M3 entry route to Leicadom or is it M6?

[RBruceCR]

Chaps, how is life with the M6?

I felt that the entry route to Leicadom was the M3, MR Meter, Summicron 50/f2, strap, ever ready case and of course overhaul by specialized workshop. Quite steep in cash outlay, probably in the $1,200 plus overhaul!

Today on eBay, my only source from Costa Rica, an M3 with the above configuration and declared for parts or for repair, with the carbonite peeled off commanded $910. The camera looked downright ugly and by not being Canadian nor US Citizen or resident, I was banned from participating.

The prices for the M3's have oscillated in the $1,200 with the said configuration. I have not followed the M6 that closely, perhaps due to Ken Rockwell stating that all the rest Leicas are "would love to be M3's." CameraQuest recommends the M2 over the M3 and the M6 over the earlier ones, but then says that he likes the M3 too.

I had a Yashica Electro 35 GSN, my first camera! It is now under repair, after sitting in never land for the last 25 years, it can still be repaired and it is far from home in CT. I took great pictures of my high school sweetheart, buddies, girl next door and during my master"s degree in Boston. Then it went into disrepair and I got into SLRdom with Minolta and have ever been in this stage. I have even considered a KM 7D if only I could find a specialist with parts and knowledge on how to fix it!

I have yet to fix a Mamiya Press 23, 6 X 9 all manual, all three lenses, 65/4.5, 90/4.5 and a 150/4.5. The size of the film is big. This would be my second rangefinder. I don't seem to have the ability to repair the film backs, the felts arrived a month ago. Technical service is bad in Costa Rica where I live!

Will life with Leica M3 or M6 (don't like the M2, would live with the M4-2 if it had a meter, I am becoming M3 literate, however) be the same as with the Yashica? The cost of the lenses is considerable, and I am even considering selling my motorbike to afford life in Leicadom...

Regards,

Robert

 

[Richard G]

The M6 is a great camera. If you can afford a metered M and want a meter then this is best. Sure my M2 is smoother, but not by much. I can't understand why you don't like the M2. I also can't understand why everyone raves about the M3. It doesn't have the frame lines for the 35 and I don't even like the frame lines of the M3 for 50 and with glasses I prefer the standard 0.72 Leica finder. The M4 and the M4-2 are also great cameras with the more practical rewind. I won't talk to you about the M5 which I think is great also. M4 might be the best M ever, but a bit more expensive. A late M2 or an M4-2 is probably the cheapest way in to a Leica experience with no compromises. There are those and I'm one of them who think that my button rewind M2 was the pinnacle of Leica design and quality. Make your own judgements rather than listen to unargued opinions of Ken Rockwell or anyone else.

 

[Pablito]

As someone who thinks of cameras strictly as a means to an end, I prefer the M6 classic over all other M bodies.

If you end up with a non-metered body, I way prefer the Voigtlander meter over any Leica meter.

Personally, I would never buy an M3 for regular use because it does not have the frame lines for the lenses I use the most, and I much prefer the faster loading of the later models. With practice you can load the later M's in a few seconds.

 

[raid]

I chose carefully two M models that I find superb. I sold the M5 and M4-MOT, and I kept the M6 0.85 classic and the M3. I like using 50m lenses. The M3 ha a butter smooth shutter release, and with a soft release, tne M6 is also O K.

 

[JayM]

The M4-2 is not a great camera, neither is the M4-P. They should not be worth more than an M2 or any other M for that matter. Do not buy one.

 

[Pablito]

The M4-2 is not a great camera, neither is the M4-P. They should not be worth more than an M2 or any other M for that matter. Do not buy one.

Well, that is one opinion. Others think the M4-P is one of the best. My M4-P is just like my M6 bodies, only with no meter. If you can live with no meter, I highly recommend the M4-P.

 

[RBruceCR]

Thank you all for the quite stern opinions and rest assured that before committing to one model or another I will have to make a test run. I will have to solve this, however, as there are no Leicas close to where I live.

I will not frown upon an M2 and I will not look with disdain an M4-2 either.

The 35/50/75 frame lines of the M2 sound appealing but I was thinking on the M3 as the entry route but the M6 is mentioned constantly!

Regards and take care!

Robert

 

[JayM]

Well, that is one opinion. Others think the M4-P is one of the best. My M4-P is just like my M6 bodies, only with no meter. If you can live with no meter, I highly recommend the M4-P.

