First film Leica M camera

[grahamc]

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On 3/6/2022 at 9:05 AM, stray cat said:

My own journey led me to the M6TTL. Firstly, I occasionally use flash and value TTL flash especially. Secondly, because only the meter is battery dependent. There’s a lot of talk about M6TTL circuit boards failing and being irreplaceable. Well I haven’t actually heard of any failing - yet. I have three of the cameras, one in each viewfinder strength. If and when the boards fail, and this was crucial to my decision, the only thing I’ll lose is the meter. Otherwise the cameras will go on as outstanding meterless cameras exactly like all those meterless Leicas that went before them. I don’t know if the M5 is similar, in that only the meter is battery-dependent, but I know with the M7 and I think the MP that once the circuit board goes, the camera is rendered inoperable. But I have Canons and Nikons from the ‘80s and ‘90s with circuit boards and they’re all still working just fine, so I think the issue is somewhat overstated anyway. As for the dreaded flaring viewfinder patch, I think I’ve noticed it only once or twice in the thirteen years since I bought my first M6TTL, in extreme circumstances where the camera was pointed virtually directly into the sun, and simply shading the top of the camera with a hand on those occasions solved it instantly.

I’ve really enjoyed the TTL flash capabilities of the M6 TTL also.  My 0.72 is a great all rounder and keeper

[pinchers of peril]

Did the original poster end up getting his body and lens?  My first body (and only one at this point) is a classic M6 and my first lens (also only lens at this point ha ha) is the Zeis 50mm F2 planar.  I love this set up and honestly will probably not be changing it for a long time.  I bought both about 5 years ago and the prices have gone up considerably.  The m6 has been great.  I do occasionally get the dreaded "white out" in the viewfinder but can usually just move my eye a bit to fix it.  I know you can get the viewfinders changed out with an MP viewfinder but I couldn't justify the cost (although I've heard great things about making this change).  The 50mm can definitely feel "too tight" at times, but I like taking portraits so I thought this would be better suited than the 35mm.  Let us know what you end up getting.  I spend all my money on film these days so it's fun seeing other people get new (old) equipment.  

[opt817]

This weekend I'll visit a colector of an old analogue cameras and I hope I'll find anything from Leica. 

I'll inform you about my impressions.

[a.noctilux]

On 3/9/2022 at 10:43 PM, opt817 said:

This weekend I'll visit a colector of an old analogue cameras and I hope I'll find anything from Leica. 

I'll inform you about my impressions.

Even if you don't "find" anything to buy, you will discover his/her treasure 😉.

And some precious advices, I think.

[StephenH]

I would go with an M5 if you are more interested in  taking pictures, an M6 or any of its variants if you are more interested in the Leica "mystique".  Try to find a later M5, one with three lugs, as they supposedly fixed some design flaws later on in the production run.  The meter is excellent, a true spot meter so you have to bias your readings based on what you are actually metering in the scene.  I use readily available silver oxide batteries (as opposed to the banned mercury PX 625 for which the camera was specified) with an adapter which steps the voltage down and the meter is accurate.  Its finder is not as good as the meterless M3, but it does have the advantage of 35 mm frame lines.  As for a lens, I shoot mine with the Voigtlander "pancake" 35mm 2.5 color Skopar which is plenty sharp for my purposes.

 

And while the prices have gone up, you can find them for a lot less than M6's.  

[otto.f]

On 3/5/2022 at 10:34 PM, opt817 said:

have found Jonathan Notley website with very interesting flow chart

How old is this chart? In my country an M6 in good state from a reputable dealer with 3 months warranty is not possible anymore under $2000.

 

I vote for the M4 with incident light metering with de Gossen Digisix2, I don't see any argument for the bulky M5 which has more chance of failures than any other M starting from M3

Edited March 13, 2022 by otto.f

[kivis]

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i use an ISO app on my iPhone called myLightMeter. Convenient and very accurate.

[opt817]

Unfortunately visit at collector of old analogue cameras was dissapointment. He has 2 good medium format Linhof cameras with a lot of Zeiss objectie lenses and a lot of useless 35 film camera in bad shape, so nothing interesting.

So I ordered second hand M4-2 camera, bought from Denmark. Hopefully it will work OK. Objective lens from Zeiss 50mm f/2 was already sold.

Now I have to source good budget version of lens with focal length 35 or 50mm? My plan is to do mostly B&W photography, so I'm looking for a lens which has best visual "impact" on film.

Thank for suggestions.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[a.noctilux]

Very nice combo to begin with.

M4-2 is the less "talk about" or "loved" as we all know there was myth/story/etc. about the M4-2 first released.

I use one or two/three for many years and those M4-2 work as it should, they never need to be repaired.

 

Side note, I have one M4-2 with stuck/half show 90 framelines, I use "happily" for decades as is, recently it was repaired/checked and said the repairer

"nothing wrong".

[Huss]

6 hours ago, opt817 said:

Unfortunately visit at collector of old analogue cameras was dissapointment. He has 2 good medium format Linhof cameras with a lot of Zeiss objectie lenses and a lot of useless 35 film camera in bad shape, so nothing interesting.

