NZDavid Posted February 27, 2009 Share #21 Posted February 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Strevo, I think you will be surprised and delighted at how liberating and versatile the M6 and single lens combo can be. Even if you add more lenses -- which you will -- they are a lot more compact and easy to take around in your pocket or a waist pouch. As much as you enjoy using the equipment, the results are the clincher: you may take fewer shots, but you are likely to end up with more keepers. Enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Hi NZDavid, Take a look here Selling all my digital gear to buy an M6 . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
kenneth Posted February 27, 2009 Share #22 Posted February 27, 2009 Not bickering, just expanding on the analogy that you started Kenneth. IMHO, the best way to get into Leica on a budget is to buy the lens first, and the body later. It's the lens that makes the real difference - the body is merely a means of holding film in a dark place and making sure that the shutter opens for as long as you think it does. Could not agree more Andy. Leitz, be it cameras, binoculars, enlarger lenses or projection lenses. It's the lenses that really count and are the holy grail that other manufacturers can only pay homage to Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freusen Posted February 27, 2009 Share #23 Posted February 27, 2009 My recommendations for a Leica-M starter set. If you are thinking about purchasing a Leica system I would recommend you to buy the Leica M6 body with standard 0.72x viewfinder, which has frames for 28 to 135mm lenses. You can buy a nearly new mint body with a serial # over 2.200.000 (from 1996 or later) for about $1.000 - $1.200. If you only want a meter buy the Leica M6 classic, if you want TTL-flash buy the Leica M6TTL (for about $1.200 - $1.500), if you want aperture priority automation or high speed flash synchronization buy the Leica M7, which cost you an extra $1.000. Don’t bother about the choice of the viewfinder, buy your first Leica with the standard 0.72x viewfinder. Later if you know which lenses you use the most you can sell the camera without big losses. I use a camera with a 0.85x viewfinder for 50mm and 90mm lenses and another one with a 0.58x viewfinder for 28mm and 35mm lenses. Which lenses you choose is a matter of personal taste. All the lenses have different character, different uses and create different pictures. What you can do is look at the pictures you made in the past and see what lenses you used or what lenses you missed. Keep your kit simple, if you don't have lenses yet try the latest non-asph Canadian f2.0/35mm Summicron, which isn't too expensive and buy the latest German f2.0/50mm Summicron with separate lens hood. Both lenses are stellar performers and if you want newer asph glass or faster lenses later you can keep them or sell them without big losses. This 35-50mm set should get you started. Later you can add a 21mm, 24mm or 28mm wide angle and a 90mm tele. I can strongly recommend the f2.0/28mm Summicron. It has become my most-used universal lens for the Leica M6. I normally carry the f2.8/21mm Elmarit, f2.0/28mm Summicron, f1.4/35mm Summilux (for nighttime use), f2.0/50mm Summicron and the f2.8/90mm Elmarit (latest) if I expect a fair proportion of landscape shots. Leica lenses are quite compact, and with one lens-coupler you can carry the body and two lenses in a remarkable small bag together with a flash, film and a small tabletop tripod. Bags, that’s another story…………………………………………………………………………………………… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jm68 Posted February 27, 2009 Share #24 Posted February 27, 2009 cv lenses are among the finest lenses one can buy for a rangefinder camera. (to go back to your comparison: you will agree, that FIAT is not among the finest car manufacturers in the world....) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samuelphoto Posted February 27, 2009 Share #25 Posted February 27, 2009 cv lenses are among the finest lenses one can buy for a rangefinder camera. (to go back to your comparison: you will agree, that FIAT is not among the finest car manufacturers in the world....) I have to agree. I've been very pleased with the tiny 21/4. It's good for anything but maybe critically sharp landscapes that will undergo big enlargements. If that is your thing, then you will have to buy the 21/2.8 ASPH which is about 8x the price, or go to another setup altogether, like medium format. IMHO, the CV lenses are one of the best things that happened to rangefinders. Enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atournas Posted February 28, 2009 Share #26 Posted February 28, 2009 I have 2 M6 Classic 0.72 bodies which I use all the time but Voigtlander, no. A bit like putting a Fiat engine into a Ferrari. After all it is the glass which is Leica's holy grail. At last, some courageous soul spelled it out explicitly! Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freusen Posted February 28, 2009 Share #27 Posted February 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) IMHO, the best way to get into Leica on a budget is to buy the lens first, and the body later. It's the lens that makes the real difference - the body is merely a means of holding film in a dark place and making sure that the shutter opens for as long as you think it does. Could not agree more Andy. Leitz, be it cameras, binoculars, enlarger lenses or projection lenses. It's the lenses that really count and are the holy grail that other manufacturers can only pay homage to I fully agree with Andy and Kenneth. If you don't have lenses yet buy a 35mm or 50mm Summicron or both and avoid the discussion about Voigtländer, Zeiss, Konica and other lenses with M-bayonet. If you want cheaper lenses, go for an older Leitz f2.8/35mm Summaron in M-mount, here's a picture of mine. FrankR 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/77902-selling-all-my-digital-gear-to-buy-an-m6/?do=findComment&comment=823327'>More sharing options...
