Please help me decide

Freelander

Freelander

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Hello Rangefinders.

I am thinking of purchasing a Leica M. My budget will stretch to a New MP or M7.I must admit I love the idea of the MP I use a Nikon FM2 a lot , I love the simplicity of it. However this is where I need to think a bit. If I buy new I can't really afford a new Leica lens . So I have the option of buying a Body 2nd hand,a good M6 /M7 and a couple of 2nd hand lens 35mm and a 90 would be within reach. Maybe a couple of Voigtlander lens would be the way to go.I just don't know.

If you were starting a fresh today what you you do


The Leica would be my main carry everywhere film camera. I don't want to lug big heavy Nikons around anymore (Except my FM2).


It will be a considerable investment for me and I want to get the best out of my money that I can.

Thank-you for your time🙂
 
M6 Classic...plenty around in excellent+ condition. Though I have not used the MP it appears that the M6 will meet your needs. With the savings you will be able to afford Leica or Zeiss lenses. And, I certainly understand not wanting to carry around a heavy camera & large lens.
 
IMHO, the only reason to buy a brand new Leica body is an altruistic desire to support the company. You can get bodies in perfect or near perfect condition for significantly less money if you buy used. I think it is more important (but again, not entirely necessary) to buy brand new lenses than brand new bodies. Given a choice between buying a new body and a used lens, or a used body and a new lens, it would be the latter every time. The biggest bang for your buck would be buying everything used, but if you buy used glass, either inspect it by hand before you buy, or only buy from a source you trust implicitly. Broken bodies can be repaired, but scratched, fogged, or fungus filled glass is pretty well ruined.
 
Merkin is absolutely right! Best to buy from reputable people with return policies. They have a reputation to maintain and their prices are often competitive and sometimes lower than auction sites.
 
Similar to you I love a lot my Nikon FM2, which I still use a lot (with a 50/1,4). But when I ended to the Leica (after a lot of experience with a Bessa R) I went on a preowned M7 with a 50mm/f2. It is simple and quick to use and when I need / desire full manual contro I can do it as well with no problem. Beside I use my CV 35/1,7, or my CV 12mm. I suggest you to look around untill a good opportunity for a second hand camera will be available.
robert
 
Used M6 Classic from a reputable source and as new a Leica lens as you can afford say a 35mm Summicron ASPH. You can then take pictures the equal or better than any film 35mm equipment in the world.-Dick
 
Go used, go used, go used, but carefully. Do not be afraid about CV lenses, they are wonderful. It is very handy to have a built in meter, but fun without one too. RFs rock at wide, SLRs at telephoto. Perhaps use your FM with something long and normal and wide on your new RF.

You can find great lenses from Leica, CV, ZI, Nikon and others. Do not limit yourself to Leica. I found that I liked CV and Nikkors as much as I did my 'Crons. I could not afford new Leica glass, but I could CV and CVs had fun stuff (e.g. 15mm) that Leica did not.

My last M system was a 15, 25, 40 CVs and a 105 Nikkor. I've had a 21, 35, 90 system all Leica and a bit of everything in between.

Look into the M3, M2, M4, and M4-P as great options.

B2 (;->
 
As you're used to an FM2, you'll almost certainly want a meter. The M6 is the obvious choice. Depending on the lenses you plan to use, you might consider a 0.85X finder for greater focussing accuracy.
 
Thank-you all so far..
The shopping will take me a while I'm sure. I'm a bit slow that way. I can while away the time in-between reading this forum. There is a lot to enjoy here.
 
M6 classic and a 35mm and 90 for under 4 grand? that should be easily doable! Now it depends if you want fast lens or small lens, but for the 35mm i would get either a Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 or a ziess biogon 35mm f2. I would go ahead with a good old leica 90 summicron, the latest one is not necessary, they are all VERY sharp.
 
Hello,

What will you shoot and in what conditions?

I recommend the following as a low-light kit:>

M2 700$ + CV 35/1,2 800$ + Lux Pre-asph V3 50/1,4 1000$ + Summicron pre-asph 90/2 600$ + a small light meter eg a gossen digisix 200$

As well, get one or both of these lenses as your small anywhere kit with the M2:>

+ summicron v3 35/2 800$ + elmar-m 50/2.8 600$


Rough Total = ~4, 400 USD for an awesome, versatile M kit.
 
I'm taking that the 35 will be your "standard" lens so I would say get a used Leica 35/2 ASPH because there are currently a lot of them on the used market both in the classifieds here at RFF and over at photo.net, also check out the Leica User Forum for that lens, many Europeans there. The current price seems to be US$1300-1400 and it is a fantastic lens.

