Canuk
Established
I recently purchased a M6 w/ 50mm Summicron V4. I absolutely love the camera and the rangefinder experience, having owned a Canonet QL17 III before. Since taking delivery of the M6 i have sold all of my Canon DSLR equipment, I never used it because of the size. I do have a fully functioning darkroom that I use to develope and print my own B&W photos.
Lately I have found myself lusting after a digital M, or another compact system. Photography is only a hobby to me, and I don't plan on doing more than that with it. Trying to justify the cost of a Digital M, either M240 or ME, is quite hard to do. The Xpro1 is a camera system that I have been looking at for quite some time, and I really do like the images from that system.
I guess my question to you is,
1) Should I sell the M6 and summicron, dismantle the darkroom, and abandon film.
2) Will the Xpro1 satisfy my GAS for a digital M? (i know they are entirely different cameras)
3) Keep the Leica and continue to use my G12 for digital and quit reading about other cameras?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Lately I have found myself lusting after a digital M, or another compact system. Photography is only a hobby to me, and I don't plan on doing more than that with it. Trying to justify the cost of a Digital M, either M240 or ME, is quite hard to do. The Xpro1 is a camera system that I have been looking at for quite some time, and I really do like the images from that system.
I guess my question to you is,
1) Should I sell the M6 and summicron, dismantle the darkroom, and abandon film.
2) Will the Xpro1 satisfy my GAS for a digital M? (i know they are entirely different cameras)
3) Keep the Leica and continue to use my G12 for digital and quit reading about other cameras?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
MartinP
Veteran
Probably the third option is the wisest, however don't overlook the Ricoh GXR and the M-module 
bonatto
looking out
The only thing you'll lose out on is the rangefinder experience, by going with an Xpro1. The M8 is a great choice, close to the price of an M6, I doub't you'd loose much buying/selling both.
X-series wide, I'd wait for a model with digital split image/focus peaking.
X-series wide, I'd wait for a model with digital split image/focus peaking.
teleparallel
Established
Why not a Epson R-D1(s/g/gx).
True Rangefinder.
True Rangefinder.
taemo
eat sleep shoot
the xpro1 is not a leica replacement but it's a great camera none the less (been actually thinking of selling all my DSLR and get a X-Pro1 w/ 35 1.4 and 14 2.8)
if you don't want to shoot film anymore, then sell it (sell me your cron v4), if you still want to, then keep it.
my opinion, if you are happy with your M6, then keep it, don't read/look about new gears and just enjoy shooting with what you have.
but if you are not happy with it, then maybe time to move on.
suggestion.. look for an X100, they are/will be dirt cheap ~$500 once the X100s is out and it's like the fixed-lens version of the X-Pro1
if you don't want to shoot film anymore, then sell it (sell me your cron v4
), if you still want to, then keep it.my opinion, if you are happy with your M6, then keep it, don't read/look about new gears and just enjoy shooting with what you have.
but if you are not happy with it, then maybe time to move on.
suggestion.. look for an X100, they are/will be dirt cheap ~$500 once the X100s is out and it's like the fixed-lens version of the X-Pro1
noimmunity
scratch my niche
Is size the only reason you don't use the DSLR? I ask cause it sounds like you also really like film. You have a fantastic set-up there with the M6.
I'm not so sure the X-Pro1 is going to deliver for you if you a) prefer film and b) love the rangefinder experience. You probably do need to discover what part of that experience is really key for you? The form factor? The combined OVF/mechanical RF? The film?
How does pleasure ever justify cost?
You could, of course, go for an M8 or an RD-1 with a 25 or 28mm lens, to approximate the experience of your current setup in digital land at much lower cost than any of the other alternatives, but you would need to determine if you want digital or film.
That's a big move. Can you find some way to try it first without selling the M6/cron?
Probably not. Almost certainly not.
However, the X-Pro1 could satisfy other GAS-inducing criteria that many of the digital M models would have a hard time with (like high ISO, AF, flexibility, EVF live view, lighter weight, etc).
Since you list this as an option, and it is the easiest of the three, why not try that first? You have nothing to lose.
Best thing to do in the face of GAS is to slow down.
danielsterno
making soup from mud
I would say #3 and Ill add a 4th... wait until the Fuji XPro II comes out to see if its worth it to sell the G12 for the XPII. My kit is an Fuji X100 & a recent M6/35mm and Im very happy. I may upgrade to a X100s but not sure if I see the value for the money while I love the x100...
back alley
IMAGES
sell the g12, get an x100s...
jazzwave
Well-known
Buy X-E1 body,keep your M6.....use your summicron for both.
hipsterdufus
Photographer?
