starrynight Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share #21 Posted April 7, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Great advice Steve. How much extra for a decent/standard lens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 7, 2011 Posted April 7, 2011 Hi starrynight, Take a look here Should I buy an M3?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted April 7, 2011 Share #22 Posted April 7, 2011 For e reasonably modern Leica lens, about 500 GBP upwards. UK dealer Ffordes recently had a 50mm f2.8 Elmar for 550 GBP. I nearly bought the lens, but it had been sold when I looked a second time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted April 7, 2011 Share #23 Posted April 7, 2011 For a 35mm CV f2.5 LTM classic or pancake 200 GBP, adopter included 35mm CV f/2.5 M 250 GBP The LTM have more utility if you get a Barnack or clone later, but I would try each for ergonomics, each is different. Mechanically they are excellent, the ZM are more suspect, and more expensive, ditto Leica and even more expensive. I expect to be flamed but life is like that The nicest is the Konica 35mm but expensive and cult... Noel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted April 7, 2011 Share #24 Posted April 7, 2011 Hi Ivor has three http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/index.php?infoBox=1&cPath=34_36&sort=5a&page=2 Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photon42 Posted April 7, 2011 Share #25 Posted April 7, 2011 The Zeiss Planar 2.0/50 or the Biogon 2.0/35 should be taken into account as well. Rgds Ivo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 7, 2011 Share #26 Posted April 7, 2011 Depreciation!?! These cameras don't depreciate. Do as Bill says and buy from a reputable dealer, there are too many people selling faulty gear on eBay IMHO and prices arent much different. Another point to bear in mind on the M3 is the rangefinder can be prone to balsam separation, expensive to repair. Buy your first Leica from a dealer with a warranty and you can't go wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StS Posted April 7, 2011 Share #27 Posted April 7, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The collapsible 50mm Summicron is one of my best lenses for portraits. It would also fit nicely to an M2 or M3. The current 50mm Summilux is much better, technically, but sometimes a bit clinical. The pre-aspherical 35mm Summilux is a mixed story. Very small, almost distortion free but prone to flare wide open. It is also very soft at 1.4. I have learned to live with it's peculiarities and like it very much but it is not to everyone's taste. Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
starrynight Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share #28 Posted April 7, 2011 Thank you all for your sincere replies. I would like a good lens for mostly portraits and nudes. I think I will need to buy from a dealer, especially with the little experience I have. Have any of you heard of Ken Hansen? He is a US dealer that I hear is very reputable. Can you confirm this, or do you know of another in the UK? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 7, 2011 Share #29 Posted April 7, 2011 You're in the Uk aren't you? Why buy from the US?? You can't be too far from a Leica dealer - there's a list of them all on Leicas website. Click the link for Red Dot when you see it on this site, Aperture in London are also good for used Leicas. Don't complicate things! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
starrynight Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share #30 Posted April 7, 2011 You're in the Uk aren't you? Why buy from the US?? You can't be too far from a Leica dealer - there's a list of them all on Leicas website. Click the link for Red Dot when you see it on this site, Aperture in London are also good for used Leicas. Don't complicate things! You're right. I have found three different M3s from one dealer. They range in price, but I am unsure why as the conditions don't seem to vary so drastically. Can you advice me on this? Here is the link: http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=m3&x=0&y=0&categories_id=&inc_subcat=1&manufacturers_id=&pfrom=&pto=&dfrom=mm%2Fdd%2Fyyyy&dto=mm%2Fdd%2Fyyyy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 7, 2011 Share #31 Posted April 7, 2011 Condition! User, exc, exc++ The black one is rare hence the silly price! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
starrynight Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share #32 Posted April 7, 2011 Condition! User, exc, exc++ The black one is rare hence the silly price! I don't mind if the camera looks used. As long as it works perfectly, and to me there isn't much difference cosmetically between the one that is £399 (the one I'm interested in), and the one at £499. Should I be cautious of the 'user' condition or is my best bet to call and speak to the company? And if so, what Leica specifics should I be asking for? Thank you so much for your help Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twotone Posted April 7, 2011 Share #33 Posted April 7, 2011 I recently bought an M3 in January of this year and paid £556 inc delivery for it from Ffordes in Inverness. The camera is in very good condition and it was made in 1960, if you buy one make sure it's from around 1959 and up as all of the mods have been done by then. The M3 is a wonderful camera and is an absolute joy to use, in fact it's idiot proof. Focusing is as simple as it it gets with absolutely pin sharp results. If you want absolute mint equipment buy from collect cameras in Holland, his prices are high but the equipment is wonderful and as is described. I bought a 1966 rigid Summicron from him that I doubt had ever been used on a camera and it is in absolute mint condition. It is a fantastic lens and will probably the only lens you'll ever need with an M3, it cost me about £560 inc postage from Holland and is worth every penny. Peter Loy cameras are another good place to buy with very good prices, I would avoid e-bay for the bigger items such as camera and lens but use it for the likes of filters, meters and cases etc. Best of luck Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