kenneth Posted February 28, 2009 Share #28 Posted February 28, 2009 At last, some courageous soul spelled it out explicitly! Paul Thank you and it is kind of you to endorse my statement. Let us not forget that Leitz were an established optical manufacturer long before Oscar Barnack came on the scene with is camera idea and, as Andy stated a camera body is a glorified, albeit precision made lightproof box employing similar skill to produce as a wristwatch. Voigtlander lenses are fine but you get what you pay for and they cannot match the quality of Leitz lenses. I have a Voigtlander 75mm 2.5 Colour Heliar as I could not justify the cost of a Leitz 75mm lens as I do not use that focal length that often. Important well used focal length lenses in my bag are 35mm Summicron asph and a 50mm Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted March 1, 2009 Share #29 Posted March 1, 2009 Both those lenses mentioned by Kenneth -- 35 'cron ASPH and 50 'cron -- are superb. But the older Leitz lenses are also first rate. In 35, also consider a Summaron as well as Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 1, 2009 Share #30 Posted March 1, 2009 The CV lenses gave my lllf a new lease of life when I bought a 25mm Skopar for it. That made me start using it regularly again, and I've since found a few very nice Elmars and Summars as well, but it's a real shame that Leica themselves won't produce some new lenses for the LTM cameras (yes I know they released a few Summicrons a few years back but they are sought after collector items now and sell for more than the M mount versions!). The CV lenses I've tried have been far better than their price would suggest, nothing wrong with them at all. So if the budget won't stretch, I'd buy the Leica body and the CV lens to start - I don't disagree that the Leica lens will be better, but a Voigtlander body just won't have the same feel as a Leica and that is also an important part of the equation, for me anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maddoc2003jp Posted March 1, 2009 Share #31 Posted March 1, 2009 M6 + 35mm Summicron ASPH and or 50mm Summicron would be my recommendation, too. Later, I would add one of the 90mm lenses (Elmarit or Summicron) and a wide-angle (and maybe a second body, like the M2, M4-P, or M3). Such a setup, especially the M6 + 35mm lens will cover 95% of what is possible with a rangefinder camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted March 1, 2009 Share #32 Posted March 1, 2009 The CV lenses gave my lllf a new lease of life when I bought a 25mm Skopar for it. That made me start using it regularly again, and I've since found a few very nice Elmars and Summars as well, but it's a real shame that Leica themselves won't produce some new lenses for the LTM cameras (yes I know they released a few Summicrons a few years back but they are sought after collector items now and sell for more than the M mount versions!). The CV lenses I've tried have been far better than their price would suggest, nothing wrong with them at all. So if the budget won't stretch, I'd buy the Leica body and the CV lens to start - I don't disagree that the Leica lens will be better, but a Voigtlander body just won't have the same feel as a Leica and that is also an important part of the equation, for me anyway. But James I think you are missing the point after all this is a Leica Forum not The Voigtlander Appreciation Society. Most camera manufacturers can produce a lightproof box which is all that is needed to house Leitz optics. And when one is able to muster the funds a Leica body could be purchased then but the original poster would at least be getting Leica results, which is why we press the shutter in the first place Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted March 1, 2009 Share #33 Posted March 1, 2009 Both those lenses mentioned by Kenneth -- 35 'cron ASPH and 50 'cron -- are superb. But the older Leitz lenses are also first rate. In 35, also consider a Summaron as well as Summicron. Agree 100% David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thephotofather Posted March 3, 2009 Share #34 Posted March 3, 2009 Wow. I thought I was the only nut. Last year I sold 10 years of Canon gear because I got tired of waiting for them to get it right, I purchase a D700. Last month I traded it in and a lens towards a M6 and a 50mm Cron f/2 and a zeiss 35mm f/2. I could not be happier. People use the phase "Going back to film" I happen to think, for me, it's going forward. I found the better dSLR's got the worse the images, too clean and sharp, too digital looking for my taste. If I want digital in the future I have the ability to add the M8.x (but not the money). Take a moment and also just borrow