Where the heck are all of these $500 X100s that people keep talking about? Going prices that I've seen seem to be about $650.
danielsterno
making soup from mud
this is also a good idea....
rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
I concur. Sell the G12 to finance the XE1 to get the most of your lens in both worlds for (perhaps) not much expense. Selling the G12 for an X100 is just about as good a choice as long as you can live with the focal length.
christianyves
Member
I would like to mention something almost no one every does: shutter lag.
I have personally tried to live with the shutter lag that occurs after tripping the shutter but try as I might I cannot get over it.
I've never shot a film M myself but did own an M9 briefly before moving back down to an M8 to invest in M lenses instead. I had an X-Pro1 and sold it after I couldn't get over the shutter lag. I thought by the time the X-E1 was announced that this was no longer going to be an issue but it is still there. I don't know why it exists and is a real deal breaker for me for the type of photography I do: street photography and snaps of my family and a speedy 2-year old.
The lag isn't noticeable to a large majority of Fuji shooters but it's a real pain for me. It's probably about a half second or less but it's definitely there. If you shoot even at a moderate speed like 1/30th you'll still get it. In stark contrast, my M9 and M8 never do this and neither does any other camera I've shot and own/owned like the OM-D and even the NEX-6/7 cameras.
If you don't anticipate any issues like that -- I would highly recommend you go out and try the X-Pro or X-E1 first before pulling the trigger. I do love the fantastic IQ from the Fujis and loved my X100 to death but I can't live with the lag. The X100 didn't have this at all but that uses a leaf shutter so it's completely different.
One last thing -- the lag is there regardless if you're using a native Fuji lens or an adapter M lens. I wanted to go the film M body + Fuji X body route and have decided against it until Fuji removes that "limitation" first.
Anyway I agree with the other comments in you keeping your M6 first as the experience shooting digital is markedly different.
I have personally tried to live with the shutter lag that occurs after tripping the shutter but try as I might I cannot get over it.
I've never shot a film M myself but did own an M9 briefly before moving back down to an M8 to invest in M lenses instead. I had an X-Pro1 and sold it after I couldn't get over the shutter lag. I thought by the time the X-E1 was announced that this was no longer going to be an issue but it is still there. I don't know why it exists and is a real deal breaker for me for the type of photography I do: street photography and snaps of my family and a speedy 2-year old.
The lag isn't noticeable to a large majority of Fuji shooters but it's a real pain for me. It's probably about a half second or less but it's definitely there. If you shoot even at a moderate speed like 1/30th you'll still get it. In stark contrast, my M9 and M8 never do this and neither does any other camera I've shot and own/owned like the OM-D and even the NEX-6/7 cameras.
If you don't anticipate any issues like that -- I would highly recommend you go out and try the X-Pro or X-E1 first before pulling the trigger. I do love the fantastic IQ from the Fujis and loved my X100 to death but I can't live with the lag. The X100 didn't have this at all but that uses a leaf shutter so it's completely different.
One last thing -- the lag is there regardless if you're using a native Fuji lens or an adapter M lens. I wanted to go the film M body + Fuji X body route and have decided against it until Fuji removes that "limitation" first.
Anyway I agree with the other comments in you keeping your M6 first as the experience shooting digital is markedly different.
gnuyork
Well-known
......You Krazy
Canuk
Established
I guess I should have stated this in my original post. I cannot/will not sell my G12 because that is the camera that I use for Scuba Diving. I would have already bought a Xpro1 or XE-1 if it were possible to get an underwater housing for either of these cameras.
1) Do you like photography in general or just film photography? To some, digital cameras just don't do it for them and the experience isn't the same. For others, it is a similar experience and it is only the capturing of photos that matters. No wrong answer... but what is it you like about photography and is it in anyway connected to film?
2) Probably not if you like manual focus lenses and mechanical rangefinders. If the former two don't mean anything to you, then maybe. I prefer my X-Pro1 to my M, but there are still days where I want to use a rangefinder camera so I keep a M around.
3) Sell the G12, keep the M6, and buy a used Fuji X100.
porktaco
Well-known
this is the most frustrating thing about the xe-1. i had wondered if it would be different on a manual focus lens or on the xpro due to not having the EVF, but apparently.... not.
segedi
RFicianado
The trouble with digital cameras is that something better is always 6-12 months from coming out. Keep the M6 + 50mm and keep shootin' - In a year or two, get a digital M, like an M9 for beans.
steveclem
Well-known
Get a user RD-1 or a refurb from Bellamy' quite an experience using one and still gives good files even with it's old sensor.
Canuk
Established
This is the one thing that turned me away from my DSLR. I think that we are now at a point that digital has almost reached the point where future advancements will not necessarily be about image quality, but camera features.
I will for now, keep shooting the M6 and see what develops in the next while. Once the X100s starts to appear in shops around here I will have a good look at it as well.