tikipat Posted November 12, 2010 Share #1 Posted November 12, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all, I am new to the forum and do not have a Leica ... yet !! I am reading around to understand which is a good one (if not the best) and I am now between the M3 and M6 (it is said somewhere that they are the best of the M series). What do you suggest me? And which is the difference between one M6 TTL and one not TTL? Which is better? And, do both of them give that lovely "black shadow on the corners" (don't know the name in English )? Or does it depend only from the lens? Does the M6 have manual focus? And autofocus? And also, apart from ebay do you know other places where I can get a used one? I cannot wait any longer!!! Thanks in advance for all your answers!! ciao tikipat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 12, 2010 Posted November 12, 2010 Hi tikipat, Take a look here Willing to buy a Leica M series ... which one?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
alun Posted November 12, 2010 Share #2 Posted November 12, 2010 Tikipat, I can't help feeling you need to research this a bit more before paying out good money. *No* Leica M models have autofocus. The M3 has no in-camera light meter; the M6 and M6TTL do. The non-TTL has no through-the-lens flash metering capability; the TTL does. Perhaps it would be a good idea to look at the many places where fuller details of all Leica M models are available -- such as here on Cameraquest Leica M Guide. If you've already done this, then forgive this post -- but your questions suggest otherwise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 12, 2010 Share #3 Posted November 12, 2010 Welcome to the forum !!! I always think that we have too few female members... With the above hints you can have good technical suggestions... I add some other on the sentimental and commercial side : - M3 has a unique flavor... it's definitely a piece of history, and a pleausure to have AND USE. - M6 (TTL or not... I'm not a flash-user) is probably the best in user terms (meter, frames...), but is less fascinating than M3. - A Leica MUST be in good conditions : all the Ms are easily maintainable, but is better to look for an item in B+ to A/B range, and my personal suggestion is that is better to search at some reputable dealer: there are many in Europe and is useful you surf some of their sites, to have an idea of the current prices. Three names that I consider very trustable : www.leicashop.com www.newoldcamera.com www.meister-camera.com Personally, I would not buy a M on ebay... but is just my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted November 12, 2010 Share #4 Posted November 12, 2010 Hi You will also ned to select at lease one lens any buy it... The M3 or M6 choice is dependent on your style of shooting. Are you only ever going to use a 5cm lens, an M3 or M6 with 0.85 mag viewfinder is indicated. Are you going to buy a complete selection of focal lengths and have time to look at the LED lights in the viewfinder, you need a M6. Some people buy and sell them like small change in wallet. For lenses there is the choice of focal length and independently aperture. fats lenses (wide aperature) are also more expensive bigger and heavier. If you are shooting in gigs with Fresnels and profiles in frame, then the selection of lenses is limited, many will flare or have character. If you like signature pastelling colors like watercolor, different lenses... There are people who merely collect equipment like magpies... Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 12, 2010 Share #5 Posted November 12, 2010 All of the dealers who advertise and support our forum hold used camera stock and ship anywhere in the world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikipat Posted November 12, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted November 12, 2010 hi all, thanks a lot for your valuable answers!! Let's see, I am not a professional photographer, I do it as very special hobby and right now I am attending a course (analogical photography of course) so I might not need such a good camera but I would love to have one. All the pics I have seen (taken with a Leica) are just amazing and of course it is thanks to the photographer but also to the camera and the lens: the colors, the brightness, every single detail is just perfect and for what I have red around it seems that the hw itself is great. In addition it is small and light (I have a nikon D90 and never take it out, too big and too heavy, don't feel comfortable going around with it). At the moment I will probably buy only one lens, what I'm looking for is a 35 mm f.1/4. Kind of shooting I like? Street photography and what I would like to achieve is the effect I found in the old pics (some grain, shadows and everlasting feeling). Too much "dreamy" and little knowledge? Probably yes (hope not for too long though ) but isn't photography our way to dream the reality? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clearlight Posted November 12, 2010 Share #7 Posted November 12, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) If you don't need an internal meter ( a handheld meter is useful anyway), then an M2 would work nicely with your 35mm f1.4 - and the M2 is quite affordable as well. Oh, forgot to say that, if you are set on a 35mm lens, then an M3 would not be the best choice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
