CalArts 99 Posted October 6, 2013 Share #21 Posted October 6, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) With KEH I see no info on the cameras. What does one do ? Buy it then afterwards see if its in good condition? As james.liam says, KEH grades very conservatively. In case you (or anyone else) might someday use them, this is how it works with KEH: You order the item and when it arrives you have 14 days to inspect. If it doesn't meet your satisfaction (in any way whatsoever) you contact them and either ask for a full refund (including the shipping costs) or for them to exchange the item. They'll email a pre-paid return label that you print out. You then send the item back and you'll either get a full refund or an exchange (your choice.) There is your time spent inspecting, communicating, and shipping but there is no financial risk whatsoever (you'd have to spend the same time with anybody else, too.) I've purchased from them many times and only once have I had to return an item. In that case I asked for an exchange and they sent me one that was in mint condition (their "LN" rating which is at the top of their scale) at no extra charge. The original item I bought was listed as "EX" (4th down in their rating scale.) They didn't question anything and the return/exchange process was fast and very professional. In my case, the focusing helicoid (an older Nikkor AIS lens) wasn't as smooth as I expected. They are also very receptive to telephone communication (in fact, it seems they prefer that.) Two other very reputable Leica dealers to add to your list are Ken Hansen and Tony Rose. And again, I wouldn't discount a private sale from a Leica user (check some of the camera forum classifieds.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 6, 2013 Posted October 6, 2013 Hi CalArts 99, Take a look here buying a film M camera. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Frase Posted October 8, 2013 Share #22 Posted October 8, 2013 Image quality, and street photography. The lenses, compactness and feel of the camera. Also the excercise of shooting without electronics - and no light meter. Zone focussing. What are you studying? All these things can be done much cheaper with an SLR. Fair enough if you just want to get into Leicas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted October 25, 2013 Share #23 Posted October 25, 2013 since bad news travels faster than, wanted to bring some good news about a dealer, and probably a reason why you should buy at a reputable place. i bought an m6 at adorama in late may, noted the counter didn't work right, but wasn't able to get it back to them until the end of august. too late for a return (my fault) but still under their 6 month warranty, so they shipped it to leica nj. comes mid october, camera still not back yet (leica issue, not adorama) and i was going off on a trip. so they swapped me an m6 for the one i had originally bought, perfect condition, even dollars, and i was off and had a great time using the camera in scotland. even though the delay was not their fault, they stepped up and did the right thing. a good reason to buy from a good dealer. and, to be clear, other than spending money there over the years (not nearly what pros spend, not even close), i have no relationship with them at all. purely a satisfied customer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kivis Posted October 28, 2013 Share #24 Posted October 28, 2013 Thanks James. I live in NYC. I was given a 21mm lens so no M will work. Next is a 35mm I use a CV 21/4 on my M3 with an external VF. Works great. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevesurf Posted November 2, 2013 Share #25 Posted November 2, 2013 I would look into the M7, which seems to be undervalued in some eBay auctions and a great opportunity to have a recent model. Don't worry about the built-in meter and just use it in manual for your studies. I got mine at Popflash; Alex and Tony are great people and leo grade conservatively. Make sure the viewfinder and DX encoder are upgraded (purplish hue when looking at the VF). The M7's top is a solid piece of brass and the black chrome version is durable, although many folks prefer the "braising" of the MP with place paint. Also check out the Zeiss Biogon 25mm, a very good deal and an excellent lens. Best of luck to you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 3, 2013 Share #26 Posted November 3, 2013 As mentioned above, KEH has a return policy and they tend to understate the condition (usually in far better shape than listed). [...] So true. I got an M7 from KEH described as Excellent. It was in the box, sill wrapped in the original plastic. I wrote to ask why it was not 'like new' and they responded that the separately packaged batteries had been unwrapped. Amazing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 3, 2013 Share #27 Posted November 3, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would look into the M7, [...] Make sure the viewfinder and DX encoder are upgraded (purplish hue when looking at the VF). Permit me to disagree. The original DX reader is perfectly fine and the viewfinder is a trivial issue when considering the discount for the same. I have two M7s like that and they work just perfectly well. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzwave Posted November 3, 2013 Share #28 Posted November 3, 2013 Well, depend on your budget.. With $1000-1200 budget, you can find M4-2 or M4P with Voigtlander Skopar 35/2,5 (used). If you can add $300 more, you will get M6 plus lens above. The reason I skipped M7 and MP because costly, Take your time to browse classifed in RFF,L-camera,getDPI forum and visit local store to find best Leica for you and your pocket. Happy browsing and shopping, don't forget to upload the picture of your new camera and the result from first roll..enjoy ~ron~ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ansel_Adams Posted November 9, 2013 Share #29 Posted November 9, 2013 A word of advice: whatever M you get, it will not be the first. Soon you will be asking how many Ms do I want/need ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted November 17, 2013 Share #30 Posted November 17, 2013 A word of advice: whatever M you get, it will not be the first. Soon you will be asking how many Ms do I want/need ;-) I'm guessing you meant the last. It would be impossible for his first M to not be the first... I would recommend an M4-P; it is an outstanding camera. Good examples are fairly readily available for $1000(ish) in USD funds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted November 17, 2013 Share #31 Posted November 17, 2013 I would opt for the most expensive model available - preferably a mint M7 or a customized MP. The less money you spend, the higher the risk that this won't end up being your only M indeed... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 17, 2013 Share #32 Posted November 17, 2013 I would opt for the most expensive model available - preferably a mint M7 or a customized MP. cool: Me! Me! I am divesting all my Leica gear including two M7s with either a motor winder or Abrahamsson Rapid Winders and that thumbie thingie. It is an end-of-life estate kinda thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted November 17, 2013 Share #33 Posted November 17, 2013 I would opt for the most expensive model available - preferably a mint M7 or a customized MP. The less money you spend, the higher the risk that this won't end up being your only M indeed... Doesn't work... (sorry pico) Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tookaphotoof Posted November 19, 2013 Share #34 Posted November 19, 2013 A word of advice: whatever M you get, it will not be the first. Soon you will be asking how many Ms do I want/need ;-) Thought I would only need one M and it would be for film, so I ended up buying an M6. The joy of using a rangefinder was so different to my dslr, but what to do when it got darker whilst not having shot a complete roll of film? Surely a second body would make life easier. I stumbled upon a nicely priced MP at the Leica store in Berlin. Although I absolutely love film, what if I could speed things up once in a while 'when needed'? I'm considering selling all my dslr stuff to partly fund a digital M. Maybe the A7R or whatever digital camera is technically better, but I'm not looking for the ultimate pixel peeping. I'm looking for cameras that motivate me to take it with me 24/7. I think I need 3, but maybe I need more? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dikaiosune01 Posted November 21, 2013 Share #35 Posted November 21, 2013 I personally started with a leica M3. Then a MP because I wanted flash and a meter; but didn't like the weird hinged shutter winder; or rewinder. Then I picked up a M240. If I had purchased the MP first, I would have then also gotten a M3 or a MP 0.85 anyways for the larger magnification. Conclusion. No. One is not enough! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted November 21, 2013 Share #36 Posted November 21, 2013 I personally started with a leica M3. Then a MP because I wanted flash and a meter; but didn't like the weird hinged shutter winder; or rewinder. Just curious, what is the "weird hinged shutter winder?" The MP has the same advance lever as the M3 (the rewind is the same, too.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dikaiosune01 Posted November 21, 2013 Share #37 Posted November 21, 2013 Just curious, what is the "weird hinged shutter winder?" The MP has the same advance lever as the M3 (the rewind is the same, too.) I apologize for the confusion. I was initially considering the M4-P or the M6 in stead of the MP. However, both the M4-P and the M6 both have that hingled film advance (I meant to say 'film advance') . The hinge always felt weird and loose. I prefered and was very comfortable with what I had on the M3; and I didn't feel like parting with it to save a few dollars. So i bit the bullet and spent a few extra dollars on the MP over the M4-P. (the other factor was the PC-Sync flash sockets onthe M4-P fell off after the first time i attached a cord) Couldn't be happier. Having the meter is a nice bonous too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted November 21, 2013 Share #38 Posted November 21, 2013 I apologize for the confusion. I was initially considering the M4-P or the M6 in stead of the MP. However, both the M4-P and the M6 both have that hingled film advance (I meant to say 'film advance') . The hinge always felt weird and loose. Thanks, I thought that you might have meant the M4/M6 instead of the MP but I wasn't quite sure. btw, one can get the M3/MP style advance lever installed on the M4 or M6 if so desired; it's an easy and quick retrofit. That said, I personally prefer the articulated lever of the M4/M6. To me it's more ergonomic, fast to use, and easier on my thumb (the serrated metal is a bit rough after a while ) Although I much prefer the M4 over the M4-P overall. Both are fine, but the M4-P feels just a bit less refined or something. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 21, 2013 Share #39 Posted November 21, 2013 My personal favourite is the M4 but that maybe because I have had mine since new in 1967. More objectively I would now look seriously at either a Konica Hexar, which has the advantage of a wide shutter speed range and very quiet motor drive or the Zeiss Ikon, which I think has a better viewfinder than all except the M3. The rangefinder on the Ikon is considerably superior to the various Voigtlanders, on which the design is based. The standard of construction is also much higher. If it was to be my main camera, I think I would want TTL, which as well as the above non-Leicas, on Leicas limits you to the later M6, M7 and MP, all of which are excellent cameras. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted November 21, 2013 Share #40 Posted November 21, 2013 I think I would want TTL, which as well as the above non-Leicas, on Leicas limits you to the later M6, M7 and MP No TTL with the MP, Wilson. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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