leica M/canon?

[kerouacknew]

Hi,
I have a few lower priced rangefinders which i have been using for a couple years now" I really enjoy these cameras.
Now, I would like to upgrade to something a little nicer.
I was thinking about buying a canon P or canon 7 but now i am wondering if perhaps i should spend a little more and get a leica( thats what a line of credit is for , no 🙄 ).
Anyway i was just looking for any advice on which leica m is a good staring point for someone new( i know next to nothing about these)and also if the leicas are much better than the canon rangefinders?
thanks
shawn

 

[xayraa33]

welcome to the forum.
the Canon 7 and the Leica M's are both fine cameras
the Leica will generally be a bit more expensive to buy and both will hold their resale value. the choice will be a personal one.
the M6 , M4P and the M4-2 are all nice models to choose from, not too old, usually found in good shape and at reasonable prices.

 

[peter_n]

Shawn welcome to the forum! 🙂 I have not used a Canon P or 7 but I use a Canon QL17 and also Leica M. Apart from the build quality, I would say the major difference is the viewfinder. Our esteemed moderator Joe will undoubtedly pitch in here with his experience but I have gotten into situations where the Canon viewfinder just wasn't clear enough and I've never had that problem with my M's. When it gets to the point where you are missing shots then it becomes an issue... If you are going to buy Leica, I would get the most recent one you can afford - the M6 is terrific value for money.

 

[rogue_designer]

I can vouch for the Canon P. It is built solidly and has a really nice 1:1 viewfinder with constant framelines (35/50/100) - but has no internal meter. So depending on how you shoot, that could be a drawback. I also think the film transport is better engineered than any other lever wind out there (even though I'm sure I'll catch flak for saying so).

None of the machines you listed are bad. The bonus to the LTM mounts is that your lenses can be used (with an adapter) on the newer M's if you ever get one down the line. So it might be a good way to get started building a system.

 

[fluffthecat]

You are welcome to view my M4-2 blog page!

You are welcome to view my M4-2 blog page!

Go to: http://leica-m4-2.blogspot.com/

I think my leica M4-2 is well made and bodies can be picked up at a reasonable price. Fluff.

 

[back alley]

the canon p is a great camera with framelines for 35/50/100 lenses. it's a perfect match with those lenses although some have a problem waering glasses and seeing all of the 35 area.
the 7 is considered one of canon's best and most versatile cameras.
hard to go wrong with a good sample of either.

what lenses are you thinking of using?
the leica m2 or m3 would also be good contenders to start with.

 

[BillBingham2]

Shawn,

Depends upon how much of a step up you want/can take. An M6 would be a great camera with built in meter to really step up to. You might not need to step anywhere else from that point.

I do not own any Canons, but have heard great things about the P. In this class, I have a M4-P and a M6. On a side step I have an S2, which to me feels almost as good as either of my Ms. Steping down I have a several Bessas which are great fun, but the same.

If you do not require a built in meter, the M4-P is a great camera. In fact, it's hard to go wrong with any of the Ms, they are all great cameras, some just greater than others.

B2 (;->

 

[Ergo]

M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3

 

[simonankor]

P P P P P P P P P P (that balances out Ergo's post 😀)

I doubt the Leicas are much better than the Canon RFs, certainly not enough to account for the jump in cost. This is not stopping me considering a Leica M to go with my Canon P so I guess I could go with the traditional RFF answer of - buy both 😉

 

[ghost]

Go to: http://leica-m4-2.blogspot.com/

I think my leica M4-2 is well made and bodies can be picked up at a reasonable price. Fluff.

nice repaint job! did you get it done at crr luton?

 

[RayPA]

I'll agree with Roland, but with a strong push toward the M4-P. GREAT build quality and just about every frameline you could possibly want.

M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P, M4-P!!

 

[ScottH]

Ferider has an excellent point about lens' and framelines being a factor in your decision. I'm pretty much a newbie here, and haven't shot a/any Leica's before. My most recent camera purchase was a 'like new' Canon P, and for the price would seem a tough choice to beat. I could have purchased 2 w/ lens' for the price of a user Leica body. Someday I'll have a Leica, newer M model, just not in this or the next decade... Keep doing some research, asking questions and you'll no doubt make the right decision for yourself. Enjoy the process.

 

[Rich Silfver]

Without meter: M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3
With meter: Eh....dunno....M6 maybe.

 

[back alley]

the m3 is certainly a classic and a truly wonderful camera. i use mine with one lens, a collapsible elmar 50/2.8
it is a one camera - one lens kit for me.

joe

 

[David Murphy]

The Bessa-R is tough to beat

 

[drec]

I've owned a few Ms, got out of film, and got back in with a Canon P. What others have said here goes for me too. Except for its viewfinder, which I must admit flares a bit in my copy, the P is pretty much the equal of the Ms, IMHO. The difference is in the lenses, and if you can be happy with Voigtlander lenses which are mostly just this side of the new Leica ones anyway (ducking for cover right now), the P will serve you well.

Because of the P's construction with baffles, I cannot use collapsible lenses and others like the Russian 35/2.8, which I was looking forward to getting before I looked into it more. One more thing: I am not enamored of the rewind enabler, which is a collar around the shutter release. If I get to the end of a roll, sometimes the collar gets very sticky and I have to really fiddle with it to get it to rewind mode. Also, it's been written that sometimes switching to rewind mode can trip the shutter. I concur with this; the shutter in mine trips every time I flip to rewind. I must remember to put the cap on, or else I will lose my last exposure.

Other than that, no qualms with the Canon P-- although with falling M prices after the M8 comes out, I just might buy an M3 (again) after all!

 

[Solinar]

Leicas

The beauty of Leica M mount system is the variation of the viewfinders in the M series, quiet operation, and the accessories are fairly common, but expensive. It's a timeless design that has been emulated for 5 deacades. The build quality of older Wetzlar M's is second to none

My theory is that there isn't a magic bullet when it comes to choosing a particular body. Instead, choose your favorite lens then work from there. The M2 viewfinder covers the focal lengths that I use most.

Canons:

Canons are all screw mount. They won't accept a 90mm Summicron or a wonderful 50mm Hexanon.

The Canon 7 is a better value than the P. The 7 has projected bright-lines for framing. Plus, it has the addition of the 85mm focal length and 135mm framelines. Unfortunately, the 7 looks dated. The Canon 7 also lacks a cold shoe.

The P is a timeless work of art. The Canon P uses an Albada viewfinder, it has reflected frame lines and there are only 3 sets of frame lines. I own a Nikkor LTM 85/2, so the 50mm and 100mm frame lines don't do me much good with that lens. So, I have to use an external finder.

Both the Canon P and the 7 have stainless steel which can get crinkled, but not burned. Film loading is modern.


Zeiss Ikon: It's not yet a proven classic, but worth a look.

 

[Solinar]

One additon - If you are currently contemplating a Leica M, chances are you eventually move up to one. You might as well make the move now.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Also, it's been written that sometimes switching to rewind mode can trip the shutter. I concur with this; the shutter in mine trips every time I flip to rewind. I must remember to put the cap on, or else I will lose my last exposure.

I am willing to bet a cup of coffee that you will NOT lose a frame at the end of the roll on the Canon P when you flip to rewind. With your camera empty and the back open set your shutter speed to 1/15 the lens to f1.8 or what ever is the largest aperature, point the camera at a light source and engage the rewind collar. The resulting sound is the shutter releasing but the curtains move together so no light is allowed to strike the film. You will not or should not see any light coming through the shutter when you try this.

Wayne