twittle Posted November 12, 2010 Share #8 Posted November 12, 2010 And, do both of them give that lovely "black shadow on the corners" (don't know the name in English )? Or does it depend only from the lens? Welcome. No one's addressed this question yet, so I will. The darkened corners to which you refer is called vignetting, and it is solely a function of the lens. Not all lenses have this effect, but it is more common in "faster" lenses. If you choose, as you say, a 35mm 1.4, it should have this characteristic to some extent or another, irrespective of which make and model you select. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikipat Posted November 12, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted November 12, 2010 Thank you Twittle, in spanish is viñeteado but i didn't know it was so similar in english!! And thanks also for telling me that the lens I'm interested is gives that effect!! If you know more I will be glad to note them ... you know, maybe in the future ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
twittle Posted November 12, 2010 Share #10 Posted November 12, 2010 Glad to be of some help. Bienvenida y que te disfrutes del foro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 12, 2010 Share #11 Posted November 12, 2010 Yes - M3 not the optimal choice if you are a 35 shooter... M6 or M2 for classic look... old Summilux 35 is a fascinating lens (a bit costly, also... ) if you like someway "oldstyle" pictures. This is my old M2 + old Lux 35... 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! As I said, Summilux 35 isn't cheap... 2 alternatives : NEW and 1,4 : Voigtlander 35 1,4 USED not 1,4 : Summicron 35 (f 2) type II or III (the IV and the current asph are typically more costly than an old Summilux) My idea : a Leica M without a Leica lens as the main one... a pity, even if admit it can be not at all rational. Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! As I said, Summilux 35 isn't cheap... 2 alternatives : NEW and 1,4 : Voigtlander 35 1,4 USED not 1,4 : Summicron 35 (f 2) type II or III (the IV and the current asph are typically more costly than an old Summilux) My idea : a Leica M without a Leica lens as the main one... a pity, even if admit it can be not at all rational. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/136651-willing-to-buy-a-leica-m-series-which-one/?do=findComment&comment=1500526'>More sharing options...
Xmas Posted November 12, 2010 Share #12 Posted November 12, 2010 Hi If you like monochrome exclusively you can get a M2 M4-2 ugly cheap looking but faster loading M4-P dearer M4-2 And do without an internal or external meter. For lenses of 35m wide choice e.g. CV f/2.5 classic LTM + adapter CV f/2.5 pan LTM + adapter Leica Summaron f/2.8 CV f/1.4 Leica Summarit f/2.5 Leica Summicron f/2 five versions Leica Summilux f/1.4 three versions From cheap to dearer, there are others e.g. by ZM and Konica Street shooting is difficult if you need larger aperture than f/5.6, and any of thee lenses will be difficult to distinguish from one another photographically in the street , but you need to be comfortable operating then and they are all different which may annoy you. The /2.5s are smaller and lighter, but when it gets dusk and you retire to a restaurant a /1.4 allows you to keep shooting, the f/1.4s are more expensive, some are larger. You need to borrow a camera and lens to try it out. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted November 12, 2010 Share #13 Posted November 12, 2010 tikipat, take a good look at Luigi's picture. That is the same camera & lens I wood suggest. The old Summilux 35 pre-asph is my all time favorite lens. It is very small & light. The M2 is the perfect camera for this lens & any 35 mm focal length. The lens does have a cult following & for a very good reason. I include a frame made with kit about a year ago around 3:00AM in Harlem. It is a very special lens & the M2 is a legend, as is the M3. I suggest Tri X 400 as your first film with your kit. 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/136651-willing-to-buy-a-leica-m-series-which-one/?do=findComment&comment=1500660'>More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 13, 2010 Share #14 Posted November 13, 2010 Hi all, I am new to the forum and do not have a Leica ... yet !! I am reading around to understand which is a good one (if not the best) and I am now between the M3 and M6 (it is said somewhere that they are the best of the M series). What do you suggest me? And which is the difference between one M6 TTL and one not TTL? Which is better? And, do both of them give that lovely "black shadow on the corners" (don't know the name in English )? Or does it depend only from the lens? Does the M6 have manual focus? And autofocus? And also, apart from ebay do you know other places where I can get a used one? I cannot wait any longer!!! Thanks in advance for all your answers!! ciao tikipat I don't want to rain on your parade but I think you are setting yourself up for a disappointment. You clearly don't know much about Leica M cameras, that they are manual focus only for example. You may not realise that you don't have zoom lenses, or that you don't see the perspective of a lens through the viewfinder as you do with an SLR, that you need to use a separate light meter or at least understand that the M6 uses a kind of spot meter. The darkened corners you refer to as a result of the lens, not a photoshop addition. If you cannot take the type of photos that you aspire to with your current camera, then I really doubt that simply buying a Leica M will be the answer. I would advise you to do some more research, satisfy yourself that you can use your current