Selling my M6, need a cheaper replacement camera

Go to a Camera Show, watch what people bring in to sell and hear what they are offered for almost any older, or even not so old, camera, and pick up the leavings-- if nothing else, it will be good experience and "the one" very well might come along.

Second option: http://store.petapixel.com/products/Leica-Look%2dAlike-Skin-for-the-iPhone-4.html ;-) I am tempted.

Also, there are a lot of really very nice fixed lens RF's, sometimes for pocket change.

Unless your situation is dire, don't sell the M6 if it is the camera you want.

It seems as if almost every FSU camera I have bought, and I have bought many, have needed fiddling or repair to make it a camera with relatively poor ergonomics, and with the time and money invested I think it is a small step from there to a Bessa R or better.

The time spent to obtain and make reliable a FSU might be better spent at some pick up job to pay for something that is modern in design.

If you pm me, I might find a cla'd Canon fixed lens, well, I know I have it, question is, can I find it. ;-)

Regards, John
 
Do you want interchangeable lenses? Metering? Fixed lens with fast glass?

I second the Olympus OM-series of cameras -- they're as small as Leica, they're well-built, and the OM Zuiko lenses are fantastic. Great bang for the buck.

If you don't mind having a fixed lens, then I'd go with an Olympus 35SP or Olympus 35RC ... the Canon QL-17 is good as well, although prices on those have been climbing lately.

A final suggestion: something like a Konica S2 rangefinder would be a nice option. Doesn't have the caché of the other cameras, but it has CdS metering, auto exposure, manual override, and an excellent lens. They're cheap as well, typically not more than $60 in A+ condition.
 
Fixed lens rangefinders are plentiful, but it depends also on what lens the OP is used to shooting. Most fixed lens RF cameras come with 40mm, 42mm or 45mm, and mainly f1.7-f1.9. There are a handful with 28mm. 35mm are harder to come by, in my experience.

The choice extends to size of the camera, too. For an M6 equivalent size (but lighter), there's the Yashica Electro series. Superb clarity, meter and sharpness. This series are typically 45mm f1.9 lens.

For the smallest, pocketable models, you can choose one of almost any Olympus 35 series except the harder to find 35SP (which is about the size of Canonets). Image quality is not as crisp as the Yashica and they are contrastier, in my experience, and the small size plus the focus ring that is too close to the body makes it an ergonomic nightmare. This series are typically 40-42mm f2.8 lens.

In between - and just nice in terms of size and weight, in my experience - are the Canonet series. Appreciably smaller than the Electros, but more ergonomic than the Olympus 35's. The QL17 is 40mm/1.7, the QL19 is 45mm/1.9.
 
A Nikon F3 + 50mm f1.4 should be well within your budget. F3's are cheap and plentiful because Nikon made then for so many years. And the size and weight (especially with the DP-2 finder) are very comparable to an M6 + 50 'lux.
 
I was a Nikon SLR shooter before switching to rangefinders.

If I was looking for a film SLR system I'd go with the OM line now that I've handled one. I might stick with Nikon if I wanted to shoot digital as well though with M4/3 compatibility with all sorts of lens lines..
 
boomguy57 said:
I second the CL + M-Rokkor 40/2. Great set up, cheap, and very small.
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I don't see this as being much cheaper than the M6 body.

Canon LTM RF go cheap enough and they are good cameras. Many of the non-interchangeable lens RF like the Olympus SP, Canon QL17, etc are great cameras for less than $100. Almost any reputable camera repair store can do a CLA for less than $100 (I've sent a couple in for repair) and then for less than $200 you have a great camera.
 
Pentax ME Super or, if you like manual only, the MX. The ME Super is even smaller and lighter than the OM-2, and has an even quieter shutter.
 
I'm still kicking myself for selling my Bessa R2a w/ CLA'd 50 Summar. That was a fantastic shooter. The camera's AE was made for shooting early Leica LTM lenses. Very fast to use, IQ like you would not believe. But I'm enjoying shooting portraits w/ SLR's now, so a change was good.
 
helenhill said:
OM1 ...yeah !
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You're so sensible Helen! (most of the time) :angel:

I do have to wonder when the OM bubble will burst ... maybe never?

I was just having a quick scan of eBay and picking up an OM-1 for under $50.00 is a cinch .... add the CLA with John Hermanson, a 50mm f1.8 'lenscap' and you have perfection IMO.

All for around $200.00 ...... ! 😱
 
I know this might sound funny but, I had no money & picked up a Pentax SP mint w/50 1.4 Takumar for $100.00 at pawn shop. The SP is all mechanical, size & feel is close to an M camera in weight. If the meter works like mine thats a bonus, very well made & cheap these days. Has a nice winder, and the glass is great.

I have taken some great shots with mine.
 
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