M2, M4, M4-2, M4-P, M6 or M6 TTL

M2, M4, M4-2, M4-P, M6 or M6 TTL

  • Total voters
    387
Chuck A

Chuck A

Chuck A
Local time
1:01 AM
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Messages
364
I used to have an M2 and sold it over a decade ago when my interest in photography waned for a while. Stupid me. I am interested in getting back into a Leica M and am kinda torn between these models. The M2 and M4 are supposed to be smoother with great finders, The M4-2 and M4-P have a rep of not being as good and the M6 has the advantage of a built-in meter but uses the finder of the M4-P and gets mixed reviews.

I want to have at least 35mm framelines and I am looking toward an M because the shutter on the Bessas is louder. I like a quiet shutter and do appreciate an excellent quality camera. While an MP or M7 are great, they are more expensive than I want to go. These cameras can be had for around and under $1000 US without a lens. I will deal with the lens later. I am interested in what you folks think about the cameras from the M2 to the M6 TTL. Most of you have used them and can compare. I have read the Cameraquest reviews and would like some real world opinions. If you could pick one, which would it be?

Let me add here that I want a user camera not a collectable.
 
Last edited:
get a canon p with a nice canon 35/2 lens.
with the left over $$ you could get another p body or lens, maybe the 50/1.4.

;)joe
 
NOTA (none of the above :) ) I've come the conclusion that if I ever get a Leica, I'll buy a M5. Why? Because it is that bit larger (the M3 I've held felt too small - quite awkward - in my hands) and it is new enough to have a meter.

Right now thier prices are going up as people have, alas, decided that the black sheep is collectable. Pity as I only like user cameras.

William
 
wlewisiii said:
NOTA (none of the above :) ) I've come the conclusion that if I ever get a Leica, I'll buy a M5. Why? Because it is that bit larger (the M3 I've held felt too small - quite awkward - in my hands) and it is new enough to have a meter.

Right now thier prices are going up as people have, alas, decided that the black sheep is collectable. Pity as I only like user cameras.

William
Click to expand...

Well, I considered the M5 but it is larger than I want. I have been using an Oly RC lately and it is a nice little camera. Maybe just a bit too small but it is very quiet and the finder is acceptable for now. I want to eventually get an interchangeable lens rangefinder and am considering getting back into a Leica for that. I will look at the Zeiss when it comes out though.
 
Chuck A said:
Cmon Joe, your killin me here. How quiet is the p compared to an M? And what are the framelines like?
Click to expand...


the p is not a quiet camera but then i don't think the leicas are that quiet either.
but they are quieter than the canon p.
the older bottom feeders are quiet.

but i don't shoot in churches and even the quietest music concerts have applause breaks. as a street shooter i have NEVER had someone look up or my way due to camera noise.

framelines are camera dependent. i always thought my canons had good framelines till i got my last p and those suckers GLOW. i love them.

i am soooo biased towards the p that you should seek more objective council...;)

joe
 
backalley photo said:
i am soooo biased towards the p that you should seek more objective council...;)

joe
Click to expand...

At least you are honest. Thanks for the info. I will have to look at one sometime. :)
 
I've learned over time that I prefer bigger cameras. My Kiev 5 is a monster - but I can hand hold it down where nothing else I've owned comes close.

I've never been fond of most small cameras (the only one I've owned that I like is my Karat 36. A serious chunk of metal in it's own right.) I've had a couple of Ql-17's and disliked them becuase of the small size. As I mentioned above I even felt the M3 was too small for my tastes. I won't even mention the CL I tried once... :D

Good luck finding what suit _you_ though as that is what really matters.

William
 
Oh, and the ZI looks to be amazing... If I wasn't broke I'd get it and the full lens set without pause. That's much closer to what I've been looking for than anything from Leica...

William
 
Joe, biased? I never noticed that! The Canons are wonderful machines though. A little heavier than the M series though. Note the Canons are screwmounts.
I myself only know the older M's, not the M4 versions and the M6.

Good luck hunting!
 
The M2 cost less than an M4. My M2 is quieter than the: Nikon RF's with its cloth shutters; Canon 7 with Stainless Steel shutter; Canon Vt with cloth shutter. It is close to the Retina IIIS with a Compur shutter. The finder is not prone to flare like the M4-2, M4P, and M6. The M2 has a Rewind Knob, removable take-up spool, and manually reset frame counter. If you prefer faster rewind, slotted take-up spool, and auto-reset, the M4 will run $300~$400 more than the M2.

Also remember that early M2's had a button rewind that had to be held down while rewinding. As a user, you will be better served by the "Lever Rewind" version. Some M2 cameras have a self-timer, most do not. Almost any user condition M2 will go for less than an M4.
 
Last edited:
Decide if you want a meter or not first. The most affordable, with the convenient options Brian mentions would be an M4P/M42 without and M6 Classic with. All Leicas are excellent cameras, you won't make a bad choice.
 
I would go for either M6 or M6TTL as I don't need the hassle with an external meter. I had an M3 before and I still think it has the smoothest shutter I had ever experienced. But having a meter is much more important when you shoot in real life. I bought an M6TTL because the larger shutter speed dial is easier to use, and it moves in the same direction as the LED arrows in the viewfinder, which I find to be more intuitive.
 
Of the cameras you list, I have an M2 and an M6.

pros of the M2:
much less flare-prone rangefinder patch
less cluttered viewfinder (one set of framelines visible at a time)
build quality/feel/smoothness

pros of the M6:
built-in meter
easier film loading
auto frame counter reset
younger camera (more recently built)
 
The meter on the M6 can be both an asset and a liability. It's an asset because you don't need to mess with a separate meter. It's a liability if you don't understand reflective metering and therefore waste time, effort, and exposure accuracy by tweaking the exposure settings whenever the meter appears to indicate under or over exposure.

I don't exactly know why, but I would give up my M6 before I would give up my M2. Somehow the M2 seems about as nearly perfect as a mechanical device can get.
 
Last edited:
I use the meter of the M6 or the VCII meter which is on the M2 or 3, like I would a handheld meter. I take one reading (usually off the pavement when doing street photography) set the camera, and then forget about the exposure setting until the light changes or I'm shooting in a diff situation such as shade instead of open skylight.

(I think that maybe some people picky enough to buy a Leica sometimes have a tendency to be too fussy when setting exposure?)
 
FrankS said:
I use the meter of the M6 or the VCII meter which is on the M2 or 3, like I would a handheld meter. I take one reading (usually off the pavement when doing street photography) set the camera, and then forget about the exposure setting until the light changes or I'm shooting in a diff situation such as shade instead of open skylight.

(I think that maybe some people picky enough to buy a Leica sometimes have a tendency to be too fussy when setting exposure?)
Click to expand...


Frank,

How do you like the VCII meter? I used to have a Leica meter for my M2 but I found it too large. I meter in a similar manner to you. I understand the zone system and meter and adjust based on the light and type of exposure I want. An in-camera meter is nice because you can see what you are actually metering on. Although this is not a problem in most situations. I would like to have a meter in the camera and the M6 is a real possibility. I have been hearing about finder flare with them. You have one. What do you think? How does the finder on the M6 compare to the M2?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom