Chris101
summicronia
He said your post seems like a joke because you are asking 'what is the best Leica'. That question, in many forms, has been asked and answered here many times over. And the answer is always the same - they are all the best.
All Leicas are similar, yet they all excel over the others at something. So there is a best Leica, yet it is dependent on the shooter and the use to which it is put.
Your post is joke-like because you have given us no context to ascertain what your criteria for judging the best would be! You have not said what kind of pictures you want to make, what lenses you want to use, or how much money you want to spend. If it's the money thing, then I'd suggest that you try to obtain the Sultan of Brunei Gold Leica. It's easily the best.
jarski
Veteran
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
Damn, the Leica IIIs and M2, M3, M4, M5, MPs...they're not good and cool.
Oh, wait, something about the logo = price. This was totally and completely unexpected.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
First of all you don't need a 24mm for street and kids. 35mm is probably wide enough. At the outside, I would suggest 28mm as the wide lens, because with it you can still use the cameras, viewfinder.
Do you need a built-in meter? Or will you use a meterless camera and a hand-held meter? If you want a built-in meter, start with an M6; that is the best for the money. For AE, an M7.
Don't need a meter on board? M4-P if you need a 28mm lens. M2 if 35mm will be wide enough (I think it is for your purposes). With an M2 you could get 35, 50, and 90mm lenses--the traditional photojournalist outfit. With an M4-P or M6 you can substitute a 28mm for the 35.
Another good combination with an M6 is 28-40-75, with the 40mm modified to bring up 35mm framelines.
Whatever you start with, you will be taking an irrevocable step towards a lifelong addiction from which there is no escape . . .
cosmonaut
Well-known
If you need a meter the M6, if not M3 or 2. I like the M3 better than the M6. But get the best you can afford and be happy.
dave lackey
Veteran
No matter where you start, it won't stop there. So just dive on in anywhere and get your feet wet!
Let's say you get an M6 because its the *cheaper* option. Once you've shot with that for a while, you're gonna want to *upgrade* and try Mechanical Perfection (i.e. the MP). The best, most modern, mechanical Leica ever. Precision machined gears working in unison to advance your film and time your shutter. The pinnacle of mechanical cameras from Solms. So you sell the M6 and get an MP.
It's bliss. But after a while, you get curious about all the fuss people make regarding those original meterless Leicas (M3 and M2). The owners swear by them. So smooth to shoot, Built like tanks. They don't make 'em like that anymore. Made during the true golden era of Leica. The spell is cast upon you. There's nothing to do but succumb, so you sell the MP and get an M3.
And its pure, classical, Leica bliss .... for a while. Then, you slowly realize you're missing shots because manually adjusting shutter speeds on the fly just doesn't cut it anymore. Too slow. The action is over before you know it. So in steps the M7 with its AE mode to replace the M3. Because you *need* to shoot faster, and the M7 will select the shutter speed for you
So you sell the M3 and buy an M7. Then all is well with the world. You're getting those shots that you were missing before. But the film and developing costs start to add up. And scanning becomes a chore. You think to yourself, this is ridiculous, I should go digital ...
So you unceremoniously dump the M7 and get an M9. And its bliss again .... for a while. But somehow, a digital M is not the same. The thumbs up is comfortable enough, but you miss the smooooth film advance action and manual film rewind. And the anticipation while waiting for your film to be developed. Somehow, a digital M just doesn't have the same soul as a film M. Something is .... lacking. So, you decide to throw in the digital towel, and go back to your film roots. The M9 gets sold and replaced with a ....? An M6 maybe. They're reasonably priced. Work like other film M's. Why spend the bucks on the fancier models (back to step one).
LOL... and that my friends is the best description of the life of a typical Leica user on the RFF!!!
Somewhere in that cycle, I am sure you will find a place to plug in whether it be film or digital. Just do it!
Honestly, if you can swing a used Leica M6, a 50mm summicron, and a zeiss 25mm... that's probably the best combo between price, performance, and leica experience.
gilpen123
Gil
I think one must try the Nikon RFs as well, a CLE, Hexar, Zeiss Ikon and RD1 before settling down with an M6 finder upgraded and recently CLAd by DAG or Sherry.
unixrevolution
Well-known
I have a Leica M2, and I adore it. The M2 can handle anything up to a 35mm lens with the built-in finder as far as wides go. Built ins are 35/50/90.
If you absolutely KNOW a 24 is what you need (on full frame, mind, since on APS-C it acts as a 35) then I would suggest either an M6 as the cheap Leica option, or a Bessa R4A. The R4A has stepless TTL autoexposure and the only M-mount viewfinder capable of supporting something wider than a 28 without an aux finder (It has framelines for 25mm).
