New to Leica, which body and lens?

[soboyle]

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Hi All

I'm new to the forum, and to Leica.

I have shot with rangefinders before, I owned a Contax G system for a number of years, I liked the compact nature of the system, but the autofocus seperated me to much from the shooting, it felt more like a point and shoot system than a true rangefinder system.

So I would like to give a Leica system a go, I have a very tight budget, so I'm surprised I am even thinking of Leica, but I've wanted one for years, the film bodies seem to be coming down in price, and a decent 35 or 50 can't set me back that much now can it??

I'd like to get a body and lens for $1k or under, to give it a try, see if it's for me. I figure I can't loose to much on this if it doesn't take, and I'l probably learn a lot about shooting in the process.

I'm hoping experienced users here will chime in with suggestion on a body and lens, perhaps you even have one yourself that you are interested in selling. I've been perusing KEH, looking at the M3's, and the M6's, but for $1k, it looks like I'll be buying a bargain body and lens.

Thanks for any help

[StS]

Welcome to the forum.

 

If you can live without a built-in exposure meter, there should be a solution in this price range, for example a M2 or M3. If you plan to use 35mm, the M2 offers the advantage of having a matching frame line. With a M6 (built in meter) the budget is probably used up by a body alone, but sometimes one can be lucky.

 

Please find the link of a German dealer below to get a rough feeling for price ranges.

MEISTER CAMERA

The large price difference between seemingly similar cameras reflects the rarity, collector's value or very good condition of some cameras.

Maybe the US members can point you to the homepage of a dealer in the US?

 

Stefan

[Nikkor AIS]

I was in the same position as you a couple months ago. I started with a clean used M3 and a 35 1.4 Summilux. Im very happy with both. Talk to Arthur at Keh he will treat you right.

 

Gregory

[earleygallery]

Go for an M2 (the M3 only has 50mm widest frame lines and needs goggled 35mm lenses or separate viewfinders) and a 35mm Summaron or Voigtlander, or 50mm Elmar or Summicron. You won't be disappointed with these and as you said, if you don't take to rangefinders then you'll sell them for roughly what you pay give or take!

[thomasw_]

As you want to try out a Leica kit, one body and one lens, then you would be best to go for a 50mm lens to start. The reason is cost. Generally, there are more older 50s on the 2nd market from which to choose; the older, less costly 35s are fewer in number, and a good sample of a Summaron 35/2,8 is still quite a bit more than a lot of the really good 50s; for example, you could buy a collapsible Summicron 50/2 and a M2/3 for 1K or a bit less. But any Summicron 35/2 -- say a version.3 for 800 -- and a M2 -- say for 600 -- will put you 400 to 500 loonies over your target -- at least. The M3 is perfect for a 50, but the VF is lame if you want to shoot a 35 mm focal length lens; the M2 is more versatile with the 35 50 and 90 framelines.

 

You could afford a M body and a used 35mm voigtlander lens, though. There are a few models from which to choose....but as you specify you want a Leica kit, I'll drop the point.

[Nikkor AIS]

While I admit that the 35 mm focal length is not ideal on the M3 I would hardly call it lame:o.

So the view goes out of the field a little, so what;). So when you soup your negs, you are pleasantly surprised with bonus area you never knew was there:p. Like I said, in my opinion it is completely usable and has personally already produced hundred of excellent photo's And the fact is when you buy one LECIA M , the next is soon to follow. And more than likely the next lens you will get is a 50 mm and a M6 or something with the 35 mm frame lines. On some level I kind of like not knowing what is beyond the edge of the frame while looking through the camera. As for me the real image is already done in pre-visualization.

 

Gregory

 

rogaltacdesign's@smugmug.com

[Broadside]

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Well all I can say is that I recently bought a nice silver M4 and a good Summaron 35/f3.5 for under $1000 and I couldn't be happier.

[soboyle]

Thank you for the suggestions.

One consideration for my first leica is where the system will lead me in the future, it will likely be rewarding in itself to work with this classic system, but what is the best investment if I intend to grow this system, and perhaps pick up a digital body in the future? I no longer have a darkroom since moving, so all film will have to be scanned and brought into a digital workflow. A time consuming process. So are any on the leica lenses better suited for digital work than others? Anything I should avoid with this in mind?

 

Another consideration, esp with KEH, my experience is that their rating system is quite conservative, and even something rated as a bargain is still quite useable, any thoughts on that for Leica gear, bodies or lenses?

 

As far as M bodies go, it seems like any of the M2, M3 or M4 bodies will suit me fine. I'm leaning toward the M3, for price, and the price of the 50's, I might actually be able to stay within my budget. Plus the M3 stands out for its place in the Leica lineage.

[luigi bertolotti]

Thank you for the suggestions.

One consideration for my first leica is where the system will lead me in the future, it will likely be rewarding in itself to work with this classic system, but what is the best investment if I intend to grow this system, and perhaps pick up a digital body in the future? I no longer have a darkroom since moving, so all film will have to be scanned and brought into a digital workflow. A time consuming process. So are any on the leica lenses better suited for digital work than others? Anything I should avoid with this in mind?

 

Another consideration, esp with KEH, my experience is that their rating system is quite conservative, and even something rated as a bargain is still quite useable, any thoughts on that for Leica gear, bodies or lenses?

 

As far as M bodies go, it seems like any of the M2, M3 or M4 bodies will suit me fine. I'm leaning toward the M3, for price, and the price of the 50's, I might actually be able to stay within my budget. Plus the M3 stands out for its place in the Leica lineage.

 

In term of durability of investiment, M3 is a sure bet, a superclassic that, even if made in over 200.000 items, will never lose its value; and if you are going to 50 as principal lens, it's OK (personally, I would consider M2 too). About the future with digital... don't worry... if you buy a good 50 in bayonet mount (Summicron - Elmar - Summarit -Summilux) it can work fine on digital Ms too: I'd reccomend expecially the Elmar 3,5... when you'll have a Digital Leica, there will be time to think of a modern superluminous... ... the Elmar will remain an excellent compact lens.

[ptarmigan]

Why an M? Have you thought about looking at an earlier modle like a IIIc, f or g which you should be able to pick up with lens well within your budget. I recently bought an earlier II (D) that's a stunner with 50mm Elmar and again well within budget.

[soboyle]

So, my thinking is "evolving". Probably a fairly common occurance in the Leica world.

I'm thinking of going right to a digital body, and scrapping my original budget. Reason - I'm not that keen on developing and scanning film, did it for years before digital became affordable and don't have much spare time on my hands these days, - and I was thinking of getting a Pan GF-1. That is $1k right there with the 20. If I put that toward a M, rather than what could be a dead end system in a few years, my money seems better invested. The M8 seems to be a fairly good value currently, so for around 3K, I can have an M8 and a 35 of some reasonable quality. The lens should hold its value, the body will probably not, but how low can they go? At about $2k currently, they seem a fair value to me, compared to other offerings like the Olympus and Panasonic.

Thoughts?

Too much rationalizing going on here? I will likely pick up a film M anyway, just to rub and cackle over. I think I've been hooked.

[dpattinson]

I concur with your latest thinking. If you buy a good used M8 now, and you really use it.. then any fall in value over a year will most likely be more than offset by the saving in film, processing and scanning.

The 35 will be effectively a 47 on the M8, but personally I find that fov rather nice on my M8. You could otherwise look for a 28 if you really want the 35'ish fov.