What is the attraction?

[CaptainScarlet]

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Hi all, 

I have just inherited an M6 and a 28mm/50mm summicron lens package and I’ve come to the conclusion that pretty and no doubt iconic as the package must be, as a Nikon digital shooter for the last 20 years, I’m looking for VR and AF and a TTL viewfinder and a memory card slot and can’t find any of them!

Don’t get me wrong, I started out with an FE2 and an FM2 and still have them, but seriously what is the attraction for this type of camera, film and everything manual, today?

I guess I’m looking for what you guys find so compelling about your chosen camera and kit and how difficult and worthwhile would it be for a Leica M newbie like me to transition from DSLR? I’m seriously interested in giving this a go, so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

Many thanks for your time

 

Alan Schenk

 

 

[jaapv]

Have a look at the results of film photography... Not to mention the enjoyment of the process. I don't think any M camera is for you - delve into the SL series.

[Pintpot]

Welcome! As I'm a Leica digital shooter (mostly) I'll not try to give you advice on an M6, but there are plenty of experienced members on the forum who will.

Happy shooting with your new camera.

Regards

[TomB_tx]

Starting in the 1960s I've used SLRs - Nikon, Canon, Pentax, etc. - but in 1968 got my first Leica (M4), and since then have used Leica M cameras much more than any other. I'd use SLRs for macro and for lenses longer than 90, but most of my shooting is 35-50-90 mm, and I find the M faster and less obtrusive for this kind of "normal" photography. I've never liked autofocus, and find the M rangefinder much faster and more positive to focus, and with the VF covering more than the lens (visible outside the frame) can instinctively shift framing to cover action. The M6 meter (twin LEDs in the finder) are also my favorite for fast exposure adjustment. (My Leica R6 SLR has the same meter readout.)

I guess mainly my decades of use have made it the easiest system for me to use, and the one I'm most comfortable with, and I prefer the feel of using the camera a lenses tactilely more pleasing.

But I can see if you haven't used one enough to make it feel natural to use, it is so different than dSLRs that it isn't appealing. 

[Stephen.s1]

Good luck Alan..  My wild guess is that you won't be happy with this.  I do hope I'm wrong. 

[maxfairclough]

You don't have to be attracted to it. 

Some like Lambo's, other's like Porsche. Some people like something old-fashioned while others like something more contemporary. 

There isn't anything inherently better about this. However if you enjoy a more hands on experience, an aesthetically beautiful camera that is a great tool, then it's a cool camera. If not, then it's not for you. 

It seems its not for you. 

[GFW2-SCUSA]

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You have inherited a valuable package. You don't have to like it and if your don't want to return to the film world you can sell it and get whatever you want.  However, you might enjoy learning a new approach to making photographs. There is nothing magical about Leica, it's a very fine tool, but just a tool, expensive, but just a tool. Jaapv's suggestion of looking into the Leica SL series is good. You can use the two lenes you have on it with wonderful results. Whatever you do, enjoy your inheritance and avoid letting it become a burden. 

[spydrxx]

Let's be honest here. There is nothing magical about Leica M film cameras. They are precision made, as are the lenses, and represent the best of their genre at the time they were made. Some people love rangefinders, some don't. Some people like AF, others like trusting their eyesight and a more contemplative approach. As a long time Leica (and others) user, I suggest you merely consider using the Leica along with the gear you are most familiar with. I continuously switch back and forth...digital/film and SLR/DSLR/Rangefinder. To me it is a natural switch based on the subject and what I feel like carrying. So enjoy both and don't fret about what the fanatics on either side say. IMHO photography should be pleasurable.

[sometimesmaybe]

8 hours ago, CaptainScarlet said:

I guess I’m looking for what you guys find so compelling about your chosen camera and kit and how difficult and worthwhile would it be for a Leica M newbie like me to transition from DSLR? I’m seriously interested in giving this a go, so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

i started shooting film around 18 months ago. the adjustment wasn't too bad. you could easily try film shooting with a F5 and use your existing nikon glass.  

film has really helped me to get a better understanding of colour (and the use of the tone curve). this has helped to improve how i edit my digital images

  

[earleygallery]

1 hour ago, sometimesmaybe said:

i started shooting film around 18 months ago. the adjustment wasn't too bad. you could easily try film shooting with a F5 and use your existing nikon glass.  

film has really helped me to get a better understanding of colour (and the use of the tone curve). this has helped to improve how i edit my digital images

  

The OP says he's got two Nikon film bodies already. Why would he want an F5?

