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Leica M EV1: Die erste M mit EVF statt Messssucher ×
Leica M EV1: The first M with EVF instead of Rangefinder ×

Anyone reached 'Leica equilibrium' and happy with exactly the gear they have?

plasticman

By plasticman
in Customer Forum

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swamiji

swamiji

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I am pretty happy with my core setup (M7/M9, Visoflex and 14 or so lenses). I do not plan to upgrade anything in the near future (even with the new Lux 35 on the way)... However I am looking at a Focoslide, and perhaps a IIIg, just for fun.

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Per P.

Per P.

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I think with "14 or so lenses" even I might reach equilibrium.... ;)

 

I'm still a newbie and with the M9 in hand am thinking that 21, 28 and 50 (that I have) is a classic combo. But 21, 35 and 50 might be better with full frame.... should it then be 24, 35 and 50.... Do I need a 135... So not quite settled but expect to be so soon. For now :)

 

Per.

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offshore

offshore

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Have been very happy with my M8, which I bought when they first came out, my 21 mm F 2.8 pre ASPH Elmarit, 28 mm F2.8 ASPH Elmarit, 35 mm F1.4 pre ASPH Summilux and 75 mm F2 Summicron. I recently added the CV 15 II and have no desire (or use) for any other Leica equipment.

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lct

lct

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No equilibrium so far but rather a curious imbalance of Leica lenses, Japanese bodies and my good old Digilux 1.

Happiness will come when i have a digital M3, a digital Leicaflex and a digital CL i.e. when pigs can fly. :rolleyes:

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tdtaylor

tdtaylor

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Funny thing, Leica acquisition has cured me of NAS (Nikon acquisition syndrome), to the extent I am currently selling part of my considerable Nikon lens collection (85 1.4, 200vr, etc.).

 

While the Leica acquisition syndrome was quite alive when I received my M9, it receded fairly quickly and I am now waiting very patiently for a 50 lux to join my 50 cron- when it comes I will methodically work it into my process.

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Jeff S

Jeff S

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Well, the amount of Leica gear I've owned has stayed fairly constant for a couple of decades, (except for the R gear I sold and haven't replaced)...two M bodies and generally 4 lenses, ranging from 28 to 75 or 90.

 

My philosophy has been to keep the kit small and use everything a lot. And, once in a while, consider a different body or lens to replace one I have...rationalized of course based on some perceived need.

 

Last year, I switched to digital and sold my 2 film bodies for an M8.2. The digital world has introduced new variables, but I'm happily in limbo using everything I own, still with an eye toward any new Leica developments. In the meantime, no rush.

 

Given the relatively new digital era, however, I'd be surprised if I don't experiment a bit here or there. Had an R10 come out, I might have been tempted.

 

Jeff

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tgray

tgray

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Pretty much happy with what I have. While an M9 would be cool, I'm just not going to pay that price for that camera.

 

I also wouldn't kick a nice 90/2 out of bed, but I realize I wouldn't get much use out of it. If I decide to sell my Canon 200/2.8, I might use it to pick up a good pre-ASPH 90/2 if the price is right, but there is little motivation to do that.

 

I have an M7 and a collection of 4 lenses that I use (15, 28, 50, 90). I have a spare M6 with two other lenses (backup cheap 28 and 50), but my girlfriend is using and I haven't really used it at all in months.

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gberger

gberger

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Started with a iiic in 1945 and progressed, one model/one body at a time. (M4, M6, M7). Now, with an M7, 24 mm F2.8, 34mm f 1.4 and 50mm f 1.4, I'm happy as a clam.

 

Chromes 95%, color prints 5%. 2002 projector, and a room full of slides. Wedded to the 50 and 24 lenses. Why anything else?

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wildlightphoto

wildlightphoto

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Very close to equilibrium.

 

The most stable stuff: SL, R8/DMR, 60 Macro, 280mm f/4 APO, 1.4x APO, UET-R extension tube.