As for why your OP sounds like a joke...it's like saying you want to buy a BMW, but you don't know if you want a Z-4 or an M3 or a 7-series or a BMW GS motorbike. If someone wants a Leica but is pretty untroubled about which one, they may be accused of wanting to be seen with it more than actually wanting to use it.
If you absolutely KNOW a 24 is what you need (on full frame, mind, since on APS-C it acts as a 35) then I would suggest either an M6 as the cheap Leica option, or a Bessa R4A. The R4A has stepless TTL autoexposure and the only M-mount viewfinder capable of supporting something wider than a 28 without an aux finder (It has framelines for 25mm).
As for why your OP sounds like a joke...it's like saying you want to buy a BMW, but you don't know if you want a Z-4 or an M3 or a 7-series or a BMW GS motorbike. If someone wants a Leica but is pretty untroubled about which one, they may be accused of wanting to be seen with it more than actually wanting to use it.
golem
Member
So much truth lolNo matter where you start, it won't stop there. So just dive on in anywhere and get your feet wet!
Let's say you get an M6 because its the *cheaper* option. Once you've shot with that for a while, you're gonna want to *upgrade* and try Mechanical Perfection (i.e. the MP). The best, most modern, mechanical Leica ever. Precision machined gears working in unison to advance your film and time your shutter. The pinnacle of mechanical cameras from Solms. So you sell the M6 and get an MP.
It's bliss. But after a while, you get curious about all the fuss people make regarding those original meterless Leicas (M3 and M2). The owners swear by them. So smooth to shoot, Built like tanks. They don't make 'em like that anymore. Made during the true golden era of Leica. The spell is cast upon you. There's nothing to do but succumb, so you sell the MP and get an M3.
And its pure, classical, Leica bliss .... for a while. Then, you slowly realize you're missing shots because manually adjusting shutter speeds on the fly just doesn't cut it anymore. Too slow. The action is over before you know it. So in steps the M7 with its AE mode to replace the M3. Because you *need* to shoot faster, and the M7 will select the shutter speed for you
So you sell the M3 and buy an M7. Then all is well with the world. You're getting those shots that you were missing before. But the film and developing costs start to add up. And scanning becomes a chore. You think to yourself, this is ridiculous, I should go digital ...
So you unceremoniously dump the M7 and get an M9. And its bliss again .... for a while. But somehow, a digital M is not the same. The thumbs up is comfortable enough, but you miss the smooooth film advance action and manual film rewind. And the anticipation while waiting for your film to be developed. Somehow, a digital M just doesn't have the same soul as a film M. Something is .... lacking. So, you decide to throw in the digital towel, and go back to your film roots. The M9 gets sold and replaced with a ....? An M6 maybe. They're reasonably priced. Work like other film M's. Why spend the bucks on the fancier models (back to step one).
Frontman
Well-known
No matter where you start, it won't stop there. So just dive on in anywhere and get your feet wet!
Let's say you get an M6 because its the *cheaper* option. Once you've shot with that for a while, you're gonna want to *upgrade* and try Mechanical Perfection (i.e. the MP). The best, most modern, mechanical Leica ever. Precision machined gears working in unison to advance your film and time your shutter. The pinnacle of mechanical cameras from Solms. So you sell the M6 and get an MP.
It's bliss. But after a while, you get curious about all the fuss people make regarding those original meterless Leicas (M3 and M2). The owners swear by them. So smooth to shoot, Built like tanks. They don't make 'em like that anymore. Made during the true golden era of Leica. The spell is cast upon you. There's nothing to do but succumb, so you sell the MP and get an M3.
And its pure, classical, Leica bliss .... for a while. Then, you slowly realize you're missing shots because manually adjusting shutter speeds on the fly just doesn't cut it anymore. Too slow. The action is over before you know it. So in steps the M7 with its AE mode to replace the M3. Because you *need* to shoot faster, and the M7 will select the shutter speed for you
So you sell the M3 and buy an M7. Then all is well with the world. You're getting those shots that you were missing before. But the film and developing costs start to add up. And scanning becomes a chore. You think to yourself, this is ridiculous, I should go digital ...
So you unceremoniously dump the M7 and get an M9. And its bliss again .... for a while. But somehow, a digital M is not the same. The thumbs up is comfortable enough, but you miss the smooooth film advance action and manual film rewind. And the anticipation while waiting for your film to be developed. Somehow, a digital M just doesn't have the same soul as a film M. Something is .... lacking. So, you decide to throw in the digital towel, and go back to your film roots. The M9 gets sold and replaced with a ....? An M6 maybe. They're reasonably priced. Work like other film M's. Why spend the bucks on the fancier models (back to step one).
It sounds like me, except that I don't like to part with the cameras I have bought, so it seems like they are breeding and multiplying. My IIIA led the way to an M4, which then led to an M6, then a second M4, a couple of M3s, and then the foreign relatives from Japan began dropping by, and not leaving. Now my shelves are full of cameras...