A website don the differences in film Leicas?

[MikeMyers]

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A lifetime ago, when there was no such technology as "a digital camera", I owned a few M2 and M3 Leicas. They got used until I gradually shifted towards the SLR (which is now a DSLR). I still have the old Leica cameras and lenses, and use the old lenses on my M8.2.

 

I'm thinking of using my old film Leicas again, for various reasons. Once I get home and buy a scanner, I'll be all set.

 

I was wondering if there is a (free) website around, that goes into the strengths and weaknesses of the various M-format cameras. I'd like to read up on what the reasons might be to buy one or another of the two film Leicas that are currently in production, and also about all the other film Leicas that have come out in the past many years. I'm guessing there are advances since my cameras were made, half a century ago.

 

Any recommendations on a web page that summarizes these things, and lists the differences between the various models?

[jorgen83]

Leica M Guide

[andybarton]

I'm guessing there are advances since my cameras were made, half a century ago.

 

 

Apart from putting a meter in, and fiddling around at the edges, there aren't many. Which is what makes Leica Ms special.

[ismon]

A lifetime ago, Leitz had an ad slogan:" Leica makes better pictures--Easier !" I've used most of the classic LTMs, the M series, Leicaflex , and now digital. While I am not a digital convert, it certainly does have its place. It's not better or worse, just different. For me that difference was daylight. I'm one of "those" who rolls his own film into IXMOOs, mixes chemicals, hand process and prints everything himself. Obviously I spent most of my life in the darkroom. When film scanners arrived, I could add a level of Photoshop corrections to the process. If you shoot regularly and in volume, only digital Capture will substantially lessen your workload. Given the choice--and more importantly the time, I opt for film. Truly hardcore, I would also choose a 75 year old Leica outfit over any 21st century digital. It's not so much seeing the difference as it is the creative process itself. End of rant.

[earleygallery]

There's been plenty of discussions on this forum and pages describing the main differences between M models, if you have the time to search and read through them.

 

The M5 was the first with a built in meter, the M7 has an electronic shutter and auto exposure. The rest of the differences are down to minor design details and viewfinder maginification/framelines.

 

If you have an M2 and M3 then unless you specifically want the built in metering you have two of the best M's around.

[christer]

.....snip.......

 

Any recommendations on a web page that summarizes these things, and lists the differences between the various models?

 

 

summarize? probably not the word to use, but try these

 

 

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[Xmas]

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Hi MikeIf You have used a M2 and M3 in the past then you dont need the comparison database the others are rubbish, except perhaps the M4.Noel