How did you end up with your first Leica M?

[reuno]

My first film camera was a Canon AE1 program but got caught by the rangefinder trend by Cartier Bresson, Guy Le Querrec, Jean Loup Sieff and a Vivitar 35ES wich was the first film Camera I bought with my very own money. While in travel with my Father 3 years ago, we saw a very nice black 1988 M6 with his summilux 50. What a wonderful camera, and this viewfinder ! It was my 25th birthday, mommy thought it was crazy but my dad offered me the beast. I got myself a 1996 Chrome six month ago but it's not really the same.

On May, I will be able to visit New York City with my father and i'm planning to buy him a nice watch, his passion. Any good adress for Omega or Zenith vintages ? 😉

 

[Bassism]

I'm new to the Leica family. When I first started getting interested in photography I read a lot about leicas and I decided that was what I wanted. Of course, being a high school student kept it out of reach so I settled on a pentax spf and slowly bought up some lenses.
Eventually I bought a minolta himatic to test the rf waters but never really got on with it so it sat on the shelf. Then I bought a dslr which gradually ended my interest in photography. In about December I pulled out the minolta and my bulk fp4 and fell in love with photography again, realizing that rfs were ideal for me.

When I realized how much money I had tied up in lenses and cameras sitting on the shelf unused, I decided to consolidate and buy something smaller and more satisfying to use. I picked up a fed 3 from eBay, which I found generally nice, but too squinty and fiddly.

Within about two weeks, I had bought an m2 and a cron dr. I was fortunate in getting a few lucrative gigs this year so I had a bit of disposable income.

All in all, I'm very glad I got the leica. I spent more money than I could reasonably afford, but it brought new joy to photography for me and I usually have it with me now and get far better results than ever before. I told myself I'd sell it if I needed the money or I got bored with it, but I don't really see myself ever selling it at this point. It's the single most important thing in my development as a photographer so far

 

[jarski]

got my first M early 2007, mainly because of this forum. even after all information that I had studied about these cameras by then, I still remember how stunned I was holding that camera in my hands at for the first time 🙂

 

[Ronald M]

I had a Pentax Spotmatics and Multicoated lenses.

I tried to get prints to match the paper book samples all to no avail. Every film & developer combo was tried without a decent result. Took me years.

One day I was in Helix in Chicago and found a 125 mm Hector which I cobbled up to the Pentax. I shot a roll of slides with the Hector shots in the middle. They were outstanding in comparison. Step 2 was a borrowed M3 and a roll of Plus x. First roll and I could finally make a black & white print that matched my expectations & I changed nothing, 7.5 min D76 1:1.

Three Pentax bodies a 12 lenses were gone in two months.

I was fortunate enough to live near the largest Leica dealer in the US and got to try anything I wanted free. I stocked up on bodies and lenses.
I was even on a first name basis with the Leica rep.
But it ain`t the same company anymore so don`t expect it.

I have a Nikon D700 and some Nikkor primes. I found a nice mint FE2 that takes the Nikkors. Well they don`t compare to Leicas on film or Leicas adapted to the digital. I will say they are closer than the pentax lenses though.

Fortunately I have never sold my Leicas.

 

[b.espahbod]

hey jarski I know that guy in ur avatar he's in my m2 manual 😀 I wonder if he kept his M2 that clean until now.

 

[nuckabean]

I took a photgraphy class in 7th grade that wasn't really very serious but it's fun to go back and look at my prints that I made, out of focus on fogged paper, shot on a little olympus P&S with Tri-x. In 9th grade I took a digital photo class that sparked my interest again and I picked up a Canon DSLR. I still have it and use it from time to time. I developed an interest in film after getting two nikon bodies from my uncle to go with my dad's lenses (I can't find the body, and he's deceased so he's not telling me where it is). I've made some good shots with it. This year (my senior year) I switched schools to one that has a darkroom and a traditional photo class. I've gotten alot more into photography and decided to try out a rangefinder. It was a good fit for me and my neighbor told me about the Leica system. I'd heard about it before but I had never considered purchasing one. It's out of by budget currently so I picked up a FED at a camera show for 20$, then a Voigtlander body for 150$ and used the russian lens on it. I just traded in an SLR lens for a CV 21/4 and I"m loving it so far. I see a leica in my future.

So that's my not so long photographic history.

 

[jarski]

hey jarski I know that guy in ur avatar he's in my m2 manual 😀 I wonder if he kept his M2 that clean until now.

heh yep. its been my avatar for ~6 months, you spotted him 🙂

I have M2 also, so that should justify the pic.

