Upgrading to Leica

[TomB]

I am brand new to this forum, but I have taken a strong interest in leica cameras and lenses as of late. I have been using a Nikon FM2 over the last 3 years shooting pretty much film only, i still do not own a digital camera and i dont really want to own one.

I am thinking of buying a second hand Leica M6 and starting a collection of lenses. I will only wanting to really collect 50mm and downwards as i am more of a close up and wide angle photographer rather than needing the use of telephoto lenses.
I do however want to do commercial work and it seems you cant get buy without a digital so i think the M8 would work nicely coupled with the lenses i have collected for the M6.
Only problem is money, but i will be saving.

Any advice would be great and appreciated on where to start.

[NZDavid]

Leica M6 is an excellent choice. A 50 Summicron is amazingly versatile. Later I'd look at a 35 Summicron and possibly a 24 Elmarit ASPH, a beautiful wide angle lens. Separate finders are not a big deal. Main consideration is to buy from a reputable dealer. and make sure you get a top quality serviced camera with a guarantee -- it may cost a little more but will be well worth while.

[TomB]

Thanks for the advice, yes i was thinking it might be worthwhile spending those extra few dollars to get a warranty of some sort. Those lenses sound great for my range of photography. I will be shooting a mixture of available light indoors and outdoor landscape and portrait photography. I will definetely start saving my dollars. Apparently a dealer in my city mentioned he was going to be selling a mint M6 for $2000 australian. I was expecting to pay $1500 plus for a decent M6.

[NZDavid]

Not a bad idea to buy local, but having said that, I've also done well with overseas dealers. Whereabouts in Aus are you? There's a couple of choices on this side of the Tasman at Photo & Video International - New & Used Photographic Equipment & Digital Printing and Auckland Camera. M6 doesn't seem to be a lot more than an M3 now. Prices keep varying. Cheers, David

[stunsworth]

An M6 is a cracking camera, and prices have dropped over the last year or two. You can't relly go wrong with either a 35mm or 50mm Summicron, pick the focal length that you prefer and you'll have an excellent lens. My advice would be to just use that one lens for a while and get a feel for using a rangefinder camera.

If you've not used a rangefinder camera before expect a period of adjustment to using one in place of an SLR. Many of us have found rangefinders preferable to SLRs and personally I greatly prefer using my M6 and M8 to an SLR.

[Photon42]

The M6 sure is a good choice, as David already pointed out. I started out my rangefinder adventure with a M6 as well along with a 35 Zeiss Biogon and a used 90 / 2.8.

As you mention digital, make sure, however, you understand the compatibility aspects with M lenses for the M8. This may influence your decision on lenses. Collapsible lenses, uncoded wide angle lenses, self coding lenses etc. There is lots of information about all of that and more in this forum.

Most importantly, have fun with it. The M is a great and highly portable system.

Regards
Ivo

[topoxforddoc]

Tom,

If you're happy buying a camera without metering, then get the M2 with, say a 35 summicron. The M2 handles beautifully and has probably the most elegant viewfinder - 35, 50 and 90 framelines. The 35 will then double up as a '50' on a M8, when the pennies come in.

Charlie

[TomB]

Would be looking for a camera with its own built in metering system rather than a handheld meter as i do not own one. A second hand M6 seems like a good option because not as expensive as the M7. But also a reasonably recent camera. I currently use a Nikon thats around 24 years old so I have no problems with using older cameras. The more manual the camera the better.
Thanks for the advice so far everyone, its been great.

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by TomB

I am brand new to this forum, but I have taken a strong interest in leica cameras and lenses as of late. I have been using a Nikon FM2 over the last 3 years shooting pretty much film only, i still do not own a digital camera and i dont really want to own one.

I am thinking of buying a second hand Leica M6 and starting a collection of lenses. I will only wanting to really collect 50mm and downwards as i am more of a close up and wide angle photographer rather than needing the use of telephoto lenses.
I do however want to do commercial work and it seems you cant get buy without a digital so i think the M8 would work nicely coupled with the lenses i have collected for the M6.
Only problem is money, but i will be saving.

Any advice would be great and appreciated on where to start.

I have just moved back to Leica (M6- 35mm Summicron asph) after using a Nikon FM2n for the last 5 years. I would say that Leica rangefinder cameras would not be my first choice for close up photography but for anything other than that I would highly recommend the M6. I like the freedom that the M6 gives me, that feeling of been uncluttered with bulky SLR's but I would say the Nikon F6 is hard to beat for close up and pro photography. I guess you need to ask yourself why you really are attracted to Leica. For me it is because I believe they are the best optics in the world

[andym911]

If you want to finally arrive at an M8, Why would you go for a M6 in the short term.

Nothing against this great camera, I won one myself, but you are shooting today with an FM2, a great camera itself with excellent manual lenses to choose from.
I don't think you will see any differences in your images made with the M6...maybe better to save the money if the M8 is your long term aim.
Good used M8 can be had for Euro 2500 today and possibly less after Photokina, just a thought.If you really want an M6 then go ahead of course and get yourself a version 3 or 4 35mm cron...a great combination.

Andy

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by andym911

If you want to finally arrive at an M8, Why would you go for a M6 in the short term.

Nothing against this great camera, I won one myself, but you are shooting today with an FM2, a great camera itself with excellent manual lenses to choose from.
I don't think you will see any differences in your images made with the M6...maybe better to save the money if the M8 is your long term aim.
Good used M8 can be had for Euro 2500 today and possibly less after Photokina, just a thought.If you really want an M6 then go ahead of course and get yourself a version 3 or 4 35mm cron...a great combination.

