jermaineB Posted July 21, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 21, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) A little about myself. I've been in the military (USN) for about 17 years now and I'm about to go on my last deployment. This will be the first that I'm shooting film since my first one back in '95 and I'll be taking along my beloved M3 with 90 elmarit, 135 hektor, 35 cv nokton and hopefully not my 50 ltm elmar. I'm not comfortable with my elmar since I've shot a few rolls with it and had a lot of out of focus images. I just don't trust it anymore. I've been waiting patiently after selling some digital gear to get a 50 summicron, but they're still not available and I'd rather get a new one. Well since I'm pretty much leaving next week. I'm wondering if I should just get a second body M6 since I know it'll give me more accurate framing with my 35 nokton and use my M3 exclusively with the 90 and 135? I really like the 35 since I took it on a weekend trip to San Francisco as my only lens and it performed really well...too bad I opened the back of my camera before the 2nd roll was finished and ruin some frames shot on ilford 3200. Still upset about that. Anyway...I'm leaning towards the M6 but wonder if the cron is really worth waiting on. I'll also be carrying a small digital body...a GF1 with a couple of lenses for snapshots of myself that I know my friends won't be comfortable focusing with a rangefinder. Any thoughts or suggestions? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 21, 2011 Posted July 21, 2011 Hi jermaineB, Take a look here M6 or 50 summicron. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TomB_tx Posted July 21, 2011 Share #2 Posted July 21, 2011 First of all, thanks for your service in the military! I have and M3 and an M6, and use them much as you say: keep a 35 on the M6 and 50 or 90 on the M3. However, the M6 is fine with 50 and 90 as well. I started out with a new M4 in '68, and compared to the M3 and M4, the M6 does have more of a rangefinder "flare-out" issue where the patch blanks in some lighting conditions, especially if your eye isn't centered just right. It's not terrible, but when you are used to an M3 you will notice it. Another good option is an M5 as a second body, as it has a great meter and better rangefinder than the M6. I also started using a 35 Nokton in dark conditions, and it can give very nice results. My old '69 Summicron 35 is better for "normal" light, but not by too much. The 50 1.5 Nokton is also a great performer for under $700, and CameraQuest still has them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jermaineB Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted July 21, 2011 Thank you for the reply. Yes I've heard everything after the M3 is pretty much a downgrade as far as the viewfinder goes...I didn't know about the rangefinder though. I may look into that 50 1.5 nokton as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobYIL Posted July 21, 2011 Share #4 Posted July 21, 2011 The M3 viewfinder is the zenith in the M-range. Sell the Elmar, buy a Summicron and an M2 (it's more or less the same as the M4 but much cheaper) . Also a small pocket lightmeter (inexpensive) if you need to use lightmeter. Then use them until the film production on earth ceases. (Nokton 50/1.5 is also a fine alternative but lacks corner to corner sharpness of the late Summicrons, if it's important for you.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 21, 2011 Share #5 Posted July 21, 2011 Hi, I can't understand why you don't get sharp images from the Elmar. If it were faulty then it would most likely be OOF all the time. If you get a sharp image on infinity, and the rangefinder isn't to fault then it should be fine. Presumably you're using a viewfinder on the M3 with the 35 lens? If you bought an M2 or other M then you'd obviously have the wider frame lines. A 35mm lens is on my M2 most of the time. I also think an M2 would make a nicer companion for your M3. There are plenty of options for a 50mm lens, new or s/h, including the later M Elmar 2.8, Summarit, and Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandokan Posted July 21, 2011 Share #6 Posted July 21, 2011 I heard a rumour that a new Summicron was being developed - which would eyplain the increase in 2nd hand Summicrons for sale in the last few months (although there are many other possibilities) so i would wait. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jermaineB Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted July 21, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, I can't understand why you don't get sharp images from the Elmar. If it were faulty then it would most likely be OOF all the time. If you get a sharp image on infinity, and the rangefinder isn't to fault then it should be fine. Presumably you're using a viewfinder on the M3 with the 35 lens? If you bought an M2 or other M then you'd obviously have the wider frame lines. A 35mm lens is on my M2 most of the time. I also think an M2 would make a nicer companion for your M3. There are plenty of options for a 50mm lens, new or s/h, including the later M Elmar 2.8, Summarit, and Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses. I'm not sure why the Elmar is faulty some of the time. I'll have to show some examples with some slide film I shot while out to sea on a carrier. Some of my shots were tact sharp but I remember the last roll I shot mostly at infinity were all out of focus. I just wonder because none of my other lenses were ever out of focus. I thought about an M2 or even an M4 and I currently use a VCII on the M3 although I'm getting comfortable using sunny 16. I thought of the M6 for the built in meter. And yes I do use the entire viewfinder for the 35 on my M3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
niklasj Posted July 22, 2011 Share #8 Posted July 22, 2011 Consider the Voigtländer 1.1 Nokton. Its almost as sharp as a cron, even wide open. Okay its big and heavy glass in there, but for a grand NEW its some fine glass. The M6 is a fine M, yes the patch can flare out, but ive never had problems,really. I personally would go for the M6, mostly cause im never using 50mm lenses, they are maybe standart, not for me. 35 and 90 is the way to go my M6 performs very well with the 35 Nokton, wich basicly is my everyday lens Greets, Niklas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted July 22, 2011 Share #9 Posted July 22, 2011 I used a 1941 3.5 Elmar on a IIIf way back when I was in the army, but when I got it out in recent years it was usually fuzzy out of focus. I sent it to Sherry Krauter to see what she could do with it, and it has been great since then, and cost was quite low. I get strange looks now using it on my M9, but I like the images it gives. So it would be worthwhile to get a CLA done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jermaineB Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted July 23, 2011 I went for an M6ttl mainly because of having a meter because I didn't want 2 meter less cameras and it will still work if the batteries die. Although if I decided to part with one of them it will be the M6 rather than the M3. It's older than mother and hasn't failed me yet! Neither has my mom, but you know what I mean. I have actually rented the 50 1.1 nokton twice and enjoyed it, but it does cover part of the viewfinder a little. Maybe I'll save up for a used 'lux 50 later. I'll also look into getting the Elmar 50 cla'd. I really like that lens when my negs or slides are in focus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell Posted July 25, 2011 Share #11 Posted July 25, 2011 I shot a 35mm on my M3. With practice it works fine. I bought an external finder but never really use it. Get the 50mm cron. I've been shooting my 50mm lux all these years but in hindsight the cron is where it's at. Smaller, lighter weight, sharper at close distances, and most importantly less focus problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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