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Can't stand wondering any longer...Renting an M-E and Summarit


rpavich

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Well...first time poster here...been lurking a bit.

 

I am currently a Fuji X100T shooter and love the little guy. If there were anything close to a perfect camera for me, that would be it.

 

You may or may not know that Fuji is sort of touted as the "poor man's Rangefinder" camera; sort of an approximation of it. It has a glass viewfinder with superimposed framelines that move according to focus distance. It doesn't have a focus patch, it has a small patch of the EVF in the lower right corner of the viewfinder so that you can see if you are in focus.

 

So...I've always wondered; what is it about the Leica Rangefinder? Is it really that great of an experience? Is Fuji's implementation just as serviceable?

 

 

I HAVE to know...I can't wonder any longer, and since I'd most likely be getting in at the cheapest price point; either an M-E now, or an M240 in 2 years...I thought that renting an M-E and 50mm Summarit would be a good real-world test. If I can bond with this combo in 4 days time (or just know that it would work for me) then the question would be settled in my mind and I could either pursue it or let it drop forever.

 

In either case, the uncertainty would be gone...whew!

 

So, glad to post here for the first time. It's coming a week from today and I'll give a full report of my impressions as a Leica-outsider when I'm done.

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I'm at this for fourty years, not four days - and still learning...;) Seriously, One really needs a bit of time to get really comfortable with a rangefinder system, as it does require a different mindset.

The Fuji has a nice optical viewfinder, but it is not the same thing at all.

The advice of getting a used M8 and an affordable lens, for instance the Elmar-M 50 mm collapsible last version, is sound,  chances are you will never want to sell the  camera.

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Rp.

Admired many of your images and posts on the Fuji forum(s), welcome here.

 

Gotta agree, 4 days won't be enough, I'm like jaapv, more than 40 years with Leica (45 actually). The M8 would also be the choice to test drive the concept. Great camera, old, but sound.

 

Gary

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I know..I won't master anything in 4 days...heck..I expect that my shots will be out of focus most of the time and I'll miss most of them...I fully expect that.

 

But I have to know if the "experience" is hype or not. If it's SO different that it's worth forking over several thousand dollars for it.

 

 

That's all I'm trying to figure out.

 

PS: 4 days with the camera and lens and insurance was $300.00

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The advice of getting a used M8 and an affordable lens, for instance the Elmar-M 50 mm collapsible last version,

Not sure I'd want a 50 on a cropped-frame camera as my introduction to RF photography but I agree that an M8 is the best value for money digital RF camera (IMO a used M6 or M7 is even better value for money).

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While it may take you a lifetime to grow out of love with the rangefinder way, it doesn't take long to realise the difference. IMHO 4 days should be enough to figure it out. Skip the M8 and go for an M-E with a 50. I did.

best of luck.

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rpavich, 

  

  If you are using the Fuji X100, then you are not used to shooting with the 50mm field of view. I would suggest you rent a 35mm with the Leica, or both.

I've shot a lot with 50mm but the 35mm was unavailable until mid may so I thought that I could rent the 50mm and it would answer the questions that I had knowing that ultimately I'd be choosing a 35mm lens when buying.

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While it may take you a lifetime to grow out of love with the rangefinder way, it doesn't take long to realise the difference. IMHO 4 days should be enough to figure it out. Skip the M8 and go for an M-E with a 50. I did.

best of luck.

Thanks!

 

I'm really looking forward to it.

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Not sure I'd want a 50 on a cropped-frame camera as my introduction to RF photography but I agree that an M8 is the best value for money digital RF camera (IMO a used M6 or M7 is even better value for money).

Actually I liked that lens a lot on my M8 - but an old Summicron 35 or even Summaron would be a nice combo as well.:)

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I've shot a lot with 50mm but the 35mm was unavailable until mid may so I thought that I could rent the 50mm and it would answer the questions that I had knowing that ultimately I'd be choosing a 35mm lens when buying.

In that case, better to rent a 28, which will give you approximately a 35mm (37mm) field of view.  The little Elmarit rental costs a bit more than the 50 Summarit…if it's available.

 

Jeff

Edited by Jeff S
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In that case, better to rent a 28, which will give you approximately a 35mm (37mm) field of view.  The little Elmarit rental costs a bit more than the 50 Summarit…if it's available.

 

Jeff

Wouldn't a 35mm just be a 35mm FOV on an M9 or M-E?

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Wouldn't a 35mm just be a 35mm FOV on an M9 or M-E?

Indeed, but you wrote (I thought) that you might rent a lens for the M8 and later end up getting a 35 on the M-E.  If so, then the 28 rental on the M8 would provide you with a good idea of the FOV you'd eventually get if you bought a 35 for FF.

 

Jeff

 

Edit….I now see that you would rent the M-E, in which case I'd suggest renting a 35 if you can.  But if you buy an M8, the 28 would be ideal until you decide if you want FF.  You won't lose much on a lens sale.

Edited by Jeff S
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Indeed, but you wrote (I thought) that you might rent a lens for the M8 and later end up getting a 35 on the M-E.  If so, then the 28 rental on the M8 would provide you with a good idea of the FOV you'd eventually get if you bought a 35 for FF.

 

Jeff

 

Edit….I now see that you would rent the M-E, in which case I'd suggest renting a 35 if you can.  But if you buy an M8, the 28 would be ideal until you decide if you want FF.  You won't lose much on a lens sale.

No..that was someone else that mentioned the M8
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I'd just pony up the extra $50 or so and rent the 35 Summicron to really get a feel of what the combo will be like compared to the X100T. With a .72 viewfinder mag the experience is a bit too backed off with a 50mm for me. I have the X100T too, it's the only version I have had that I am not totally happy with due to the lack of seeing the menu on the LCD in anything but LCD or eye controlled view mode....they have really blown it on that one. I thought they would have fixed it on this last FW but did not so I might just sell it.

 

The X100T is a serious consideration over a digital M though for me, the lack of sound which is key for some of the work I use it for. 

Edited by KM-25
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You do understand the sensor corrosion issue with M9, ME, & MM?    I have no trouble with my M9,  but I have doubts.   

 

I you want a 35 mm field of view,  get a 28 mm for an M8.  

Yes, which is part of the reason I chose it. Because of that I expect more bargains to  be had, and so if a person was willing to risk that, it would be worth it, money wise.

Edited by rpavich
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