Film M as your primary camera?

[Archiver]

Do you use a Leica M (or even a III) film body as your primary camera?

Do you carry it regularly/most days?

How much film do you shoot with it over a given period of time?

What film do you use?

What are your most used lenses?

(Verging on film vs digital) Why do you choose to use a film M rather than a digital M?

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For me, I don't carry a film M, I use the M9 because I like the convenience and one-time cost of digital. I carry it most times if I'm out, whether just grocery shopping, out for work or with friends. It's usually over my shoulder for work as my stills camera, too. And I always take it with me for interstate or overseas trips if baggage allows. My most used lenses are the 28 Elmarit and 50 Summicron, or the 35/1.4 Nokton if I'm only using one lens or at night. But I'm curious how many here use a film M as their primary/everyday camera.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I use my Leica M5 virtually all the time, normally with a 35mm Biogon f2.8 or Summicron 50mm DR f2. I also have a 28mm Biogon, 90mm Summicron / Voigtlander Apo Lanthar for occasional use, although I much prefer the M3 for those and the 135mm Elmarit I have.

The uses are general photography, street, architecture and landscape, so very varied.

Film mostly 400s like Tmax, Delta, HP5 or Orwo N74 shot at 250 most of the time.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

Do you use a Leica M (or even a III) film body as your primary camera?

Yep, my M2 has been my main camera since I bought it in 2014.

Do you carry it regularly/most days?

Yep.

How much film do you shoot with it over a given period of time?

Varies widely depending on whether I'm working/travelling. Around 25-30 rolls a year.

What film do you use?

Portra400 and a mix of B&W (settling on Tmax100 and HP5+).

What are your most used lenses?

Until recently the Voigtlander 28/f2 Ultron, although I recently bought the Voigt 35/f2 Ultron and like it very much. I usually travel with a wide and the 90mm Tele Elmarit.

(Verging on film vs digital) Why do you choose to use a film M rather than a digital M?

I didn't. Honestly a digital M was never even in the picture.

 

[kram]

Zeiss Ikon Zm is my main camera, because of the light weight, handling and quality/size of M mount lens compaired to SLRs etc. Biogon ZM 35mm f2 fav lens. Film B/W 100asa mostly, silvermax, delta, T-max. Rollei ATP fav film but no longer available. Problem with digital...constant advancement means a better on is out in 2 years. Plus I sit down at a PC most days and don't want to 'work' on photo, on a pv at home. P.S. XP2 plus always in my Contax T.

 

[kram]

My digtal camera is my phone, job done all digital pluses ticked. On you all the time, very compact, not intrusive (as everyone is using them) crop and share very quickly. But bugger all enjoyment in the photography experience. I hardly ever use my digital compact, I feel the same would be with a Leica M digital.

 

[anindyo]

M2 paired with Zeiss Jena Sonnar 5cm/1.5 is virtually my everyday camera in the last couple of year. Few other film cameras are also used occasionally for rotation.

On average, 50 rolls/year, mostly ISO 400 BW film (Tri-X & HP5, expired but still usable).

My Leica M8 and Fuji X-E1 are only used for important events when I need to shoot color and take a lot of photos. Basically for economic reason. Dunno I dont really enjoy shooting digital these days...

 

[Brian Atherton]

For years up until a year or so ago my principal camera was my M6 Millennium black paint with either a 35 or 50mm. Also I have a M5 but the M6 was my go-to camera.

I absolutely loved using the M6 with Neopan 400 when it was available and afterwards, Tri-X. Regrettably though, the M6 and M5 haven’t had a lot of use compared to my X-Pro2 and now my X-Pro3.

The reasons? Mainly the cost of processing and having the negs scanned and put on a CD - around £22-25. I really can’t justify it, and often the scanned results don’t meet my standards. I don’t have the facility at home to process film.

For me it’s about capturing the image and the X-Pros with the Acros simulation are great and suit my needs but the combination isn’t the same as using the Leicas.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I'm using a Leica IIIf as my main camera for black and white work now. For color I shoot digital using Micro 4/3 gear (Olympus OM-D E-M1 mark II and Pen-F).

I use Kodak Tmax 400 and Ilford Delta 3200 for most of my film work in the Leica. I don't have a digital Leica because i just plain cannot afford one. The Leica IIIf was a gift from a fellow RFF member 🙂

I have 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm lenses. Planning on a 28mm after I come up with the money for it.

You can see the work I have done with it on my "Just Got A Barnack Leica" thread.

 

[yorda]

Sold all my digi camera 5years ago.
Bought a Xpan first, then a 503cx and a Leica MP.

Now i've a M7 Alc with 0.58vf and a 35 lux AsphV1 as my everyday camera (fastest camera i know!) Always on me. Sometimes i'm not using it for a week but you never know when you gonna need it... =)

Most used lens is 35mm either 35Lux, 35 Apoqualia or 35 Distagon depend of my mood.