OP - sounds like you haven't shot film for some time and are happy with your digital Nikon, so just carry on with that. Sell the Leica gear and enjoy the money for something else.

[250swb]

16 hours ago, CaptainScarlet said:

Hi all, 

I have just inherited an M6 and a 28mm/50mm summicron lens package and I’ve come to the conclusion that pretty and no doubt iconic as the package must be, as a Nikon digital shooter for the last 20 years, I’m looking for VR and AF and a TTL viewfinder and a memory card slot and can’t find any of them!

 

 

 

Many people here also use Nikon's, film or digital, the supposed difficulty of 'transition' rarely crops up. The two camera systems were an iconic combination from the 1960's onwards, Leica's were better for wide angle photography and Nikons for telephoto and photographers would have one of each slung around their neck. So you can learn to appreciate both, unless your specialisation is wildlife or macro photography in which case a Leica M is pretty much useless, but then you'd also have to question using a DSLR in a church, museum, or anywhere the loud 'clack' will draw unwanted attention. Just load a film in it, the instructions are under the baseplate.

[sometimesmaybe]

7 hours ago, earleygallery said:

The OP says he's got two Nikon film bodies already. Why would he want an F5?

i should have teased out my thought process. F5 or F6 will give him AF performance / experience close to his DSLR while allowing him to use the same glass. reduce the variables just to film so that he can decide if shooting film is worthwhile. i think his other nikons are MF only 

[willeica]

17 minutes ago, 250swb said:

Many people here also use Nikon's, film or digital, the supposed difficulty of 'transition' rarely crops up. The two camera systems were an iconic combination from the 1960's onwards, Leica's were better for wide angle photography and Nikons for telephoto and photographers would have one of each slung around their neck. So you can learn to appreciate both, unless your specialisation is wildlife or macro photography in which case a Leica M is pretty much useless, but then you'd also have to question using a DSLR in a church, museum, or anywhere the loud 'clack' will draw unwanted attention. Just load a film in it, the instructions are under the baseplate.

I agree with all of this. The Nikon F was like a Leica M3 with a pentaprism (shrunken Visoflex) and a flappy mirror, making it much more suitable for tele-photography. Even Nikon's first few attempts at metering heads were clunky and heavy and it was not until the F3 that they finally got that right at professional level, which was about time as other companies such as Pentax and Olympus had shown the way to do this. The Leicaflex and R series were too late and too expensive and not sufficiently different to survive. The M series rangefinders are what distinguishes Leica, even today. One attempt to go with metering in an M (the M5) produced a large and clunky camera which abandoned the philosophy started by Barnack in the mid 1920s. The company had to revert with the M4-2 in order to save the brand. Only with the M6 was the concept back onto the right road, a small camera with a range of superb small lenses which was suitable for particular types of photography. If Alan, the OP, is looking to continue doing what he has done with digital Nikons for the past  20 years, the Leica M range is not what he needs. Perhaps, the L range , with options from other consortium members might suit, but as I know very little about such cameras and lenses, I could not suggest that he go there, but he should at least have a look. The important distinguishing factor, however, is not the range of cameras or lenses, but the photographer and what he or she wants to do in photography.

 

William 

[CaptainScarlet]

Thanks all for taking the time and effort in providing your informative and thought provoking responses. I believe my path forward is quite clear and that is not to take a binary approach to the hobby, digital or film, DSLR or rangefinder. 

