Where to start?

[NA1]

So I imagine this question will yield a few different responses, so I will try and be as specific as I can given the broadness of my question.

I have been shooting for about 10 years now (mainly Canon 35's and recently a Hasselblad X-Pan). AFter getting used to the subtlties of a Rangefinder, I quickly found myself shooting on my X-Pan almost exclusively, so it made sense to step up to slightly better glass and a "true" rangefinder. After doing my research I have decided on the Leica M series, but am not really sure the best place to start. Obviously price is an issue, but that being said, I am looking at this as an investment and not so much a purchase.

If you had to start with a Leica, which one and more specifically why? I hear M7 a lot, but also see the price difference between an M7 and an M6.

Shooting wise, I mainly use my 20mm and 50mm 35 lenses.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Avotius]

ive been watching ebay a lot lately looking for a m6 or m7 to snap up. The decent M6ttls seem to go for about 12-1400 on ebay and the m7's are going for about 1700-1900. If it was me I would go for the m7 because it would have that familiar apature priority mode. Also the veiwfinder is brighter and better then the m6's.

If you are really lean on money and you want a light meter in your camera then you should have a look at the m6 then. If you dont care about a light meter consider a m4 or a m3 for those 50mm lenses and an external finder for the 20's.

you should have a look at this: http://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm

 

[physiognomy]

Welcome to RFF... I'm sure you will enjoy it here!

I don't own any Leica M gear (yet), so speaking hypothetically I would probably go for a very good M6 & save some $$$ for the lenses I really want/need. This is mostly my budget speaking though... It's now telling me to get the hell away from the Leica M forum!

Peter

 

[wlewisiii]

I guess the biggest "it depends" is based on your budget. If you can afford it, a new M7 "Starter Kit" (M7 .72 finder & 50 Summicron) might well be something to look at. As you say, however, a used M6, especially a M6 Classic, is significantly cheaper. Metered M bodies range from $849 (M5 bargain grade) to $2,569 (M7, like new) at KEH.com right now. If your budget is really tight there is a Voigtlander Bessa R2 for $429 as well. And lens prices vary just as wildly depending especially on how fast...

All of this is a roundabout way of saying that my advice is to first decide how much you want to spend and then decide how fast of a lens you really need. If you can live with 2.0 or 2.8, you can save yourself a pretty significant amount of money, but if you really do need a faster lens (and only you can decide that) then the cost needs to be accounted for.

And if you really want to, bottom feeding can put you into a M mount camera and Summicron for less than $350 (a CL & a collapsible Summicron needing repair) with patience. (I suppose that I should call that $400 - I should get the meter adjusted and that will cost me another $50 🙂 )

Decide on your desires, decide on your budget, then go shopping.

Good luck, good light and, most importantly, have fun.

William

 

[RML]

Just askin, but why a Leica? And why are you looking for an investment instead of a purchase? IMO Leicas are overrated (the reason why I'm selling my M2). They're nice, solid cameras for sure but I never got the "thrill" for it. I prefer shooting my new ZI and R-D1, and still love my BEssa L and R as well as the tiny Leitz Minolta CL. The M2 is (for me) definitely not the right camera. And IMO any Leica is too expensive for what it offers extra (nothing) compared to my other cameras, even second hand.

 

[pvdhaar]

... I quickly found myself shooting on my X-Pan almost exclusively, so it made sense to step up to slightly better glass and a "true" rangefinder ...

Granted, the range of focal lengths/apertures available for the X-Pan is limited, but I doubt that you'll find much of a quality difference in glass.. If you're shooting the X-Pan in 35mm format, then you're actually using the sweet spot of the X-Pan lenses.

And what makes an X-Pan not a true rangefinder?

 

[Dougg]

Just askin, but why a Leica? And why are you looking for an investment instead of a purchase?

I'll echo Remy's questions too... though I have much more positive feelings about the M2 than he! 🙂 Still, your XPan is certainly a "real" rangefinder in every sense of the word, and its glass is outstanding. No reason to think going with a Leica would be "upgrading"... just opting for an equally good camera better suited to 24x36 format with wider selection of fast lenses. I'd say "utility" is a better reason than investment to go with Leica or Leica-compatible gear. In my view, with Leica (as well as Hasselblad) the quality is there, if you're willing to pay for it. Good luck!

 

[Rich Silfver]

I can see wanting to go for the highest possible quality there is - and I personally believe that when it comes to 35mm rangefinder cameras Leica has everything else beat.
Others are entitled to their opinions - but this is mine.

Un-metered: Get an M3, M2 or M4 (Note that the M3 doesn't have any built-in framelines for anything wider than a 50mm lens - but slap a 50/2 'cron on it and you have one of the finest kits there ever was).

Metered: M6 or M7.
The M7 does have aperture-priority but will run you 6-700 dollars more than an M6 and personally I couldn't justify that - but it's a very subjective decision.

My personal short list would be: M3 or M6 depending on if you need metering or not.

 

[Bill58]

Get a Canon Model P for under $300 and a Canon 50/ 1.8 for under $200 and go have fun. But you gotta get a meter--Gossen is best. My two cents worth. Neither will be worth less than you paid for them.

Bill

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

I'd tend to agree with Rich here: M6 or M3 - however unmetered you might also want to consider the M4-2. I think you've got a cracking set up with your Xpan so i wouldn't see getting a Leica M as a "step up" in that sense.
Good luck with your final choices and welcome to RFF!

 

[MCTuomey]

Welcome to the forum!

The problem with the question is that it can only be decided by you, right in the middle of massive subjectivity. And the only way to get to an answer is to gain experience with Leicas. It doesn't really matter much where you start but where you end up.

So I suggest not to think too much. Get one based on whichever one "pulls' you and is affordable. Try it. You'll know shortly whether it floats your boat. If it does, keep it. If not, sell it. Buying used, you won't lose much, if anything.

Btw, I think this is the funnest way to go 😀

 

[Dfin]

Bloody Leicas, fiddly bottom loading, no auto-focus,no AE,no LCD, only 36 exposures, Over Hyped, Over Priced, Euro-trash. But WOW LOOK at the Photos!!! Try for M4P and a 50mm. Summicron, you`ll need a seperate meter, but that`ll slow you down and make you Look.M4 or M4-2 are alternatives. Cheaper ,as Leicas go. Good Hunting and Good Luck. Sorry M7 has AE, but Oh So Expensive.