Selling Hasselblad for Leica M

[BobYIL]

One should not sell a film Hasselblad to buy a film Leica, likewise a film Leica is not to be sold to buy a film Hasselblad.. These are against the divine rules set by the Mount Olympus (and wife). Use your Zorki but never forget to buy an M2 the moment you spare some $500. Then your son would love you more when he grows up to know what cameras were the milestones of photography..

 

[lrochfort]

My wife is delighted by this thread!! I think she'll put it on the fridge for use at strategic moments 😀

I wasn't expecting so many people to value the camera body over the Leitz optics, I really thought it would be the other way around.

How do people feel about the Bessa R3A vs an M6, or M2 discounting the lack of metering there?

 

[FrankS]

This is just my opinion, and I'm not stating it as fact:

No other 35mm RF camera feels like a Leica, just as no other medium format SLR feels like a Hasselblad. I feel like there is an unmatched level of engineering and design refinement in these cameras. But that's just me and if others disagree, that's okay. I've owned many camera's including CV Bessas and Bronicas, that I base my impressions upon.

 

[Bingley]

My wife is delighted by this thread!! I think she'll put it on the fridge for use at strategic moments 😀

I wasn't expecting so many people to value the camera body over the Leitz optics, I really thought it would be the other way around.

How do people feel about the Bessa R3A vs an M6, or M2 discounting the lack of metering there?

I wear glasses, have an M2 and had an R3A. I bought the R3A for the 40 framelines, but found in practice that these were hard to see. It's a nice camera, but at the end of the day I sold it. The M2 is wonderful. The 50 and 35 framelines are easy to see. I have an early button rewind version which (after a CLA) is smooth as butter and a joy to shoot with. I've never missed not having a meter; I carry a small meter (digisix) with me anyway. The M2 framelines are a little larger than those on the M6. The M2 does not have framelines for 28 (unlike the M6), but you can use the entire vf to frame with a 28 lens -- it's close enough.

 

[lrochfort]

Leica all the way it is.

I'll have to find a shop in Berkshire, Hampshire or London and handle models 2,3 & 4 and see which I like.

 

[redisburning]

I wasn't expecting so many people to value the camera body over the Leitz optics, I really thought it would be the other way around.

Does anyone care about wide open performance on 6x6? My experience was that I struggled to get adequate DoF at f4 for portraits. And what Leica does is they have these machines which turn huge piles of money into lenses with monumentally good wide open performance.

 

[Nomad Z]

I ended up getting an M2 in good clean condition rather a new R3M, on the basis that, even with a CLA, the M2 would cost no more than the R3M (500 and about 670 GBP respectively at the time). As it turned out, the M2 has been fine with no CLA.

I should mention that the M body drooling started with a new MP, until I worked out that the 2.5K extra on the cost of an M2 was a bit much for a built in meter and some black paint. So there was a leaning towards Leica. I looked at the Bessa as a cheaper aternative to buy new, and then realised than an M2 was virtually a meterless MP. Later, I picked up a Nikon FM, and found that the little lights in the viewfinder distract me (and the batteries have gone flat twice because I forgot to switch it off), so I'm actually glad that the M2 is meterless.

The suggestion of an M2 and a Jupiter-8 for 50mm and a Jupiter-12 for 35mm is well worth considering. Of the two, I would say that the J-8 is the better lens. My J-12 has a little pincushion distortion, and the handling is a bit quirky. (I made a scallop-type focusing tab for it which helped a lot, but the aperture adjustment is still weird. I also had to modify a vented round hood to get it work properly with the lens.) The LTM CV 35mm Skopar handles much better and seems to have less distortion.

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but I believe the J-12 can't be used with Bessas due to the protrusion of its big mushrrom-shaped rear element - hits a baffle or the shutter or something. That said, I wouldn't let that influence whether or not I'd buy a Bessa.

 

[lrochfort]

Regarding Jupiter lenses, which mounting and adapters would people recommend for use the Leica M?

 

[Robert Lai]

Photos of children are best with AF cameras

Photos of children are best with AF cameras

After looking through your thread, I think your wife is absolutely correct. You will regret selling the Hasselblad.

I have a 3 year old boy, and another one on the way.
Are you finding it so much easier to photograph your son with your Russian 35mm rangefinders compared to the Hasselblad?