I have invested significantly in Nikon over the years and will use that in most situations, particularly for wildlife and macro, however I do find that taking a large full format camera around with any of the “holy trinity” 2.8 glass (14-24, 24-70, 70-200) has reduced the opportunity for taking pictures and one ends up resorting to one’s phone, simply due to size, weight or noise  

I like the idea of having something lighter, less obvious, but also different to an SLR and that brings me back to my original film days, where I need to think again about all the inputs for manual film photography. I have been given an opportunity to use an iconic piece of kit with what are presumably decent lenses (know idea how they compare to Nikon glass) and I’m keen to try this “zone focusing” business and not have to wait to focus every time I lift the lens!

Many thanks again

 

Alan

 

[jaapv]

Yep, zone focus is a viable workaround in some situations, but the essence of M cameras is the rangefinder, which has been provided by Leica-at not inconsiderable cost- to focus. Zone focus is best defined by controlled misfocus. 

[250swb]

3 hours ago, CaptainScarlet said:

I have invested significantly in Nikon over the years and will use that in most situations, particularly for wildlife and macro, however I do find that taking a large full format camera around with any of the “holy trinity” 2.8 glass (14-24, 24-70, 70-200) has reduced the opportunity for taking pictures and one ends up resorting to one’s phone, simply due to size, weight or noise  

You could get a Nikon Z7 or Zf, and with a adapter use all your Nikon lenses, but with another adapter also use your Leica lenses. With manual M lenses Z mount cameras give you AE, IBIS, and TTL viewing and depending on how sophisticated the adapter is even Auto Focus. 😉

[Fotoklaus]

vor 6 Stunden schrieb CaptainScarlet:

I have been given an opportunity to use an iconic piece of kit with what are presumably decent lenses (know idea how they compare to Nikon glass) and I’m keen to try this “zone focusing” business and not have to wait to focus every time I lift the lens!

Many thanks again

 

Alan

 

The most "Iconic" invention back then was the "M", the "Messucher" (german for rangefinder). The ability to focus precisely even in bad light conditions

and thet even with a f4 or f5.6 lens, as you don´t  rely on a mirror and prisma.

If you want zone focus, a perfect lens and compact size, go for a Rollei 35S.

I f you don´t have the time to "wait" for focussing then every Nikon AF-SLR will be a better choice.

But then you can just stay with your DSLR or DSLM, as using a modern AF- Film Camera is the same feeling for me.

 

 

 

 

[Anbaric]

On 4/7/2024 at 3:36 PM, CaptainScarlet said:

I have just inherited an M6 and a 28mm/50mm summicron lens package and I’ve come to the conclusion that pretty and no doubt iconic as the package must be, as a Nikon digital shooter for the last 20 years, I’m looking for VR and AF and a TTL viewfinder and a memory card slot and can’t find any of them!

Many new users have problems figuring out how to use memory cards with the M6, and unfortunately the manual isn't very helpful about this. Luckily, there are some clear instructions in this Professional Review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS-vDgQkFBY

[Pyrogallol]

47 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

Many new users have problems figuring out how to use memory cards with the M6, and unfortunately the manual isn't very helpful about this. Luckily, there are some clear instructions in this Professional Review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS-vDgQkFBY

The memory card slot is just behind your ear.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[pixie]

On 4/7/2024 at 10:36 AM, CaptainScarlet said:

Hi all, 

I have just inherited an M6 and a 28mm/50mm summicron lens package and I’ve come to the conclusion that pretty and no doubt iconic as the package must be, as a Nikon digital shooter for the last 20 years, I’m looking for VR and AF and a TTL viewfinder and a memory card slot and can’t find any of them!

Don’t get me wrong, I started out with an FE2 and an FM2 and still have them, but seriously what is the attraction for this type of camera, film and everything manual, today?

I guess I’m looking for what you guys find so compelling about your chosen camera and kit and how difficult and worthwhile would it be for a Leica M newbie like me to transition from DSLR? I’m seriously interested in giving this a go, so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

Many thanks for your time

 

Alan Schenk

 

 

I felt the  same way when I received a Leica M3, 50mm Summicron a few years ago. 57 years now with that camera! Give it a chance! AF a myth, sorry! I need to frame my images. We don't compose. Only food photographers do! Please don't compare phone shots that are sickening! It's called control. I see more images using RF!

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