Where I should start with Leica...?

[northpole]

This could provide a useful starting point for you LF:

http://www.imx.nl/photo/leica/

Peter

 

[navilluspm]

. . .whilst I know the ins and outs of almost every Canon EF lens, the BiogonSummicron etc is all new to me.

Hello Lord Fluff,

I don't know anything about Leica's, other than I can't afford them, but maybe you could help me with a question I posted on the SLR thread with your knowledge of Canon glass. Here is the thread:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52296

 

[Uwe_Nds]

Here's a thread about the M-Hexanon, Planar and Summicron:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30158

Best regards,
Uwe

 

[mfogiel]

Lord Fluff
You should peek into this user group on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/m-mount/ if you go there, you can click on a lens name and you will get dozens of shots to look at.
If you like a 35mm for all round work and portraits, The Biogon is excellent, here's an example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1944993365/in/set-72157601234693316/
but for wedding work, there's something like a holy grail for you: the C Sonnar 50/1.5 - read all the discussions about it in the Zeiss Ikon forums, but take a look at these shots too:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1019892254/in/set-72157601234693316/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1019034753/in/set-72157601234693316/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/869672949/in/set-72157601234693316/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/2080930169/in/set-72157601234693316/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1449454168/in/set-72157601234693316/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1434532050/in/set-72157601234693316/
If you use it with a chromogenic film, it will give you a glamour shot right out of the box, if you put a sharper film, you get a Cary Grant look ... There's nothing like this in the (D)SLR world.

 

[aizan]

leica m6 classic with the new 35mm summarit.

 

[kevin m]

...with the new 35mm summarit.

Why buy Leica's "budget" lens when the same money will buy you, say, a CV 35/1.2 and 35/2.5?

 

[aizan]

it's like wearing matching socks. i wouldn't want to get the 35/1.2 anyway cuz it's so big, though i would definitely get the 35/2.5 if i had to.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

M6 Classic with a recent CLA. M6 is manual if the battery dies no problem. The most recent & in your budget if you look hard enough. The 35mm f2.0 seems to be the most preferable for this model. In Leica in runs about 900+ USA. A 90mm tele-elmarit for $700 or less USA will give you a portrait. Many photogs opt out of the 50mm. summicron. CVs as stated are a great second option.

 

[Vics]

If you want a Leica, then you need to read up on the various choices of view finders. With your experience, I think you'd be unhappy with an M3 (50-90-135 frames). I like mine, and like not having the meter (I carry hand-held in the bag), but for you, it sounds as if an M6 of some kind with a 35 (I really like Leica glass) would be the best choice. The older lenses are quite flare-prone, but the Summicron Dual Range makes beautiful B&W images. Maybe you'd be better off with some modern glass for better color and flare control.

 

[cmogi10]

leica m6 classic with the new 35mm summarit.

You can get a used asph cron for the same price as a new summarit.

 

[R2-D2]

Leicas are great, but they are obsolete, and the only AE game in town is the M7, which costs too much for what it does.

Do you still have your Leica M7? Would you consider trading it for a black Zeiss Ikon?

 

[R2-D2]

[...]
What would you guys recommend?

It appears that some have found the definitive answer... I'd suggest to do a side-by-side comparison of a later Leica M and the Zeiss Ikon. While the viewfinder of the Zeiss is really bright, you may find it difficult to see the rangefinder patch when your eye is not exactly centered or under dimly lit conditions.

 

[drewbarb]

I'm suprised no one has yet suggested an MP.

If you were looking to add a film camera to your wedding kit, sure, an AE camera like the M7 or Zeiss Ikon would be best. But it doesn't sound to me like that's what you are after. An experienced working photographer looking for a Leica knows what he's getting- a fine camera as much for pride of ownership as for photographic purpose. You want a Leica for it's history and reputation, for excellent lenses and "mechanical perfection" and all that jazz. You want a fine instrument to carry for personal work and for pleasure; a camera to use in contrast to your work-a-day digital tools, something you will keep for the rest of your life and pass on to your children. There's nothing wrong with all this- but in this case you could hardly do better than a real mechanical Leica, old or new. At the end of the day, I think it's going to be the most satisfying choice.

 

[R2-D2]

I'm suprised no one has yet suggested an MP.

Quote from the OP: "[...] I'm not aiming to spend a fortune initially - maybe £600 on the body [...]"

 

[mfogiel]

R2-D2

"Do you still have your Leica M7? Would you consider trading it for a black Zeiss Ikon?"

- I still have the M7 and I also have a black Zeiss Ikon, so that's not a deal, but the day a Zeiss Ikon with an 85-1.0x VF comes out, I will likely dump the M7 in its favour, so stay tuned ;-)

 

[R2-D2]

I still have the M7 and I also have a black Zeiss Ikon, so that's not a deal, but the day a Zeiss Ikon with an 85-1.0x VF comes out, I will likely dump the M7 in its favour, so stay tuned ;-)

OK. I avoided using irony tags in my other post... ;-)

 

[Andrew3511]

Everyone will recommend what they have and like, and we are all different. It's perfectly possible to find the M6 in good condition here for £600 as I did just that last July. There is just so much information on the Leica lenses. When I bought the M2 and 1960 rigid Summicron over 2 years ago I thought I was paying quite a bit of money for an old camera (£550 for the combination) and was sceptical about the image quality. But I haven't touched all the Olympus equipment with well-regarded prime lenses and sophisticated auto-exposure since and I have spent a lot more money. I now have the M6 as well but the M2 with a separate meter is quite an addictive experience - get your meter out every so often and check the lighting conditions but when you put the camera to your eye all you do is focus and fire, all that's in the viewfinder is a frame that tells you where the edge of your picture is, and crucially, what is just outside it. Here's one, Summicron 50mm probably @ f8.0 with someone just walking into the frame.

 

[pvenables]

An M6 classic would be a good a start as any. Be prepared to use your SLRs less : I've found my rangefinders quite addictive.

If I were you I would buy the camera first, then the lenses. I did it the other way round, and may not have bought a 35mm lens had I seen the 50mm view first.

Hope you enjoy whatever you buy. If you plan to stick to usual 35mm print sizes I doubt you'll see much difference in "quality" from one lens to another, whoever makes them. Suggestions that you try older Canon/Voigtlander glass before committing a wad of money to Leica lenses are sensible.

Paul

 

[Lord Fluff]

Is it worth searching out the wider (0.58) viewfinder M6 or would one of the others suffice? I read the 0.58 is better if you mainly use wide lenses (I would guess 24 to 75 will be my range)

 

[shadowfox]

Lord Fluff, if you're looking for a deeper experience with the "emotional resonance" as you put it, go with meterless Leicas 🙂

For M mount, I recommend M4-P (best value for the buck IMHO), basically an M6 without built in meter.
Or even better, a Leica iiic 🙂