ChiILX1 Posted March 7, 2011 Share #1 Posted March 7, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) With my X1 in for repair, I have been shooting a lot with my old Minolta XG-7 with rokkor-x 50mm f/1.7. It's been a lot of fun but I prefer the rangefinder's I've played with compared to the SLR. I can't spring for a digital M though. I also eventually need to buy a battery-less camera for extended anthropology fieldwork anyway, so it's a good excuse to really start looking at old Leicas. So I got to thinking about buying an M on a budget and the feasibility of the workflow. First I thought- more affordable Leica iiia or an M2? It seems the M2 is worth the extra money (can find for around $500-700 and the iiia for as little as $250) because it has more lens options, has quicker/better operation, and many people regard it as one of the best Leica experiences. What are everyone's thoughts on this? Second I thought about an affordable, yet fast, lens. And I thought that perhaps a used collapsible gen 1 Summicron would be best (approximately $400 I hear). Is this the best affordable Leitz lens to start off with? Third I thought about workflow, and between online searches and this forum the plustek 7600i looks like a great bang for the buck. I guess I could have the negatives developed by CVS next door and san them in myself to mix in with my X1 images in Aperture. I'm sure there are things that I'm not thinking of, so I guess I'm asking for opinions. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Stealth3kpl Posted March 8, 2011 Share #2 Posted March 8, 2011 The M2 is a wonderful camera and excellent value. Mine is beautifully smooth to operate. It will allow you to use a wider range of lenses than the lll. I use a mint condition latest design 50mm Summicron that was £500 at auction . It is very sharp with nice bokeh(!) On the forums I've seen some beautiful images taken with the previous versions. I also have a 50 Elmar which is very compact when folded down, but its focus dial throw is longer so I tend to use the newer 50/2. I suspect the older 50/2 will have a longer throw too. The Plustek seems excellent value. I think you're making the right decisions. I'm enjoying looking through your Flickr account. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted March 8, 2011 Share #3 Posted March 8, 2011 An M2 is nice and practical but a M4-2 cheaper still, on horrible side of homely, well ugly then... If you are poor a CV 5cm f/2.5 or Canon 5cm f/1.8, are cheap and perform well, both are LTM, and will need an adapter, J8 in LTM if you are really poor, last kinda homely as well, but shoots ok. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richam Posted March 8, 2011 Share #4 Posted March 8, 2011 An M2 is nice and practical but a M4-2 cheaper still, on horrible side of homely, well ugly then... If you are poor a CV 5cm f/2.5 or Canon 5cm f/1.8, are cheap and perform well, both are LTM, and will need an adapter, J8 in LTM if you are really poor, last kinda homely as well, but shoots ok. Noel Agree with the M4-2. The Canadian manufactured models tend to be relatively low in price and often can be put to use with little or no servicing. My favorite among the legacy Leica lenses is the 35mm f2.8 Summaron. If one of these blows your budget, check out the CVs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted March 8, 2011 Share #5 Posted March 8, 2011 Screw mount cameras are great and nothing feels better in your hand. Unfortunately you need a few years experience with a M body before you appreciate their value. An aquired taste sort of. Lens options are smaller with screw mounts. Older M bodies are getting age related problems, but fixes can be done at high expense. Best deal is M4-2 M4-P or M6 A well maintained M2,3,4 is a joy to use, but be prepared to send money and time to get all perfect. Akin to buying an old classic car is best I can say. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted March 8, 2011 Share #6 Posted March 8, 2011 Hi Tobey A M6 can be 2x the GBP of a M2 or M4-2, you have forotten it is not Kansas. You can get a M2 for less than the cost of M8 or M9 fixes. M2 fixes are cheap, the 3rd party repair persons can do them quickly as well, and they can be real reliable, My M2 (2nd hand in '71) has only been repaired once (in '76), after been hamered in pro school as a hack, it now needs its viewfinder cleaned as the Leitz lube has outgassed. Has your M8 or M9 not gone wrong yet? Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted March 8, 2011 Share #7 Posted March 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I definitely wouldn't go with a cheap unseen M2. The cheaper ones I looked at locally all had terribly decayed and dim finders - can't imagine that would be an economic fix. In the end I paid some more and ordered a near-mint camera from a reputable and long-established online dealer - worth every penny imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 8, 2011 Share #8 Posted March 8, 2011 The Barnack Leica's are jewels. The later models, lllc/f had a stronger body casting than the earlier models which were made up from more individual parts. Mate it with a 5cm 3.5 Elmar and you have a superb quality, pocketable camera, that you'll never tire of using. The M2 (or any M) is possibly more practical given the M mount, easier loading and combined viewfinder/rangefinder with framelines. You can't make a bad choice, but they are all slightly different - there's plenty of info on those differences on the forum already if you search. Buy from a dealer so you have some warranty, or otherwise be prepared for the possibility that you'll need to have the camera serviced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted March 9, 2011 Share #9 Posted March 9, 2011 Hello ChilLX1, As a field archaeologist I have used an M (take your choice) w/ a 35 Summicron for most of my work w/ a Nikonos w/ 35 for backup. Altho rarely needed a Nikonos can be quite useful in rain, snow, wind & dirt. Dirt not to be equated w/ working in the soil. Instead of an archaeologist if you are an ethnographer, physical anthropologist or linguist a 35 would still be my choice for all the reasons it is walking down the street wherever you live. As an archaeologist photographing squares, artifacts, etc I try when possible to use a sturdy travelling tripod w/ 2 different cable releases & a large ball head. This ballhead also fits the small sturdy table tripod I try to take even when the larger tripod is left behind. Against my chest a small strong table tripod w/ large ballhead & cable release gives me 2 stops. Against a tree, wall or rock the same outfit gives me as many stops as I need. Its good to have 2 meters & a polarizing filter. Lens hoods of course. Please remember whatever type of anthropologist you are you want to melt into wherever you are & an M w/ a 35 w/ hood (as much for protection of the lens as flare suppression) w/ a narrow black strap is very versatile & compact. If the meter is not a built in or a clip on MR/MR-4 it can be in your pocket or bag when not in use. This camera, lens etc combination has accounted for most of all of the photographs of everything I have actually taken because circumstance can requires a minimal outfit more often than you might think. Sometimes it is the core of something larger. When you are done photographing no one should have been affected by your having been there. You should be recording what you are there for & not participating in it. Along this vein if I were to recommend a second lens to take along I would recommend a 2d version 90mm Tele-Elmarit. It is a small good lens which will photograph to 1 : 9 as is & takes the same 13352 polarizing filter w/ built in hood as the 35mm Summicron altho it takes a different rigid (always rigid in the field) lens hood 12575. The 35/2 takes a 12585. In the field it is necessary to reduce the variety, ammount & bulk of what you take. Not so much the weight. One of the things I like about photography & optics: They are pretty much like life: With a small ammount of something reasonably good you can do a lot of what you need to do in most circumstances. In order to add significantly to this you may find the number of do-dads you need to do a little more may grow exponentially. Never forget your adaptability, versatility & intelligence are your greatest asset in photography & in the field in general. As in life. After the above & before going into the field you need one other thing: Your boots. They are the most important pieces of equipment you take into the field. They will determine the outcome of what you do more than anything else. You have to sit w/ someone who knows & learn how to choose the type depending on circumstance & how to fit them. Your field boots should be the most comfortable footwear you own & should be so on the day you buy them. They should have appropriate soles for what you are doing. There are more types of soles available than you might expect. Boots should not fall off or become less usable because they become untied while climbing or doing something else, etc. Anthropology is a good field to be in because you can make the World a better place for someone else @ the same time you can be doing something positive for yourself. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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