New MP/voigtlander or pre owned M6/Elmarit

[Anbaric]

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2 hours ago, williamj said:

I agree, get the new MP because you can’t improve on it, leaving only lenses that you have to improve over time, because you know that’s what’s going to happen.

 

By improve I mean if you got a second hand MP you could improve that with a new one, and a second hand M6 can be improved with a new M6. If you go second hand M6 and second hand Leica lens that’s two things to improve. 

I don't think there's really anything to improve if you buy secondhand gear in nice condition, unless you get an old version that has been replaced by something better (the M6 is one of these cases, because the current model is a somewhat different camera with some genuine improvements). After all, your camera becomes 'used' as soon as you take it out of the box.

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[Huss]

8 hours ago, williamj said:

I agree, get the new MP because you can’t improve on it, leaving only lenses that you have to improve over time, because you know that’s what’s going to happen.

 

By improve I mean if you got a second hand MP you could improve that with a new one, and a second hand M6 can be improved with a new M6. If you go second hand M6 and second hand Leica lens that’s two things to improve. 

All my second hand Leica gear has been better than my new Leica gear, especially the disaster I had with my new 2022 M6.

And as someone else pointed out, the moment you buy it, it becomes second hand.

[ElSid]

Thanks for the insight folks! Booked in for an appointment at the Leica shop tomorrow so I'll let you know what I get!

[abb-strack]

So where did you land? 

[jpark114]

Personally I'd go a new MP so that I can have my personnal MP with a possbiliity of owning leica lens later on.   However, if you won't be making any other purchase later on or in near future, I would consider M3>M2>M4>M6 with 50mm rigid or lens of similar type.  But hey, that's just me.

What I did?  I've got a new M-A and 2022 M6....

 

[TheBestSLIsALeicaflex]

We are truly living in the Golden Age of rangefinder optics.  So many great options from Cosina, Leica, ect.  Don't let branding dissuade you there, but instead consider the desired focal length, speed, size, ect.  With film you probably want something faster than f/2.8.

Outside of the larger M5, the M's pretty much handle similarly, whether it be an M2/3 or an M6.  The shooting experience is much the same.  With older cameras you have to consider spare part availability, esp. for meters if you want/need that.  Not sure the M6 meter can be repaired.

Can't go wrong either way, really.  I've owned both the M6 and MP and the shooting experience is similar.  Both capable and give you that Leica rangefinder experience.  I've owned many Voigt. and Leica optics over the years and they're all good.

If me, shooting film, I'd go with the fastest lens in the focal length and size desired, for available light photography and DOF creativity, and then decide on the body.  So pick the lens first and then decide what you can afford in a body.

After using virtually every film M over the last many years, I've settled on the M2 as best for me, but I only shoot wides with a rangefinder.  

Don't overthink it though.  Just get something and start shooting.  Likely your journey doesn't end there; you'll accumulate other stuff over time.

 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by TheBestSLIsALeicaflex

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1 hour ago, TheBestSLIsALeicaflex said:

you'll accumulate other stuff over time

Truer words were never spoken