earleygallery Posted June 21, 2012 Share #21 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well I can't believe you've decided against the lllf........but............ Â Couple of other suggestions; Â Is there a Leica dealer nearish to you? Pop along one day (probably best to arrange this in advance) and take a roll of film and a memory card. I'm sure they will let you play around with a film M and an M8/9 for a while, take some test shots with each and compare the results, see what you prefer (and go back to them to buy whichever you choose!). Â Alternatively, just to see if you like using a rangefinder camera, buy a Zorki with 50mm lens. You can pick them up for peanuts. Just use it for a week or two simply to see if you like the idea of using a rangefinder - I think we do 'see' differently with them compared to an SLR. Physically you see differently to start with, you're looking at pretty much a direct view, as opposed to viewing the world on a ground glass screen at full aperture/minimum depth of field (yes OK I know about stopping down and visualising the scene before framing etc., but). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted June 21, 2012 Share #22 Â Posted June 21, 2012 D'you know what? Â That's exactly what I did. Â My very first rangefinder was a FED. Ghastly thing, built like a (water) tank. Handled like a garbage scow. But the rangefinder worked and was clear. I loved the technique after years of using SLRs and saved my pennies for my first Leica - an M6. Â Regards, Â Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 21, 2012 Share #23 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Your back probably hurts from the stress of thinking about this too much. Best advice I can give is to take some action...any action. If it feels good, keep doing it. If not, try another course. Eventually you'll be telling others about how you got started with Leica and RF...or not. Â My first course of action was to visit a Leica dealer who let me try some cameras. Worked 35 years ago...probably still does...one of many possibilities. Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 21, 2012 Share #24 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Tony, lots of good advice offered already. I am not sure where 'KC' is located, but I would definitely consult a good authorized Leica dealer. It should be possible to come to an arrangement with the dealer so that any camera trial costs are offset against your ultimate purchase. A good relationship with such a dealer is a valuable part of Leica ownership. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #25 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Tony, lots of good advice offered already. I am not sure where 'KC' is located, but I would definitely consult a good authorized Leica dealer. It should be possible to come to an arrangement with the dealer so that any camera trial costs are offset against your ultimate purchase. A good relationship with such a dealer is a valuable part of Leica ownership. Â KC is Kansas City, Missouri. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #26  Posted June 21, 2012 Couple of things made me change my mind: The example I had ordered was rated as Ugly. Also, read a thread about people with glasses having trouble with the small viewfinder on the LTM's.  Well I can't believe you've decided against the lllf........but............ Couple of other suggestions;  Is there a Leica dealer nearish to you? Pop along one day (probably best to arrange this in advance) and take a roll of film and a memory card. I'm sure they will let you play around with a film M and an M8/9 for a while, take some test shots with each and compare the results, see what you prefer (and go back to them to buy whichever you choose!).  Alternatively, just to see if you like using a rangefinder camera, buy a Zorki with 50mm lens. You can pick them up for peanuts. Just use it for a week or two simply to see if you like the idea of using a rangefinder - I think we do 'see' differently with them compared to an SLR. Physically you see differently to start with, you're looking at pretty much a direct view, as opposed to viewing the world on a ground glass screen at full aperture/minimum depth of field (yes OK I know about stopping down and visualising the scene before framing etc., but). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted June 21, 2012 Share #27 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I wear spectacles and my most used camera for "street" (whatever that is) is a Leica II. It's as much about a state of mind as a physical "issue", IMO. Â Regards, Â Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #28  Posted June 21, 2012 Ordered a Zorki 4 with an Industar 50 f2. Don’t know if I can put on an ebay item #. Looks like I’ll get it in about 3 weeks out of the Yukraine. Looks very nice from the photos and says that it has been CLA’d and works well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 21, 2012 Share #29 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Great...now let's see if the back eases up. Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted June 21, 2012 Share #30 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Using a Zorki+Industar to decide whether to get a Leica+Summicron is like driving a Lada to decide whether to get a Maybach Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #31  Posted June 21, 2012 Great...now let's see if the back eases up. Jeff  Wish it was that easy. My back has been declining over the last three years to the point I haven't worked in two months and am having to probably retire. If a Lecia would fix it I'd get one today   As to the Lada/Maybach issue, I'd guess it would be bad form to get an Noctilux f0.95 for the front of it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 21, 2012 Share #32  Posted June 21, 2012 Using a Zorki+Industar to decide whether to get a Leica+Summicron is like driving a Lada to decide whether to get a Maybach  But if you don know whether you want a car at all, a Zorki is a better buy than a Maybach. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted June 21, 2012 Share #33 Â Posted June 21, 2012 I just want to say this: despite that this is a Leica forum and despite the mythology that is attached to the brand, it doesn't mean you have to like them. Be honest with yourself first and foremost. There are many, many excellent photographers in the world who dislike using a Leica. There's absolutely nothing wrong with not liking the experience and not using one. And although there is the stereotype of Leica owners as snobbish and arrogant, I don't think anyone here will think you're 'inferior' for not wanting to use one. And don't think we're 'special' because we use them. We're not. Â The bottom line is making photographs. The gear doesn't make the photograph. Find the right tool that helps you do that and one that can become transparent. That is unless you just like to have fun with the camera gear itself. And that's perfectly okay, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ming Rider Posted June 21, 2012 Share #34 Â Posted June 21, 2012 'We' don't think we're arrogant or snobbish at all. It's just that Leica users take better pictures and our camera's are better than other brands. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted June 21, 2012 Share #35  Posted June 21, 2012 As to the Lada/Maybach issue, I'd guess it would be bad form to get an Noctilux f0.95 for the front of it  I hate to break this to you but neither the Zorki nor the Lada have M-bayonet mounts   But if you don know whether you want a car at all, a Zorki is a better buy than a Maybach.  I'll grant you one thing, it's impossible to dispute a mixed metaphor like that! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ming Rider Posted June 21, 2012 Share #36  Posted June 21, 2012 . . . nor the Lada have M-bayonet mounts  And he's more likely to have an even worse back problem lifting it to his eye ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #37 Â Posted June 21, 2012 And he's more likely to have an even worse back problem lifting it to his eye ? Â Probably not, by the time I got to parts that wouldn't come off in my hand it might be fairly light Besides, as an American child of the cold war I thought everything the Soviets made had bayonet mounts Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted June 21, 2012 Share #38 Â Posted June 21, 2012 Couple of things made me change my mind: The example I had ordered was rated as Ugly. Also, read a thread about people with glasses having trouble with the small viewfinder on the LTM's. Â The viewfinder is fine for me with spectacles. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadfael_tex Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #39  Posted June 21, 2012 The viewfinder is fine for me with spectacles. Steve  Guess that's what happens when you go through 50 pages of threads at night when you can't sleep - get all sorts of info and some of it may not be accurate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 21, 2012 Share #40  Posted June 21, 2012 Wish it was that easy. My back has been declining over the last three years to the point I haven't worked in two months and am having to probably retire. If a Lecia would fix it I'd get one today  Sorry to hear that. If the RF experience doesn't suit, then there are loads of small, light and capable cameras these days that might provide a good alternative for you, and much easier on your back than lugging around a D/SLR. Good luck.  Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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