Good leica m for leica beginner

[reniwqwil5]

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Hello everybody, I have photographed alot til this day with a sony camera (alot of nature and milkyway photography) and have decided to up my skills and photography to leica cameras, specificly the leica m-body. I have a budget of up to 1,900€, so i'm pretty limited on the budget side of things. I hope you guys can offer me your advice on this topic, thank you beforehand!

[Good To Be Retired]

30 minutes ago, reniwqwil5 said:

 I hope you guys can offer me your advice on this topic

You're looking at a brand where the empty box goes for $100.  Stick with Sony. 

Assuming you can locate something within your budget you'll still have to put a lens on it.  

And whatever you get within that budget, you'll want to upgrade from the time you take it out of the box.  Not particularly as a result of what you purchased, it's just the way it is with Leica's

Having said that, go to eBay and start looking at the M8 and the M9.  If you find an M, it would be good if it had the original sensor replaced, as some of the originals experienced difficulties.

 

Edited July 25, 2020 by Good To Be Retired

[earleygallery]

37 minutes ago, reniwqwil5 said:

alot of nature and milkyway photography

So which lens/es do you use for these subjects?

Also, why do you think the Leica M will be a good system for your needs?

[Good To Be Retired]

3 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

Oops.  Poor reading comprehension.  Sorry.

 

Edited July 25, 2020 by Good To Be Retired

[earleygallery]

6 minutes ago, Good To Be Retired said:

 

???

[Mikep996]

Sadly, I agree.   You might be able to find a decent M8 on Ebay for around your budget but as noted, you would still need a lens which would then put you well over.    Have you used an M camera at all?  If not, maybe you could try one at a camera shop or rent one for a day or two.  You might find that it's not really what you want...or maybe the opposite!

[TomB_tx]

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Many people who have started out with digital photography (dSLR or EVF) and try Leica M don’t adapt to it, as rangefinder cameras are quite different. A digital M is a big investment only to find you don’t care for rangefinders.

Your budget could set you up quite well with a film M body and a couple of good non-Leica lenses, which would be an even bigger change. Would you like to try film photography?

[analog-digital]

vor einer Stunde schrieb reniwqwil5:

Hello everybody, I have photographed alot til this day with a sony camera (alot of nature and milkyway photography) and have decided to up my skills and photography to leica cameras, specificly the leica m-body. I have a budget of up to 1,900€, so i'm pretty limited on the budget side of things. I hope you guys can offer me your advice on this topic, thank you beforehand!

Leica M240 an a NON Leica lens....

[Jeff S]

6 minutes ago, analog-digital said:

Leica M240 an a NON Leica lens....

For $2k?  Good luck with that.

Jeff

[01af]

vor einer Stunde schrieb reniwqwil5:

... and have decided to up my skills and photography to Leica cameras, specifically the Leica M body.

'Up to Leica'? Bad incentive. I see frustration, disappointment, and disillusion ahead.

If you want a Leica then go ahead. But don't buy it for the wrong reasons and unreal expectations. A Leica is fun, is good, is expensive. But it won't 'up' your skills or your photography. Also, your budget is too tight.

[Guest BlackBarn]

35 minutes ago, reniwqwil5 said:

and have decided to up my skills and photography to leica cameras, specificly the leica m-body.

I’m fairly certain it’s not the camera which ‘ups the skills’  unless you consider Leica may be a camera which encourages you to engage with photography more and therefore a catalyst for upping your skills. Cameras, regardless of make, can do that and in different ways.
 

Assuming you have identified the skills you would like to improve on I would suggest funding the education not the camera route first. If you feel the Leica must come first then possibly hire/borrow one to see if the expectations match. If it does....be patient....something should come along.

 

[Herr Barnack]

Quote

... I have a budget of up to 1,900€, so i'm pretty limited on the budget side of things...

@reniwqwil5

Welcome to the forum!

You want an M camera and a lens and your budget is 1,900€.  Okay, here goes.

For that amount of money, you could get a good used film M body like an M2, M3, M4, M4-2 or M4-P and a used 50mm f/2.8 Elmar M lens, or a new Voightlander with the Leica M mount - that's really about it, given your budget.  The 40mm Summicron that was made for the film based Leica CL could also be an option.  The film CL is a nice little camera and you might want to consider it - but you want an M and the CL is not an M.

You are not going to be able to get a used digital M camera that meets your budget, not even an M8 unless it is in need of repair or has been beaten half to death.  That having been said, there is nothing at all wrong with a good used M4 series camera (the M4-P is the film M I use and it is what I would recommend). 

Shooting film rather than digital is worth considering, given your budget constraints.  Unfortunately, even used Leica M cameras and lenses can be costly.  It's just the nature of the beast.

Hope this helps...

Edited July 25, 2020 by Herr Barnack

[Dennis]

3 hours ago, reniwqwil5 said:

I have a budget of up to 1,900€

Not enough.

Better to get a Ricoh GRIII Street photography edition (with the extra VF included) and with the rest you pay the travel.

Edited July 25, 2020 by Dennis

[Herr Barnack]

Not an M camera, but the Ricoh GR III would be a good choice. 

So would this:  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1542674-REG/fujifilm_x100v_digital_camera_black.html

 

 

[IkarusJohn]

He wants a Leica M!

Here’s a functional M8, and Elmarit-M 28/2.8 for USD 1,880:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M8-lens-Leitz-Canada-Elmarit-M-f-2-8-28mm/264801425847?hash=item3da76519b7:g:NjgAAOSwOWlfFIrO

I just did one search - I think your goal is achievable, but do you know what you’re getting into?  The Elmarit will give you a 35mm field of view (the M8 has an APS-H sensor).  I haven’t owned one, but people who have had them love them.  Also, look out for an M9 (with the second version sensor replacement).  Get one lens - you have a choice of over 60 years of Leica M mount lenses, and Zeiss and Voigtlander to choose from.

A word of warning, though - you’re embarking on a bit of an adventure - a worthwhile one, in my view, but it’s a steep learning curve ... Also, bear in mind that the rangefinder is best at focal lengths 28-90, no zooms, no telephotos!  If you get bit, prepare yourself for your savings to vanish 😅

[LocalHero1953]

Yes, a Leica M can up your skills - in a way - it did it to mine. The moment I started using a M9, my first digital Leica, I realised I had a camera that was far more capable than I was, and more capable than any other (digital) camera I'd owned. The realisation drove me to shoot more, and evaluate my shots more critically, than ever before. I am absolutely sure it upped my skills.

[analog-digital]

vor 16 Stunden schrieb Jeff S:

For $2k?  Good luck with that.

Jeff

I would say for $$ 2500.-$$ it is possible.

[Jeff S]

34 minutes ago, analog-digital said:

I would say for $$ 2500.-$$ it is possible.

Not for a nice M240 (let alone with included lens) from a reputable Leica dealer with warranty and return policy,  which is the only source I would recommend for the OP, especially as a first Leica purchase. At least not in the US; can’t speak for other.

Jeff

Edited July 26, 2020 by Jeff S

[analog-digital]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb Jeff S:

At least not in the US; can’t speak for other.

That's it! US is NOT the world.

The SL is also a choice ....

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[astrostl]

I would suggest picking up a Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2 Aspherical Lens for Sony E (50mm FOV on full frame, 75mm on APS-C). Stellar performance and all-manual.