What Do You Think Is the Best Film Body Leica Has Ever Made?

[rick123]

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Hi everyone,

 

With so much excitement about the upcoming M8, I have also continued to treasure my M6 - black body with 0.72x viewfinder. What do you think is the best Leica film body ever made?

[ddp]

I really like the build quality on my M3....my MP's are beautiful as well, but the M3 has something else going on there. The R9 is a nice piece of gear, especially with the motor drive on it.

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[pemayeux]

I started with a M6 and thought it was the greatest. Then when the M7 came out I traded for it. I was lukewarm after using it for about 6 months so I bought a MP. I love it, especially now that it is getting worn and brass is showing through all around the edges and the knobs and levers. I don't think it could be improved upon.

[DTD]

Mine.

[ruiespanhol]

In my ´´point of view`` the best film camera Leica made are:

 

M3 for the M series

R8 for the R series

 

Also the M6/7 and SL/SL2 and R9 cam be make part of this list.

 

Best,

[earleygallery]

I don't think there's an answer to this. Depends if you need an SLR or a rangefinder for starters. I love my lllf, its just such a nice object. But I'm not going to pretend that its a 'better' camera than say the M7. Is there really much to choose between the various M cameras? After all it's basically one camera (apart from the M5). Just depends if one wants built in and/or auto metering.

[lambroving]

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Without a doubt, the M5..., the last Wetzlar-built, hand assembled and hand-adjusted Leica. It is the "form follows function", Porsche Design, Leica, but those who have not used one in the heat of battle will not understand how everything about it makes it work.

 

Leica was scratching their collective heads over this one for years. Give them a tool for making the best pictures and they want an "antique". M5 (1972) with 50/f1.4 ASPH

[garyp]

Best I've personnally used, would be the SL

[stunsworth]

Outside of some of the appalling plastic bodied p&s cameras have Leica made a bad camera?

 

So I'd say it depends on what is your personal favourite. In my case that's an M6. People may say the build quality isn't the same as an M3/2, but mine will still be working when I'm not :-)

 

The one I'd like to try is an M5 as William mentions, never used one. I think it's probably the ugliest M, but it took courage for Leica to introduce such an innovative camera and I'd like to think I would buy one some day - if only to keep it out of the hands of a collector :-).

 

SLR? SL or R8. Probably R8 out of the two, a wonderful SLR, with dropping prices I was able to justify buying one :-)

[hamey]

For me I think it's hard.

 

But here goes.

 

Love the SL.

The more I use the R7 I get more enthusiastic over it.

Love the R8/9 with their shear ergonomices and refinement, just superb.

 

For the M-Line, I only own the M7 and for three years it's hardly used, but love that shutter click.

 

Ken.

[thomasw_]

Without a doubt, the M5..., the last Wetzlar-built, hand assembled and hand-adjusted Leica. It is the "form follows function", Porsche Design, Leica, but those who have not used one in the heat of battle will not understand how everything about it makes it work.

 

Leica was scratching their collective heads over this one for years. Give them a tool for making the best pictures and they want an "antique". M5 (1972) with 50/f1.4 ASPH

 

 

^^^^^^^William knows of what he writes^^^^^^^....the body of the M5 is the best M body if by best we understand design simplicity; its beautiful, durable form follows from how it works. Not that the other M's are difficult to handle for people with medium to large hands, but the M5 seems to me to sit just right in my somewhat large hands. So perhaps your handsize is a factor?

[square_one]

I agree on the M5. Had one for years back in the 70's - the earlier one with the lugs just on one side. Used an M3 prior, and M4's later but, ugly-ish and biggish as the M5 was, it was surprisingly better balanced that the other M's. The slight extra weight and 'hand' turned out to be more a help than a hinderance, and carrying vertical brought the camera into action very fast and allowed the strap to come up under my left forearm with a bit of tension, further stabilizing the camera. The meter cell was a bit cornball and seemed looking for trouble but it never failed.

[garygsandhu]

M3. Best viewfinder.

[karmadragon]

Without question, the old MP and MP2 is the very best M of leica if you really Leica specialist( actually the best camera even make film camera in the human history in term of duribility and manual reaction due to its only two carried steel gears construction, No CNC at that time, can withstand 3 film/sec by the old Leicavit). The only better part for the early production M3 is the black glass film pressure plate( more smooth and static-free from film advance, but you can change it to MP or MP2).

The second rank is M2s and KE7A military camera. They are well made for war(I like peace, but they are very MAN).

The third rack is the early type M3(it is very fine and with best viewfinder, although M2 w/35mm view).

M5 is special in my big hand. The meter sensor is better because of black color(less internal reflection.It will be the best metering method if Leica continue to develope it thinner to accept direct design super wide lens such as 21mm f3.4( the lens produce better tonal color 3D and wider depth of field than the later reverse design 21mm)The bright white spot of M6 shutter front do affect image quality very little bit especially with rear element close to film, bight light condition and high shutter speed(ALL new Leica's super wide rear elements are far away from shutter, and the problem almost does not exits now, but the inner body totally flat black of couse is perfect).

M4 & M2 also good for everyday use. they are balance well, and the viewfinder is very good(you can see the splite image when your eyes off the view axis a little bit)

I like M6 because it used to saved economy of the company.

As a professional, collector and user for 23 years, I like all M's. it holds an hi-end photo equiment history and also produces historical photography!

I will buy a M8 for sure! Happy to shares my experience!

 

Morgan

[Peyton Hoge]

Hi everyone,

 

With so much excitement about the upcoming M8, I have also continued to treasure my M6 - black body with 0.72x viewfinder. What do you think is the best Leica film body ever made?

All of them!!!::

[fotografr]

Hi everyone,

 

With so much excitement about the upcoming M8, I have also continued to treasure my M6 - black body with 0.72x viewfinder. What do you think is the best Leica film body ever made?

 

No contest. M6J kit.

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[rsh]

The best body Leitz/Leica has ever made is the one you enjoy shooting with the most. For me, I like the M5 and the SL2 as my main cameras, so for me, they are the best bodies. When I get an M8, it will end up being the best.

[mwilliamsphotography]

I don't know which would be best, but I know my favorite is which ever one I did my last most favorite shot with. Right now that'd be the Chrome MP3 with retro 50 Lux ASPH ... love the heft of that camera in the hand.

[vic vic]

well - the one u have.. al bodies are great i think.... and all of them are about the same.. they are all simple.. all of them are M cameras :-))))

 

personally... i think that the most megical camera is m3... my fave is mp cause this is the camera that is always with me..

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Hallo,

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[MadMan2k]

I'd say M3, since it's what I have... that would be uneducated though, having never tried any of the other models.