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

[rfaspen]

I can't do it. I tried to put myself in your shoes and decide which to keep and which to sell. I can't do it. I would have the easiest time selling the M8u (which I did at some point). I could also sell the M9 if it still has old sensor, but I would pick up an M240 in short order afterward. That would be OK: trade M8 and M9 for M240.

If you have other [non-Leica] 35mm film gear, maybe sell that? I'm trying very hard to start selling all my non-Leica 35mm film gear except the Nikon SLR stuff. That means many, many RFs, Pentax, Canon, OM, and Rollei SLRs, and plenty of other stuff I don't remember I have (hence the desire to address the problem). I always have difficulty getting rid of Leica though.

 

[Matthew Runkel]

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.

Based on this, keep the M8u as your digital and reassess when/if you need to (no need to have an M10 for trouble-free full-frame shooting). M9 with the old sensor is not a good bet for an only digital body. If the M5 battery is is sorted to your liking, keep your preferred metered manual body; if not, keep the M6. Or keep the M3 instead if all you will shoot are 50s.

 

[BillBingham2]

You might want to about picking up a Fuji GS645W. To replace the 6x7 and 645. I think together with the Rollie and a film M you should be pretty well set for film.

You have so much glass I'd say keep the M5 and sell the rest.

Bank the money you get for everything you sell and buy the next digital M if you feel the need. From what it sounds like the M8 will do for your digital desires. Might think about a Fuji X-E3 with an M adapter. Think you might be surprised.

B2 (;->

 

[giganova]

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

I would do the exact same.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I always have difficulty getting rid of Leica though.

They will keep you company in your old age.

 

[retinax]

If you want to focus on film and get a darkroom, sell both the digital Ms, they will be a distraction (If you want back into digital M in the future, better cameras will be cheaper!), get a compact instead if you need something to document with. Unless you need digital for low light or something. Which film M to keep depends on your preferred focal lengths.

 

[rfaspen]

They will keep you company in your old age.

In a way. They will satisfy my "collector mentality" without taking up too much space. I do expect my film Leicas to work well beyond my death and my son has just enough interest in photography (currently likes digital more than film) that he might appreciate them.

What I really need to do is clear out the large quantity of non-Leica gear I have accumulated over the years. I take in orphans, fall in love with oddities, inherit gear, and so on. Before I know it, I have a lot of gear. Its an easy thing to happen when you have "collector mentality". I wouldn't call myself a "hoarder" as I have a strong desire to keep my living situation clear and efficient (get rid of unnecessary things). I just like cameras and lenses and learn the history behind them and the unique or rare qualities of some of them, and well....I get hooked.

I admire the OP (pepeguitarra) for keeping life simple. Although...I think he has more than a few lenses??? 😱 Maybe that's next 😀

 

[Bille]

Thanks for your input.

Unless you need the money, put them away in boxes for a couple weeks and see what you miss.

Personally, I´d keep the M6 for film rather than M3 or M2, but this is highly subjective. The M8u is a nice camera and I hear it doesn´t rot like the M9 does. (https://leicarumors.com/2017/05/15/...-emonochrom-cameras-on-august-15th-2017.aspx/)

 

[pepeguitarra]

My M9 had the sensor changed about a year ago, maybe more. It is really nice camera. The M8u is a workhorse and had special rendition of B&W. The problem with selling he digitals is that I will not be able to recover 1/4 of what I paid for them. I rather keep them. The mechanical Ms appreciate in value more than the digitals.

 

[pepeguitarra]

In a way. They will satisfy my "collector mentality" without taking up too much space. I do expect my film Leicas to work well beyond my death and my son has just enough interest in photography (currently likes digital more than film) that he might appreciate them.

What I really need to do is clear out the large quantity of non-Leica gear I have accumulated over the years. I take in orphans, fall in love with oddities, inherit gear, and so on. Before I know it, I have a lot of gear. Its an easy thing to happen when you have "collector mentality". I wouldn't call myself a "hoarder" as I have a strong desire to keep my living situation clear and efficient (get rid of unnecessary things). I just like cameras and lenses and learn the history behind them and the unique or rare qualities of some of them, and well....I get hooked.

I admire the OP (pepeguitarra) for keeping life simple. Although...I think he has more than a few lenses??? 😱 Maybe that's next 😀

I have been called a hoarder by relatives. I just retired and we are moving to a smaller place. My wife has this thing call Feng Shui, or something like that, that requires getting rid of things you do not use. Not fair. I have to sell my 17 guitars too.

 

[jsrockit]

I have been called a hoarder by relatives. I just retired and we are moving to a smaller place. My wife has this thing call Feng Shui, or something like that, that requires getting rid of things you do not use. Not fair. I have to sell my 17 guitars too.

What is she getting rid of on her end?

 

[narsuitus]

What is she getting rid of on her end?

Her husband?

 

[noisycheese]

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.

If it were me, I would keep the M3 and sell everything else to buy an M10 with the proceeds.

 

[willie_901]

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

I too vote for this option.

Should the M8u LCD screen fai,l it's game over.

 

[pepeguitarra]

What is she getting rid of on her end?

That is the problem she got rid of everything except the luggage. We are suppose to travel...... Santiago querido is among those destinations, btw. But I need my small camera for traveling.

 

[css9450]

I have: M3, M2, M5, M6, M8U, and M9.

What, no M4? Tell your wife you need an M4.

 

[Huss]

Keep it real. Dump everything and get an M1

 

[pepeguitarra]

Keep it real. Dump everything and get an M1

Do you have one for sale, with the RF on it?


Leica M1 by K. Besios, on Flickr

Hi Huss; I am in O.C., I am going to have to stop in Venice to chat about it.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Well, um, she's into this Feng Shui and you've no objections so in return you should be allowed to be into photography, camera collecting or whatever...

Regards, David

PS Keep the M2 and M9 and keep the M9 coded lenses as they will work with both.

 

[Darthfeeble]

Why sell anything? I could understand if you needed the money or if they were taking up room that you HAD to have for something else or the wife is threatening to leave you over it but other than that, why??? I've never understood the "I'm not using it" rationale. Then there are all those comments that regret selling it. Keep them in a secure dry area and every once in a while excercise them. The good stuff will just get more valuable for your children.