Moving on from M?

[chris_tribble]

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An admission.  Since I got the Q3 43, the only cameras I've used have been the Q and an SL2 system (2 bodies / 24-90 / 90-280 + 75 AP)).  My M10-R + 28 & 35 Summicron asphs + a VC 90 Apo have languished in a cupboard. Generally speaking, if I've not used something for 6 months and I can't see a situation (professional or personal) where I'd chose to use it, I have to question whether I should hold on to it.  I'm not a great camera fondler - and certainly not a collector.  

At the moment, the Q3 43 is proving to be an ideal companion camera, and the SL2s do the job on professional projects.  I've also arrived at a point in life where I'm not going to be getting on a plane to Bihar to document village education systems with a bag of high iso film Fuji slide film and an M6 + 28 /35 / 90. So, what to do?  I've been positively surprised by how well the re-sale price of the M10-R has held up (just black chrome - not BP, and negatively surprised by the low value of the M Summicrons - but there would be enough to get a Q3 Monochrome.  The rationale here is that this would open up a completely different way of working (particularly for landscape and architecture) and offer me a chance to explore an alternative aesthetic.

No longer having an M will be very strange (I learned to take photos with my father's Leica IIIc), and got my first M6 40 years ago.  However, I also never envisaged back then how digital would impact everything and how good EVFs could become and how useful image stabilisation and AF are. 

I'd be interested to hear any experiences others have had if they've already made the jump, or, if you're juggling with the same issues as me at the moment, what you think the options might be.   

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[vdeneke]

Hi Chris, I visited Uganda and South Corea with SL3-S and Q43, I missed the feeling of manual focussing with the rangefinder. I´m glad to stiil have my M10-r for "meditation" 😉 during taking photos.

Cheers,

Volker

[irenedp]

No. The Ms, and a Q2, are my light equipment. I usually prefer to carry the Ms (9P, 10r) for work. 
as heavier equipment I use a Phase One IQ4 back and an S3 as a backup. 
The Leica SL falls in between, I guess. Not my type of choice. Neither would I use a Q for work instead of the Ms. I love using them. The Q is a backup. 
 

I reckon that everyone gets to love some equipment and disregard other. There are rational pros and cons to each choice but I don’t think those are the ultimate driver of why we prefer or love something 

[Olaf_ZG]

After selling my last M, the m10m, I missed the monochrom experience, so in the end I did rebought a M (m9m). As you still have a m6, you can always fall back on the m- feeling if you want. A set of q’s is not a bad thing to use.

[pgk]

2 hours ago, chris_tribble said:

I'd be interested to hear any experiences others have had if they've already made the jump, or, if you're juggling with the same issues as me at the moment, what you think the options might be.   

I have owned Ms for the best pat of 45 years. At the moment my carry around camera (all the time) is my M9 & 35/1.4 which has taken many photos I like. I also have Sony EVF and Nikon dSLR cameras and lenses too. I'm not about to ditch the M9, but I do understand the issues and have, and still do, consider the options if and when I decide the time has come to move away from rangefinders (the M-EV1 holds absolutely no attraction for me). I've hummed and ha'd over a monochrome camera for some time but then again I quite enjoy converting colour images (especially when 'seen' in B&W) and have no hang ups about doing so which means that I've never actually moved in that direction and it would be expensive to do so and probably is simply not worth it to me. 

So the options left are considerable. But little really appeals to me or would really significantly improve the possibilities for taking photos that I already have. For a relatively minimal spend I can buy a few more used Nikon dSLR lenses, which I have no doubt will produce excellent images, and this is a route I may actually go down. The thought of buying new lenses with the marginal improvements they offer does not appeal, and I have already sold some Sony lenses off and may sell more. Sony lenses are great but some don't really work as well for me as their specification suggests they should, despite being great performers. Their ergonomics are a bit hit and miss for me and already models some are being replaced which suggests that they are regarded as needing updating. So the options are tricky. I will wait until I am at a point when I know my Ms will not get so much use and then decide so perhaps you will document your solution here because it may prove useful!

[chris_tribble]

3 hours ago, irenedp said:

 reckon that everyone gets to love some equipment and disregard other. There are rational pros and cons to each choice but I don’t think those are the ultimate driver of why we prefer or love something 

Ah, those emotions!  Thanks for the thoughtful responses @vdeneke, @irenedp, @Olaf_ZG, @pgk.  still mulling.  It’s possible that in general terms I’ve got all the cameras I need, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to explore other possibilities!

😎

[PhotoCruiser]

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It is my personal policy to sell expensive things only if i buy something considerable better or i need to to sell for financial reasons what fortunately rarely happens.
But i have to learn to sell things i don't use or use too less to justify to have them as they cost me money (cars, rv vehicles, motorcycles) or just occupy space i could need (also for buying something new with the money i raised with selling).

So i would say:
a) keep it and use the camera every now and then or just enjoy looking at it.
b) sell it and buy something else and better what you can make better use of.

Chris