Bixi Posted November 22, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 22, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) . . . dreams about film again! Hello, I've been posting on the M9 forum for a while and also on the international photo/people forum. A couple month ago I got my first rangefinder Leica. I love my M9 and I hardly leave my house without it. More and more I'm thinking of going *back to film. I'm thinking of getting a used Leica M7. There aren't many used M7s on the market at the time but I'm not in a hurry. Would this be a good move from my part? A M7 as a second body - and who knows? Maybe at one point it would become my first body. Any isight and thought are most appreciated. Thank you for reading this, Bixi *back is not really the right word I think. In many ways it would be going forward not back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 22, 2009 Posted November 22, 2009 Hi Bixi, Take a look here I'm having dreams . . . . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted November 22, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 22, 2009 If you want to have a film body in addition to an M9, an M7 is a perfect choice, as it shares a lot of features. There are several for sale in the UK dealers at the moment, but I have noticed that prices have been rising in the used market recently. I bought one nearly two years ago (used), and a similar camera today would cost me about 30% more than I paid. RedDot, one of our sponsors, have several to choose from, starting at £1100 and going to £1400 I see that M6TTLs are over £1000 again now, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rawcs Posted November 22, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 22, 2009 Hi Bixi, I, too, have gone back/forward to film and I'm happy, no regrets. If it ever stops raining here in the u.k. I'll be happier-still! I'm only on my third roll of film but here are a few early observations. The infrastructure for film use is no-longer as comprehensive i.e. the few photography shops still around don't really cater for film in the same way as they used to - just a few rolls of film on the shelves with no great choice. Same goes for the ancillary objects such as negative storage sheets, binders, developing tanks and chemicals etc. Thankfully they are available via the internet and, of course, the more people purchase these items the more readily available they will become. Getting film processed is still o.k. either on the high-street or from pro labs. As for the experience of using film again, I hadn't realised how much I had missed it. The whole workflow makes me feel somehow more an author of the results rather than a spectator to the technology. I have an MP, but can see how the M7 will match your M9. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted November 22, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 22, 2009 I bought an M8.2 about a year ago and added an M7 in May. I never regret this move. I am just about to start my own processing of b&w film for cost, speed and quality reason. As you pay for click it further slows you down but the number of keepers is higher. Go ahead and enjoy. Regards Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semrich Posted November 22, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 22, 2009 I started my serious photographic hobby almost four years ago with leica lenses and a RD-1 then the M8. I thought about backup and a film camera to go with my lenses and bought an MP. Now I shoot mostly film, develop my own and scan the negatives. I really enjoy shooting film more and using vintage cameras and lenses including Medium Format. Some days it can be very liberating to go out with a light meter and an extra roll of film in one coat pocket and the svelte though hefty IIIf and the 50/3.5 Collapsible Elmar in the other coat pocket. No big camera bag, lens or film speed decisions, or checking "did I get it". You might as well go for the film body, because just by asking the question you know that is what you will do. The history of the posts for this question will attest to that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
underground Posted November 22, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 22, 2009 My combo is M8/M7 and i wouldn't have any other way for the time being. I like the M7 better than anything els I own. Go for it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingerprinz Posted November 22, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 22, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) If you don't need AE, go for the MP. It's the perfect tool to complement your M9, especially if you venture into B&W photography. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mby Posted November 22, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 22, 2009 I'll have the M9/MP combo but still mourn the loss of Kodachrome... Best regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglouis Posted November 22, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 22, 2009 An M7 does make sense for any M8/9 user mainly because the AE works in the same way. I've found going to a M7 having used a M8 for the last two years an easy transition from the point of view of metering and exposure. Good luck with your decision what ever you decide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted November 22, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 22, 2009 Bixi I agree with you ...the must ....as in sound To use with moderation with your M8 or M9 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/104518-im-having-dreams/?do=findComment&comment=1127070'>More sharing options...
