buying a film M camera

[wlaidlaw]

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Ian,

 

According to Leica’s own PDF download on the MP from the current website:“Exposure metering through the lens (TTL), selectively with working aperture.”

 

Wilson

[wattsy]

Sorry, I thought you were referring to TTL flash metering, Wilson. Yes, the MP does of course have ambient exposure metering through the lens.

[Guest Mr. B]

I am a high school photography teacher and I would never recommend to any of my students to purchase a Leica. For one thing the young student doesn't even know if they will like using film. I would recommend a Nikon FM or similar camera first. If the student finds that they like using film and they want to stick with it then I could see buying a Leica. One doesn't start at the top to see if they like something. Just my thoughts on the subject.

Regards

Mr. B

[Guido]

One doesn't start at the top to see if they like something.

The flip side being of course that starting off with crappy gear can make all the difference between blooming passion, and utter disappointment. Be it music, photography, skiing, tennis or whatever.

 

I wouldn't start at the top either, but I'd aim at least for the upper 30% for first-time shopping. My first film camera was a Canon A-1 with 50/1.4 lens and I don't think my interest would have lasted long enough if I had bought a plastic disposable instead

[wlaidlaw]

However there are plenty of perfectly good SLR and non-Leica rangefinders available for give away money on eBay. For example I put a mint, barely used Canon EOS-1 film SLR body (top of the line in 2001) on eBay a couple of years ago with a start bid of £20 and had no takers. I gave it to our local photography school rather than sell it at a silly price. You can get Voigtlander, Yashica, etc plus the various Russian/Ukrainian rangefinders for pennies.

 

Wilson

[MarkP]

First film Leica just arrived last week. I'm working backwards from an M9, Monochrom, and M240 - I got myself a humble CL). It's for my son & nephew to use but I'm inclined to keep it and get them another one. Immaculate condition, light meter working & accurate for $427 AUD delivered.

 

The 40 Summicron is coming but I didn't realise that the CL had 50mm framelines. I've been out twice so far with it fitted with a 1.5/50 C-Sonnar and loaded with ISO 400 B&W. So much fun to use.

 

Highly recommended as a first foray into Leica M film cameras, and I couldn't go wrong for that price.

 

Now I can take my time thinking about the M7 that I really want!

[wlaidlaw]

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Mark,

 

The additional benefit you will get is that I think the Summicron-C 40mm is a great travel lens on any of the digital Leicas. That was my lens of choice for this year’s Wetzlar challenge. I can get an M in a large pocket with the Summicron-C mounted. FYI, Heavystar do a series 5.5 thread to e39 adapter with a very nice metal e39 hood for a very modest $29 for the pair New Metal Hood for Leica Summicron-C (S5.5) 40mm f/2.0. Being single coated, the Summicron-C is quite prone to both flare and veiling glare. The hood improves matters a lot. The original hoods are rubber and by now, most will have either gone hard or perished plus they are not cheap second hand.

 

Wilson

[MarkP]

Mark,

 

The additional benefit you will get is that I think the Summicron-C 40mm is a great travel lens on any of the digital Leicas. That was my lens of choice for this year’s Wetzlar challenge. I can get an M in a large pocket with the Summicron-C mounted. FYI, Heavystar do a series 5.5 thread to e39 adapter with a very nice metal e39 hood for a very modest $29 for the pair New Metal Hood for Leica Summicron-C (S5.5) 40mm f/2.0. Being single coated, the Summicron-C is quite prone to both flare and veiling glare. The hood improves matters a lot. The original hoods are rubber and by now, most will have either gone hard or perished plus they are not cheap second hand.

 

Wilson

 

Thanks for the advice Wilson. I'm looking forwards to using the lens. I bought it from Tamarkin and it comes with a series 5.5 filter and original hood (apparently in good condition?) but I will get the Heavystar regardless.

[rolfe_tessem]

You will get as many responses to this question as there are Leica film M cameras.

 

If you can afford it, get an M6 classic .72. They are only a little more expensive than an equivalent condition M2 or M3 or M4.

 

Find a reasonably priced 35mm lens -- any of the CV or Zeiss lenses are fine. You will have a great experience and if you don't, you can sell it on for about what you paid.

 

In NYC, I would recommend Photo Village. They always have a good stock of used cameras and they are fairly priced.

[philcycles]

First film Leica just arrived last week. I'm working backwards from an M9, Monochrom, and M240 - I got myself a humble CL). It's for my son & nephew to use but I'm inclined to keep it and get them another one. Immaculate condition, light meter working & accurate for $427 AUD delivered.

 

The 40 Summicron is coming but I didn't realise that the CL had 50mm framelines. I've been out twice so far with it fitted with a 1.5/50 C-Sonnar and loaded with ISO 400 B&W. So much fun to use.

 

The CL's rangefinder base line is really too short to allow precise focussing with a 1.5 lens.

Phil Brown

[friedeye]

I agree with Mr. B. A student should find out of they like shooting film before buying a Leica M. It's an expensive proposition, as is film, developing, and printing and/or scanning.

 

I think a IIIf or Canon screw mount would be a good place to start - the IIIf is a wonderful, precision instrument that will last forever and is fun to shoot. The LTM lenses adapt well to an upgrade M, and even the M digitals.

[findranger]

Don't buy a Leica with a meter. You learn A LOT if you expose with sunny16 and handheld meters. More correct exposures and faster. M4-P is my suggestion.

 

Cheers.

[pico]

I agree with Mr. B. A student should find out of they like shooting film before buying a Leica M.

 

 

Permit me to double-up your recommendation. Some of my cherished images were made with old, inexpensive rangefinders. Consider the early images made with Leica's when they were crap compared to today's offerings.

 

Image quality today will absolutely not cause a great image to be disregarded.

[wlaidlaw]

The problem with all non-Leica rangefinders is that they are all getting old and unreliable, other than the Voigtlanders. At least with Leica there is still a good network of mostly excellent repairers in many countries. My M4 has just come back from Peter at CRR in Luton, looking and feeling like new, after its first major service since 1967. If you don’t like the Leica RF you buy, you can sell it on at very little different from what you bought it for.

 

I echo the thought that it is a good exercise to get one without a light meter, as it is a very useful skill, even with metered cameras, to know what the exposure should be. You can always get an MR-4 for an M Leica, which is semi-coupled (speed but not aperture) or the very neat and more accurate Voigtlander VC-2.

 

MR-4 light meters can be problematic. Some will take the cheap and long lasting silver oxide 1.55V cells and work perfectly accurately. Some like mine, will only read accurately if you use the very short life, quite expensive and more difficult to find, Wein zinc/air 1.35V 625 cells, given the absence of the correct but toxic mercury cells.

 

Wilson