Going "serious" : Fuji x100f or Leica M6

[Kupepe]

Goodmorning,

The time has come to upgrade from a perfectly fine Pentax MX with an SMC 50m/1.4 I use. The reason for upgrade is a bit of G.A.S. and a bit of trying to setup a more serious workflow. Let me explain. I shoot on Sundays with my lovely film camera and on other days with a Ricoh GRD2. I usually shoot while i get back home from work. No more metro, just walk and shoot for an hour. However I find myself to be a little choosy these days and I don't press the shutter so easily. Negative space with a walker inside or some people standing watching their mobiles isn't for me anymore. As a result finishing a roll of film takes time .. a lot. And I cannot see the shots I made for a long time. I know this is one of the beauties of film. But since I am not Winogrand and have 200 rolls lying around undeveloped this makes me not improving my photography. To see what works and what does not. The gaps have become a bit too large for my liking atm.

The film camera cannot be used in low light situations as it usually has a Tri-x loaded, with ASA set for day use. The Ricoh GRD2 has really bad low light performance.

The way I see it i have 3 options to move forward:

1) Buy a Fujifilm X100F (1300 EUR). Good low light performance and price. Steady flow of photographs

2) Buy a Leica M6 with a 35mm used lens and a Noritsu LS600 scanner ( ~ 3000 EURO). Higher cost, no need for upgrades. One camera for day use, one camera for low light use.

3) Skip the Leica (my GAS), buy the scanner for the Pentax and the X100F (2000 EUR)

Any thoughts?

 

[Ccoppola82]

That's a really tough call. I enjoy my xpro2 and my M's quite a bit. The Fuji is a jpg machine and I can really get some good results from it and it's convenient to have multiple ISO, color, and BW on the same body. I'm gonna throw this out there as an option to build your system.

Buy a used xpro2 w/ M-mount adapter, M2, and a 35mm m-mount lens of your choosing. (I think a Nokton 35mm SC is a great bargain and usable for most things)

I would buy in this order
1. Xpro2 + adapter so you can use your existing Pentax
2. 35mm M-mount lens + m-adapter
3. Used M2
4. Realistically you will get more m- lenses 🙂

I THINK, with some digging and luck you can find
Xpro2- 1k or so
M2- 600-800 for a user
Nokton 35 -400ish used

I use this setup frequently and usually have a 50mm on the M2 or M6. I can fit either camera, some film, and an extra lens if needed in the small Domke bag. You can grab a decent elmar 50 for a few hundred sometimes. Or a collapsible cron in user shape.

Good luck and happy shooting!

 

[Jerevan]

I would do it the other way around - first the scanner, get that workflow going and then perhaps get something else. The MX and the 50 is a great camera combo.

I don't think spending a lot of money on another camera would further your photography at this point - at least not in the "print on the wall" sense.

 

[retinax]

Have you seen the threads here about scanning with a digital camera and macro lens? If you want a digital camera anyway, that's something to consider.
Wanting a Leica M is understandable, but the need for a second body is a thin veil of rationalisation. From a practicality point of view, what about a second Pentax MX? Note that leicas focus the other way around, can be an issue, muscle memory is important if you do street photos. For really low light, digital has long surpassed film though...

 

[FalseDigital]

Keep the Pentax MX, develop all your undeveloped rolls, and buy a film scanner to work on your backlog.

If you have any money left over, buy a Fujifilm X100F.

 

[Archlich]

Don't see how a Leica could improve your photography.

 

[mod2001]

The film camera cannot be used in low light situations as it usually has a Tri-x loaded, with ASA set for day use. The Ricoh GRD2 has really bad low light performance.

Had similar confusing thoughts 2 years ago and a hard time to finally decide, my workaround is since then Tri-X @800 developed with Diafine in my Contax T3 for every day (and night) usage, Kodak Ektar pushed 2 stops in my Nikon for longer photo walks in case I need color and more flexibility with lenses. Anyway, I love the results in both cases and my GAS for digital went nearly against zero since then except I need high resolution for big prints, but here its easier and cheaper for me to rent a D850 for a few days or I grab the 8x10 LF from a friend.

I need sometimes also 1-2 months until the color film is finished but don't mind most of the times. B/W I develop around 3-5 films on a weekly basis, just missing a fast scanner like the Noritsu, Pakon (both not easy to get in Europe) or the hopefully good working new Pacific PowerFilm which can scan up to 10 strips at once.

If my eyes were better I would probably go the Leica M9 route, with more money the M10-P 🙂 and a 28/50 or 21/35/50 combination. The Fuji cams are different but also really nice, just don't like the Xtrans, so here the original Fuji X100 with Bayer sensor would be my pick.

No easy decision, good luck.

Jürgen

 

[Kupepe]

Don't see how a Leica could improve your photography.

It won't

Fuel the GAS to sweeten the bearer and keep going ... just kidding ...