 

Likely to stay for a while: 100 APO, 180 APO Elmarit-R, 560mm f/6.8

 

Questionable: 35mm Elmarit-R, 2x APO, 50 'lux, 90 'cron

 

The lust list is very short, until there's a good replacement for the DMR: 400mm f/4 Modular APO. A backup 280 would be good too.

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michali

michali

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"The Buddha described Nirvana as the perfect peace of the state of mind that is free from craving, anger and other afflictive states (read: Leica Kit). The subject is at peace with the world, has compassion for all and gives up obsessions and fixations(read: Leica Kit). This peace is achieved when the existing volitional formations are pacified, and the conditions for the production of new ones are eradicated. In Nirvana the root causes of craving (read: Leica Kit) and aversion have been extinguished such that one is no longer subject to human suffering".

 

In my case this is an impossible state of mind to achieve; 15 or 20 lenses and several M bodies down the line, all of which I'm very happy with, and yet I'm still always prowling around cameras stores and the web looking for that something different or collectible Leica piece of kit that I don't yet have.

 

I'm in need of serious help............:eek:

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gvaliquette

gvaliquette

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I'm still looking for a R10.

 

So am I, but the R9, film and DMR, will have to do for now. If the R10 were to come out, I would buy it in a microsecond, no thinking involved! (Leica, do you hear?) That is not a problem, and even my wife agrees!

 

My problem is that I buy an old lens just to find out what it's like, but then I don't sell it.

 

Example:

I bought a 1935 uncoated 50mm f3.5 screwmount Elmar, just to see what it's like. I use it on my M4-2 with the LTM to M adapter. It now is my 6th 50mm LTM/M lens.

 

Guy

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tobey bilek

tobey bilek

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I really should start selling off my collection as there is more there than I can use in 4 lifetimes. It will all start dropping in valuse as film becomes more and more specialised. Unless of course I want to to get a digi M or digi R if one ever materializes. I am using the film cameras less and less and digi Nikons more and more. They are amazing, but have no panache. They are dead souless cameras, just tools.

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Jager

Jager

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I had just been laid off, as our company stumbled deeper into the bankruptcy from which it would die. Certainly not the time to be thinking about entering the world of Leica.

 

But, then, why not? For years I'd prudently saved against that day. And certainly the little sabbatical of mine would be short lived. Right?

 

And so it was that on a gray December day I walked into the camera store and laid down what, for me, was a breathtaking amount of money. Back out in my old pickup truck, I gingerly opened the two white boxes with the red and black lettering on the outside. Belying its diminuitive size, the M6 felt dense. Like it was forged from a piece of billet. And the 50 Summicron was just so amazingly tiny. So jewel-like. Thumbing the focus wheel, I was struck by its near otherworldly smoothness. I still had that gnawing anxiety in the pit of my stomach from having spent so much money. But that feeling of buyer's angst was quickly being married to a warm glow. For here, in my hands, was something unlike anything else I had ever touched.

 

Supposedly there was magic here.

 

I had no way of knowing then that that "sabbatical" of mine would stretch on for fifteen long months. Or that that carefully crafted emergency nest egg would disappear into the mists of time, leaving behind only desperate questions to which there seemed to be no answers.

 

But, as is true in much of life, there was a counterpoint. Against the mysterious tide of misfortune, that M6 and that 50 Cron colored everthing. They provided an everpresent belief that there was hope. That things would turn.

 

For I found what they said was true. There indeed was magic in that German metal and glass.

 

Years on, I count my blessings. Slowly, that M6 got joined by an M7, and then an M8, and now an M9. Along with more good glass than my talent could ever justify.

 

Against such a surfeit of riches, I remain spartan in its use. Stick a single lens on that M9 - the sharpest sword of all - and go with that. For hours or days or weeks at a time. It need not be anything but simple.

 

But knowing that you have other bolts of lighting back in your bag at home is nice. How can one have too much magic, after all?

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