My first Leica... I have $1300, what should I get?

[magicianhisoka]

If you have gear ADD, pick a cheaper body and a better lens. That way you won't lose too much if you decide to cash out. A bessa with leica glass sounds best.

 

[KoNickon]

I think an M2 with a 35/1.7 Ultron + M adaptor can be had for under $1K and would make a nice setup.

 

[unixrevolution]

I agree with the sentiment for the M6, I really wish my Leica had a built-in meter.

I have an M2 with 3 adapted LTM lenses; a Color Skopar 35mm, a Jupiter 8 50/2 and a Canon Serenar 85/2. I really like that combo.

For street I'd start with an M2 and a 35 or a 50 of some variety. Voigtlander glass is really good for the money.

Speaking of which; Voigtlander makes 35mm rangefinders as well. They're affordable and I've heard good stuff about them. New for only ~$700. Add a brand-new Color Skopar 35mm to your camera for another $400 and use the additional $200 to buy film or whatever you like. Of course, if having an actual By-God Leica is important to you, this advice is likely wasted.

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras%20%26%20Lenses&cat2=35mm%20Film%20Rangefinder%20Cameras&cat3=Cameras&feature1=Voigtlander

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?...efinder Lenses & Finders&feature1=Voigtlander

 

[f16sunshine]

Hahaha!
If you are on this forum you're screwed already!
It's likely whatever you choose you will wish to try something else later.
My advice...

Get a Metered body.
I like the M5 some others prefer the M6. Nearly everyone who starts with an un-metered body will wish to trade up to one or has done so eventually.
Acceptions to this generalization are old timers who are not coming in at this late point to begin RF photography.
My preference for the M5 is due to it's "Spot meter" and associated finder indicating such.
Cameraquest has a great page on the M5... check it out.

As for which lens. Choose according to your budget. Whatever you get it won't be your last. Just make sure you get the Focal length you are most interested in and, a lens in good condition so you can evaluate it's performance without regards to condition.

I would choose the Summicron f2/40mm (any version) as it fits your budget and is as close to the summicron 35mm rendering you can get for under $400.
Otherwise grab an ltm 50mm f1.4 Canon or a Nokton 50mm f1.5 if you prefer 50mm FL as I do.
Have Fun!

Cheers!

 

[Michael Markey]

My advice...
Get a Metered body.
I like the M5 some others prefer the M6. Nearly everyone you starts with an un-mtered body will wish to trade up to one or has done so eventually.

Good advice ...I have two un metered bodies.
I came to RF un metered bodies late .
I learned to use them but still wish I`d have bought an M6 or better an M7.

 

[kxl]

As others have said... get the body that best fits your needs, then get it CLA'd. Then with whatever money is left get a starter lens, and save for better lenses.

Also as others have said, for me, that body would be an M6.

 

[cosmonaut]

I would go for the M6 if you think you will ever be adding more lenses for the extra frame lines.

 

[David Hughes]

How about this one: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.de/images/6/6e/AF-C1.jpg ?

Even has a red dot and 1250$ left for film and processing then...

Hi,

Interesting answer; I'm often tempted to suggest the Leica C3 as a street shooter: it's a nice P&S but you've little say in what it does as it's fully auto. Having said that I'll add that as long as you don't shoot into the light it works brilliantly and the flash can be used for into the light shots anyway. It has a 28 to 80mm zoom that steps from 28, to 42, to 50 and so on in 10mm steps to 80mm.

Regards, David

 

[raid]

Be patient; wait a little longer, and first sell a few items.
Then buy a Leica M8 for $1500.

 

[f16sunshine]

BTW

If you put an ad in the want to buy section here stating what you want and what your budget is, you may be surprised at what you will find.
In other words. $1300 is a nice starting budget for a user m5/m6 and standard lens.
Good luck!

 

[NeeZee]

Hi,

Interesting answer; I'm often tempted to suggest the Leica C3 as a street shooter: it's a nice P&S but you've little say in what it does as it's fully auto. Having said that I'll add that as long as you don't shoot into the light it works brilliantly and the flash can be used for into the light shots anyway. It has a 28 to 80mm zoom that steps from 28, to 42, to 50 and so on in 10mm steps to 80mm.

Regards, David

Must admit I never tried one of the Leica P&S. I believe you they are nice shooters, though. On the other hand that is true for a lot of P&S cameras, zoom or fixed and most are cheaper than the Leica ones. It's always kinda hard to admit but I don't get worse results from my 1€ konica big mini compared to my IIIf with the skopar. If anything they are better as I tend to have the konica with me when it matters. That's all a bit off topic, of course - my point was, that the OP sounded a bit like wanting a Leica just because it's a Leica...

 

[Vics]

How about this one: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.de/images/6/6e/AF-C1.jpg ?