 

[johannielscom]

got my first M early 2007, mainly because of this forum. even after all information that I had studied about these cameras by then, I still remember how stunned I was holding that camera in my hands at for the first time 🙂

This I recognize. I had never handled an M before my own arrived with the mail from an Italian man working in Germany, who had bought it in the USA. I remember checking the mail three times a day for over a week. I loved the ergonomics of it from the first moment, the combination of grip, size and weight. The tight tolerances in a brass geared M3 are so nice, I spent a whole evening aiming, framing, releasing and transporting without any film (wintertime, too little light).

OT: Hi there Jarski 😎, did the filter arrive OK? What lens will you be putting it on?

 

[jarski]

OT: Hi there Jarski 😎, did the filter arrive OK? What lens will you be putting it on?

ot2. filter came ok, thanks. its on Summaron, matches perfect.

up here in North Europe small and in case of older lenses, not so common sized Leica filters are difficult to find from ordinary camera shops.

 

[bean_counter]

My father bought a IIIf/Summitar second hand in the early '50's when he was in the army. He bought a 2nd body in the '80's when he couldn't get the first properly serviced. I grew up with it being the family camera.

Fast forward to 2003 or so, I got both of the bodies CLA'd, bought a couple more lenses and began using them.

In '07, I toured New York city with the two IIIf's, one 50mm, the other 35/90. MAJOR PAIN. Bought a M4P last year, and love it!

 

[GregL]

I have been developing my interest in photography for quite some time. High school years was a Slr Canon which eventually evolved into a 30D dSlr with a wide angle 16-35 lens...been using it for some time and planned on upgrading into the new 5D Mark II but heard about Leicas (not for the first time...I came across one of those "in praise of Leica glass" threads) and considered the idea. As I was reading more about the brand name and history I connected the brand to some photographers and once I saw Robert Frank's "Americans" I decided that I wanted to try some of that... there was still the question of money...I wanted a camera that was in good shape and I got very lucky as I came up with some unexpected cash and one of the online stores in E Europe had a closing down sale...they had an MP which was a window-exhibition model and had some brass yet never saw the actuall film inside. Got it at half price and since I was originally planning to spend more I got me a brand new 35 Lux to go with the MP. Can't say that I have much experience but I enjoy it far more than my 30D which I will now probably sell to get a 50mm Leica glass.
I can't express how happy I am with my Leica...I carry it with me all the time and am surprised how much attention I get in Toronto from people on the subway saying "hey I used to have one of those back in the 50s".
Plus I complemened the camera with a Luigi case and in every situation I feel like the most stylish guy in the room...

 

[benmacphoto]

I got lucky with my first M. I had a IIIa and a friend of mine knew I liked Leicas. So he told me of a friend of his selling an M3 50 Summicron and 28 VC for $650. The guy had some credit card debt so he put his cameras up for sale. I couldn't pass this offer up so I went for it. Half a year later it has and still is my main camera.

 

[Doug]

...But, in general it sounds to me like once you end up with Leica the "search" ends to a certain extent, unless there was an obvious need for something in addition, such as medium format.

In general, I think you're right. This wasn't true for me, though. The M2 was my first RF, which I still have, but it's well down the list of favorite interchangeable-lens 35mm RFs. To me it does rank above the Contax IIIa, Nikon S3, and Kiev 4a. But it gathered dust as soon as the Minolta CLE came along which I still prefer. I also prefer the Z-I, Hexar RF, Bessa Rx. Harsh, I know, but true... Still, I'm glad I have it, and every time I use it I'm again impressed at its smooth precision.

Also, fun to read all these personal stories....

 

[chris00nj]

I've had a Pentax SLR for several years, and was looking for a 2nd camera, perhaps something smaller that I could load B&W film in while traveling. After going to a camera store, I played with an Olympus XA, but didn't get it. That set the rangefinder gears in motion. After tons of internet reading, I got a Canonet QL17 GIII, but soon I wanted more.

Cameraquest was full of such good information. I saw the Bessa R page and was just fixated on how it looked. When I got the camera and a 35/2.5 CS, I was amazed on how smaller and faster the lens was.

I knew my grandfather had a Leica which was stored away in some drawer. I kept asking my Mom so many questions about it, she gave it to me. I'm glad I am able to put it to use again after 20 years of inactivity.

 

[KM-25]

I have been making photographs for most of my life, started at age 9, I am soon to be 42.

For years if not decades, the hype surrounding Leica glass eluded my restrictive wallet. But in 2006, I decided that if I were going to do a major project / tribute to Kodachrome film, I had better give Leica a try.

So I bought a M6 classic and a version 2 35 cron and started off. After a few rolls, I was hooked, I liked it. So over the next couple years, my kit would evolve to what it is now and most likely won't change all that much.

It consists of a M6TTL with MP R/F, black re-paint M3, chrome M3 and black paint MP-3. The lenses are a CV 15, 28 Summicron, 35 Lux asph, 50 Lux asph / LHSA and a 50 collapsable for the chrome M3.

So that is it really, I wanted the best optics I could get for Kodachrome and I am pretty sure I have found them...

