X100 for a leica

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KevinVH

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Hi guys

Some of you may know I'm taking the biggest step in my life this friday. I'm moving from Europe to Ecuador to become a fulltime photographer.

I bought an M6 about 6 months ago, and I love shooting with it. I own a D700 for the professional work, but most of my personal work, i do with the M6. After browsing here for a while, I'm really thinking about getting an M2 or M3, maybe even an M4, but I don't want to spend any more money for the time being. I'm considering exchanging my fuji x100 for the above mentioned cameras. I LOVE my M6, but i also love the ease that comes with digital photography.

What would you guys do?
 
Place a "Want to Trade" ad in the classifieds here. It's free (I think), and it worked great for me.
 
I would ponder what you want to be shooting--film or digital--especially in Ecuador. This would entail access to film processing and consideration of what your "clients" will want and in what form. Whatever you decide, best of luck on this big step. It sounds incredible and is inspiring.
 
Sure I have the M6, and you're making a valid point in saying that it isn't easy to aquire film and chemicals in Ecuador. The X100 won't be used for paid work though. It's more of a personal camera. I allready found someone who's willing to trade a Leica for the x100. It's a hard decission.
 
Fraser said:
If you already have a M6 I would keep the fuji.
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This. The x100 is a great camera but being digital its value plummets! Keep it and use it. The M6 is also a great camera. No need to be sucked into the Leica "mystique" regarding the older ones.
 
I wouldn't decide by which camera will depreciate faster, you could use your x100 for pleasure and paid work a couple of nice shots and it could pay for itself!. Its not like there is a shortage of M2s or M3s. I would imagine living in a place like Ecuador a handy digital that easily fits in a pocket and is nice and light would be great for hiking and touring etc.
 
Digital depreciation is simply a matter of fact if you exchange digital cameras regularly, which the OP may or may not do. Like I said, the x100 is a great camera and that is the reason to keep it and use it.
 
This sounds like the adventure of a lifetime. Good luck and keep your head down. Maybe there's more film and processing in Ecuador than we know, likely more than in a place where everyone is onto their third or fourth digital. I wouldn't lose either your M6 or your X100. The M6 is a great camera, and the X100 is so light and versatile - don't forget macro availability with new flora, and fauna.
 
Richard G said:
This sounds like the adventure of a lifetime. Good luck and keep your head down. Maybe there's more film and processing in Ecuador than we know, likely more than in a place where everyone is onto their third or fourth digital. I wouldn't lose either your M6 or your X100. The M6 is a great camera, and the X100 is so light and versatile - don't forget macro availability with new flora, and fauna.
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True. Every camera I own now has a purpose. Getting an M3 would just be giving in to GAS.
 
It is a tough decision. Just ask yourself if you really enjoy using the x100. If so, simply keep it and use it. It's a great tool and could prove very handy if you can't get film/chemicals/processing for whatever reason. You can always get an older M later.

If you simply don't enjoy using it that much then... :)
 
stratcat said:
It is a tough decision. Just ask yourself if you really enjoy using the x100. If so, simply keep it and use it. It's a great tool and could prove very handy if you can't get film/chemicals/processing for whatever reason. You can always get an older M later.

If you simply don't enjoy using it that much then... :)
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That's what I'm going to do I guess. Maybe one of you guys here at RFF could send me one later on, when I'm in ecuador.
 
I'd hold onto the X100 and eventually get an M2 for back up to the M6, when you can afford it. On this side of the Atlantic you can pick one up for $600, sometimes even a tad less.
 
I'm going to be pragmatic here. I've made the mistake over and over again in the past forty years of buying and selling Leica M kits. Each time I've come back to Leica, the cost of re-admission has gotten higher. I'm rebuilding my stable of lenses. Lenses that I will never sell again. Bodies come and go... but the glass is literally forever... AND your biggest investment. If you enjoy mixing up digital and film, sell the X100 and pick up a used M8 body. One set of lenses with the choice of film or digital in bodies that are functionally identical (close enough.) What a great world!
 
Get a Ricoh GXR with M-mount module. You can use all your Leica M mount lenses on it. Make sure you have the electronic viewfinder as well and switch on focus peaking.
 
That's out of the question. My X100 is going to sell for maybe 600 euros, that's not going to get me an M8. A dealer I know personally has offered me an M2 for 425 euros, and it really is tempting, but I think I'm going to keep the X100 for the time being. Although I will make considerably less money in Ecuador. I plan on buying more leica's when I can afford it, hopefully through you guys here.
 
I think, you have to put everything on the table for us, to analyse your gear ;-)

Seriously, changing the X100 for another M body, which you will use only for personal shooting and loosing one valuable digital body, that can be readily used for paid work?

The M6 is a grand camera - works with and without batteries and works perfectly well.
Getting a M2 or any other vintage Leica is a luxury, you don't sound like being able to afford (just for GAS ?).

I would look, to have my priorities on the gear, that earn the bills - if the 600 EUR valued X100 is doing that, keep it. If you see another piece of gear filling that hole better, go for that!

Honestly, I could see getting a good second hand Nikon D300/ D7000 or what ever as a much, much better option to switch your X100 into than any vintage Leica body, people will tell you, how great they are.

Do you have a backup body to your D700, that takes the same lenses (and preferably same batteries)? That's, where my money would be - you got the nice M6 and some glass for it already, as I understand.

Good luck with the big change - it sounds like an adventure of a lifetime!
Keep safe and take care (and keep us updated)!
 
Fraser said:
I wouldn't decide by which camera will depreciate faster, you could use your x100 for pleasure and paid work a couple of nice shots and it could pay for itself!.
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I agree. People will spend money on vacations, dinners, movies, etc. but when it comes to cameras, they expect no depreciation? With digital, the depreciation is directly related to what film and processing costs would have been with your film camera.
 
A Leica M body is just an empty box to hold a roll of film an a lens. The x100 is a great compact camera to have; I would keep it if I was in your shoes.

If I had to trade the x100 for something, I would rather get a lens than another M body.
 
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