NZDavid Posted February 16, 2012 Share #1 Posted February 16, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) With all the clamor about wanting the newest digital offerings even before they hit the market, I can't help but wonder how long a product is supposed to last. So, how long have you been using Leica? And what is the oldest piece of Leica or Leitz gear you still use regularly, professionally or otherwise? Me, 15 years, 50 Summicron Rigid, 1959. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 16, 2012 Posted February 16, 2012 Hi NZDavid, Take a look here How long, how old?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Messsucherkamera Posted February 16, 2012 Share #2 Posted February 16, 2012 For me, it's my M4-P. It will celebrate its 20th birthday at some point this year. I wonder if there's a way to determine the month of production of an M body by the serial number? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted February 16, 2012 Share #3 Posted February 16, 2012 I still regularly use my M4 that I bought new in '68 and Leicaflex SL from '69, and a few times a year the IIIf (1954) with 3.5 Elmar (1941) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted February 16, 2012 Share #4 Posted February 16, 2012 With all the clamor about wanting the newest digital offerings even before they hit the market, I can't help but wonder how long a product is supposed to last. So, how long have you been using Leica? And what is the oldest piece of Leica or Leitz gear you still use regularly, professionally or otherwise? Me, 15 years, 50 Summicron Rigid, 1959. All four of my M4s used professionally are in dire need of a CLA, the m4-p is fine, the M1 is a bloody wreck (used w wide-angle), the CL meter is broken (Leica branded Minlolta), and both M7s and the M9 are just fine. There may be another or two Ms around here somewhere - oh yea - the consecutive serial-numbered M4s - two more for dire CLA. The only way to keep a Leica from never needing maintenance is not to use it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted February 16, 2012 Share #5 Posted February 16, 2012 My M2 was made in 1959 and I acquired it in 1964. It is still my favourite camera. My M3 was also made in 1959, but I acquired it in 1973. I also have a Model 2 (1936) and Summar, which I use infrequently. My oldest M lens is a 35mm Summaron f3.5, which I acquired in the late 1960s. My newest piece is probably my 3 element 90mm Elmar, which I bought new. Everything works exactly as I want, and delivers exactly the images I like - and I have not seen anything whatever that makes me want to trade. Leica does not rely on me to support their Income & Expense statement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted February 16, 2012 Just to add a few more details, M6 acquired from a good friend and now approx. 24 years old, going strong. So is 1959 M3 though I haven't used it for a while. Sadly, I sold IIIa and Summar (1935) as I wasn't getting the use of them. All lenses keep on going forever! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted February 16, 2012 Share #7 Posted February 16, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) early 1954 m3 factory converted to single stroke- glass pressure plate- L seal intact and working flawlessly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 16, 2012 Share #8 Posted February 16, 2012 With all the clamor about wanting the newest digital offerings even before they hit the market, I can't help but wonder how long a product is supposed to last. So, how long have you been using Leica? And what is the oldest piece of Leica or Leitz gear you still use regularly, professionally or otherwise? Me, 15 years, 50 Summicron Rigid, 1959. I just read this blog entry about great pictures are more than just the latest and greatest gear Pete Myers: Making Images, Not Faking Images For the M it's only at one year in June/July (although I'm now waiting for an analog M too ). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garysamson Posted February 16, 2012 Share #9 Posted February 16, 2012 I am also using a 1950's M3 converted to single stroke with an early 1970's 50mm Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 16, 2012 Share #10 Posted February 16, 2012 Been using Leicas for about 9 years Oldest one is a 1938 5cm Elmar on a 1953 IIIf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted February 16, 2012 Share #11 Posted February 16, 2012 About a year.. M8 first and moved to M9. Oldest lens is the latest 50mm Summicron appears to be from the 90's. I may start trying the older lenses though.. I like the character of some of them. Basically I'm a Leica newb. I had an EP2 and that's where I first learned of Leica/Panasonic lenses and looked into Leica from that avenue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 16, 2012 Share #12 Posted February 16, 2012 Over twenty years since I bought my first M6. I regularly use my Leica Ii, actually a standard from 1929 upgraded to ll spec in 1934. It usually wears a Nickel Elmar 5cm of the same vintage. I also enjoy using my M2 which joins me in celebrating a 50th birthday this year. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted February 16, 2012 Share #13 Posted February 16, 2012 I never sell gear. I only buy something new if it's a new tool, a new instrument, a new paint brush so to speak. If it adds something new to my work. I inherited my Grandfathers 1A a year ago. That was with him since it was brand new and it is in incredible condition despite a life time of use albeit, careful use. I haven't seen too many that look in as good shape as this one. I grew up surrounded by that camera and the myth of Leica so I suppose you could say it's been with me all my life. The family albums are built on the Leica glow. It's something that I expect I will pass onto my children if there is film still available. I bought an X1 for my wife at christmas and it blew my socks off. It reacquainted me with the Leica Brand in a new way. You put it next to the 1A and the resemblance is wonderful. It's a slippery slope that one. After a month of research, a couple weeks later I bought a steel grey M9, A Noctilux 0.95 and a Summilux 35. I guess you could say it was hook, line and sinker. The camera is almost perfect to me. I don't intend on upgrading any time soon but look forward to getting more lenses like the 75mm summilux. I work with a P65 and Blad and the Leica is what I expect I will be a lot of the time but also in conjunction with the P65. I really love the camera. The way it handles, focusses, and the cameras heritage. Most of my work outputs at 11x14 or so. Or double page at around 22x28 so the M9 is quite literally a perfect fit and it adds a scope to my work that wasn't there before with it's lenses. I also use a Canon system too. It has it's place. It's now gladly my personal camera and will go with me everywhere. The family albums once again will have that leica glow. Photos of my kids are the most important to me and there's something that makes me happy about knowing that something as precious and fleeting as these memories are, they are in the very capable hands of the Leica once more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 17, 2012 Share #14 Posted February 17, 2012 My M3 is from 1954 and I bought it in 1976.... My oldest Leica is a Leica Standard from 1933. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted February 17, 2012 Share #15 Posted February 17, 2012 You only 49, Bill? My first camera was given to me in 1965 (I think). First Leica was my M9, in Oct 2010. Oldest Leica lens - Elmar-M 135/4 manufactured 1960 Oldest Leica camera - single stroke M3 from 1962, just on its way back from Solms after CLA and recovering. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wooferdog Posted February 17, 2012 Share #16 Posted February 17, 2012 With all the clamor about wanting the newest digital offerings even before they hit the market, I can't help but wonder how long a product is supposed to last. So, how long have you been using Leica? And what is the oldest piece of Leica or Leitz gear you still use regularly, professionally or otherwise? Me, 15 years, 50 Summicron Rigid, 1959. While I have Leica equipment from the 1960's The oldest BOUGHT NEW BY ME .... 21 year old 35 Cron , 90 Elmarit , 21 Elmarit , all used with M6 (long gone) mow with M9 Every time I buy a new lens , I tell Chris (my wife) it will last at least 20 , 30 years , her usual reply is , Yes , but will you ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeman Posted February 17, 2012 Share #17 Posted February 17, 2012 A few years ago I inherited a 1930 Leica 1a from a dentist friend. He bought it new when a dental student and used it with a BOWUM in preference to more modern equipment to photograph teeth, right up to the 1970s. During his lifetime he had it serviced twice. I still give it the occasional outing and it still produces lovely colour slides. It is just beautiful to handle and use. Every month I religiously fire the shutter twice on every shutter speed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted February 17, 2012 Share #18 Posted February 17, 2012 M6ttl bought secondhand but unused 8 years ago M3 bought new in 1968, two overhauls and new shutter curtains since then, my favourite camera lll, 'in the family' since new in 1938, inherited by me about 20 years ago, full overhaul about 7 years ago. In regular use. All used for my own amusement, needed macro and long lenses etc for pro stuff so for that it has been mostly Nikon Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted February 17, 2012 Share #19 Posted February 17, 2012 Compact 10 x 25 binoculars in 1998, R8 and 3 lenses since December 1999, D2 since March 2004, DMR about 1 1/2 years later. Other lenses, a CL, a IIIf, a second pair of compact binoculars, and enlarging lens for my Durst, and accessories along the way. Some items sold Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 17, 2012 Share #20 Posted February 17, 2012 Actually the first Leica gear in our house, in the late 1940ies and early 1950ies, was a Leitz Prado 150 slide projector with a 85 mm Hektor projection lens.mounted on a Leitz Valoy enlarger column by a special bracket and a 45 degree mirror to project the image downward. A milk glass had been added to the condensor group and the lens had a dark yellow filter to reduce light output. This was a special build by Leica for my father, who used it to enlarge and print documents on film from the Bodleian for his book "The Life of St.Chad, an old English Homily" He used the contraption for over twenty years, but unfortunantely it got lost.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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