After Kodachrome? I think I will spend the rest of my life shooting black and white and be done with color for the most part.

 

[nihraguk]

I got into photography when I was 20 or so; started with a Praktica MTL 3 and a few Pentax M42 lenses, then quickly discovered the Cosina-Voigtlanders and started building a kit around that system. I always had my eye on the Leica M3 and M2... I'd start saving up for one, and then change my mind due to the high prices. This on-again, off-again behaviour lasted till a few months ago, when I returned home drunk as a lord from a night on the town, found an early M3 for sale on the LUG mailing list for US$450, and snapped it up before sobriety could change my mind.

Now my 40mm and 75mm CV lenses might have to make way for a 50mm and a 90mm that actually work with the M3's framelines. The M3 I bought was made before Leica came up with the frameline selector lever, so.

 

[kywong]

Well I was 14 and I was thinking of saving up for one of those 28-200 lenses for my cheap little SLR (it seemed cool to the newbie I was then). So I asked my uncle (the man who inspired me to pick up photography) for his advice, and being the wise man that he is, he told me that it's a waste of time and that instead I should save up for a Leica. Obviously it is a massive jump and I worked out that it would take me over 2 years of careful spending to save up for one, but hearing my uncle talk so passionately about it, I was convinced and started to save.

Just over a year later it was announced that the M6, which I had my heart on, would be discontinued (MP was not announced yet) so my dad kindly agreed to lend me the money.

I thought I would still be using the SLR, the idea of using a full manual camera seemed daunting and a little inconvenient, but the SLR ended up collecting dust, and the biggest improvement in my photography was the couple of years that followed.

 

[januaryman]

Well I was 14 and I was thinking of saving up for one of those 28-200 (it seemed cool to the newbie I was then). So I asked my uncle (the man who inspired me to pick up photography) for his advice, and being the wise man that he is, he told me that it's a waste of time and that instead I should save up for a Leica. Obviously it is a massive jump and I worked out that it would take me over 2 years of careful spending to save up for one, but hearing my uncle talk so passionately about it, I was convinced and started to save.

Just over a year later it was announced that the M6, which I had my heart on, would be discontinued (MP was not announced yet) so my dad kindly agreed to lend me the money.

I thought I would still be using the SLR, the idea of using a full manual camera seemed daunting and a little inconvenient, but the SLR ended up collecting dust, and the biggest improvement in my photography was the couple of years that followed.

That's a great story and the decision to use rangefinders because they are "daunting" is what kept many, myself included interested in photography. After years of my SLR languishing in an old camera bag, a digital camers P&S I bought for "special moment" photos, it was the excitement of getting a "new" rangefinder that brought the interest back to life for me. And that "new" rangefinder was a Canonet. Since then I've accumulated a dozen cameras, including the last 2 that were both Leicas.

 

[furcafe]

My path to Leica was mostly utilitarian. I guess I'm different from many people on this forum in that although I've always enjoyed looking @ photos, I didn't really get into photography as a hobby until I was in my 30s & had a fair amount of disposable income. I did not grow up coveting Leicas (or any particular brand of camera) & wasn't aware of anyone who owned or used them.

Starting out, I knew that I enjoyed photojournalism, documentary, & street photography & that I wanted gear that was small & portable, so when I did my initial research into gear, it naturally led to rangefinders, of which Leicas are easily the most famous. Because Leicas (@ least new ones) were relatively expensive, cost was indeed a barrier to entry, so I did more research & began w/an alternative system, a Kyocera Contax G2 & a few used lenses. I enjoyed using the G2 (& still have it), but quickly discovered that I wanted faster glass & a more traditional manual focus system.

I tested the old-school, manual focus waters by getting a couple Zeiss Ikon RFs: a Contessa & a black dial Contax IIa. Using them confirmed that I did prefer manual focus & that not only did I want faster glass, but also a brighter VF. Since Leica offered both, I bought an M2 & "the rest is history." Leicas are my most used, "go to" cameras, but I still enjoy using many other cameras, mostly RFs, for their own characteristics & I'm much more sentimentally attached to my Contaxes, Fotons, etc., than any of my Leicas.

How did you end up with your first Leica M? I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who are relatively new to Leica or rangefinders in general. What drew you to them and how did you go about your purchase? Since then, how has your photography and gear progressed? What has surprised you about the experience? Was there a path of rangefinders prior to your M? Did you have doubts before committing to Leica, due to its cost of entry?

 

[valdas]

I just love nice things... Could not resist M6 in chrome although I had already Contax SLR, Olympus OM, Rolleiflex TLR... you name it... So part of it is completely emotional... Of course, there were some practical considerations - quiet shutter, no mirror (can shoot slower speed), but at the end... once you start buying and trying you could not stop. I'm ready for M2 now and I know that i don't really need it...