I use Neopan400 or Trix for BNW and Portras or velvia for colour.
I'd say at least 50-100 films a year (35mm and 120)

Spend hours in front of a monitor at work, so fim is a gift
Also... lost Mac and hard drivesss and years of digital photos that i will never get to see again...
Film is forever.

 

[Ccoppola82]

I have an M2 with a small 50mm in my coat pocket daily for BW. For color I use an Xpro2 or MP240

I have averaged about 50-60 rolls per year, but the MP240 bit into that a bit last year.

 

[RobertChestnut]

my main used m would be my Leica m4.I had an M9 and I recently sold it. I shoot mostly tmax400 or kodak pro image 100. I use probably 10 rolls every month. I use a 28mm f2.8 Ricoh gr ltm or a 50mm elmar m usually on it. sometimes I use a voigtlander color skopar 35 II. I just purchased a 50mm cron so it might become more used than any. I use film Ms because I don't have to worry about batteries, they feel soo much better built, and I live the simplicity of the unmetered cameras.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I currently live in Vietnam and the 35mm logistics have become cumbersome. So, No. As in the rest of the world, in Saigon 35mm is making a comeback but the options for developing and scanning film are few and prices are high. Whenever I use film it's Tri X or whatever color film I find locally. Cheers, OtL

 

[besk]

I have a M6, CL and IIIf. But tend to use my miniature Crown Graphic (6x9) the most.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Recently I repaired black paint Leica III 194331. I like the camera so much that I use it every day. The lens is a black Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5. I use a black paint SBOOI on the camera.

Erik.

 

[sepiareverb]

Till about two weeks ago I shot an MP as my main body. Nearly always with a 50 Summicron, Summitar or Elmar. I’ve just made a conscious decision to stop shooting film for a while, partly for the time savings, and partly because nobody has any interest in the prints I make.

 

[css9450]

Well, for film, there are several other cameras I much prefer over an M. So, no.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have M4-2 since 2015. I have, yet, to find replacement for it as every day camera.
I might switch to Leica III something or M240. But for now I don’t have them. Testing Nicca among M4-2 for first time today. I have tried many other film cameras, but they are temporarily substitute, like huge and heavy Nikkormat.
I’m not considering low battery capacity, no weather sealing M-E as everyday camera.
It has kind of flaky feel during cold weather, not LA kind of cold of course. M4-2 compared to M-E is much more robust. This is why I more into new M-E, used M240 as M-E classic replacement.
I used DSLR as every day from 2008 to 2012 and then switched to film RF. I used XA and R but they aren’t durable for every day.
I was using about six bulks per year. Once I started to print it went down to three bulks per year. I can’t make scans as interesting as dr prints.
But it takes time and a lot of effort. This is why I’m looting for M4-2 digital replacement and opened thread, voting about it.
Lens is 35mm mostly.
I don’t go out without camera. Only if I have to work in backyard, shovel snow or put six bins of recycle.

 

[LCSmith]

How many rolls? About two per week. I develop and scan at home.

 

[Godfrey]

I have tons of cameras, both film and digital. It would be a misrepresentation to call any of them my "main" camera. I use whichever one I feel like using at any given time. That includes everything from Minox to Mamiya Press 23 Super in film, to a selection of instant film cameras and formats, to several Apple phone and tablet devices, to a few different type and format cameras from FourThirds to Medium Format digital.

At present, I have four Leica cameras: Leicaflex SL, Leica R6.2, Leica M4-2, and Leica CL (digital). I use the CL more than the other three by a good margin. I moved to using the CL instead of the SL or M-P240, M-D262 because it is more useful for the kinds of work I do, more of the time. I'm tempted by the M10 Monochrom, but buying one of those is going to be at least a year and some in the future, if I ever go that route.

Leica M4-2 + Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5
Ilford Delta 400​

For a time in the past, I did my photography with only Leica M film cameras. But ... "Equipment is transitory, Photographs endure." 🙂

G

 

[narsuitus]

"Do you use a Leica M (or even a III) film body as your primary camera?"
I sometimes use my Leica M6 as my primary camera.

"Do you carry it regularly/most days?"
I carry it when I need it.

"How much film do you shoot with it over a given period of time?"
At one time, I shot one to four rolls of 35mm film on a daily basis.
Today, I shoot about four rolls of 35mm film every year.

"What film do you use?"
I primarily use Ilford HP5 (ISO 400) 35mm film

"What are your most used lenses?"
Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon
Leitz 90mm f/2
Leitz 21mm f/1.4

"Why do you choose to use a film M rather than a digital M?"
I used a digital M10 for a short period of time but returned it because it did not meet my needs.