So I ordered second hand M4-2 camera, bought from Denmark. Hopefully it will work OK. Objective lens from Zeiss 50mm f/2 was already sold.

Now I have to source good budget version of lens with focal length 35 or 50mm? My plan is to do mostly B&W photography, so I'm looking for a lens which has best visual "impact" on film.

Thank for suggestions.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Congrats!  When you get it remove the sync caps cover.  That cover can snag and rip out the sync sockets.  Happened to my M4-2.  In the M4-2 they are only anchored in plastic, not metal like previous Leicas.

[otto.f]

20 hours ago, opt817 said:

good budget version of lens with focal length 35 or 50mm

Congrats, looks very nice!
The best quality/price Leica lens is the Elmar 50 M (latest), if you can live with 2.8. The Summicron 35 iv is ridiculously expensive these days, so many people turn to the CV Ultron ii. On film I’m not overwhelmed by this lens though, I might prefer the Summaron 35/2.8 especially if you go for B&W mainly. 

Edited March 16, 2022 by otto.f

[opt817]

I'm looking for ONE objective lens solution and it is hard decision, but closest to all parameters is:

 

Voigtlander 35mm F2.0 ULTRON aspherical, new for about 750€

Any other possible solutions, especially second hand in EU, because I've exausted my purse quite a bit by purchasing M4-2, but I want good lens for B&W photography?

 

[otto.f]

1 hour ago, opt817 said:

I'm looking for ONE objective lens solution and it is hard decision, but closest to all parameters is:

 

Voigtlander 35mm F2.0 ULTRON aspherical, new for about 750€

Any other possible solutions, especially second hand in EU, because I've exausted my purse quite a bit by purchasing M4-2, but I want good lens for B&W photography?

 

You’ll take version ii I hope

[opt817]

On barrel it is not written which type it is? From specification I've read that exists type I and II.

Later is probaly better?

[otto.f]

43 minutes ago, opt817 said:

On barrel it is not written which type it is? From specification I've read that exists type I and II.

Later is probaly better?

Yes that’s true, but the box should say so. But €750 is the price for a new one and v1 is not being made anymore. My recently bought Ultron ii has number 7130048. I recommend the LH-4N hood, the other one is a laugh

Edited March 16, 2022 by otto.f

[opt817]

Any experiences you can share about Voigtlander 35mm F2.0 ULTRON aspherical, type 2?

For what type of photography are you using Ultron 35mm f/2, B&W, color or both?

[otto.f]

1 hour ago, opt817 said:

Any experiences you can share about Voigtlander 35mm F2.0 ULTRON aspherical, type 2?

For what type of photography are you using Ultron 35mm f/2, B&W, color or both?

Post #191

[opt817]

I need help with deciding between 2 objective lenses from same manufacturer:

Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.4 M.C. VM II für Leica M, EU price around 630€

Voigtländer Ultron 35mm f/2,0 asph, VM II, EU price around 530€

 

My question is, that for 100€ less I gain 1 stop more for low light photography with Nokton 35mm f/1.4.

What is your experiences with those lenses? Has  Nokton 35mm 1.4 bigger focus shift comapared to Ultron 35mm f/2,0 asph?

 

 

[opt817]

Correction:

comparison between 2 objective lenses:

 

Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.4 M.C. VM II für Leica M, EU price around 630€

Voigtländer Ultron 35mm f/2,0 asph, VM II, EU price around 730€

 

Objective lens Ultron 35mm f/2 is slower and more expensive at 730€, Nokton 35mm f/1.4 is 100€ cheaper and has advantage of 1 stop?

Which one is "better" lens, more universal? Which one has greater "focus shift" problems?

Any recommendation?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[giannis]

1 hour ago, opt817 said:

Correction:

comparison between 2 objective lenses:

 

Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.4 M.C. VM II für Leica M, EU price around 630€

Voigtländer Ultron 35mm f/2,0 asph, VM II, EU price around 730€

 

Objective lens Ultron 35mm f/2 is slower and more expensive at 730€, Nokton 35mm f/1.4 is 100€ cheaper and has advantage of 1 stop?

Which one is "better" lens, more universal? Which one has greater "focus shift" problems?

Any recommendation?

The general idea is that the Ultron is a technically better lens, with regards to sharpness and focus shift. The Nokton sacrifices *a bit* on that front, but is small (especially for its speed, it's virtually the same size as the Ultron) and one speed faster, and cheaper to boot. It has a bit of glow at f/1.4 (not really unsharp though), but it's perfectly "normal" and sharp stopped down. Personally I find it a great starter lens, because it can give you a bit of pleasing character at wide open for those environmental portraits, it's a fine lens stopped down for general purpose, and it's a great size and speed to be a single-lens kit. The fact that it's (relatively) cheap is the cherry on top.

You should look into some samples though. Both direct technical comparisons, but also some general purpose real world samples. So you can judge, say, if the sharpness of the Nokton is adequate to you, or if you like its bokeh or whatever else.