I did quite a bit of cycling and what I found out is that if a hobby sticks to you ... in the end you will pay the top dollar to get the bike as it should be. So medium solutions just end up costing more money since they will be replaced.

If the M6 with Leica glass will come sooner or later ... why spend money for other solutions? Provided you can afford it of course.

 

[mod2001]

It won't

Not necessarily, sure, but It can and it did in my case, not because its a Leica, because its a different way to see and photograph with a Rangefinder. The time with my M6 many years ago had the biggest positive influence on my photography which still effects my style even if I work with other cameras these days.

Agree on the medium solutions though, waste of money 😉

Juergen

 

[Richard G]

You want change. Get the X100F. I still have the original X100. It is so good. I would argue everyone needs one, and maybe it’s the only camera you need. Don’t get me wrong: I love my M6 and M9 and Monochrom, but if you see an M6 and an X100 as viable alternatives (i.e you don’t have to have a Leica) go with the X100. You’ll love it, and save money and enjoy the immediacy and you’ll improve your photography.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Here's another option: buy a used Pentax K-5 and use your existing 50/1.4 lens. I recently started shooting with a Pentax K-1 and I am astonished by the quality of older Pentax lenses. If you can afford it the K-1 is an amazing picture taking machine.

It sounds like you don't have the time right now to concentrate on film based shooting. As nice as that Leica M6 sounds, it isn't going to improve that workflow problem or your film backlog.

 

[willie_901]

I think Ccoppola82 offered good advice by suggesting the X-Pro 2.

• The body is more like a M6. It is a bit easier to use than the X100F just because it's a bit larger.
• There is a FUJIFLM M lens adapter. I prefer the native Fujinon primes.
• The X100F and X-Pro 2 have similar data stream technologies and their low-light performance will be similar.
• The Fujinon series of f 2 WR primes are well-suited for the work you decxribe.

I own a X-Pro 2 and X-100T.

When I first discovered RFF I used a Canonent GL-17 G III. Now, the X-100 is my daily carry because it's small, light and I feel the 23 mm lens angle-of-view is a useful compromise.

I find the small increase in size makes the X-Pro 2 easier to use. I own the Fujinon 18/2, 23/2 and 35/2. I use the X-Pro 2 as I used my Zeiss Ikon M withZM/Voigtländer LTM primes. I switch to the X-Pro 2 when for planned work on projects.

The least expensive way to start out might be a used Fujinon 27/2.8. The AF performance is good and the lens is small. However it does not have an aperture ring, so f stop is manually set using a front or rear dial control.

I don'e see how the M6 adds anything to your situation. Finishing a roll will still take time. However if you enjoy a film workflow, the M6 is obviously attractive.

A short-term disadvantage with the X100F/X-Pro 2 option is there will be a learning curve. It may take while to figure things out, but it is possible to operate these as cameras as one operates film RFs. The OVF makes a difference. You don't have to use any automation unless you find it to be purposeful.

 

[Paul T.]

You want change. Get the X100F. I still have the original X100. It is so good. I would argue everyone needs one, and maybe it’s the only camera you need. Don’t get me wrong: I love my M6 and M9 and Monochrom, but if you see an M6 and an X100 as viable alternatives (i.e you don’t have to have a Leica) go with the X100. You’ll love it, and save money and enjoy the immediacy and you’ll improve your photography.

I agree. Don't overthink it.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

The film camera cannot be used in low light situations as it usually has a Tri-x loaded, with ASA set for day use.

I don’t follow, why can’t you use an f1.4 prime and Tri-X in low light? That sounds like a perfect low light kit...?

 

[ptpdprinter]

The obvious solution is to buy a second MX (or other K-mount) body.

 

[jsrockit]

If you do go X100... go X100F or you will be disappointed with the low light AF of the previous models. If you plan to use MF, I would go with a M.

 

[Kupepe]

I don’t follow, why can’t you use an f1.4 prime and Tri-X in low light? That sounds like a perfect low light kit...?

With Tri-X at box speed, as I shoot it the f1.4 does not work. When the sun starts to go down I really have issues to get the meter go green. I need to have a good light source close to where I shoot but walking around the city does not offer that usually.

 

[Dogman]

Are you now scanning? If not, have you scanned in the past?

That's my basis for the decision. Before I bought my first digital camera, I had been scanning film for a few years and I had developed a strong dislike of the task.

If you're okay with scanning and you've got the funds, go with the M6 and scanner option. If you want to change, go with the X100F option. If you're open to a new idea that is sort of like using an M6 but digital, go with the XPro2 suggestion. The XPro option is really the best, IMO.

 

[willie_901]

If you do go X100... go X100F or you will be disappointed with the low light AF of the previous models. ...

Yes.

I forgot to mention, if you buy the newest body you can afford. The increased CPU performance makes a difference.

 

[ernstk]

If you're using the older model Ricoh GRD 11, you could consider the Ricoh GR11?

It's an amazing little camera with very good high ISO performance.

Ernst