Help! Which Leica to keep? Please help me decide.

[pepeguitarra]

Through several years only, I have accumulated a number of cameras and lenses and need to get rid of some because I don't use them much. I started late in life with the second wave of photography, but I cannot handle it. I am enamored of medium format, but I have a ton of 35mm. Please help me decide what I should keep (all the cameras have been purchased recently, less than two years with CLA done for the manuals):
I have: M3, M2, M5, M6, M8U, and M9. I will never sell the M8u, but I may be open to sell the M9. I rather keep one film and maybe one digital. Thanks for your input.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Sell your 35mm ton, sell all M and get M10.
Use MF for film, M10 for digital.

 

[ptpdprinter]

Not sure why you would never sell the M8. I'd much rather keep the M9 and not have to deal with the crop factor. As far as the film Ms go, which one do you like best?

 

[madNbad]

Sell your 35mm ton, sell all M and get M10.
Use MF for film, M10 for digital.

I have to agree. You would have an advanced full frame digital camera with no crop factor and free of any sensor problems. Selling the collection you have should raise enough funds and simplify which camera to use.

 

[aizan]

i agree with them. i'd keep my favorite film m, sell all of the other stuff, and get an m10.

 

[Huss]

The first camera I would get rid of out of that lot is the M8. Crop factor, small MB, will be a paperweight in the next couple o years when it fails as there are no parts for it.
Then I'd unload the M9 - same reasons as for the M8 but pushed a few years further.

The M240 is actually a rock solid camera, and cheap used now. Selling the M8 + M9 would get you one plus have $$ left over. Keep the M5, dump the rest.

 

[stompyq]

Keep the M6. Sell everything else. Especially those two dinosaurs (the M8 and M9). Go out and try/rent any of the top FF digitals from nikon/canon/fuji/sony. Then decide if you would buy a M10. But seriously sell the M8 and M9 at the least

 

[B-9]

I agree with KoFe,

Sell it all.

Get a M240 or M10 and leave the film for MF.

 

[BillBingham2]

I like the m8 and M9 for the M240.

What glass do you shoot with/intend to keep for the M world.

What sort of photography do you do these days? What film do you use? Do you develop it yourself or send it out?

B2 (;->

 

[f16sunshine]

If you're enamored by the M8 than remove it from the sell list.
I understand the love of the M8.
Personally I would also keep the M5 to run your 35mm film through.... my favorite M the M5. Some agree others don't.

Sell the rest. Conservatively you'll have $4000 in sales... maybe more.
Since you're a rangefinder user..Try a GF670 or Mamiya 6/7 as they are both RF's.
Two beautiful medium format rangefinders.

Good luck!
I'm making changes this year myself.
It's fine to trim down after establishing your best tools to progress the work!

Cheers

 

[DwF]

It is a balancing act between practical (sell M8 and M9) and emotional. I always value a camera by the images and events I have experienced or made with a particular camera. In that regard, both the M8, which I sold long ago for practical reasons, and M9 which I traded for my MM would be keepers. Any or all of these cameras are worthy of holding on to until they or I die. That said, there are always practical considerations that nag at me, and eventually win out!

 

[Deleted member 65559]

PPG, I also use medium format more, so i think i understand your quandry. I'd keep the film M that you like most. For me printing is an important part of the process & i got tired of great iPhone shots....so I got a Leica MP and it's with me when the med format is not. My heart has always been with the M2.....but really which one do you love? Same for the digital.

 

[pepeguitarra]

Thank you and keep them coming....!

Thank you and keep them coming....!

Thanks, so far I have lots of advice to study. The reason I like the M8u so much is the quality of the color, and the black and white itself. I have enough lenses to keep them all, about 7 50's, 4 35's, etc. I do develop my own film and scan it. However, I will start analog printing in a lab myself. I want to concentrate more in the old art of photography and try to produce some art, rather than document and testing, like I have been doing. My wife does a good job of documenting family affairs with the iPhone. I have the Pentax 6x7 and 645 MF film cameras, and the Rolleis. I want to keep only one Rollei, and one Pentax MF. I do want to stay away from digital because every year or every time there is a new model I would have to change or upgrade. I also have tons of UV/IR filters for the M8.

 

[jsrockit]

Through several years only, I have accumulated a number of cameras and lenses and need to get rid of some because I don't use them much. I started late in life with the second wave of photography, but I cannot handle it. I am enamored of medium format, but I have a ton of 35mm. Please help me decide what I should keep (all the cameras have been purchased recently, less than two years with CLA done for the manuals):
I have: M3, M2, M5, M6, M8U, and M9. I will never sell the M8u, but I may be open to sell the M9. I rather keep one film and maybe one digital. Thanks for your input.

M6 and M9 for me...

 

[fenixv8]

I have a M3 and a M10 and have owned a m8,m9 and M240.

I would definitely recommend what other folks have said. Sell everything keep your favourite film. and Purchase a M10. It will look closure to the look of the M8 than the M240.

Cheers

 

[Axel]

I would keep the M6 and keep or fund a full frame Digi of your choice.
Easy lens selection without attention for a crop factor.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Thanks, so far I have lots of advice to study. The reason I like the M8u so much is the quality of the color, and the black and white itself. I have enough lenses to keep them all, about 7 50's, 4 35's, etc. I do develop my own film and scan it. However, I will start analog printing in a lab myself. I want to concentrate more in the old art of photography and try to produce some art, rather than document and testing, like I have been doing. My wife does a good job of documenting family affairs with the iPhone. I have the Pentax 6x7 and 645 MF film cameras, and the Rolleis. I want to keep only one Rollei, and one Pentax MF. I do want to stay away from digital because every year or every time there is a new model I would have to change or upgrade. I also have tons of UV/IR filters for the M8.

So, you are into the art with film MF and don't need any of film M and lenses, nor you need digital M. You just want to keep some of it unused.
Keep M8u and M6 then.

You will need money for art with MF. Would it be darkroom or else prints. Large paper is expensive. And chemicals, inks..
And it makes sense to art big from MF. 🙂

 

[narsuitus]

When I was in a similar position, I put everything on the market and then kept the one that did not sell.

 

[Landberg]

Keep the M5, sell the rest.

 

[Fraser]

Keep the M9 and if the M2 is black keep that if not keep the M6.