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Suggestions: backup body for an M3?


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Our son is a filmmaker and photo-journalist in Berlin, often using digital M8 and M9 cameras. We recently gave him a serviced (by Youxin Ye, excellent) single-stroke M3 with 50 mm Summicron. He has enjoyed using the M3 in assignments, finding a welcome market for its excellent film (B&W) pictures.

What M (film) body would experienced users suggest for a backup camera? A 35mm viewfinder frame would be useful, but what other advantages and disadvantages are considerations for an M2 or later camera?

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I am a big fan of the M6 because it has the most framelines and a meter. However, since your son is competent without a meter an M2 or M4 would be fine. Condition on these older cameras is everything, as you must know.

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My Tapatalk crashed before I could complete the post.

 

Sure no 35mm frame lines. But he may find switching magnifications annoying. I guess it also depends on what is meant by a "backup body".

 

Of course if 35mm frame lines are required then pretty much any film M will do. From a sheer usage perspective all are similar. I'd say only the M5 differs substantially in use from the other Ms. Here I'm evidently not considering the finer points of usage like the direction of shutter speed dials, rewind operation etc.

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From a purely cost point of view the much maligned M4-2 would suit. I am currently useing my second version that I obtained for a very good price. The v/f will not detieriate like all M2's and early M4's that were assembled with canada balsam( don't drop it). I have never found any cause to question this model as many do. Haveing serviced 2's 4's and 4-2's the interiors are so alike as to query what is wrong with them, if people realised how good they were they would hold a much higher retail price. As for later model's with six framelines I think they are a joke after useing a Nikon F.

 

Best,

 

normclarke.

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