 35mm lens, or a 50mm.

But somehow the little Leica II is still with me while the M6 went so when heeding the saying "The best camera is the one you have with you", my best rangefinder is the Leica II.

Dunno, just suits me best I guess...:)
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I used a Leica II for about a year as my primary 35mm camera and it was fun... they are beautiful. But even with a DAG CLA I still wouldn't say that using the rangefinder itself was all that great!

Actually the rangefinders on some of the larger cameras like the Fuji 6x9 and Linhof Technika are excellent but the overall feeling of a Leica M with the short throw of the wider, smaller lenses is the best to me.
 
L Collins said:
"In fact," beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ask you wife if you have any questions.:D

you want big and ugly, try a Mamiya 6. Still a great camera.
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... no, not really that's just an idiom, and of course there are rules ... the Mamiya is big but certainly not ugly, for it's format it has classical proportions and pleasantly utilitarian styling ... exactly like the m5 hasn't
 
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