firststream Posted September 8, 2011 Share #41 Posted September 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) My film set-up is a .58 M7 alongside an early model M3. The .58 viewfinder works wonders with the 28mm Summicron - my workhorse - and the .92 viewfinder on the M3 makes using any 50mm lens a heavenly experience. To the original poster, I would advise that you spend as much time deciding what magnifacation viewfinder would work best with your lenses, or at least your preferred lens, as you spend on your body/model decision. While the above combination is best for me, your needs are probably quite different. Enjoy your decision-making, regardless. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 8, 2011 Posted September 8, 2011 Hi firststream, Take a look here Which M to start with?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pico Posted September 8, 2011 Share #42 Posted September 8, 2011 I got into the M series with an M2. I realize now that I was ridiculously over-charged for it, but there was a lovely girl that I was in love with and she bought it for me as a birthday present and I will forever be in her debt for it. It's just perfection.. I cannot possibly think of a better combination. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted September 8, 2011 Share #43 Posted September 8, 2011 CCCP1971, enjoy the M7! It's a superb camera and will keep on going as long as you can still get and process film. Which brings us on to what film to get. Why not start off with some 100 ISO color slide film? Have fun! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Posted September 8, 2011 Share #44 Posted September 8, 2011 HCB don´t miss them.........Bob Capa don´t miss them.......I don´t miss..... Sure, but like I said, it might be a point of concern. Every person is different and has different preferences, best course of action to help another person is to start with a bit of general empathy. CCCP1971 have fun with the M7, I'm sure you will love it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiZZ Posted September 8, 2011 Share #45 Posted September 8, 2011 I've read through the thread again and between us we have advised our friend that the 'best' M to start with is an; M2 M3 M4 M4-P M5 M6 M6TTL M7 No one has mentioned the M4-2, or the CL! As I've already suggested, a sticky with the pros/cons of each model would be more useful. Now, we just need the OP to start another tread asking which film is best to start Oh look! We just recommended almost every Leica ever made! I wonder what that says... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Posted September 8, 2011 Share #46 Posted September 8, 2011 Oh look! We just recommended almost every Leica ever made! I wonder what that says... That we have no reading comprehension since the OP clearly stated a choice between the M4, M6 and M7? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cccp1971 Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share #47 Posted September 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) As also mentioned indeed the MP would be a great choice but it doesn't come in steady supply - at least not where I live. The M7 is more regularly available from shops or from eBay, that also influences my decision since I don't want to wait too long Most of the M7 I've seen so far come with a 0.72 viewfinder, which seems fine with 50mm (my preferred lens). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted September 8, 2011 Share #48 Posted September 8, 2011 I started with an M3. The pros are that it is built like a tank and has a nice viewfinder. The cons are that it has no metering and a maximum shutter speed of 1/1000. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted September 8, 2011 Share #49 Posted September 8, 2011 All fil M's have a 1/1000 maximum shutter speed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 8, 2011 Share #50 Posted September 8, 2011 As also mentioned indeed the MP would be a great choice but it doesn't come in steady supply - at least not where I live. The M7 is more regularly available from shops or from eBay, that also influences my decision since I don't want to wait too long Most of the M7 I've seen so far come with a 0.72 viewfinder, which seems fine with 50mm (my preferred lens). There's one here on the Forum's Buy & Sell section. A bit pricey, but they do come up. There's also a silver chrome one, waiting for payment. I'd buy from the forum (or eBay) with care. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cccp1971 Posted September 15, 2011 Author Share #51 Posted September 15, 2011 Thanks for the link. What a beauty indeed! But twice the price of average M7... Since I'm starting with film on Leica I'll go for the M7 first. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prunelle Posted September 15, 2011 Share #52 Posted September 15, 2011 ... Most of the M7 I've seen so far come with a 0.72 viewfinder, which seems fine with 50mm (my preferred lens). The M3 has a 0.91 viewfinder, with a 50mm lens... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted September 15, 2011 Share #53 Posted September 15, 2011 The M7 is closest to the M9 (the shutter dial turns in the same direction and they both have the auto option and a vertical electronic shutter). [...] Actually the M7 has a horizontal shutter with a max speed of 1/1000. The M9 does have a vertical shutter and 1/4000 of a second top speed. The M9 also has a faster flash synch speed. I agree that for film, the M7 is just terrific. I have two and the worst thing that's ever happened is the battery door opened and the batteries dropped out. Once. And it was my fault. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted September 15, 2011 Share #54 Posted September 15, 2011 I agree that for film, the M7 is just terrific. I have two and the worst thing that's ever happened is the battery door opened and the batteries dropped out. Once. And it was my fault. This is one of the reasons I got an M3 It's nice not to have to even think of batteries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Randle P. McMurphy Posted September 16, 2011 Share #55 Posted September 16, 2011 If you prefer the 50mm lens I agree but if you need a 35mm or 28mm I just would take a simple M6. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enotslliw Posted September 16, 2011 Share #56 Posted September 16, 2011 In general I use my M7 for color and MP for black and white...keep them in the same bag. Both are fine and satisfying tools to use. I recommend either one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketchyhead Posted September 16, 2011 Share #57 Posted September 16, 2011 You will find your answer here I want to buy a rangefinder | Xtranormal I just doubled up laughing at that. How the hell do those bears know so much? Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted September 16, 2011 Share #58 Posted September 16, 2011 This is one of the reasons I got an M3 It's nice not to have to even think of batteries. I have five M4's for backup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted September 23, 2011 Share #59 Posted September 23, 2011 I have five M4's for backup. Really? How do you carry them? There's often talk about how the M3 lacks framelines for wider than 50mm lenses and needs goggles, but is this really such a problem? How much do the goggles reduce the VF magnification? Can't be by much. Somewhere I've read complaints about goggled lenses being bulkier or heavier than those without. But for me, coming from an SLR background, a weight difference of some 50-100gr isn't something to worry about when choosing which M to get. Plus I guess it is possible to use non-goggled 35mm lenses with M3s too. The lack of meter is also not a big deal. Sure some shots turn out under- or over-exposed. But learning to use Sunny 16 is actually a lot easier than one may think and produces great results in most circumstances. For me, fwiw, there was simply no other M to get but the M3. Cheers Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphoenix Posted September 25, 2011 Share #60 Posted September 25, 2011 I have five M4's for backup. If you're carrying them all at once, could I be your chiropractor? Puhleese? :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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