equipment to the best of your abilities, understand what a Leica can and can't do for your photography and then choose the Leica that is right for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincoln_m Posted November 13, 2010 Share #15 Posted November 13, 2010 tikipat, So for street photography a Leica M is the classic, small, quiet, all manual operation which you have hinted at needing. The newer M7 has Auto Exposure control of shutter speed. For slightly grainy film go for a modern 400iso, but the new TMAX400 is quite fine grain and super sharp. Using this film ( or equivalent Tri-X or Delta400 from Ilford) will mean you should not need an F1.4 lens and a cheaper more available F2 summicron would be just as useful but less bulk and cost. If you want to preestimate the exposure with a hand held light meter then setup your camera before shooting then an M2 would be great and the cheapest of M2(GBP600), M6(GBP700), M6TTL (GBP900), M7(GBP1300), MP(GBP1600) pounds or Euros very similar cost these days. An older summicron is around GBP800 while the newer f2asph is GBP1400. So an M with a 35f2 can cost between 1500-3000 GBP or Euros. The new 35f1.4asph is nearly 4000 euros on it's own. An M7 with 35f2asph would give you the flexibility and very high quality you mention but would be around 3000 pounds/euros. You could get a minilux or CM for much less but not have the same HCB type decisive moments/feelings that you would get with an M2 .....M6TTL...M7.MP. Yes if you want vignetting then go for the older 35f1.4sumilux and shoot wide open but you'll have to carefully choose your plane of focus as it won't have much depth of field but lots of soft out of focused areas. With Ms you set the exposure, and the focus, and determine the depth of field then imagine the image on the film or the final print/slide then compose the frame and press the shutter. About a week after sending the film to be developed you'll get your images back as you imagined. If you messed up anything along the way the image is not as you imagined. Only when you know your camera, lens, and film/processing in your head do the imagined and the final result match. At first the imagining the image on the film bit takes some getting used to get it right but after about a year (or 10 films) you should have it right if you made notes for the first few films on exposure, scene, focus distance etc. What helps is that you see what happens at the moment the shutter fires because you are looking through a clear window and the scene does not go black as in SLR photography, your brain remembers what you saw and you'll know if it is what you wanted. Best of luck searching, Lincoln Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadside Posted November 14, 2010 Share #16 Posted November 14, 2010 How come the M4 is never recommended on threads like this? I love my M4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikipat Posted November 14, 2010 Author Share #17 Posted November 14, 2010 It's very nice to see how much people care about other's needs and doubts!! As suggested I will do some more research before making the big step and spend a lot of money on a Leica equipment. All your suggestions are a valuable starting point and if somebody wants to add more ... I am here to listen!! Thanks all and have a good Sunday!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted November 14, 2010 Share #18 Posted November 14, 2010 How come the M4 is never recommended on threads like this?I love my M4 Hi They are so nice compared with a M4-2 or M4-P that they have a premium $. The M2 is just as nice but is 'missing' the fast rewind, 135mm frame and tulip quick load, so it is cheaper. There are not that many M4s, given the demand, & a black paint M4 will be >>>$. If you have $ and want the enhancements and are patient to wait for one then yes, an M4, otherwise the M2 or M4-2, the M4-2 is an ugly sister but can get the hoof into the glass slipper. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiZZ Posted November 15, 2010 Share #19 Posted November 15, 2010 How come the M4 is never recommended on threads like this?I love my M4 I always thought of the M4 as NOT the best investment for someone just getting into Leica M cameras mostly because it's more expensive than the M3/2. Since it does the same, then there isn't really a need to go for something "better" for a beginner, especially if that person hasn't shot with a rangefinder/Leica before and is basing his switch to common folklore. It just doesn't sound right to spend a lot of money then realize you don't like it. While yes you can still sell and you might even make even more than you got it for, a lot of people don't have that kind of money to invest. I find the M4 to be better built than the M3/2 and let's not forget the fast loading spool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBA Posted November 15, 2010 Share #20 Posted November 15, 2010 You'll get as many opinions on this as there are people. What I did a few years back was get an M6 classic (non-TTL) and a 35 Summicron. I spent at least half a year with just that camera-lens combo and shot six rolls of film per week on average. It would probably be easier for you starting off to have a camera with a meter in it. If you would rather use a hand-held meter or if the LEDs annoys you as they do some people, simply take the battery out and use it as a meterless camera. The M6 would probably be the easiest to use starting off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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