Never should have held a Leica..

[dcsang]

Dave, I can understand now. Between wives I did buy a Nikon F4 and a Mamiya 6 when they first came out and they were each around $2500Cdn.

heheh 🙂
"Between wives"

And here I thought GAS was the only thing I had to worry about as I got older.. 😉

Thanks for understanding Frank 😀
Cheers
Dave

 

[ErnestoJL]

Just a few words....

Man you´re in trouble!!!!!

I did the same as you did ... and every time a friend of mine brings home his M6..... OMG!!!

Ohhhhhhh... why I did it.....???? Now I know what it is!!!!!!

Ernesto

 

[rover]

You went back and looked at the M3 again!!!

Oh well, you are going to have to buy it now. You won't be able to sleep till you do.

 

[richard_l]

Isn't there a Movie out, "40 Year old Leica Virgin?"Don't wait that long. Enjoy your youth.

If your college budget doesn't allow for it, then I guess you should wait, but don't wait 40 years like I did. I went through I don't know how many cameras, when what I really wanted was a Leica. Stupid. :bang:

 

[back alley]

ok, so you've touched the magic machine but the price could hurt you.

sure, you could eat peanut butter for months...

or... (you can see it coming now eh?)

pick up and fondle a canon p!

equal feel, as solid and well made, will last longer than you will...

and maybe 350 bucks tops!

it is a classic!

joe

 

[FrankS]

If your college budget doesn't allow for it, then I guess you should wait, but don't wait 40 years like I did. I went through I don't know how many cameras, when what I really wanted was a Leica. Stupid. :bang:

Ditto, same here.

Although not quite. I actually did have an M4-2 and 50mm Summicron for a short while about 12 years ago, but it didn't do anything for me at the time, so I traded it for a new Nikon 8008s (801s) with 35mm lens. (I know, dumb move!) I simply wasn't ready for a Leica at that time.

 

[f/stopblues]

Thanks for the overwhelming response guys! It's a bit of a trigger question I know, but you've provided some very helpful info. I won't have a chance to go back up to the shop until the weekend.. have to go see Dave Matthews Band tomorrow :-D I'm trying to keep a clear head about which one to go for. It's really about how well you can interpret your vision through this tool. The history, feel, status of the tool is just a fun byproduct.. an alluring one at that! Course, there's a reason Leica has all that.

Now if I only had 45 responses to my Nikon classified post we'd be in business!!

Take care all 🙂

Chris

 

[Sonnar Brian]

> I actually did have an M4-2 and 50mm Summicron for a short while about 12 years ago,
> but it didn't do anything for me at the time, so I traded it for a new Nikon 8008s (801s)
> with 35mm lens.

About 10 years ago a guy traded me a Nikon S4 and 3 lenses for an N8008 outfit. It was the PX version with the distance scale in feet. After that I collected Nikon RF's, figuring I had the hardest to find first.

 

[tom_f77]

I have enjoyed reading this thread... Maybe a couple of things worth adding:

- everybody is right; you can get a beat up M2 or 3 for the price of a new Bessa. BUT if you hang around here for a while and 'trust your feelings' you can get a really beautiful M3 or 2 for the price of a nice used Bessa... 🙂

- even so I am glad I put my time in with the other stuff, because it took me a couple of years to get to the point where the RF was really working for me. I would have loved the feel of the M right from the beginning, but the tons of badly focussed muddy shots might even have put me off. :bang:

Maybe...

Tom

 

[thpook]

Another option that you should think about is the wonderful little Leica CL. In a dumb move a while back, I decided that I was going to go completely digital and sold all of my film cameras except for my Rollei 35. Of all the cameras that I sold, the CL was the only one that I immediately missed. The 40mm summicron is an awesome little lens, and the camera is small enough to carry everywhere. In my opinion, the 40mm lens is the best normal. I often feel that 35mm is too wide, and 50mm is too narrow, and the 40 is the perfect compromise between the two.

 

[hoot]

Hmm, I never figured out the allure of the CL. You pay for the Leica tag but get less. If the thing at least mimicked the M body design and quality, and the RF baselength was a tad wider, sure. On the other hand, I agree with you that 40mm is the perfect standard focal length. I wish more cameras had framelines for 40mm.

 

[back alley]

if you want 40mm and small, the cle was the way to go. that was a great camera.

not sure about buying a used one now though.

joe

 

[ddutchison]

Ah, you guys are bad influences..

So lets just say I go and look at the M3 again.. Any tell-tale signs to look for that its in good working condition? I read something on here once about the sound of the shutter when under 1/15 or something like that. Anything else? This is *just* to check.. doesn't mean I'm convinced yet :bang:

Hi Chris,

I've kept this page book-marked. Scroll down to the post by "Jay", and you'll find a very good check out procedure for M-Leicas. It mentions a few points not covered by the answers you've received here so far.

