Most Maligned Leica M Model

Most Maligned Leica M Model

  • M3

    Votes: 11 1.8%

  • M2

    Votes: 3 0.5%

  • M4

    Votes: 3 0.5%

  • M4-2

    Votes: 65 10.5%

  • M4-P

    Votes: 15 2.4%

  • M5

    Votes: 303 48.9%

  • M6

    Votes: 7 1.1%

  • M6 TTL

    Votes: 12 1.9%

  • M7

    Votes: 20 3.2%

  • MP (new and original)

    Votes: 11 1.8%

  • M8

    Votes: 146 23.6%

  • M9

    Votes: 23 3.7%
  • Total voters
    619
I don't know, but for years I had always heard it was the M5. Today? I would guess any digital M would be hated because it is so totally different from the film tradition.

As for me, I have an M2 and M4 and love them both. Maybe the 2 a bit more than the 4...
 
parsec1 said:
For 'maligned' -- in other words, 'attacked unjustly' (usually by those who hadn't tried it) -- the M8 must surely be the winner.

Cheers,

R.
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IR/UV filters and all that fuffing about. Not 'Unjust' at all Roger.

..............[/QUOTE]

No, there's 'attacked justly' (the points you mention, and others) and 'attacked unjustly' (by those who'd never used it...)

Cheers,

R.
 
maligned? surely the M8 by those whose photographic worldview was shattered upon its introduction

which is all good if it moves the price down for those looking to buy one versus a financially out-of-reach M9
 
But it makes the camera battery dependent....and that for a mechanical camera....

I don't like an automatic lightmeter coupled to the shutter release....

In practice there are many technical troubles with the M7.

I do find it not a very reliable camera.

I do like more the M4 P.....
 
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MD? Can't see through it. I think "hate" would be far too strong for the others, but I have a preference for uncluttered finders, so that leaves the M2 and I guess an a la carte MP as my LEAST hated.

Oh, and the M1 wouldn't be very fun either.
 
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Being as I have both the M5 and M8 I'm feeling like quite the non-conformist! The M7 can keep me in good standing when I need to "fit in".

I tend to enjoy the black sheeps of the camera world, including my Contax N equipment.
 
I voted for the M4-2. I realize that personal prejudices come to the front in this, but I got a very early M4-2 (traded in my M5) mostly to get the winder. Both camera and winder were huge disappointments. My M4-2 had numerous problems, and died on some rocks after a poorly attached strap eyelet came out. The winder was atrocious.

I had the M5 for about 2 years. The meter was nice, but the cell arm swinging out did not aid the overall feel. The bottom rewind precluded shooting Fuji film at the time, and of course it didn't take the IXMOO cassetttes. I like the overhanging shutter dial, but it felt rather wobbly. Basically, it wasn't fully sorted and obviously didn't have the development time of the M2,3 & 4.

Metering was nice, but not at the expense of handling and film choice. Fortunately I still had a couple of M4's, and kept them until a couple of years after the M6 came out.

The M8 is and has certainly be maligned, but mostly by those who really haven't used one. After nearly 4 years, it's a camera I've been very happy with. I'll keep one even though I have an M9.

Henning
 
The M4 is rubbish because it's too espensive and doesn't have a light meter. Cameras are for using, not for polishing. The M9 is too expensive for non-pro users to do anything interesting with.

The best Leica are probably the M6 classic and M8 as they are cheap these days and also easy to get hold of.
 
The M8 and M9 are not up to what job exactly?
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Professional photography in 2010.

Yes, I know: Someone will point to the handful of exceptions as though they disprove the rule. Then someone else will provide a rambling, Clinton-esque redefinition of the word "professional." But the truth is that far fewer digital M's are being used professionally than were the film bodies. There's what, one wedding photographer here who uses them, and I think he's switched back to shooting film in his M7's. I personally knew four photographers locally who used film M's in the recent past, and none of them is using a digital M now; I bought used M gear locally that had been used by a staff newspaper photographer: an M6TTL with a 35mm Aspherical Summilux. It was rare, but it happened.

From what they've said, it seems the few pros who are using the digital M's are doing so mostly for their own pleasure. Maybe that's the best reason to use any camera, I don't know, but photographers who can't afford the luxury of indulging their own pleasure on the job aren't using them in any significant number, that much seems clear.
 
You know, I laugh at this stupid poll.:p I can't tell you enough how much I like my M5. Of course the size could be a bit smaller but, mine has the sweetest and quietest shutter going! I wish all Leica's had the same meter as well! It's accurate and great to have those match needles. Greatest one(at least visually) they ever put in one. I like my M6 TTL but the M5 is easily my favorite. It may not be for everybody but, I have a feeling most that shun it are Leica snobs and won't give it a chance.;) Ok I'm done, hahaha
 
dof said:
There's a limit to 12 poll items.

The CL isn't an M Model.

In the parlance of the day -- "'nuff said."
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The CL IS an M model. It's not sporting a LTM mount.

I'm old enough to remember them new on the shelves. Leica absolutely marketed it as an M Leica that was 'compact'.

Anyway, I almost bought one but after a friend of mine did and it had two replacement shutters put into his under warranty and still wasn't right I passed.

It has to be the most maligned Leica M camera - more so than the M5.
 
If you use a camera long enough, your muscle memory and familiarity will make its use intuitive.
My favorite shooter is an M7, but I also have an M5, M3, and M2. They are all great cameras when you actually use them.

I don't have any experience with the digital cameras though, as my only digital camera is a Kodak P&S.
 
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