Then I would reconsider the 90 - I think you have too large a gap between the 35 and the 90 so consider a 75 instead. The 75 pairs extremely well with a 35. Strongly consider the Voigtlander 75/2.5 - a lot of people like that lens and it is very inexpensive.

That leaves the body and I think a used M6 would be fine, but you may be able to stretch the budget to a used MP, especially if you buy the Voigtlander lens.
 
Hi again,

I have to agree with Peter on two counts. One, that a 75 is a great, under-appreciated focal length and, two, that a 35 pairs very well with a 75.

If you shoot in low-light, though, the cv is lame. A used summilux 75/1,4 or a newer summicron 75/2 would be a better performer.

Problem with a 75 is that if you brightlines in the vf of the M, you will need a M4-P, M6, MP or M7. But of these, the M4-P is only all-mechanical option. It is basically a M6 without the led meter. Trust me, in most cases, this less is more 😉

A M4-P 800$ + CV 35/1,2 800$ + Summilux 75/1,4 2400$

You could go for a cv 35/1,4 for a couple hundred less and have a smaller lens. A summicron 35/2 v3 would be about the same as the cv 35/1,2, and it is a great lens, too.

All this assumes you like to shoot in available light and that the 35 is your main bread and butter focal length.
 
I totally agree with most having said before ... If I would have to start over, my choice would be a Leica M6 classic with the 35mm Summicron-M ASPH (from a reputable dealer) and test this combination for ~ 6 months with different films (BW + color-slide) to see if the principle of RF cameras fit your needs and your expectations.

Then my next purchase would be either a 90mm Summicron-M pre-ASPH (if you prefer tele lenses) or a more wide lens, 28mm or 21mm (if you prefer wide angle lenses). Buying both, a wide-angle and 90mm tele, makes together with the 35mm Summicron-M and the M6 the most versatile rangefinder kit possible, IMHO.

Good luck with your choices ! 🙂

Cheers,

Gabor
 
To be honest, I'd but totally Zeiss ZM lenses and a near mint M6 TTL.
Or, if I'm even more honest, and I wanted to buy new for warranty purposes, I'd get one of the limited offer Zeiss Ikon kits that PopFlash and others are selling. $2300 odd for a body, 21mm f4.5 lens, hood and top shelf finder will give you change to buy almost two other ZM lenses to round off a perfect kit.

I have all new series Leica lenses, an M7 and an M4-P. If I could change one thing, I'd change the M4-P for a late model M6TTL or a Zeiss Ikon. I love the M4-P but there are times when I'm shooting slides that I'd appreciate a built in light meter.
 
Here's a link to a shop I buy from.
I've inspected this camera and the lens and they are both totally mint (except the lens has a tiny mark on the outside near the focus ring.) If I had the money I'd buy them in a heart beat. They are basically new out the box. Seeing as the NZ dollar is so bad at the moment they're a real steal for overseas buyers. I know they accept paypay via arrangement and not credit cards directly because of possible fraud.

Usual stuff - Although I shop and have occasionally worked at this store I'm not linked to or have a vested interest in this camera / lens.

http://www.photo.co.nz/2ndhand/2ndproduct.asp?idc=4&idm=197
http://www.photo.co.nz/2ndhand/2ndproduct.asp?idc=3&idm=197
 
TJV said:
Here's a link to a shop I buy from.
I've inspected this camera and the lens and they are both totally mint (except the lens has a tiny mark on the outside near the focus ring.) If I had the money I'd buy them in a heart beat. They are basically new out the box. Seeing as the NZ dollar is so bad at the moment they're a real steal for overseas buyers. I know they accept paypay via arrangement and not credit cards directly because of possible fraud.

Usual stuff - Although I shop and have occasionally worked at this store I'm not linked to or have a vested interest in this camera / lens.

http://www.photo.co.nz/2ndhand/2ndproduct.asp?idc=4&idm=197
http://www.photo.co.nz/2ndhand/2ndproduct.asp?idc=3&idm=197
Click to expand...

I just had a look, converted to USD (assuming their offers are in NZD ?) it is a steal !
 
I'm not actually Norwegian Sorry 😉
However I have lived here for 15 years . You have all given me some great advice . I will no doubt buy in the UK unless something crops up here in Norway.
It looks like I'll head down the M6TTL road with (as I love available light shots)
a 35mm either a Voigtlander or the Lieca. (I pressume the Voigtlander will fit without adapter and will bring up the frame lines ?)

Thank-you for your time again 😉
 
Can I add a question here rather than start a new thread as its relevent more or less.

What is the difference in feel to the two cameras,M7 MP,apart from the auto exp and shutter dial direction,is there a difference in quality between these two,I seem to have read more ooohhs and aaahhs over the MP and am wondering why that is.Is it due to literal differences in construction or is this from a purely emotional response,.......Neil.
 
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