Bixi Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted November 22, 2009 Andy, Mike, Steve, Richard, underground, fingerprinz, Michael, biglouis & Doc Henry, All your input is fantastic and so greatly appreciated. I started obsessing on the used M7 market. This Leica obsession is something ….. Keep your fingers crossed for me to find a nice looking and working M7. Best, bixi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AgXlove Posted November 22, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 22, 2009 If you don't need AE, go for the MP. It's the perfect tool to complement your M9, especially if you venture into B&W photography. Gotta agree with him on the choice of the MP over the M7. I'll take mechanical reliability and 100% battery free functioning over an AE mode any day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted November 23, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 23, 2009 Get an M3 or an M2. You will learn more. Doc, nice tubes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enigmart Posted November 23, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 23, 2009 Andy, Mike, Steve, Richard, underground, fingerprinz, Michael, biglouis & Doc Henry, All your input is fantastic and so greatly appreciated. I started obsessing on the used M7 market. This Leica obsession is something ….. Keep your fingers crossed for me to find a nice looking and working M7. Best, bixi Birgit, think about a M6 it does not use any batteries (only for measuring the light). Regard philipp Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhabedi Posted November 23, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 23, 2009 Bixi, I'm on a somewhat similar route. I've had an M4-P since 1995 and I used it a lot, but due to having less and less spare time (family, job, whatever) I almost stopped using it three years ago. I had also given up doing my own development some time earlier and in the meantime the local photographer who'd done that for me had switched to digital completely, leaving me with no obvious place to go. I bought an M8.2 a year ago (my first digital camera ever except for a very brief stint with a small Ricoh) and was very happy with it initially because it rekindled the fun of taking my own photos. However, it somehow didn't feel like my film Leica and it still doesn't. (At this point I could write more about why I currently like film photography a lot more than digital, but I'll leave that for another posting.) The good thing is that my newly regained love for photography made me pick up the old M4-P again and this is the camera I'm now using most of the time. I'm employing a "hybrid" process now, i.e. I shoot film and then scan them with my own film scanner. I'm currently using C-41 b/w films like Ilford XP2, but I'm thinking about doing my own development again. If I stick to the hybrid process, I won't even need a darkroom for that. If you have the money, go for an M7 or MP - that's certainly good for Leica. But otherwise, a used M6 is what I'd buy today. It's purely mechanical except for the light meter (it's really not very different from an MP) and it's a classic - and you'll have money left for a scanner. And the good thing is that you can very likely sell it in a year or two without losing any money should you find out that film photography ain't the thing for you. Try to buy from a dealer who offers some kind of guarantee and/or a return policy. Try to get one that's cheaper because it has some scratches or dents in it. You want to shoot with it, not put it in a vitrine, right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffp Posted November 23, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 23, 2009 I bought an M7, my first Leica m camera, two weeks ago. I absolutely love it. I recommend Vuescan for scanning and Neat Scan to get rid of grainy skies ( I had a lot of these). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted November 23, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 23, 2009 I sold my M7 on Friday although it's not been posted yet and I'll be sorry to see it go. Prices are very high for good product at the moment and mine went at the Buy-It-Now price. Also, sold my M8 a week ago as I clear the cupboard. Leaves me with just the MP x0.72 for the time being. Adding a film Leica to your collection is an excellent move providing you give it some use. Not sure whether the average M9 owner will pick up a film M very often in preference to the M9, but there's only one way for you to find out. Good luck in your search. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.M Posted November 23, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 23, 2009 Hey Bixi , after seeing your excellent results with the M9 it kind of surprises me that you're going back to film, but in a positive way, and as you know film has it's own charms. And an M7 is really going well with your M9 . Hope you find a good one soon. Etienne Michiels Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bixi Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share #19 Posted November 23, 2009 I like all your insight. And more and more I'm having the graving of shooting film. Hopefully it will happen soon. Best and thank you for your comments, bixi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangur Ban Posted November 24, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 24, 2009 Make sure you get the M7 with the MP finder fitted - later ones came with this improved finder which reduces flair. It'll say so on the box that comes with the camera. I have an M7 and loved it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.