If you can live with no meter in addition to no pc-sync on a camera that unjustifiably costs more than a camera that is 100% functional from the same manufacturer then I agree.

I'd go regular M2, M3, M4 or M6 over the M4-2/M4-P. To me the slight difference in smoothness isn't as big of a deal as the irreparably bad design.

 

[Contarama]

I think a M6 0.85 Classic is the safest most practical bet...if you can afford the right glass too...

 

[Spicy]

The M4-2 is not a great camera, neither is the M4-P. They should not be worth more than an M2 or any other M for that matter. Do not buy one.

with all due respect, you don't seem to know what you're talking about.

 

[ruby.monkey]

A good M3 is a joy to own, as is an M2, and the 50mm Summicron is a beauty. My ERC went to the back of the cupboard as soon as I got it, and I'd be willing to bet that a small hand-held meter (such as a Sekonic TwinMate) is faster and more convenient to use than a clip-on or in-body meter without autoexposure.

 

[kshapero]

M3 is entry to photo paradise and the M6 is the entry to close to Paradise. My 2 cents.

 

[Archlich]

Go with M3 first, so that you could appreciate the convenience of the M6's built-in meter.

 

[Clancycoop]

First of all, don't listen to Ken Rockwell, at least not taking his word as gospel. He has a lot of great information on his site but frequently contradicts himself with hyperbolic claims about the only camera one needs, what formats one should bother shooting, etc.

Anyway, I have never owned a meterless M, but it seems like it would a hassle, especially in moments where you don't have much time to get the photo off and are in a weird lighting situation (shadows and bright light all together in the same area).

My personal experience has been that I got into an "entry kit" and then began selling off the first things to upgrade, taking a slight hit each time.

Buy the best and cry once, I say. I think the best bang for the buck is an M6 classic.

 

[DominikDUK]

If you absolutely require a meter the M6 Classic is the better choice, if you can live without a build in meter then they are about equal I personaly prefer the M3 viewfinder to the M6. If you plan to use a 35mm lens in the future the M6 is again the better choice no googles necessary.

I wouldn't discount the M5 though, it's beautiful has nice viewfinder and for someone with bigger hands it's the best Leica. You can adapt hearing aids batteries or use Weincell batteries for the meter. It's usually cheaper than either the M3 or M6 and has a meter.

Dominik

 

[Vincent.G]

I prefer the M2 or M3 because they have relatively less flare prone VF compared to a M6. But I am using a M6 with MP flare free finder. The built-in meter is useful when the lighting is tricky.

Nonetheless it is not a big deal to shoot with meterless cameras as one can easily slip a small handheld meter into the pocket.

 

[Moriturii]

The M4-2 is not a great camera, neither is the M4-P. They should not be worth more than an M2 or any other M for that matter. Do not buy one.

This is absolute rubbish. M4P is the only fully mechanical Leica I'd ever seriously keep/use. And it would take quite a bit for me to use a Leica M mount camera body in the year 2012.

 

[jychoe]

Just buy the cheapest well working body that you can find..

I own both M3/M2 and I'm looking to sell both and getting a black body because I think it looks better. I'm not even considering if its a M2,3,4,5,6,7.... In the end, whichever one with a better mechanic will work better. There's some minor differences, but its really up to you to choose, not something you can follow someone else for.

There's even pros and cons for the meterless M. I played with a friend's M6 and found out that I get obsessive with the metering and miss the shot a lot. its not like the DSLR system where they show how off I am, it just tells me whether I'm off or not. With meter less Ms, I just guess. I fail sometimes, but Negatives are very generous with me and Sunny 16 rule works pretty well most of the time.

buying the best bang for the buck is always fantastic, but you'll always want to try new things. there is no ultimate M that will satisfy all your needs.

take your time, try different things.

Leica isn't about beautiful cameras, or fantastic pictures. Its about patience.

 

[jychoe]

Having said that, I think I must say,

My dream kit will be

BP M2, 35 cron 4th, 50 cron with concave tab.
Maybe a GXR with an M-module and more lenses the merrier

 

[Brian Legge]

Totally happy with my M4. 🙂

I think it all comes down to what lenses you plan on shooting and if you want a meter. If you want a meter, take the M6. If you plan on shooting long lenses, go with the M3. For wider lenses I'd go with the M2/M4.