a zeiss from your dealer. I am very, very happy with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strevo Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share #35 Posted March 4, 2009 Well, I've ordered an M6 Classic which will arrive tomorrow. As for a lens, I went for the Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm/f2.5 PII which I should get today. Thank you all for your advice I know it's not Leica glass but, I've no cash left and I got the voigtlander for £175 in new condition, a wee bargain if you ask me. Yes, the camera is just a glorified light box but hey, it's the philosophy of the leica I'm wanting to get into. I'll have my eye on Leica lenses and I plan to buy a Summilux f/1.4 as soon as my budget allows. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 4, 2009 Share #36 Posted March 4, 2009 Well, I've ordered an M6 Classic which will arrive tomorrow. As for a lens, I went for the Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm/f2.5 PII which I should get today. Thank you all for your advice I know it's not Leica glass but, I've no cash left and I got the voigtlander for £175 in new condition, a wee bargain if you ask me. Yes, the camera is just a glorified light box but hey, it's the philosophy of the leica I'm wanting to get into. I'll have my eye on Leica lenses and I plan to buy a Summilux f/1.4 as soon as my budget allows. Strevo, you won't regret your choice. Remember that lenses are a set of tools - no two are identical, and each gives a result that is either more or less pleasing to the eye. Absolute resolution, absolute precision, is not always the objective (no pun intended). My most used lens these days, and for some time past, is my 5cm nickel Elmar - a good performer in its' day but hardly a patch on even cheap lenses today. I could use - and indeed own - a modern 50 - the CV 50 2.5 - on my II, but it changes the feel totally. I also have the 35mm 2.5 PII and it is one of my favourite lenses on my M2 and M7 alongside my Leica glass. Finally, this is now well out of date, but you may find it useful - it illustrates how Leica and VC lenses together can be used to pick and choose a "palette": 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! Finally, I would just like to point out how fortunate we are today - what a choice we have! Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Finally, I would just like to point out how fortunate we are today - what a choice we have! Regards, Bill ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/77902-selling-all-my-digital-gear-to-buy-an-m6/?do=findComment&comment=828390'>More sharing options...
JBA Posted March 4, 2009 Share #37 Posted March 4, 2009 Bill, another chart you might want to make is M-mount and thread-mount if you're comparing the Leica and CV lenses. Then there are the ZM lenses. What choices we have! As for dumping digital for film, I got as far as contemplating the purchase of a Nikon D200 but did not like all the fiddly controls and especially hated the autofocus, not to mention the 1.5 crop factor. The manual override felt flabby and the focusing screen is hardly optimized for manual focus. To cut a long story short, I ended up choosing film over digital with the purchase of an M6 and 35 Summicron Asph. And the rest, as they say, is history. For the convenience of digital, I'm content with a C-Lux 2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maddoc2003jp Posted March 4, 2009 Share #38 Posted March 4, 2009 Well, I've ordered an M6 Classic which will arrive tomorrow. As for a lens, I went for the Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm/f2.5 PII which I should get today. Congrats to your purchase ! That's exactly the same combination I used to start into the world of Leica, M6 (classic, silver-chrome) with CV Color-Skopar 35/2.5 PII. Cheers, Gabor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strevo Posted March 6, 2009 Author Share #39 Posted March 6, 2009 Well, I've got it now and I love it Cheers, Strevo 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/77902-selling-all-my-digital-gear-to-buy-an-m6/?do=findComment&comment=830873'>More sharing options...
Guest Bernd Banken Posted March 6, 2009 Share #40 Posted March 6, 2009 Congratulation for your new set! I started exactly with the same combination, it's absolutely enough to train your eyes and brain for the viewfinder style of shooting. Here a not so serious example of the PanCake II 35mm: security on Flickr - Photo Sharing! The only disadvantage for my fingers is the very small distance between focus and aperture ring, but not a big issue. Cheers Bernd Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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