I think it's time to go Leica M!

ChrisCummins

ChrisCummins

Couch Photographer.
Local time
8:23 PM
Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
138
Location
Birmingham, UK
View My Gallery
Hi,
I've been a keen photographer most of my life, and last year I took the plunge into buying my own cameras and started the never-ending learning process properly. Now, I'm at the point where I want to take my photography much more seriously. I am a big fan of the analog rangefinder process, and am just starting to develop my own film. I have a FED-2 which I love to bits despite it's obvious weaknesses.

Having read about the '1 camera 1 lens 1 year' challenge I'm starting to think very seriously about going into the world of Leica M's. Now being a student, my budget is seriously limited (largely by the size of my overdraft 😀 ).

So the hotly contested question is of-course which one? From what I've read, the M4-P seems to be a good choice (cheap, well built), but I'd be happy to hear other's opinions, and I'm not too sure about the 6 framelines (who needs anything more than 50mm or wider, right? 🙂 ). My budget could probably stretch up to about £500, so I was thinking spending most of that on the body and getting a LTM to M adapter so I could mount my russian lenses on it, cutting down on the costs. A built in meter doesn't bother me. Colour has to be black though.

Regards
Chris
 
ChrisCummins said:
Colour has to be black though.
Click to expand...

too bad. original wetzlar silver chrome M4s are often cheaper than the M4-2 and M4-P and they do have a better finder than the M4-P. some also suggest that they are better built, but that might be highly subjective.

an M2 would be even cheaper and pretty much as good as an M4 (albeit a few differences)
 
Don't let the color get in the way of:

"I want to take my photography much more seriously. I am a big fan of the analog rangefinder process"
 
I always think to myself: When you have to "save up" for it, a Leica is not right for you. Things get even more frustrating when it comes to lenses.

I hope that is not considered blasphemy: But what do you think will a rangefinder give you that a Canon AE-1 cant?
 
While I can understand a marginal utility of owning a rangefinder without AE, I believe that it is a rather limiting factor in what the rangefinders do best: rapid street shooting. If you like the idea of using a camera which will be very fast to use, and do not mind limiting yourself to the 40, 50, 75 and 90 mm frames, then a blackBessa R3A will be within your budget easily. (Think of R3A with a 40/2 C Summicron combo) If on the other hand, you want this feeling of having a solid piece of metal in your hand, then go for the cheapest M Leica you can find, provided it is in a good mechanical condition. There are opportunities in the classifieds here quite frequently.
 
Last edited:
berlincontemporary said:
I always think to myself: When you have to "save up" for it, a Leica is not right for you. Things get even more frustrating when it comes to lenses.
Click to expand...

When I first got my M2 and an old 35mm Summicron, I was working weekends in a camera shop - as a student.
I remember an older member of staff saying 'that will set your photography back years'.
He was dead right - it took me another 3 years before I got a second lens - a 90mm, but that enforced single lens experience was a good thing in other ways.
 
How about sticking with the FED2 (assuming it fully works) and getting a shed load of film, paper and chemicals ? Some of the cash could go on an enlarger if you don't have one - a Meopta would be fine. It is usually possible to work out some way of printing in a student room, or maybe they've changed recently.... 🙂
 
Why budget to £500 can't you stick it on tuition fees and pay it back when you earn over £21k - joke.
I bought my first M / RF 15 months ago. Like a breath of fresh air to my photography. I found I had to change the way I looked at things (no pun intended). I looked at a Bessa and an M and just feel of the Leica in my hand made my decision.
As was pointed out to me some years ago when I first began it's the glass that captures what you see. Save for what you really want and enjoy.

Steve.
 
You should be able to find a pretty nice M4-P for 500 pounds, which is what, $800? That is about what mine cost, and I bought it at a local place - bargains are more plentiful (if more risky) online. I use mine with a 35mm, and it's the perfect finder for that.
 
berlincontemporary said:
what do you think will a rangefinder give you that a Canon AE-1 cant?
Click to expand...

Black paint 😀 But seriously, as a SLR-RF 'convert', I really enjoy the RF experience. The detached viewfinder, quiet shutter, compact size etc.