starrynight Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share #34 Posted April 7, 2011 I recently bought an M3 in January of this year and paid £556 inc delivery for it from Ffordes in Inverness. The camera is in very good condition and it was made in 1960, if you buy one make sure it's from around 1959 and up as all of the mods have been done by then. The M3 is a wonderful camera and is an absolute joy to use, in fact it's idiot proof. Focusing is as simple as it it gets with absolutely pin sharp results. If you want absolute mint equipment buy from collect cameras in Holland, his prices are high but the equipment is wonderful and as is described. I bought a 1966 rigid Summicron from him that I doubt had ever been used on a camera and it is in absolute mint condition. It is a fantastic lens and will probably the only lens you'll ever need with an M3, it cost me about £560 inc postage from Holland and is worth every penny. Peter Loy cameras are another good place to buy with very good prices, I would avoid e-bay for the bigger items such as camera and lens but use it for the likes of filters, meters and cases etc. Best of luck Tony Your M3 sounds beautiful Tony. However I just want a functional M3 with a good quality lens. This is the one I am thinking of getting: http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=3186 What do you think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smb Posted April 8, 2011 Share #35 Posted April 8, 2011 Best prices and conditions are optainable from dealers either on the net or at an auction site. Always avoid someone died and I'm selling the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riccis Posted April 8, 2011 Share #36 Posted April 8, 2011 Go for it... I just added another M2 and M3 to my bag... Can't never have enough Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StS Posted April 8, 2011 Share #37 Posted April 8, 2011 Your M3 sounds beautiful Tony. However I just want a functional M3 with a good quality lens. This is the one I am thinking of getting: http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=3186 What do you think? From the pictures it looks like a candidate, however my recommendations would be to expose some test films. My advice would be to try all shutter times, perform some wide open shots of close objects to check the focus area and to look for light leaks (black lines, especially around film perforation), it might be also a good idea to Illuminate the shutter cloth, both cocked and uncocked to expose to the lens cap at 1/1000 f/16 to detect light leaks. When the lens is at infinity (try the lens you are planning to buy), very distant objects should align in the patch. Besides, exposing some test films is fun. Don't forget to take some images you like photographically, test charts are boring. By the way, "double stroke" means one has to wind twice for the next frame, later M3s can be wound by one stroke. These earlier M3s have film plates made out of glass, one should have a look, whether it is cracked (it does not crack very easy). The images show the typical marks on the base and top plate, the former from tripod mounting, the latter from the optional exposure meter. Unless you are a collector, these are good signs, since both should not affect the image quality (unless the bottom plate is bent to form light leaks) but give the best (photographic) value for money. For the same reasons, as has been mentioned, rare collector items should be avoided. If the dealer is good, he will give you a thorough introduction how to load and use it. I visited mine during football match day and was the only customer for half an hour, when I bought my M3. Small warning - when I bought the M3, it was meant for occasional use. After some time, it became my main camera and I started to buy more Leicas. It can be addictive. Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted April 8, 2011 Share #38 Posted April 8, 2011 Best thing is to get along to the dealer and have a look at them 'in the flesh', I don't know where you are in the UK, but apart from red dot in London there are Caplans, and RG Lewis who have a good reputation, Ffordes in deepest Scoitland, and Stephens in Manchester. I have dealt with all of these, apart from them there are Harrisons in Sheffield who are good but dont seem to have much selection these days, as well as others who I have not dealt with but are recomended by others. If you tell us where you are we could advise? Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 8, 2011 Share #39 Posted April 8, 2011 You can definately trust Red Dot! But I agree, get along to a dealer and try them for yourself. Handle and M3 and an M2, see which you prefer. A day spent in London visiting several dealers would be a good investment of your time and money! As you need a lens as well I'm sure you will be able to negotiate a 'package deal' if you buy both at the same time as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twotone Posted April 8, 2011 Share #40 Posted April 8, 2011 Your M3 sounds beautiful Tony. However I just want a functional M3 with a good quality lens. This is the one I am thinking of getting: http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=3186 What do you think? Hi there SN, my camera is a 'user' it is in very good condition however it could never be described as 'mint' but I love it. Here's my thread from when I bought it, some great advice from the forum members in here. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-collectors-historica/158930-new-leica-m3-owner-seeking-lens.html The one in your link looks nice and is a very good price however it is a low serial number which means it won't have the mods that the later cameras have, if that is important to you then I would suggest you get one with a serial number above 925000 (1959 I think) or there abouts which is well documented on the web. Mine has a single stroke wind on lever whereas the one your looking at will be a double stroke wind on lever and I think that serial number camera has a glass film plate whereas mine has the later stainless steel film plate and there are a few other modifications that were fitted to the camera as time went by such as depth of field preview lever etc etc. The most desirable M3s which means more expensive are the later ones serial numbers from about 1966. I've seen at least one guy on this forum who managed to buy a 'brand new' M3 (old stock) recently from somewhere in Austria, I believe. The photos he posted of it were amazing. I think he was a Spanish wedding photographer if memory serves. Have a look at Ffordes, they are excellent to deal with and usually have a few M3s in stock at any time. They charge £7 delivery (you can stick other stuff in for the same price, eg filters etc) and they post next day, their descriptions of the cameras are spot on but I would call them and ask about whatever particular camera your interested in. This camera kit has been on sale at collect camera since I bought my own camera and I would have bought it if I had spotted it before I bought my own because I ended up buying almost everything he is selling here and the kit includes a quick loading system which would cost you about £80 on it's own plus the meter would be about the same and around £30 for the case. Postage from CC is about 20 euros I think and it can be expensive to send him money from a UK bank but I got round that by using pay pal gift which he accepted. The guy's name is Theo and he is great to deal with. BTW, some people buy Leica cameras from the year of their birth and it is relatively easy to find one if that's your thing, the one above is from 1964. Product details Collectcamera M Cameras Leica RangeFinder Range - Ffordes Photographic http://antiquecameras.net/leicamcameras.html Best of luck. Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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