satureyes Posted May 2, 2017 Author Share #21 Posted May 2, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) My vote would be for the M6. I think prices bottomed out last year and now are rising a little. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Think it's too expensive for an occasional use bit of fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 2, 2017 Posted May 2, 2017 Hi satureyes, Take a look here Adding a film M to my digital M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ShivaYash Posted May 2, 2017 Share #22 Posted May 2, 2017 Think it's too expensive for an occasional use bit of fun. You'd not lose money. Bodies can be had for £650ish in scrappy but working condition. I think a meter is must if coming from digital. Whilst I don't see such items as investments, it's nice knowing that even for a bit of fun, it won't cost you much. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satureyes Posted May 2, 2017 Author Share #23 Posted May 2, 2017 You'd not lose money. Bodies can be had for £650ish in scrappy but working condition. I think a meter is must if coming from digital. Whilst I don't see such items as investments, it's nice knowing that even for a bit of fun, it won't cost you much. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I can't see any M6 for less that £1000 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted May 2, 2017 Share #24 Posted May 2, 2017 I can't see any M6 for less that £1000 EBay. Gumtree. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satureyes Posted May 2, 2017 Author Share #25 Posted May 2, 2017 EBay. Gumtree. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Ugh. Just hate those places. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted May 2, 2017 Share #26 Posted May 2, 2017 Ugh. Just hate those places. I think there are plenty of good sellers on both platforms but of course, saving money means being extra careful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted May 2, 2017 Share #27 Posted May 2, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) The good news is that if you're just looking for a lark, many film cameras can be had for a song. Even professional-level bodies, a la the Nikon F4 or F5, are stunningly cheap. The beauty of a Leica M film body - pretty much any of 'em - is that it will integrate so well with your M10. Swapping back and forth is almost like dating twin sisters. As others have mentioned, should you bite the bullet and decide to buy a used Leica M you should be able to get exactly what you put into it, should you sell it. If you go that route, budget for a CLA. KEH sells at a mild premium, but they have an excellent reputation for understating equipment condition and they have a very good return policy. And APUG.ORG is a great resource, should you go further down the analog rabbit hole. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieJ Posted May 2, 2017 Share #28 Posted May 2, 2017 I've been thinking about getting back in the darkroom for a while. Also shooting some film and taking the negs and having a go at getting back to my routes. I have a few M lenses and think I'd like to get an analogy M body but no idea where to start when it comes to leica film bodies. The later M bodies seem costly still. Is there a model I should be looking at to get me started - well re-started! Thanks! I went from film, digital back to film. Actually: Student undergraduate - film, Work 1st career professional - film, then got out at the end of film start of digital, Went digital 2nd career - education (vocational), Back to film. I'd say go for it, if you can afford why not. When I starting looking at the M4 - one of the techs said, buy the camera that makes you want to just pick it up and start shooting again. So I did Yes I know I got the BP - cost me twice as much as a vanilla M4. Well in the end it cost me nothing as I traded my entire Nikon kit D3x, 14-24, 20, 50, 105 macro, 135 DC, 80-200. I shoot colour - digital x100s and B&W on M4 BP + 50 Summilux. Working towards my Masters/PhD reserved for my Rolleiflex 2.8e Planar in B&W. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieJ Posted May 2, 2017 Share #29 Posted May 2, 2017 Ps I'd go for a M4 or M4-P, however if you want a built in lightmeter, then a M6 Classic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert M Poole Posted May 2, 2017 Share #30 Posted May 2, 2017 When I was deciding if I should go film Leica or digital Leica I decided that the first thing to do would be to try a film rangefinder. I couldn't justify spending a lot on an M6 etc even if I could sell it back for similar to what I paid. After a lot of advice and research I purchased an Olympus 35-SP. It is a rangefinder about the same size as an M, with a built in meter (you can use hearing aid batteries as a replacement for the originals), plus spot metering, an auto mode and a fast sharp, seven element fixed lens lens. I paid £115. This is the thread in which I received the advice: http://www.fujix-forum.com/threads/cheap-rangefinder.38933/ In the end I bought an M9. I loved the camera, enjoyed shooting film and developing and scanning. But... with a toddler I found that I just don't have the time to put into developing and scanning. It isn't difficult or complicated I know but involves me having an hour or so to myself which I haven't got at the moment! If I do have a day where my wife is at work and son at nursery I like to develop a roll of Tri-X. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 2, 2017 Share #31 Posted May 2, 2017 I have two digital M and two film M. From my perspective the only two things are matter. Get working one you could afford and one you could afford to service. Not every technician will service M5, M6 is more expensive to CLA and M7 is serviced mostly by Leica. Good point about servicing of M film cameras! Something definitely to consider when making a purchase. I have two digital cameras and Leica M6 and M7 as my 35 mm film cameras. I often shoot with either M6 or M7 in parallel with my Sony A7R. I bought two film M cameras to be more flexible regarding films I am using - I don't always have to finish a roll of film to get started with another one. I can keep the unfinished film in one M camera and start a new one with the other. Why M6/M7? This was more or less luck - I found decent deals for both of them used in very good condition. When looking for a used M, I desired one which has a light meter included and one which handles 28 mm frame lines. I like the exposure wheel of the M7 better compared to the M6 (non TTL version), but really like that the M6 uses less battery power. Both do the job equally well. One thing of caution: starting with a Leica film M can be addictive, and you might use it more than your digital camera.....at least this happened to me . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted May 2, 2017 Share #32 Posted May 2, 2017 Good point about servicing of M film cameras! Something definitely to consider when making a purchase. I have two digital cameras and Leica M6 and M7 as my 35 mm film cameras. I often shoot with either M6 or M7 in parallel with my Sony A7R. I bought two film M cameras to be more flexible regarding films I am using - I don't always have to finish a roll of film to get started with another one. I can keep the unfinished film in one M camera and start a new one with the other. Why M6/M7? This was more or less luck - I found decent deals for both of them used in very good condition. When looking for a used M, I desired one which has a light meter included and one which handles 28 mm frame lines. I like the exposure wheel of the M7 better compared to the M6 (non TTL version), but really like that the M6 uses less battery power. Both do the job equally well. One thing of caution: starting with a Leica film M can be addictive, and you might use it more than your digital camera.....at least this happened to me . With Leica we could always find our ways. I'm using my digital ones for family pictures and for some local events, where media will not deal with film pictures. But digital Leica cameras simply don't work for me if I want to take street pictures or something more advanced then blooming flower (those I take with M-E and Elmar 90 f4) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemgb Posted May 2, 2017 Share #33 Posted May 2, 2017 I added a film M to my collection earlier this year. I looked at both the M2 and M3, I was leaning towards the M3 because my primary lens has always been a 50mm, however, in use, the viewfinder of the M2 suits me much better because I wear glasses. I can see the whole of the 50mm frame lines without mashing it against my face. As others have mentioned I now find myself using the M2 more than my digital cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted May 20, 2017 Share #34 Posted May 20, 2017 Get the M4, built like a tank, modern film changing method, 35/50/90/135 frame lines (28 too if you presume the whole viewfinder = 28). Perfectly manual, no flare in the viewfinder (unlike M6), you have to learn some exposure but it makes a wonderful companion to the all electronic M10. See in a few months which one you grab first :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 20, 2017 Share #35 Posted May 20, 2017 Get the M4, built like a tank, modern film changing method, 35/50/90/135 frame lines (28 too if you presume the whole viewfinder = 28). Perfectly manual, no flare in the viewfinder (unlike M6), you have to learn some exposure but it makes a wonderful companion to the all electronic M10. See in a few months which one you grab first :-) Just no internal light meter in the M4....was the dealbreaker for me at the time when I decided which film M to get. But you are right, main con of the M6 is the stupid flaring viewfinder, and I don't want to vest $$$ to have it replaced at Leica (and waiting many weeks to get my camera back). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted May 20, 2017 Share #36 Posted May 20, 2017 Just no internal light meter in the M4....was the dealbreaker for me at the time when I decided which film M to get. But you are right, main con of the M6 is the stupid flaring viewfinder, and I don't want to vest $$$ to have it replaced at Leica (and waiting many weeks to get my camera back). Depending on your budget, think about an M7 ..... Also, the very first M4-2s have the M4 viewfinder and don't flare, the later ones have a different condenser (?) and do, since the M6 has the same, wasn't changed (I believe) until the M7...... M4-2 can be had cheap relatively, as they are considered less well made than the M4. They are, but there are plenty of people on this forum who believe the camera is great and since you are just looking for an analog companion, check the M4-2 -- but the very early ones (a little Google work will reveal the serial numbers, etc). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 20, 2017 Share #37 Posted May 20, 2017 Depending on your budget, think about an M7 ..... Also, the very first M4-2s have the M4 viewfinder and don't flare, the later ones have a different condenser (?) and do, since the M6 has the same, wasn't changed (I believe) until the M7...... M4-2 can be had cheap relatively, as they are considered less well made than the M4. They are, but there are plenty of people on this forum who believe the camera is great and since you are just looking for an analog companion, check the M4-2 -- but the very early ones (a little Google work will reveal the serial numbers, etc). Also have the M7... ...found it on a very good deal after I got my M6 and decided to have two film M cameras to be more flexible which kind of films to use in parallel. The M7 viewfinder also flares sometimes but much less than the M6 does. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted May 20, 2017 Share #38 Posted May 20, 2017 I've been looking at the Canon QL17iii but prices seem around 100 to 200 for a good version. That's a good idea! The Canonet Q-17 G-III was a highly desirable rangefinder some years ago. Compact, light, fun to use with little worry of loss. The lens is certainly good enough for the price. A former employee walked into my department several years ago and presented the camera and apologetically said, "This what I just got. It was my mothers." Two photographers in the department chimed at once, "I'll buy it!" I told him to enjoy it. He did. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemgb Posted May 21, 2017 Share #39 Posted May 21, 2017 That's a good idea! The Canonet Q-17 G-III was a highly desirable rangefinder some years ago. Compact, light, fun to use with little worry of loss. The lens is certainly good enough for the price. A former employee walked into my department several years ago and presented the camera and apologetically said, "This what I just got. It was my mothers." Two photographers in the department chimed at once, "I'll buy it!" I told him to enjoy it. He did. What he said, I just sent my M2 off for a CLA and while it is gone my Canon QL-17 is going to get a lot of use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adli Posted May 25, 2017 Share #40 Posted May 25, 2017 ... I have MP, M2 and M4. The nicest build and most solid is M2. Others feel hollow in comparison, but still very nice. Just get an M2 Just curious, how do you find the M2 nicer more solid built that the M4? The M2 is basically a downstripped M3? Nicer is of course subjective, but I have an M3 and an M4. They seem equally solid, both noticeably better than my M6. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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