Leica learning material

[Sega]

Hello all, does anyone have some good reference points on learning about Leicas in general?

I have been wanting one for years and had years ago nearly saved enough for an M2 until an Ex drained my savings (long story and fortunately long gone), my current girlfriend has encouraged me to try and save up for one again as she knows it's my dream bit of kit (And its probably easier to house than the cars).

Obviously it's not something I'll manage overnight and it's not something to do lightly, they are precision made tools that like the performance cars I play with need proper care and maintenance to keep them working, so I want to get to know how to tell what's good to go and what's likely going to need work and even potentially how to maintain one myself to keep costs low as like my M3 it'll be something I'll keep til I drop.

Digital or Film I don't mind as both are worth considering and the more research I can do the better off I'll be when the time comes when I can afford it.

 

[aizan]

cameraquest.com and the Leica FAQ are the best resources.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I knew only very few people who are able to maintain their M.
In fact I knew only one. Vladimir Panasenko.
His story is almost gone by now.
http://www.citysnaps.net/blog/2009/01/05/minnie-and-mickey/

Read this first:
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/leica_m2_service.pdf

99.99% ain't capable of doing it. And depends on mostly old by now few techs and on very expensive Leica.

 

[Sega]

cameraquest.com and the Leica FAQ are the best resources.

Thank you, I'll have a look through.

 

[Huss]

This site is actually very useful:

https://kenrockwell.com/leica/index.htm

It's how I learned about Leicas. Some people for some reason hate him but as long as you understand that some of the time he is making fun of the stereotypical Leica owner, you'll be ok.

 

[Sega]

I knew only very few people who are able to maintain their M.
In fact I knew only one. Vladimir Panasenko.
His story is almost gone by now.
http://www.citysnaps.net/blog/2009/01/05/minnie-and-mickey/

Read this first:
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/leica_m2_service.pdf

99.99% ain't capable of doing it. And depends on mostly old by now few techs and on very expensive Leica.

I see what you mean about the page as it's mostly missing, It's not nessacerliy the M2 that I'd go for, it was purely back then the first Leica I properly noticed and fell in love with since I took up photography.

I'm willing to give anything a go, I grew up around engineering and qualified as a Mechanic and IT tech, I've also restored all sorts of vintage things and built stuff for friends and familiy, really fine tuned stuff I may hand over due to lacking the kit but most things I do try to fix myself and usually keep until they turn to dust.

 

[Sega]

This site is actually very useful:

https://kenrockwell.com/leica/index.htm

It's how I learned about Leicas. Some people for some reason hate him but as long as you understand that some of the time he is making fun of the stereotypical Leica owner, you'll be ok.

Thank you, I often come across guys like that in the car community and I'm a bit the same (I get a warm and fuzzy feeling when I overhear the purist rants about my M3s Retro racer sticker bombing), I'll deffo give it a read.

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Prioritize man! Messing with cars is always a net loss, and if you stop spending money on women, you will have enough for a decent M2 or M3 with lens in a week or two.

 

[Livesteamer]

You might consider buying a Zorki 4 with a Jupiter 8 lens to see if a rangefinder is something you would be comfortable with. Further, if you can take apart the Zorki and get it back together it might be good practice for something more complex. Good Luck however you decide. Joe

 

[Sega]

Prioritize man! Messing with cars is always a net loss, and if you stop spending money on women, you will have enough for a decent M2 or M3 with lens in a week or two.

Funnily enough the Cars about to be pulled from the road for a bit and she doesn't like me spending money on her and told me to try for a Leica again, she's a keeper if there ever was one.

 

[Sega]

You might consider buying a Zorki 4 with a Jupiter 8 lens to see if a rangefinder is something you would be comfortable with. Further, if you can take apart the Zorki and get it back together it might be good practice for something more complex. Good Luck however you decide. Joe

I've had one for nearly a decade and in the process of a Restomod on a 4K, I take my original '67 out more than any other camera and she's got the paint wear to prove it, I get on with it a lot better than most SLRs.

 

[Livesteamer]

Then you would probably like one of the Leica M cameras. May I suggest a thought from old cars. It is usually cheaper to buy the car you want, already restored and serviced than to buy a basket case and fix it up. Don't ask me how I know. You might also consider buying from a dealer who would stand behind the product altho RFF is a good place to buy if you are patient and wait for the camera that's right for you. Joe

 

[Huss]

I've got a Pink Oktober Zorki 4 and while I really enjoy it, there is no comparison or replacement to a Leica M.
But why would there be? The prices are stratospherically different.

 

[Sega]

Then you would probably like one of the Leica M cameras. May I suggest a thought from old cars. It is usually cheaper to buy the car you want, already restored and serviced than to buy a basket case and fix it up. Don't ask me how I know. You might also consider buying from a dealer who would stand behind the product altho RFF is a good place to buy if you are patient and wait for the camera that's right for you. Joe

I was thinking more just it's maintainence than a fixer upper like the 4k is, I'd be going dealer only with a Guarentee, I've got one that gets used gear in thats trustworthy near by but rarely gets Leicas in sadly, wierdly though it was Cash Converters (Pawn shop chain in the UK) where I saw an M2, were asking £500 for it and what looked like a Leica 50, sadly had no job at the time and naturally it got snapped up.

 

[Sega]

I've got a Pink Oktober Zorki 4 and while I really enjoy it, there is no comparison or replacement to a Leica M.
But why would there be? The prices are stratospherically different.

That Camera is in part the reason the 4k is being altered slightly, I've got red pleather to be cut and go on and I'm making a fresh lever tab in wood to mimic a Mosin or AK stock, meds side effects and Christmas stuff has slowed it a bit but I'm hoping to be done by mid January complete with zoomed star, sickle and hammer embossed on the rear.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Here is another:
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/leica basic repair.pdf

Personally, I would only do it if on-line video with how to get it apart, where and how to clean, where and how to lubricate, where and how to adjust and how to put it back is available.
For repair parts are needed and it is only available from Leica. Few remaining certified techs and Leica service have access to them. I don't think it is possible to order spare parts from Leica, like it is possible with Canon (modern lenses and digital cameras parts).
Parts sold for M elsewhere are often at outrageous price.

 

[Sega]

Here is another:
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/leica basic repair.pdf

Personally, I would only do it if on-line video with how to get it apart, where and how to clean, where and how to lubricate, where and how to adjust and how to put it back is available.
For repair parts are needed and it is only available from Leica. Few remaining certified techs and Leica service have access to them. I don't think it is possible to order spare parts from Leica, like it is possible with Canon (modern lenses and digital cameras parts).
Parts sold for M elsewhere are often at outrageous price.

Thank you, by the sounds of things it's not far off BMW is with it's special edition parts, I do have on my side though my Father who's still an active engineer, it may be possible to create mechanical parts in Gibbs and get one of the CNC machines to make them.

 

[Bike Tourist]

I would suggest Erwin Puts for Leica lore:

http://photo.imx.nl/

 

[presspass]

Any of the books by Jonathan Eastland are excellent. The more comprehensive ones stop with the M7, but all give good overviews of M series Leicas and lenses past and present. The equipment information is well supplemented with practical shooting techniques and even choices of kit for various scenarios. Don't overlook Roger Hicks' excellent information on his website.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Old Leica catalogues are a very useful source and well written and illustrated. They turn up frequently on ebay at a wide range of prices.

The Hove Foto books are also useful reference sources and, of course, "Leica the First 70 Years".

Regards, David