I actually find it much harder to photograph my son with my Leica M7. Trying to center the eyes on the RF patch, then getting accurate focus is an exercise in frustration. You end up pre-focusing, and hoping that he runs into the focus zone at the same time that the shutter fires. This is actually easier seen on the screen of an SLR. That's why I've kept my Nikon F3 (besides its intrinsic greatness as a camera). It is actually easier to do it with a TLR - hence my Rolleiflex. I don't see why you can't do the same with your Hasselblad. Anyway, focusing an M Leica will be no easier than focusing your Russian RF cameras.

Yes, Leica lenses are great. I have the 35mm Summicron ASPH, the 50mm Summicron (pre-ASPH, i.e. the current version before the new $7K one was announced). While they are some of the sharpest lenses in the world, the end result is that they image on a 24x36mm piece of film. When you compare the results to medium format, they still aren't comparable. The images from your Hasselblad are going to win every time. My Rolleiflex produces better images (at least on a technical basis), than any 35mm camera, even Leica.

The ideal solution for rapid pictures of your son, is an auto-focus motorized 35mm SLR such as the Nikon F5 or F6, or the ubiquitous digital SLR.

 

[georgie808]

Interestingly enough you might find an ultra mobile film medium format fuji complete set f3.5 at around 300 pounds

But it looks awesome, so that makes up for the weight.

 

[Vics]

Go for an M3 (Best finder for 50mm) and a Summicron (any of them). You'll be happy for the rest of your life. Great combo for photographing the kids. I can attest!

 

[Clancycoop]

I'll trade you my black M6 classic for your Hassy kit.

PM me for details, photos, etc if you are interested.

I love my M6 but have another and want to try medium format.

 

[ssmc]

After looking through your thread, I think your wife is absolutely correct. You will regret selling the Hasselblad.

I have a 3 year old boy, and another one on the way.
Are you finding it so much easier to photograph your son with your Russian 35mm rangefinders compared to the Hasselblad?

I actually find it much harder to photograph my son with my Leica M7. Trying to center the eyes on the RF patch, then getting accurate focus is an exercise in frustration. You end up pre-focusing, and hoping that he runs into the focus zone at the same time that the shutter fires. This is actually easier seen on the screen of an SLR. That's why I've kept my Nikon F3 (besides its intrinsic greatness as a camera). It is actually easier to do it with a TLR - hence my Rolleiflex. I don't see why you can't do the same with your Hasselblad. Anyway, focusing an M Leica will be no easier than focusing your Russian RF cameras.

Yes, Leica lenses are great. I have the 35mm Summicron ASPH, the 50mm Summicron (pre-ASPH, i.e. the current version before the new $7K one was announced). While they are some of the sharpest lenses in the world, the end result is that they image on a 24x36mm piece of film. When you compare the results to medium format, they still aren't comparable. The images from your Hasselblad are going to win every time. My Rolleiflex produces better images (at least on a technical basis), than any 35mm camera, even Leica.

The ideal solution for rapid pictures of your son, is an auto-focus motorized 35mm SLR such as the Nikon F5 or F6, or the ubiquitous digital SLR.

Agreed, but if you want to spend as little as possible (to keep the Hassy, which I also agree you ought to do) and get great results, look at a Nikon N70/F70 with a 50/1.4D. They are ridiculously cheap and offer a lot of features. The 50/1.4D is a sweet lens. With ISO400 film and excellent metering for the built-in flash, something like this could be just the ticket. It's the earliest consiumer body that's compatible with newer speedlights like the SB-600 (IIRC). They only have a central AF zone (large or small selectable) and lack a DOF preview button but they have a built-in winder (3.8fps) and a nice, bright viewfinder (not as good as a Leica, though). Just watch out for ones that are listed as "sticky"... the rubber coating on the back has a tendency to decay with age. I fixed mine with isopropyl alcohol and q-tips (I removed the back first though!)

Good luck with your choice!
Scott

 

[lrochfort]

I'll trade you my black M6 classic for your Hassy kit.

PM me for details, photos, etc if you are interested.

I love my M6 but have another and want to try medium format.

Thanks for the offer, Clancycoop.

I need to give the Hassy some thought, but will definitely keep your offer in mind if I decide I can't keep the Hassy.