sblitz Posted February 10, 2017 Share #21 Posted February 10, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) As many above have written, buy an M4. Film loading is modern, quicker than M2 or M3, camera was built to last, was a favorite in Vietnam, you will have it as long as you want it. No batteries, no electronics, just the sweet feel of mechanisms working together in perfect sync. Add a lens, 35 or 50 depending on you, and there you go. As James wrote above, buy from a reputable dealer who will back the product, bargains on Ebay are not bargains. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 Hi sblitz, Take a look here recommendations for a buy once keep forever M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
mca Posted February 10, 2017 Share #22 Posted February 10, 2017 Personally I think the best buy in terms of bang for your buck is the M6. It has a built in meter (which if you don't want to use it, it's fine, but it's still there if you need it), it's easy to use and there are a lot of them available in the second hand market, many of them with not that many use. The lens is what might make the package a little above your budget, but try to find a good M6 in the 700 or 800 range and then look for a vintage leica 35 or 50 lens or go with a zeiss, they are also good and used they are not too expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frase Posted February 10, 2017 Share #23 Posted February 10, 2017 You may get a leica body or lens but not both from a dealer for £1000, your best bet would be an M4-2 and maybe an older 50mm Summicron on ebay. Or maybe an M6 with an elmar 50mm f3.5 you could do that for less than a £1000 and could always upgrade the lens later. I can't imagine buying a body and waiting for a lens. You could easily get a Konica Hexar RF with matching lens. I think a lot of people go through the same thing thinking about buying a lens a body and keeping it forever I did the same thing bought an MP then sold it and kept my M2! The only camera that I think I will keep forever is a Nikon s3 olympic which if it was a Leica would be worth a lot more! My other thought is for a £1000 you could get a really nice Nikon f2 with some vintage fast primes! Good luck enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A miller Posted February 10, 2017 Share #24 Posted February 10, 2017 For that price - I would suggest a great condition M4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted February 11, 2017 Share #25 Posted February 11, 2017 Given your budget, I would suggest an M4-P. I have owned and used both the M4-P and the 2003 vintage MP. The MP is a very nice camera, but the M4-P is every bit as capable and even more reliable in my experience. The M4-P has no internal light meter, which is not that much of a disadvantage in my view; just get yourself a handheld meter and you are set. When I flew to Mongolia for two weeks, my MP froze up while my M4-P kept on working. The cause of the MP malfunction was an internal screw backing out due to almost 16 hours of inflight vibrations, locking up the film rewind and advance mechanisms. The M4-P was fine, though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted February 11, 2017 Share #26 Posted February 11, 2017 Any of film Leica which is free of electronics will last long. Like another 25 years at easy. It will last as long as some people will be able to do CLA for them. Pick any mechanical M you like and could afford. My choice for one and only film Leica which I like to keep and use is M4-2. Just because it was my first M and I took it to different places, dropped it once, repaired twice and printed two series of pictures which are valuable for me. I have tried two more film M Leicas, but keeping only one M4-2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amal Shaleh Posted February 11, 2017 Share #27 Posted February 11, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, I read some good reviews of the M3, most reviews recommend this camera if you go for film. I use by myself a M9, 1st FF digital Leica. I purchased it 2nd hand and I love this camera. I bought at a Leica store and the sensor was just replaced by a new one. I do not have any regret I bought this one. I sold all my lenses from Sony and Olympus. I can recommend everybody to purchase a leica (2nd a hand as well) if you want to go light on travel. Off course when budget allows. Regards, Amal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRIago Posted February 13, 2017 Share #28 Posted February 13, 2017 M6 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-A-C Posted February 13, 2017 Share #29 Posted February 13, 2017 M6. Best Leica film camera, and yes that is debatable. JMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwino Posted February 13, 2017 Share #30 Posted February 13, 2017 Having used the M4, M5, M7 and MP, I would say either the M4 or the MP. They are all great cameras. But the M4 and MP are probably the most robust, easy-to-use, repairable, and age-proof of all of them (my M4 is 50 this year!). Just depends on if you want a built-in meter or not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-A-C Posted February 15, 2017 Share #31 Posted February 15, 2017 nm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunhoy Posted February 16, 2017 Share #32 Posted February 16, 2017 M3 - single stroke if possible - cheaper than M2 and better made... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arno_nyhm Posted February 17, 2017 Share #33 Posted February 17, 2017 I've been working as a stills photographer for some 30 years.(...) which M should i buy? I'm not too concerned about measuring the light and I'll use only 35mm and 50mm lenses. wow. that one is actually as easy as it gets. you dont need any lightmeter. so its M3, M2, M4 or M-A for you. becaus why would you want to bother with parts on your camera that you won't be using anyway? 35mm frame doesn't come with the M3 (if you forget about those funny looking goggle-summarons & co.). so that one is out. M4 gives you a 135mm-frame with the 35-frame. it is on you to decide, wether that might help you in composing your 35mm-frame. but as you have some 30years of experience, i'd rather guess thatt you might not be too keen on extra lines in your viewfinder. so the M4 is out too. remaining are M2 and M-A At this stage I shall just get the camera and my budget is around £1000, which in this post Brexit era is about the same in US $..... sigh ! if someone would offer an M-A for that, i'd buy it. let's face it: you cannot afford an M-A for that. but if you look fon an M2 with that budget, you are going to be very succesfull. you will offers with button-rewind and newer M2. the newer ones have a selftimer integrated. the selftimer gives you an extra timed 2s exposuretime when you use B+seftimer. maybe you might have some ideas on unsing that one. also the selftimer might come in handy, when you want to avoid shaking the camera on pressing the shutterbutton. as the button-versions are more expensive anyway, i think you should go for ta version with selftimer. be aware, that every Leica of this age will be in desperate need for a CLA. either it has been used a lot and therefore needs it or -might be even wordse- it was hardly used and will need a CLA for standing too long. that CLA will set you back at least 500 $ € or Pounds. so you will have "only" 500 to 800 to spend on the camera. but that should easily cover it for a good copy of the M2. and: the M2 definitely will be a keeper. once you serviced it, it shouldn't need any further service for the next 30 years. have fun, looking for an M2! by the way: what lenses are you about to use? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted February 17, 2017 Share #34 Posted February 17, 2017 I was swapped my M4 for an M6. Within a year I sold my M6 and bought back a beautiful M4. Much more sturdy. You say you don't care so much for lightmetering. I do that separately with the lightweight Gossen Digisix2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted February 18, 2017 Share #35 Posted February 18, 2017 It should be: "Once I swapped my M4 for an M6" etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trivette Posted February 18, 2017 Share #36 Posted February 18, 2017 M6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted February 18, 2017 Share #37 Posted February 18, 2017 I was swapped my M4 for an M6. Within a year I sold my M6 and bought back a beautiful M4. Much more sturdy. You say you don't care so much for lightmetering. I do that separately with the lightweight Gossen Digisix2 Absolutely true! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falstaff Posted February 18, 2017 Share #38 Posted February 18, 2017 Folks, looks as if the OP bought his camera about 4 days ago http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/269364-buy-once-keep-forever-trigger-pulled/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted February 18, 2017 Share #39 Posted February 18, 2017 Indeed sometimes appalling how in this forum members can neglect the attention and time they get from fellow-members and for instance don't give an update of their decision after asking advice. 'Do put in your two cents.." was the question Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbealnz Posted February 19, 2017 Share #40 Posted February 19, 2017 To be fair he did, but in a new thread, so if you missed it................... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/269364-buy-once-keep-forever-trigger-pulled/ Gary Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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