Aplum Posted January 26, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 26, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi everyone, sorry if this has been asked before. I am saving up for my first Leica, I am a college student so I am by no means rich. The two Leica cameras that I have in mind are the M6 and M8. To start off. I have to say I prefer digital only because I don't have any places around me to develop film. At first I was almost certain that the M8 would be the camera for me. However after doing more research I found out that the M8 had problems such as sensor or LCD failure. I can't afford to buy a camera and have it break:(. Which is why I started considering the M6, all that means is having to wait longer for my film to be developed. So what do you guys think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 Hi Aplum, Take a look here New user M8 or M6. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted January 26, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 26, 2014 Welcome. Don't buy a Leica just because it's a Leica. Buy the camera you need for your purposes (and budget). Why do you want a Leica? What do you photograph? Do you really want to use a digital or a film camera? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplum Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted January 26, 2014 I usually do street photography since I live in the city, my DSLR is too "flashy" to carry around because of the mass of the body and lens. To be honest it doesn't matter to me film or digital because I already have a DSLR(however digital is nice because I don't need to spend money on development and rolls of film ). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted January 27, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 27, 2014 As you already have a digital, albeit big and flashy, it might support an argument for getting a film camera. The convenient ease of taking digital pix without apparent expense is a blessing and a curse. Several compelling web articles I've read suggest that such ease tends to inhibit planful picture taking, and brings out the auto-pilot in us all. The manual film camera with a roll having a limited number of indelible exposures seems to encourage more care per picture. So the argument goes. Of course, the actual cost of a squandered 35mm frame is pennies, while the actual cost of digital pictures is arguably higher if factoring in how often digitals are replaced relative to film cameras. If you can tolerate the wait (anticipation?) of having film sent out and back, I would lean toward a film Leica. The M3 I bought last spring is older than me, and I doubt I'll ever get rid of it. The money I saved in not buying a new camera will fund another lens or two. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 27, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 27, 2014 OK so the new camera isn't going to be your only camera, so yes you should definitely consider a film camera for a different way of working. However, even while you're saving to buy a Leica you could buy a cheap s/h film compact or rangefinder to try it out - and make sure you're doing the right thing in buying into the Leica system. I'd suggest something like a Zorki with the Jupiter 8 lens, or alternatively one of the various 1970's Canon or Olympus rangefinder compacts. If you find that you get the kind of street photography with one of those that you can't get with your DSLR then you know you're making the right move to a Leica M. As well as the M cameras, consider an older Leica LTM like a lllc or lllf - very tiny, superbly made and some great lenses are available for excellent prices. Another option might be to buy a cheaper DSLR body and lens to use for street that you don't feel so worried about. A Canon 20D with a 28mm (roughly equivalent to 50mm FF) prime is a very compact discreet camera - IMHO - and the whole outfit could be bought s/h for about £200. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplum Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted January 28, 2014 Thanks guys, appreciate the replies. It looks like I will probably go with a M6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-A-C Posted February 2, 2014 Share #7 Posted February 2, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Excellent choice. I went with an M6 to compliment my digitals and it's all I shoot now! It's hard to explain but the tactile feeling of shooting film is a lot of fun. Yes you have to wait for development but it's worth it. Let us know how it goes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplum Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted February 4, 2014 Yeah definitely, and with the money saved from a M8 to a M6, I am thinking of getting some good glass. I have in mind the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 4, 2014 Share #9 Posted February 4, 2014 I have in mind the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1. Well, that will weigh almost as much as the M6, and with the hood, will block some of the VF. Fine lens, but seems contrary to your goal to get a small, light package compared to your DSLR. If you don't need the speed, there are many other options. As far as M8 versus M6, that's not just a camera issue, of course, but an entire workflow issue. Only you can decide that. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplum Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted February 6, 2014 Do you have any lens suggestions? I will be shooting mostly low iso film 100-200 so I prefer faster lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smb Posted April 7, 2014 Share #11 Posted April 7, 2014 Go with the 50mm Summicron; the V.3 probably the least expensive. (Put is this way for a college student an M6 with a 50mm Summicron will out perform anything on campus unless someone has an M240.) You should be able to find a camera shop that has next day service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 7, 2014 Share #12 Posted April 7, 2014 Indeed, a used Summicron, 50 or 35 depending on your needs and preferences, should suffice. It did for me and my M6 (and then M7) for several decades. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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