To buy or not to buy...

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Pfreddee

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I suppose that what I am dithering about is a classic case of ambivalence, but here goes anyway.

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted a film Leica M, (don't really have any particular choice of model, at the moment). I have "bought around the subject" for the past 5-6 years. By that I mean I've owned a number of rangefinders, just to test the waters, you know. I keep coming back to the Leica M (film models).

Common sense would tell me to save up and go ahead and buy one and quit dithering. I'm still dithering. I can afford a body but a body and a lens seem to be a daunting proposition. But I want to use Leica glass with it, not a non-Leica lens. Doesn't seem like I would be getting the Leica experience with non-Leica glass...

So, I'm looking for feedback from people who dithered for a time (or two) and finally decided to go ahead and get one and either confirm their worst fears, e.g. that they wouldn't like the camera or that they would fall in love with it and it would be the last film camera that they would ever need. I shoot both digital and film, but I'm looking for the best film camera I can buy, and that it will be the last one I'll need.

So, I'm acting as the guy on the window ledge, and you all can act as the crowd in the street, hollering, "Go ahead! Jump!" Give me some encouragement or some reasons (s) why I should jump. Or not.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
Buy the M... and a non-Leica lens to start. For me, the Leica experience is in the ergonomics and quality of the bodies... CV and Zeiss make great lenses that will hold you over until you can get the Leica lens you'd like.
 
I think you're going to get a chorus of "jumps".

It seems to me the easiest path forward would be to test the waters with an M body and non-Leica lens. As long as you buy well the lens will be easily resalable when you have saved for a Leica lens. I assume you're talking 50mm here. Consider it a stepping stone to your goal, rather than a compromise.

(Edit - there you go, in the 3 mins it took me to type that you have 2 similar views)
 
I used Leica lenses on Bessa.
I'm using non-Leica lenses on M4-2 now.
It is two completely different things.
After handling of M film Leica I don't want another film camera only second M 🙂
After using of some Leica glass I don't mind to use non-Leica lens.
CV CS 35 2.5 PII is the 35mm I use and no intention to change it for Leitz.
 
The RF experience is not for everyone, but as you stated, you have tested the waters for a few years and would like to continue the experience. While I do not agree with "Doesn't seem like I would be getting the Leica experience with non-Leica glass..." there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting Leica glass on a Leica body. The heart wants what the heart wants, and if it is a Leica body AND Leica glass you want, GO FOR IT!!!
 
A lot of people ask me for recommendations for film cameras. My first question is always, How much you are willing to spend?
 
Possible Kits:

Leica M4-P Mint- $900
50mm f3.5 Coll. Elmar (red scale) Ex+ $400

Leica M2 BR Ex+ $650-750
40mm f2 Summicron-c Mint- $400

Leica M4 Ex++ $900
35mm f2.8 M3 Summaron-M Ex++ $500-800

Leica M4-2 Ex++ $750
50mm f2 Konica-M Hexanon Mint $500
 
jsrockit said:
Buy the M... and a non-Leica lens to start. For me, the Leica experience is in the ergonomics and quality of the bodies... CV and Zeiss make great lenses that will hold you over until you can get the Leica lens you'd like.
Click to expand...

This above, exactly. "It's all about the glass" you so often read is just not the point. I've got lots of Leica lenses, but my all time favourite is the Zeiss C Sonnar 50. My M6 has a less than $500 Voigtlander 25 on it: now that is Leica ergonomics in the black suit that is not clubs - small, focus tab and ears on the aperture ring.
 
I've been going through a similar experience as the OP on this one and after purchasing a Leica I made a blog post about my thoughts (hope you don't mind me linking!):

http://www.jonathandesmond.com/blog...t-my-leica-and-what-it-taught-me-about-myself

My concise thoughts are: The Leica is not a magical camera... but in a lot of ways, it can make photography and the art you are trying to create a easier... OR worse. 🙂
 
rlouzan said:
Possible Kits:

Leica M4-P Mint- $900
50mm f3.5 Coll. Elmar (red scale) Ex+ $400

Leica M2 BR Ex+ $650-750
40mm f2 Summicron-c Mint- $400

Leica M4 Ex++ $900
35mm f2.8 M3 Summaron-M Ex++ $500-800

Leica M4-2 Ex++ $750
50mm f2 Konica-M Hexanon Mint $500
Click to expand...


Where can I get that Mint Summicron 40mm for $400? I might be real interested.
 
Ultimately, you have to make up your mind to jump by yourself.

I've bought particular Ms and particular Leica lenses and not liked them. I've bought Ms I didn't think I'd like and lenses that had no excuse other than that they were cheap enough for me to afford, and found them wonderful. And everything in between.

So ... If you want one, buy yourself a lens, or a body, as you find one you like and can afford. Then, when you can afford the body or lens to use it with, buy one of those. Spend the time in the middle imagining what you'll use it to photograph.

Almost any M and any M-mount 50mm or 35mm lens will do for starters.

G
 
rlouzan said:
Possible Kits:

Leica M4-P Mint- $900
50mm f3.5 Coll. Elmar (red scale) Ex+ $400

Leica M2 BR Ex+ $650-750
40mm f2 Summicron-c Mint- $400

Leica M4 Ex++ $900
35mm f2.8 M3 Summaron-M Ex++ $500-800

Leica M4-2 Ex++ $750
50mm f2 Konica-M Hexanon Mint $500
Click to expand...

Leica M2 with 35mm CV 2.5 has to be considered a good starter too...
 
Go for it!

And as for lenses: the 5cm f3.5 Elmar is propably the most classic Leica lens and it's still very useable and delivers great picture quality. Sometimes they sell for ridiculously low prices (compared to other Leica stuff).
If you're lucky you can get a coated one with good glass for about 100-150€.

A coated Elmar is also my only Leitz lens for my M2 & IIIf... otherwise I'm using a russian Jupiter-3, a 35mm Voigtländer Nokton & a 21mm Voigtländer Skopar. There are many great lenses out there in M39 and M-Mount which don't wear the "Leitz" tag. For me the "Leica-feeling" is much more about the body then the lens... if the lens feels nice and I like it's drawing, then it's alright for me.

Die-hard Leica fetishists propably don't want to hear it, but many well known photographers like Bresson, Robert Frank, Winogrand or DDD used non-Leica lenses on their Leicas 🙄
 
Buy it and you'll be able to get this thing out of your system, one way or another. A nice classic M3/2/4 plus a period 50mm lens would give you a solid feel of what the M system is (used to be?) about... while not being excessively pricey.

My current M kit is M4 + slow/cheap Leitz lenses from the early '50s (35/3.5, 90/4, 135/4.5) + fast/heavy Canon LTM glass (50/1.2, 85/1.5). But initially I used just a lowly Jupiter-8 for a year or so. I wouldn't recommend doing that but a threadmount Canon or Nikon - definitely. You could get a clean, highly regarded 50/1.4 by Canon or Nikon for the price of a hazy, scratched up Collapsible Summicron...
 
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