I got the M2, M3 and the M6 but want to keep only one of them.

[DoubleE]

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I added to this thread a couple of months ago.  At that time my only Leica was an M3.  Since then I acquired an M2 with the intention of selling it or the M3 after I figured out which I preferred.  Turns out I love them both, can't bring myself to part with either.  If I was going to get a Leica with internal metering, my personal choice would be the M5, which has the build and feel of the earlier Ms, but... electronics fail and sooner or later replacement parts will become unavailable.   Battery formats become obsolete or impossible to source.  Also, these days there are plenty of aftermarket cold shoe meters that are very compact.

 

[BartS]

A M3 with dedicated 50mm and a M2 with a dedicated 35mm is a lovely combination and is easily fits in a small bag. I also have a M6 but i like the M2 and M3 more.

[BartS]

On 8/6/2022 at 12:49 PM, colint544 said:

A lot of us in a similar boat here, owning more than one film M. But lots of different preferences. Me, I had an early (1985) M6 for 16 years, and that camera went everywhere with me. Never let me down. I know the current owner, and she says it's still going strong, although the meter is now playing up. 

These days I have an M2, M4, and an M5. I consider myself fortunate I got these many years ago, when they were still affordable. Don't think I could sell any of them. 

But there's something special about the M2. Really special. The simple frame lines mostly, especially the ones for 50mm and 35mm. Solid, complete, and bright. I don't think any other 0.72 viewfinder M has this, where you only get the one frame line at a time. The flare-free viewfinder is great too, nicer than the one in the M6. But also the loading and unloading system. People complain it's slow, but with practice I don't find that. And it's utterly secure. The film never slips off the take-up spool, and you're in no doubt when you've reached the end of the roll. I think it's the most 'zen' M camera I've used.

There's also something nice about not having a meter. When I got the camera, I initially missed the meter of the M6. I'd take meter readings, using an app on my phone, for every shot. This was in 2013. As I used the camera more, I'd guess the exposure, then check what the meter said. Eventually I stopped using the meter. I'm nearly always shooting Portra 400, which I rate at 320 ISO. For me, that's 1/250th at 5.6 on a sunny day. Overcast day, knock the speed down to 1/125th. Indoors, open the lens up, maybe reduce the speed down to 1/50th or 1/30th.

The negatives turn out bang on. The more film you shoot this way, the more your confidence at guessing the exposure grows. It's very satisfying. Perhaps if I were shooting Kodachrome 64, it would be a different story, but it's only colour neg, and if you err on the side of overexposure it's hard to go wrong. I can't tell you how freeing it is not to be chasing those little red arrows around in the viewfinder. 

But I can totally understand only wanting to own a single camera. That, in itself, is pretty zen. 

I have the same experience. Used the M6 since 1998 and got ma M3 (and recently a M2) two years ago. And while the M6 is great, shooting with the M2 or M3 is certainly more "zen". It feels different. I did not realize how good it feels if you only see the simple  35mm or 50mm frameline (on the M2) or the 50mm (on the M3). Also the shutter release (pressure point) is nicer and the film advance is smoother. And not heaving to worry about the battery is also nice.  All combined it gives a great experience.

And I always thought I was probably the only one who likes film loading on the M2 or M3 more than on the M6 but I'm not the only one ;). Film loading on M2/M3 never fails. It is always exactly aligned with the little pins on the wheels and you get the most pictures out of your film possible. On the M6 different story, maybe I'm to clumsy but after putting the film in on several occasions the films slipped and would not advance. I took me a lot of time to get it right. Also the electronic circuit sometimes failed so the light meter did not work but after a CLA this was solved, anyway, it is a little annoying when you expect a light meter and it does not work. With M2 and M3 you know that you don't have a light meter.
Also my M6 needs a repair for the second time in three years time because the frame counter will not reset. It's not that important but it costs a lot of money (repair is always combined with a complete  CLA) and it gives me the feeling the quality of the M2 and M3 is a little bit better (never had problems with these camera's).
But I cannot say I don't love the M6, all M camera's are great and the differences are very subtle.  

Edited August 20, 2022 by BartS

[Pyrogallol]

My Leica repair man advises with the M6 to turn the ISO dial on the back door of the camera from one end to the other several times to clean up the contacts if the meter is playing up.

[Greenacres]

Around 6 or 7 years ago I decided that I wanted a film M to accompany my M9, so I did some research and decided that an M2 was the one for me. Luckily my preferred shop in Edinburgh had a very nice M2, so we agreed on a price and I took it home with me. I loved using the M2, it feels great in my hands, is solidly constructed, and has a lovely clear viewfinder. After a couple of years I decided that I would like an M6 too, just for the meter, so I got a beautiful mint M6 Classic. I used the M6 in preference to the M2, but soon realised that it just wasn’t as nice to use as the M2. I made the difficult decision to sell the M6, and now realise that the M2 will stay with me forever. It just feels right for me. I subsequently found out that my M2 was made in November 1962, the same year I was born, and that makes it even more special to me. So the M2 gets my vote!

[rtai]

I tend to be more practical about cameras which are just tools to get that photo. I only do street photography and automation like AE helps me shoot faster and my successful photos are always made when the light is ideal, just after sunrise and just before sunset when the light changes too fast and constantly checking my handheld metering distracts me from my purpose. My favorite M camera was the M7 for this reason so given a choice I would like to at least have a built in meter. 

[otto.f]

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OP has long been gone

[Huss]

On 8/11/2022 at 7:43 AM, DoubleE said:

.. my personal choice would be the M5, which has the build and feel of the earlier Ms..

 

I have the M5, as well as other Ms, and the M5 feels nothing like earlier Ms!  Or later ones.

[BradS]

I was in a similar situation as the OP. I had an M2 and an M4-P and an M6. So, I sold the M4-P and the M6 and bought another M2 and a new M6 !

Hmmm, that didn't turn out as planned or desired. What to do? What to do.....

[shirubadanieru]

After having tried all film Leicas by far the most enjoyable ones are M3 M2 M4. The rest is ok, but does not quite match the first three. M3 and M2 are simply outstanding, and if you shot 50mm, the M3 viewfinder is just pure bliss. 

[Michael Geschlecht]

39 minutes ago, shirubadanieru said:

After having tried all film Leicas by far the most enjoyable ones are M3 M2 M4. The rest is ok, but does not quite match the first three. M3 and M2 are simply outstanding, and if you shot 50mm, the M3 viewfinder is just pure bliss. 

Hello  shirubadanieru,

And, if a person uses a 90mm lens, for which it is clear: The M3 was designed around. Or/& if you use a 135mm lens WITHOUT goggles: An M3 is even better than it is with a 50mm lens.

Best Regards.

Michael

[JMF]

1 hour ago, shirubadanieru said:

After having tried all film Leicas by far the most enjoyable ones are M3 M2 M4. The rest is ok, but does not quite match the first three. M3 and M2 are simply outstanding, and if you shot 50mm, the M3 viewfinder is just pure bliss. 

+1

Have you tried a M-A ?! 😉

Edited September 18, 2022 by JMF

[shirubadanieru]

10 minutes ago, JMF said:

+1

Have you tried a M-A ?! 😉

Yes, still prefer the M3 & M2 Maybe it was just my MA (had two) but it never felt as well built as the 1950s Leicas. For example, a lot of dust would go in the viewfinder and I had to ask Leica to clean it every couple of months, whereas with the M3/M2/M4 that has never happened. My ranking would be:

M3 > M2 > M4 > M-A > M-P > M6 > M6 TTL > M5

Actually never tried the M7 but I know I wouldn’t like it ahah 

[a.noctilux]

On 9/15/2022 at 6:59 PM, otto.f said:

OP has long been gone

Internet Wonder 🙂, yes

but the thread will stay "for ever".

[a.noctilux]

6 hours ago, shirubadanieru said:

Yes, still prefer the M3 & M2 Maybe it was just my MA (had two) but it never felt as well built as the 1950s Leicas. For example, a lot of dust would go in the viewfinder and I had to ask Leica to clean it every couple of months, whereas with the M3/M2/M4 that has never happened. My ranking would be:

M3 > M2 > M4 > M-A > M-P > M6 > M6 TTL > M5

Actually never tried the M7 but I know I wouldn’t like it ahah 

Good taste 😉.