Looking for an M

[NathanJD]

I'm looking to become a paid up member of the Leica owner's club and i've sold some of my digi kit to fund an M camera and an M bayonet lens. i've managed to get £750 together - not a kings ransom i know but i want a camera to use not to look at so i have advertised in the classifieds here and I'm keeping an eye on eBay.

does anyone have any advice? i'd love an M3 but the limited framelines concerns me slightly, i'd also like an M4 or if the lucky stars are shining on me an M6.

what i don't mind is what lens i get as long as it's a 35mm or 50mm so is there anything you'd recommend considering my price bracket?

thanks in advance to any help!!

 

[mknawabi]

I know this is hard to hear but you just gotta keep saving up until you have about 800 pounds for an M6 and about ~550 for a summicron 35mm (v1-v3) (Unless you are okay buying a voigtlander or zeiss lens)

I was in your shoes.. I bought an m6ttl for 1200$ and saved up for an additioanl 5 or 7 months until I could buy my first lens :|

Just stay patient! And something tells me you're going to miss a digital setup.. Be a hybrid shooter! Save up again for your digital setup 🙂

 

[Bill Blackwell]

With your budget you should be able to fetch a nice starter body with a clean M2 (no meter) or a "user" M6 (built-in meter). A nice 35mm CV in M mount can be had for not too much money. These lenses are respectable build quality and put out nice image results, but the combo may put you slightly over budget.

You can read about the differences between M cameras here:

http://cameraquest.com/mguide.htm

 

[payasam]

You might consider what you're likely to photograph and what you want in your camera, and then decide which M best suits you. Just An M is perhaps the wrong approach.

 

[Bassism]

If you're interested in the M3, it might also be worth looking at an M2, which gets you framelines from 35-90. I absolutely love mine, and appreciate only having one frameline visible at a time. If you want to go wider than 35, you could always pick up a finder.

I wouldn't worry too much about buying an expensive lens for now. My Industar 61 is one of the best lenses I've ever used, and cost me all of about 20 dollars, including a camera. For a few dollars more you could go for an older Canon 50 or something along those lines. Another option would be an older 50 Summicron. There was one in the classifieds here not too long ago for a pretty good price. The CV lenses also have pretty much universally good reputations.

£750 is more than I had to put together my M2, I61, DR Summicron kit, with which I am very pleased. There are plenty of options around.

 

[NathanJD]

Thanks for the responses so far! i do still have a digital SLR setup and i know that the M6 is a bit far fetched but i do know what i want and that's a used M body to shoot at 35 or 50mm because I've been looking around here on the galleries and on flickr groups and that's the kind of look i want - I'm not after a very very specific look - any of those 3 will do me nicely.

It won't be my only camera but i want it to be the first one i pick up (and of course adore). sadly due to my situation i don't have the luxury of saving up per say because my earnings go towards living. i have had to decide that the money i had invested in digital kit that was sitting in a camera bag depreciating is better spent in something a little more refined and classic.

 

[payasam]

As Bill Blackwell said, you're looking for an M2.

 

[Tom A]

The amount you have set aside should get you a good user M2 and a 35. Coming from SLR, the tendency is to look at 50's more than 35's - but a Rf camera is different. You should be able to add either a VC 35f2.5 II or the 35f1.7 VC to the kit without breaking the limit.
In UK you should find a M2 for around 400 pounds and the 35 should not be more than 200 -250. Check the various stores that advertise in the UK magazines to get a feel for the pricing. Dont obsess about metering - just start shooting with one film and teach your self to judge exposures.
You have the luxury of time too - look around and pick the best deal.
Also try Jem Kime at "jem.kime@ntlworld.com" - he is a good guy and probably can find what you are looking for within your budget.

 

[acall]

750 pounds is a little over 1100 USD. there is an M6 in the classifieds today for that price. I purchased an M6 for close to that price last year, I wouldn't have even considered it a user. It was close to perfect. I agree with the others though, you should look at the entire line and decide what are "must have" features and what are "nice to have" and make your decision from there.

Alan

 

[chrishayton]

The amount you have set aside should get you a good user M2 and a 35. Coming from SLR, the tendency is to look at 50's more than 35's - but a Rf camera is different. You should be able to add either a VC 35f2.5 II or the 35f1.7 VC to the kit without breaking the limit.
In UK you should find a M2 for around 400 pounds and the 35 should not be more than 200 -250. Check the various stores that advertise in the UK magazines to get a feel for the pricing. Dont obsess about metering - just start shooting with one film and teach your self to judge exposures.
You have the luxury of time too - look around and pick the best deal.
Also try Jem Kime at "jem.kime@ntlworld.com" - he is a good guy and probably can find what you are looking for within your budget.

I agree with this, He works at the real camera company shop in manchester. Your budget will easily afford a m2/3 and an old leica or used voigtlander lens from them

 

[NathanJD]

Thanks very much fellas, Tom, i'm in your dept - i'll drop Jem an email now and see if he can help. thank you again! 😉