JohnGellings
Well-known
My only regret was wasting too much time using rangefinders when other types of cameras suited my style more. I know that now... oh, and never buying a Leica Standard. Not a rangefinder, but you get what I mean.
Whats your biggest rangefinder related regret
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JeffS7444
Well-known
No regrets about selling Nikon, Leica, Hasselblad, Rolleiflex etc because for many years I was gear-rich but carrying credit card balances from month to month. Assuming that my credit card balance averaged around 3500 USD every month for a period of 15 years (18% interest, compounded monthly), I'd be more than $50K poorer today because it's acting as compound interest for the bank. At today's higher average interest rates, it would be more like $90K+ poorer.
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
Selling off my LHSA MP Hammertone set and my silver chrome LHSA 50mm Asph Summilux. It was the 2nd stupidest thing I've ever done. 
JoseP
Established
Not realizing that I was well off with what I had and the waste of money that followed...
Photar
gone fishing
That's the latest serial number I have seen so far for the hammertone MP. Serial numbers either seem to start with 2947xxx or with 3100xxx. The latter are less common.
Archiver
Veteran
Now I'm curious: which cameras suit your style more, and why?
Edited to add: I love the RF experience for a number of reasons, including the split-image focusing, the full optical view, the size and handling, and the sense of being a contributing factor to the image. But if I'm really honest with myself, I like responsive autofocus, being able to shoot one handed at wide apertures, and a TTL view of the scene. So what might be ideal for me is a smallish mirrorless camera?
JohnGellings
Well-known
Well, I've been photographing since 1990. At various times I've used many different Leica M cameras, film and digital. At certain times, I really felt like it was the camera for me. Like you, I think it is a great way of manually focusing lenses, the patch.
However, now I prefer to get exactly what I see in my viewfinder since I've become somewhat of a composition freak. Once mirrorless came, I prefer it. I like the information it shows regarding composition, exposure, etc. I also like autofocus, though I still use center point AF and recompose. A holdover from rangefinders.
Yes, based on what you say, a small mirrorless camera could be the right solution for you. It'll all depend on how you feel about looking through an EVF. Some people love it and some people hate it.
deadrangefinder76
Established
My biggest regret is selling my Leica M2 many years ago, I am hoping she is in good hand.
JohnWolf
Well-known
Not settling 20 years ago on one or two film Ms, two or three lenses, and watching unconcerned as the digital revolution passed by.
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KeithH
Member
Not having one. 😕
Ray Kilby
Established
Selling summicron 28mm never regretted selling the 90mm.and I am eternally grateful that I didn’t sell my M6 when tempted to… thank you common sense.
wjlapier
Well-known
Similarly, sold my ala carte black painted Leica M7. A lot of customization allowed by Leica back then.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
Chatting with a friend earlier reminded me of a later RF related regret - that I didn’t get my dream kit of two ala carte black paint MPs, one .58x and the other .85x. My ideal was to have one dedicated to my 35 and the other to a 75.
Buying these was so far out of reach at the time I couldn’t even see the undercarriage - but they would have been wonderful. And since that point I went digital M so my M6 meets my film M needs.
Buying these was so far out of reach at the time I couldn’t even see the undercarriage - but they would have been wonderful. And since that point I went digital M so my M6 meets my film M needs.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I regret assuming compact rangefinder focusing cameras are superior and avoiding scale/zone focus cameras for so long.
A short-base rangefinder is no more accurate and a hard-to-see double image can turn into a distraction to picture taking.
IMO the wide angle lens most compact cameras are equipped with can just as accurately be focused without a rangefinder.
Chris
A short-base rangefinder is no more accurate and a hard-to-see double image can turn into a distraction to picture taking.
IMO the wide angle lens most compact cameras are equipped with can just as accurately be focused without a rangefinder.
Chris
chuckroast
Well-known
I've been shooting for over five decades in a variety of formats and systems. My first M was an M2 that I bought only a couple years ago. Inevitably, it became a gateway drug to an M4 and an M5 😉
I love my M2. It is a joy to use. I just got back from 10 days in Greece and I took that camera and several lenses with me and shot about 150 frames of Fomapan 200 while there. I am still printing the results, but it is a memory I will always cherish.
valdas
Veteran
Why have regrets about cameras?
Non, rien de rien
Non, je ne regrette rien
C'est payé, balayé, oublié
Je me fous du passé
🙂
Non, rien de rien
Non, je ne regrette rien
C'est payé, balayé, oublié
Je me fous du passé
🙂
PaulDalex
Dilettante artist
In 1984 mainly because of a backache I gave up my black plain prism Nikon F (with various lenses, and this is another regret) and bought a Minolta CLE with the Rokkor 40 / 2, with the idea of buying subsequently the 90 and 28 by Minolta. I was enthusiasts of the results. Right after that in 1985 Minolta discontinued the CLE (the biggest nonsense of Minolta history IMHO) and I asked the dealer about the two other lenses. He said they were not available but I could buy the Leica versions. At that point I panicked because i could not afford them. And gave away the CLE. After many years I bought again a pristine body with the 40 and 90. For the 28 I used the Zeiss ZM 25. I also rebought a black plain prism NIkon F.
But the pain is largely still there. For some reason which I cannot explain (I got lucky samples?) I have the definite feeling that my original cameras, which I bought new, were better ones. I know it is irrational but I can't help.
But the pain is largely still there. For some reason which I cannot explain (I got lucky samples?) I have the definite feeling that my original cameras, which I bought new, were better ones. I know it is irrational but I can't help.
Pioneer
Veteran
No real regrets. I sometimes wish I had been a little wiser in how I spent my money but I guess it is all part of learning and I've certainly had fun.
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