Andy

I have to disagree, I believe you would see a huge difference between Nikkor optics and Leitz. Whether you like that difference, only you can tell. Having just gone through this process I feel qualified to comment on this. M6-v-M8, well that is a different subject altogether. I, personally am an analogue person but I could see the advantages of digital medium to a pro photographer. So as I mentioned earlier. It is all in the glass. Nikon F6, fabulous camera and AF system. Leica M6,totally manual optically superior,period.

[harrisfoto]

With the Leica Rangefinders, often it is an advantage to meter before bringing the camera up to your face to take the shot. Voitlander (Cosina) makes a small meter that fits into the flash/accessory shoe.

[andym911]

Originally Posted by kenneth

I have to disagree, I believe you would see a huge difference between Nikkor optics and Leitz. Whether you like that difference, only you can tell. Having just gone through this process I feel qualified to comment on this. M6-v-M8, well that is a different subject altogether. I, personally am an analogue person but I could see the advantages of digital medium to a pro photographer. So as I mentioned earlier. It is all in the glass. Nikon F6, fabulous camera and AF system. Leica M6,totally manual optically superior,period.

Kenneth,
Lets agree to disagree...I use M6, M8 and Older Nikon SLR.In color work you can see a slight difference between the nikon and leitz optics if you make prints above 8x10.The difference os small and not big IMO.Do I prefer the leitz optics, yes , but the difference is marginal and in B&W even more so IMO.

Anyway...each to their own as you say.

regards
andy

[crbirchenhall]

Tom

I use Nikon and Leica and both are excellent systems and can compliment each other. I am not a professional photographer but if you are planning on commercial work then I have to suggest Nikon is the safer bet and some of the new Nikon prime lenses, not to mention the new Zeiss ZF series, challenge Leica. At the same time, a Leica M can be a very rewarding counter point to a SLR, but be warned they are dangerously addictive. Running two systems can be expensive.

My first M, a M6TTL, still holds its own in my affections and produces rewarding photographs. If you stay with the plan of a M8 in the future then I suggest a 35mm lens as it is the most versatile single lens on a M and it can be become the 47mm on your M8. Although I do not own one you might consider the new cheaper Leica 35mm f2.5; it has had good reviews and will be 6-bit coded ready for the M8.

[lct]

Originally Posted by crbirchenhall

...some of the new Nikon prime lenses... challenge Leica...

Would you mind to elaborate on this point? Just curious of new lenses i don't own.

[darkstar2004]

As for me, I wouldn't invest $5500US in an M8 - not until Leica gets the bugs worked out of it.

If I could have only one Leica camera, it would be a black MP .72 which is what I have owned for the last five years without one whit of regret.

If I were limited to only one lens, hmmmmmm... That's a little tougher. I'm leaning toward 50mm, either the Summicron f/2 or the 1.4 ASPH. If gold bricks were to fall from the sky into my back yard, it would be a Noctilux (one of the "normal" $6000 versions or a used one, not the $16,000 collector's version).

JMHO.

[darkstar2004]

RE: Bugs in the M8

Just discovered this M8 review, written by a serious photojuornalist:

Leica M8 Field Test, Iraq

Now I have even less interest in the M8.

Thank goodness for the MP - it may well be the pinnacle of M camera design. I can't see any way to significantly improve it. Even fine tuning it would be no small task.

[TomB]

The Feedback has been amazing.

Down to specifics, I currently shoot on a Nikon FM2n, I have been using it for the last 3 years and am amazed with the results its given me. I currently own an old japanese 50mm F1.4. This is by far my favourite lens. Also own a zoom lens 35 - 135mm F3.5 lens, the optics on that lens are not as good nor do i like shooting with it, i purely bought for shooting a wedding, which allowed me to get personal close-ups from afar as well as wide shots of everyone.

I do want to upgrade to Leica for the Optics. I am a visual art photographer and at the moment I prefer to use film. I also want to put as much of my money into film, something which I think a lot of people have stopped appreciating due to Digital. No offense to those that use digital, and use it well.

As a visual art photographer the majority of our printing sizes are 50 x 75cm at the smallest and enlargements going as big as 100 x 75cm. I have also become interested in Cibachrome prints, costly i know, but worth the investment.

I still continue to keep and use my Nikon FM2n as more of a back up, but the Leica would definetely be my workforce in creating my own artworks.

[kenneth]

Then I would reiterate the comment I made earlier- an M6- not ttl- the lens choice is a very personal one but I would suggest that you go for current incarnations of Summicron lenses. I applaud your loyalty to film medium. I like you am not planning, now or in the future to move into digital in fact I personally see it as a totally different art form. Fine for those who are that way inclined but already I have seen it reported that there is a major shift back to film by people who went digital and have been disillusioned.

I only ever tried auto-focus briefly in the 80's- Nikon 801s but reverted back to a manual camera- Nikon F3HP after only 3 weeks. I really am delighted with my newly acquired M6 Classic as I feel sure you will be

[maddoc2003jp]

I started into the world of rangefinder cameras with a M6 and CV 35/2.5 PII. Very small (nearly pocket able) and I got some very decent photos with that combination. Now I use mostly an M6TTL (0.85x) with the 50/1.0 and an M4-P with the 35 Summilux pre-ASPH since I mainly shoot in very low light. From my experience you can't go wrong with an M6 (either classic or the TTL version) and either a 35/2 or 50/2 (Summicron).

Cheers,

maddoc

PS: I still have my Nikon FM and F3HP but don't use them anymore since I got my Leicas.