How long, how old?

[bocaburger]

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So, how long have you been using Leica?

 

Since early seventies (the decade, not my age ).

 

And what is the oldest piece of Leica or Leitz gear you still use regularly, professionally or otherwise?

 

That would be my M9. The oldest body I own is a IIIa (1937).

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[ismon]

My first love was a 1935 Model F. I quickly became a professional, just to support my addiction. After 45 years using Leicas exclusively (mostly M3's--hence the handle ismon), I have traded back to Model Fs and swapped my Summicrons for pre-war Berek lenses. My oldest is a 1930 A to C conversion. Now into my 48 year with Leicas, I know that there is always something newer, but nothing better.

[Printmaker]

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.

 

My first Leica was a used but low milage (14 rolls of film) M2R with a 35 2.8 Summaron that I bought in 1969. I upgraded to a new M4 with 35 Summicron, 50 Summicron and 90 TeleElmarit in late 1970 (I wanted the rapid rewind crank because I was getting blisters on my fingers from the rewind knob). I was helped with this purchase by the Leica dealer/salesman discount of 50% and getting more than twice what I paid for the M2R. Still it was a huge investment for a college kid. I think I had to shoot a dozen weddings and a nursery catalog to pay for the kit.

 

Over the years, I replaced the 35 Summicron twice and the 50 Summicron once with a 50 DR and then again with the same 1969 vintage 50 Summicron I started with. While I still have the Tele Elmarit, I sadly sold the M4 last year to fund a M9.

 

So 41 years on the camera and 42 years on the 90.

 

I'm not a collector. I was just never tempted by the M5/M6/M7/MP. For most of those years, my M4 was my trusted travel and field camera. Most of my professional studio work was done with a 60s vintage Linhof Technika III plus several MF cameras and nearly a dozen Nikons.

 

Tom

[topoxforddoc]

16 years using Leicas

Oldest is my favourite - 1958 M2

[wda]

I bought my M3 new in 1966 with 50 Summicron. Serviced twice; still used and sits on my desk as a reminder. My next new M was the M6 TTL.

[philipus]

I guess I'm one of the most recent switchers, having bought my first Leica last September, an M3. Alas it's going back to the dealer due to some perpetual shutter problem so now I use an M6TTL BP which I really like because of the meter.

 

But the oldest piece of equipment I regularly use is my Leica I from '31, which became a II in about 1950. I love that little thing. Tiny, cute and in great shape.

[sandro]

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Since 12 years I only use Leica M cameras. Bought my first Leica in 1996, an M3 of 1961. I use it regularly, with other Leica M cameras and lenses. The oldest piece I own is a Summarit 50mm f/1.5, which I also use. Only occasionaly I use my other M3 of 1954 (double stroke, glass film pressure plate, no frame selector).

Lex

[pico]

So now I wonder how my nine (or so) Ms are in such dire condition. I am not complaining: each went through years of us and abuse. And they can be rebuilt.

 

Do those with no problems perhaps treat their hardware more carefully, use them less, or have lower expectations for performance?

 

 

.

[Printmaker]

So now I wonder how my nine (or so) Ms are in such dire condition. I am not complaining: each went through years of us and abuse. And they can be rebuilt.

 

Do those with no problems perhaps treat their hardware more carefully, use them less, or have lower expectations for performance?

 

 

.

 

My M4 required a new shutter at age 30. That's about 280,000 shutter clicks before it cost about the same money as I paid for the camera new to replace the shutter. I killed, drowned or traded several lenses. Otherwise everything held up well livingin backpacks and amo cases.

[NZDavid]

Some fascinating responses so far that indicate old Leicas keep going strong, and the mystique endures. "Built to last" is still a worthwhile philosophy. As long as it still performs, why keep "upgrading"? I think there is also something about Leica that transcends fashion (the M anyway -- perhaps because it's already out of date!) and makes it a true classic.

[nikau]

1) Leicaflex SL, bought new in 1975

 

2) Leicaflex SL2, bought used in 1977

[jaapv]

So now I wonder how my nine (or so) Ms are in such dire condition. I am not complaining: each went through years of us and abuse. And they can be rebuilt.

 

Do those with no problems perhaps treat their hardware more carefully, use them less, or have lower expectations for performance?

 

 

.

My M3 has been worked on . From DS to SS and replacement of the cracked glass pressure plate, CLA by ODIN (Leica NL) in 1974... And painted by Shintaro in 2006-2009

[SJP]

Since September 2009 - first M2 then M8

M2 from 1959 - my age and it still works fine

 

Have been using Leitz microscopes since 1983

If you count microscopes then the oldest is a microscope that I inherited from (great)uncle Len, ca. 1910 (is there a site for determining age & type?)

[gberger]

First Leica was a IIIc that I got in Germany in 1946. My son-in-law still has it and uses it for B&W, Bought an early M4 with the rigid 50mm Chron. Next was an early M6, and finally an M7. Various lenses along the way, now reduced to a 50 Summilux Asph. 35 Summilux Asph and thew now-discontinued 24 /2.8 Asph.

 

Don't believe in keeping good hardware and lenses on the shelf (seldom used), so I either traded or gave away the earlier M series bodies and most of the lenses.

 

Now have my M7 and three lenses - - - enough for shooting slides. Not contemplating a serious move to digital. Why? Well, to quote an unnamed author: "Digital Photography is like shaved legs on a man - very smooth and clean but there is something acutely disconcerting about it."

[sandro]

Forgot to mention that my Summarit 50 mm f 1.5 dates from 1953. The 1961 M3 was serviced at ODIN shortly after I bought in 1996, and it had a CLA about two years ago, as had most of my other M cameras. The rest of my M bodies and lenses dates from the nineteen sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and from around 2000.

Lex

[thrid]

My oldest Leica is a 1963 M2 and still gets used almost every day. I've owned the camera for 11 years. It mounts a Summilux-M ASPH 1.4/35, which I've had for 8 or 9 years.

 

I also still have my first M body, which is a M6ttl that I think I purchased in 1998.

It's in constant rotation with the M2 and a few other bodies.

 

 

 

The oldest Leica body I own is a IIIc, circa 1945 or 1946.

 

Oldest lens is probably a pre-war Elmar 3.5/50 or Summar 2/50