And on the topic of colour - I believe that (all other things being equal), black cameras draw less attention and look nicer. Of course that depends on what you are doing with the camera though, so lassoing it around the camera strap will still get you a weird look or two 😉 Black tape isn't actually a bad idea, but seems like an unnecessary compromise when black RFs are so prevalent.

Don't let the color get in the way of:

"I want to take my photography much more seriously. I am a big fan of the analog rangefinder process"
Click to expand...

A good point, but not applicable if I find the choice of camera to be part of the 'rangefinder process'. If that wasn't the case, then I'd have no need to upgrade from my FED-2.

I always think to myself: When you have to "save up" for it, a Leica is not right for you.
Click to expand...

This I don't understand. Is the idea of a Leica being only for people who can afford them not a bit elitist? Where would the struggling Cartier-Bressons of the world be if there was a minimum-income cap imposed on the purchase of cameras? 🙂

Things get even more frustrating when it comes to lenses.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, those £2k lenses do look rather tasty! This is my reasoning behind Russian glass with an LTM adapter. Does anyone do this?

it's the glass that captures what you see.
Click to expand...

A nice sentiment and I'm perfectly happy with my FED glass, but find the body limiting (viewfinder, wind knob etc). So MartinP I fully understand where you're coming from but my reason to upgrade is to have a camera which works better with my style of photography (quick shooting, being able to see around the frame etc). I don't have a single bad feeling toward the FED but I think it's limitations are greater then my own limitations as a photographer.

Thanks for all the great input, it's all thought provoking stuff. 🙂

All the best
Chris
 
There are two camps regarding Russian glass on Leicas: camp A claims it works for most lenses, camp B says it doesn't, because of a systematic difference of focus calibration. After having tried over a dozen Russian lenses, I belong to camp B and believe most Russian lenses will misfocus very noticably on a Leica at close distance.

So I think you should also budget for a lens. There are very affordable and great options, CV 35/2.5, Canon 35/1.8, Canon 50/1.4, Canon 50/1.8, etc, all available for US 300 or below in the used market.

The M4P is a great camera; I like them because I like 28 and 75mm lenses, and the cameras are very robust. The cheapest and best Leica on the used market is the M2. You should be able to get a good (albeit chrome) copy for US 600 or less, if you are patient. A good M4P will cost you around US 800, currently.

However remember: For the price of, say a Leica M2 + CV 35/2.5, you can also buy a good Hasselblad 500 series with back and 80 planar. That's what it costs.

Good luck.

Roland.
 
Last edited:
stay away from russian glass unless you know someone who can fix/mate it to your camera so that it focusses properly.

i might start with a bessa body and cv lens...they have several 35/40/50 lenses that are exceptional and can be had used for reasonable prices.
there is no 'leica magic'...
 
If you've got your mind on a Leica then buy one. Personally, I started with a M3 and a LTM Nikkor 50/2. Use that combo for a while and thought I needed to "upgrade" after reading all the threads on this site. Back to the Nikkor 50/2 and back to enjoying what it's all about.

I think a nice M3 and Nikkor 50/2 can keep you under $1000.
 
kevin m said:
Shooting with their iPhones? 😀
Click to expand...

Haha that's an interesting idea 🙂

Ok so without wanting to derail the topic - why is the use of LTM Canon/Nikkor/CV lenses with bayonnet adapters recommended, while using an Industar-26m with the same adapter going to cause focusing problems?

Oh and I am using my FED regularly, I'm not just in it for the 'leica magic' - although it does, DEFINITELY exist. 😉
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Leica M4 Trainer?
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
JeffS7444
JeffS7444
kxl
Any love for the Leica M-A (Typ 127)?
2 3 4
Replies
61
Views
2K
Richard G
Richard G
CandidChronicles
Alternative to Voigtländer 35mm 2.5?
2 3
Replies
46
Views
1K
filmtwit
filmtwit
C
Rangefinder internals
Replies
8
Views
631
Phil_F_NM
Phil_F_NM
yossarian123
current 2024 (and not long wait time!) repair for Leica M5?
Replies
5
Views
628
hap
H
Back
Top Bottom