Above all else, the viewfinder should be flawless. These are very expensive to repair ($250+), and on M2/3's, are somewhat more fragile than the later M's. Look through the main VF window from the front. Any little black lines in there are a sign that it's started to separate. They usually start at the edges.

One point, If the viewfinder on the M3 amazed you, you really should have a look through a Bessa VF. They are reputed to be as good or better than Leica in that regard.

As a user camera, one good thing about a Leica is that if you decide it isn't the camera for you, you can usually count on selling it for the same price you paid. The bad thing about a Leica is that cosmetic condition has a ridiculous effect on price. This can lead to a certain amount of anxiety in the part of camera users unfortunate enough to have a cosmetically near-flawless leica. The asking price of the one you're considering suggests it might be in that category.

I've seen M3's with recent overhauls by recognized camera techs (Krauter, Kinderman, Essex, DAG, Horst, being the biggies for Leica) going for the same price as the one you're considering. As a user, one of those would be a better buy. I guess what I'm saying is that with Leica, a good price for a user is not the same as a good price for a collector (and it's the collectors who drive the market for Leicas).

I'd suggest making a firm offer of $750, cash in hand, on that camera. He may not go for it, but at $895, I don't think you're missing out on the deal of a lifetime here. For that price, I think you can do better, one with at least one good scratch on the chrome (preferably on the base-plate 😉 ), and a recent overhaul, so you know there's nothing to worry about for the next couple of decades. If you haven't found a better deal in a month, you can always go back and re-state the offer.

 

[f/stopblues]

ddutchison,

Thanks for the thoughtful response. You have some good points to consider. It really sounds like running a roll of film through at the shop would be in my best interest, but I don't think they have any Leica glass in there. To give you an idea, they've only had one RF in stock that I've ever seen (Bessa R) and it sat gathering dust for over a year before it was sold. That alone may give me some leverage for the price. This weekend I'll go in there and see exactly how nice a camera I'm looking at here.

Thanks again to everyone!

Chris

 

[f/stopblues]

Just an update..

I went back and looked at the M3 and upon closer inspection wasn't as impressed. The viewfinder was definitely clear, but also had some obvious separation around the edge. Also, I could see an itty-bitty point of light coming through the curtain when I looked through holding it up to the window.

I've decided after much thought and research that I'm going to go for the Bessa. I think it's the best tool for me now, especially not to have to worry about separating viewfinders, light through curtains, shutter speeds, etc. I'd just like to shoot! That being said, it is cheaper anyway 😎

I did change my mind and decide on an R2a instead of the R3a though, because I really like the 35mm focal length and I tend to stay on the short side anyway. So, who has one for sale? 😉

Again, thanks for all the help!

Chris

 

[egpj]

Wise choice! The Leica powers will reward you later for your wisdom.

 

[sf]

never should have held a Leica?

never should have held a Leica?

I'll second that.

No object feels better in the hands than an M3 or M6 (have not held the M7). And with the new Summicron (prefer the weight) on it, oh how nice it feels. Perfect.

 

[Ravisher]

Just an update..

I went back and looked at the M3 and upon closer inspection wasn't as impressed. The viewfinder was definitely clear, but also had some obvious separation around the edge. Also, I could see an itty-bitty point of light coming through the curtain when I looked through holding it up to the window.

I've decided after much thought and research that I'm going to go for the Bessa. I think it's the best tool for me now, especially not to have to worry about separating viewfinders, light through curtains, shutter speeds, etc. I'd just like to shoot! That being said, it is cheaper anyway 😎

Chris

One day, you will buy an M3 of that I have no doubt. It will haunt you until you do. Just a thought here... do not look for a MINT M3 if you are going to USE it... it will terrify you. All my M gear is Mint to As New... and on the occasions I do take it out and use it... it is scary to say the least... afraid of a knock, a scratch, a ding or God forbid a dropping. I treat it with more care than I did my 4 kids. The thing to do is to buy an ugly one... with meter scratches on the top plate, strap marks and tripod marks... BUT no signs of 'dropping'.... some leather missing is good too... Then you will have no fear of damaging your MINT or Mint- M3 and you will go out and take photos without the former fears I mentioned... and you'll get the best rangefinder ever made and it will still outlive you.
Good luck and great shooting whatever you do in your Life.

 

[vha]

Just a few words....

Man you´re in trouble!!!!!

I did the same as you did ... and every time a friend of mine brings home his M6..... OMG!!!

Ohhhhhhh... why I did it.....???? Now I know what it is!!!!!!

Ernesto

Hehe . . if you want to I can always bring the Contax G2 with me as well next time i drop by for a coffee 😀
For my part i still want a black Contax T , and i haven´t even hold one.

vha

 

[xcapekey]

buy it...i went through a canonet, hexar rf, canon 7, bessa r3 before i got my m2.....in retrospect, i should have just cut to the chase....the leica is a fine camera and tool...it won't make your photography better per se, but you'll have no or existential gear doubt....