StephenPatterson Posted February 1, 2012 Share #61 Posted February 1, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) When I was in college a nice lady loaned my her late father's M5 and several lenses. I appreciated the loan, and used the gear for several photography projects, but ultimately the kit was out of my price range. I helped her sell everything, and my "reward" was a very nice Leica IIIC with 50mm lens. I was thrilled, and thankful, for her generosity and kindness, which was earned over time by helping her with lawn work and odd errands. Get to know local Leica people around you, either through a camera store or photography club. Becoming a member of a group, such as the Leica Historical Society of America Leica Historical Society of America - Home is an excellent way to meet Leica minded people in your area. Many Leica people who are of a "certain age" are more than happy to share, and perhaps with time and trust, to loan equipment, to enthusiastic young photographers. Or you could just write Leica and explain that you are going on a 6 month bike ride around Japan. I understand that's a sure fire way to get an M9 and 35 Summilux ASPH FLE. Good luck...be patient...be respectful...be nice, and you will get what you are after. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 1, 2012 Posted February 1, 2012 Hi StephenPatterson, Take a look here could I borrow...?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
250swb Posted February 1, 2012 Share #62 Posted February 1, 2012 I'm really scratching my head now, from asking in other threads about M6's and now wanting to borrow an M film camera or an M9, to buying a Fed and a Zorki! Well OK, I'm not knocking them, or a Leica IIIC etc, they can make some great pictures, but there is a world of difference between pre war rangefinder technology and ergonomic's to post war Leica and other designs. You would have not only had a better camera, with a great lens, in buying a Yashica Electro or Canonet for $25, but it would be far closer in size and feel to an M body. You started out wanting to see if you like the idea of a post war M style rangefinder, and have gone in exactly the other direction where your FED and Zorki will only compare with other FED and Zorki's. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 1, 2012 Share #63 Posted February 1, 2012 they are extremely inexpensive. And yes, the fed 2 is very much like the leica III series (that is what people have compared the build quality too) not to mention i could put a leica 50mm screw mount on it if i so desired. I have a Fed 2 knocking around in a drawer somewhere. I intend to take it to bits one day, just for the fun of it. It has all the finesse of a T34. Pulling film through sounds like stretching a heathen on the rack. It's all sharp edges and fingernail-filing knurling and it sounds like a safe being dropped down a lift shaft when you press the shutter. On (in) the other hand I have a Leica II... You won't notice the difference at all - until you actually compare them... Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted February 1, 2012 Share #64 Posted February 1, 2012 Read his initial post, where his request was for "a few days." If you lived near him, would you move into his place, or ask him to move into yours? Jeff Of course not, and I acknowledged that proximity is everything... BUt not too long ago I met a local forum member and we had coffee and walked around and photographed and I watched how he handled his gear and at the end of that time had no hesitation in offering him the loan of a newish 50mm Elmar, which he was intrigued to try out. He declined as it happens, because he was frightened he might harm it -- but I wasn't. It's about instinct or 'vibes' -- if you get good vibes from someone, it's probably OK; if you don't, it probably isn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted February 1, 2012 Share #65 Posted February 1, 2012 The crowd instincts of this forum (and I suppose pretty well all others) are sometimes quite extraordinary.... A guy asks whether anyone might care to lend him a camera. What -- are you crazy? Go to hell, rent one, buy your own, buy this, no, buy that, ask Leica, ask someone else, why do *you* want one, this is a club that doesn't admit people who don't already know as much as we do (except in exceptional circumstances -- usually folks who are planning to spend ten or fifteen thousand dollars on an M9 and a lens or two to see what all the fuss is about).... A guy then buys something vaguely similar to give it a try. Why in God's name did you buy that and not this? You can't hope to have the authentic Leica experience -- you should have done this, no, that... Newsflash -- it's his money. Why should you care? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 1, 2012 Share #66 Posted February 1, 2012 A guy then buys something vaguely similar to give it a try. Why in God's name did you buy that and not this? You can't hope to have the authentic Leica experience -- you should have done this, no, that... Newsflash -- it's his money. Why should you care? Well Alun it does come on the back of another thread, where the OP became an expert on the Leica M http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/218735-starting-film-digital.html Not only taking peoples time up that they gladly gave, but in doing so the OP also endeared himself by wondering why some people didn't buy a snapshot camera and not an M9. As you have offered NO advice to the OP you clearly couldn't give a toss about his requirements, yet feel authoritative enough to criticise other peoples suggestions. So why should we care? Well its got to be better than being a backseat driver that snipes away at the end of threads without contributing any better ideas. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 1, 2012 Share #67 Posted February 1, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) No fighting on the terraces, please, guys Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted February 1, 2012 Share #68 Posted February 1, 2012 well i just purchased a Fed 2 and Zorki 2.. and i hear the fed 2 is close to leica build quality.. should be a good experience. Congrats leicaluke. At least those cameras will give you an introduction to the rangefinder world. Ignore these pompous jerks who seem to take great pleasure in laughing at you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted February 1, 2012 Share #69 Posted February 1, 2012 Ignore these pompous jerks who seem to take great pleasure in laughing at you. There's a lot of judging and insulting going on in this thread now, but I don't see anyone lending their Leicas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JE Posted February 1, 2012 Share #70 Posted February 1, 2012 I'm a little late to the game...whud I miss? As long as we asking....anyone wanna lend me an M9?:D:D The G8 summit's coming to Chicago in May... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted February 1, 2012 Share #71 Posted February 1, 2012 There's a lot of judging and insulting going on in this thread now, but I don't see anyone lending their Leicas. Please don't quote what I have written out of context! Why don't you read the entire thread before you chip in a couple of cents. The original poster has been laughed at for asking to borrow a camera. A few of us told him that wasn't going to happen and offered other options in a kind manner. Others were flat out rude! Than the original poster was laughed at for comparing a couple of FSU cameras to a Leica. That's Pompous. The guy is just trying to test the rangefinder waters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted February 1, 2012 Share #72 Posted February 1, 2012 Well Alun it does come on the back of another thread, where the OP became an expert on the Leica M http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/218735-starting-film-digital.html Not only taking peoples time up that they gladly gave, but in doing so the OP also endeared himself by wondering why some people didn't buy a snapshot camera and not an M9. As you have offered NO advice to the OP you clearly couldn't give a toss about his requirements, yet feel authoritative enough to criticise other peoples suggestions. So why should we care? Well its got to be better than being a backseat driver that snipes away at the end of threads without contributing any better ideas. Steve Oh please! Don't act like writing about Leica gear is a demonstration of sacrifice and selflessness for the members of this forum. Many of you probably spend more time here than you do out shooting. By the way, I was at a Leica dealer just the other day and overheard a salesmen refer to the M9 as a pretty expensive point and shoot. So the original poster's snapshot comment from another might not be too far off the mark. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buranca Posted February 1, 2012 Share #73 Posted February 1, 2012 Yikes, I hope my post wasn't misconstrued about a IIIf and a 50 Elmar! I am sure the FED/Zorki will be fine to get a general feel. I agree that a Yashica might have made more sense if the OP is after a post war experience. I also agree that the best advice was to go to a meet up and get to know some people. I would be happy to let anyone try any of my gear. I would not, however, just blindly send it off. I am looking forward to the OP replying back about his experiences. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JATA Posted February 1, 2012 Share #74 Posted February 1, 2012 All camera's are point and shoot. Point them at something and shoot. And that is precisely what makes the Leica-m so great. By the way original poster.... I stand by my advice about the Yashica electro gsn, The glass on it is fantastic and on the right day can produce results equal to Leica. It is the camera that introduced me to the world of rangefinders, and after too many thousand's of pounds spent on my wonderful Leica kit I still enjoy using the Yashica, and love the results from it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted February 1, 2012 Share #75 Posted February 1, 2012 All camera's are point and shoot. Point them at something and shoot. And that is precisely what makes the Leica-m so great. By the way original poster.... I stand by my advice about the Yashica electro gsn, The glass on it is fantastic and on the right day can produce results equal to Leica. It is the camera that introduced me to the world of rangefinders, and after too many thousand's of pounds spent on my wonderful Leica kit I still enjoy using the Yashica, and love the results from it. Not quite, but hey, who can resist sarcasm? Not you. I would disqualify the M9 from the point and shoot class because it lacks autofocus. Point-and-shoot camera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JATA Posted February 1, 2012 Share #76 Posted February 1, 2012 No sarcasm intended sterlistarlin, I treat my Leica's like point and shoot camera's, I set my focus on my lens and point and shoot, like I said that is what makes the M such a pleasure to use. And that is why a lot of serious photographer's use them. I don't need your wikipedia link. It seems like some people can't wait to take a stab. I'm actually trying to offer the op some useful advice. What is your intention? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 1, 2012 Share #77 Posted February 1, 2012 I would disqualify the M9 from the point and shoot class because it lacks autofocus. Good grief. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted February 1, 2012 Share #78 Posted February 1, 2012 No sarcasm intended sterlistarlin, I treat my Leica's like point and shoot camera's, I set my focus on my lens and point and shoot, like I said that is what makes the M such a pleasure to use. And that is why a lot of serious photographer's use them. I don't need your wikipedia link. It seems like some people can't wait to take a stab. I'm actually trying to offer the op some useful advice. What is your intention? My intention is to be helpful. My Leicas require setting focus, aperture and shutter speed. Not difficult but not quite point and shoot. Even when zone focusing and using Sunny 16 it requires thought, or calculations that aren't quite necessary when using traditional point and shoot cameras. Apparently you do need my link. Now I'm not a "serious photographer," but I do shoot about 600 rolls of film per year. You know your advice rprobably isn't all that useful seeing as the original poster already purchased a couple of cameras that function more closely to a Leica than a GSN. Perhaps you can explain your all cameras are point and shoot theory to the members posting in this thread: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/218953-leica-point-shot.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted February 1, 2012 Share #79 Posted February 1, 2012 Good grief. Regards, Bill What's your problem? Again follow the thread. A Leica salesman had referred to the M9 as an expensive point and shoot, not me. That saidt the lack of autofocus is the only feature missing for it to function as a true point and shoot camera. Do you see that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 1, 2012 Share #80 Posted February 1, 2012 Oh please! Don't act like writing about Leica gear is a demonstration of sacrifice and selflessness for the members of this forum. Many of you probably spend more time here than you do out shooting. I hope your had a good day out with your camera, I did, and now I'm here again. Oh, and by the way, I wonder if you also notice that there seems to be a discrepancy between your criticism of members spending more time here than shooting, when there doesn't seem to be any record of your own photographs? Curious that? Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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