Even has a red dot and 1250$ left for film and processing then...

Seriously though, I would buy a IIIc with a summaron 35/3.5 and a Voigtländer external finder. If it had to be an M, the M2 plus 35/2.5 Skopar would probably be my choice. With both setups there should be enough money left for film.

Great idea. I recently bought a Leica IIf at KEH for $300 and it was in EX condition. Then a Summaron 35/3.5 from Youxin Ye for $400. With my Cosina Voigtlander 35 VF and my L308s meter, The whole package comes in at around $1,000. Mind you, the IIf has no shutter speeds slower than a 1/25, but for street, it would be great! Any of its lenses are fully adaptable to an M later on. The screw mount Leicas are TINY!

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I like Leica M6 plus CV 35/2.5. OR Voightlander R4M or A with the same. Prices on even used Leica glass are _insane_ right now. I think you would blow almost your entire budget on any Leica lens manufactured in the last 50 years (50/2 since 1960, 35/2 since same), and C/V glass is technically superior to the older Leica stuff. Maybe you could find a 40/2 Summicron for a reasonable price.

 

[JayM]

I would avoid the M4-P unless you can live without a sync port. The one I had was otherwise as nice as any other Leica, but the essentially irreparable nature of the sync port resulted in its being traded, happily, for another Leica model of less dollar value.

I like the M2 and don't really mind it not having a meter. That said, at some point I'll get an M6, or switch entirely to M6s just because there are times where I'd be nice to have in camera metering.

 

[Vickko]

um, how about my M2 in the classifieds, $450.

That leaves you $850 to find a nice lens.

🙂

Vick

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Welcome to the forum!

I can only add the the chorus of agreement on the agreement to the agreement on the M2 (meterless) and M6 (metered). The M6 "classic" is generally cheaper than the TTL.

Lots of people prefer the M4 over the M2, specially the inpatient ones. To find out why's that you should Google "M2 rapid loading kit"

The M6 (and M4-2 as well as the M4-P) patch has a "flare" issue when focusing against a bright source of light. I had my M6 rangefinder patch "upgraded" for a few hundred bucks, very well worth the investment.

Have fun, while the attention span lasts!

 

[Classique]

Is there a specific reason for wanting a leica? I sometimes also find myself searching the classifieds and ebay for film leica but always stop myself from going any further since I have a great RF kit already with Canon P 35mm, 50mm and 105mm set (amounting to about $6-700 including amadeo nikkor s to ltm adapter).

One thing that stops me most of the time is that leica has magnification of 0.91x max (m3) and goes down from there when canon P is life size 1x. Canon 7 with 0.8x finder seems too small in comparison. It may be worth it to compare different rangefinder options available for you to make the most of your 1.3K. I think if I had that much laying out, I would go for Epson RD-1 to add to my kit =D.

 

[Godfrey]

I have been told by a good friend that a M4 with 50mm SUMMICRON-M f2 would be a great start. I have shot mainly street photography with a Widelux F6B but recently sold it, I have camera ADD.

What are your suggestions?

Thanks,
Bran

My inexpensive Leica M kits:

- M4-2 body ($800) and Voigtländer Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5 lens ($510 new). That's right on your $1300 target.

- Leica CL body ($320), Summicron-C 40/2, M-Rokkor 40/2, or Nokton 40/1.4 (last is $530 new). Well within your $1300 target, you might have enough left over for an Elmar-C or M-Rokkor 90/4 (same lens, both built by Leitz in Germany). This makes for an excellent and complete kit.

I pick the 35mm lens for the M4-2, but if you prefer a 50mm there are many to choose from. Any Leica 50mm f/2 is a great lens, IMO.

 

[Jonnyfez]

um, how about my M2 in the classifieds, $450.

That leaves you $850 to find a nice lens.

🙂

Vick

Ding, Ding, Ding. I think we have a winner. That looks like a good deal. Even with a CLA from Youxin Ye you'd still have enough cash to find a nice lens

 

[Roger Hicks]

Is there a specific reason for wanting a leica? I sometimes also find myself searching the classifieds and ebay for film leica but always stop myself from going any further since I have a great RF kit already with Canon P 35mm, 50mm and 105mm set (amounting to about $6-700 including amadeo nikkor s to ltm adapter).

One thing that stops me most of the time is that leica has magnification of 0.91x max (m3) and goes down from there when canon P is life size 1x. Canon 7 with 0.8x finder seems too small in comparison. It may be worth it to compare different rangefinder options available for you to make the most of your 1.3K. I think if I had that much laying out, I would go for Epson RD-1 to add to my kit =D.

Yes. It's a Leica. It's the standard by which others are judged. Only when you have tried _____________ AND a Leica can you decide whether the Leica is overrated, or the only RF worth buying if you can afford it.

Cheers,

R.