Exiting Leica M: what did you go for instead

[RezaLoghme]

Get a IIIf or IIIg, a few clean Color-Skopars and finders and you'll still enjoy 35mm Leica RF fully.

Yeah, so I want to exit rangefinders, and probably stay with SLRs (the ones I own, R). thoughts?
Just curious if someone went from 35mm M to something entirely different, not another 35mm.

The whole M stuff will net a nice sum, but thats not really the point.

 

[pbromaghin]

Hi I already own 35mm SLRs (Leica R). Just curious if someone went from 35mm M to something entirely different, not another 35mm.

It didn’t happen suddenly, but over a few years I found myself shooting mostly Mamiya C TLRs and leaving 35mm at home. So I rounded up a pretty complete outfit and mostly stick with that. Mamiya designed a surprising amount of flexibility into the accessories so I use it for almost everything. About all it can’t to very well is sports.

As of late I have succumbed to a desire to learn more about large format and built up a kit based around a Graflex View. It stays pretty close to home, though.

I also sold the Speed Graphic that functionally overlapped the TLR and the View, but didn’t do either quite as well.

 

[Paul Howell]

I own Leica R and maybe thats good enough. not sure I want to enter a parallel universe of 35mm SLRs.
Just curious if someone after leaving M system behind went for something more leftfield like 6x6 TLR or Large Format.

I don't think that one format replaces another, just different tools for different jobs. I use 35mm, 6X6, 6X7, 6X9 and 4X5. I shoot 35mm as my walk around format. Lower cost per frame, lighter, easy to carry, good for sports and wildlife. MF, some landscapes, still life, LF landscapes.

 

[4season]

There was a time I thought I'd shoot nothing smaller than medium format, and thought Mamiya 6 (the electronic rangefinder system) was a great everyday shooter. But shooting handheld, available-light with it proved challenging, as lenses were slower, and depth of field, shallower, than 35 mm. Today, I think I could make it work alright with Delta 3200 film. Downside in 2026 is that it'll cost 1.12 USD/shot, not including processing, scanning or printing.

 

[MattKing]

Decide first what you would like to explore.
Than sell the Leica rangefinder stuff to fund that.

 

[mshchem]

I almost always reach past t Leicas and the Nikons for one of my Fuji 6x9 rangefinders. 8 frames, perfect. 35mm doesn't force me to slow down, and if I do I find myself wishing for 12 exposure rolls. Still hold on to the Leicas

 

[RezaLoghme]

Decide first what you would like to explore.
Than sell the Leica rangefinder stuff to fund that.

Maybe I gamble and do it the other way round.

 

[GregY]

Well I had 6x6 SLRs, Leica M and R.
Just curious if someone went from 35mm M to something entirely differnt.

I sold all my rangefinders & Nikons, & for almost 20 years did nothing but LF 4x5, 5x7, 8x10, 4x10, with a MF on the side.
Today i'm back owning Leica rangefinders, and shooting 35 x MF. I get rid of the rangefinders again. They are my favourite style of 35mm camera
& I prefer them hands down to SLR.

 

[Bill Burk]

Ah no, I want to exit the whole rangefinder thing. But I am thinking about keeping one M and re-leatheretting it and also make some other mods.

But the question is: after rangefinders,where did you end up? I am considering to stay in SLR land. It works well for me.

I tend to use SLR, OM or Pentax screw mount cameras.

 

[Pieter12]

Although I have a couple of Leica Ms and a CL, I find myself shooting medium format most of the time. Can't beat that big negative.

 

[Arthurwg]

I still have my M6 but constantly think of selling it. When I shoot 35mm now I mostly use my Nikon F6. But most of my photography these days is Hasselblad.

 

[ic-racer]

I had the pleasure of meeting Lee Friedlander on a couple of occasions. He was very enthusiastic about his Bessa and said he left his Leicas in a drawer. I went out and bought a Bessa right away. This was about 15 years ago, though, when the Bessas were still available new.

I’m not much of a ragefinder fan so I really haven’t used the Bessa much; It’s still like new.

 

[Rayt]

I didn’t give up small format just that image quality is so much higher with medium format and I prefer the look and handling of Rolleiflex. I’d take whatever gear is best for the task. I took my 4x5 to China, Japan, Belgium, and Italy when Quickloads were still available.

 

[chuckroast]

Yeah, so I want to exit rangefinders, and probably stay with SLRs (the ones I own, R). thoughts?
Just curious if someone went from 35mm M to something entirely different, not another 35mm.

The whole M stuff will net a nice sum, but thats not really the point.

For my money, the best small format.Single lens reflex is an original Nikon f that's been overhauled.

There is a wealth of lenses. and accessories for that camera , and you can shoot the thing to death and never break it

 

[Lachlan Young]

Yeah, so I want to exit rangefinders, and probably stay with SLRs (the ones I own, R). thoughts?
Just curious if someone went from 35mm M to something entirely different, not another 35mm.

Rather than trying to get someone else to scratch your existential itch for you, ask yourself if there's anything you are doing that cannot be done with a Leicaflex or an R and a couple of lenses. Really interrogate that, then consider why you are desperate to chase after other formats. Is it because of the work you want to do, or because you feel socially pressured/ inadequate because of what you are thinking about what others are saying you should do/ own?

If you struggle to get along with rangefinders, then that eliminates a whole sector of MF/ LF, and trying other MF SLRs are probably not going to be your thing if you got rid of the Hasselblad kit you had. LF is not going to fix that either.

 

[4season]

If the money isn't important, why not keep the M system for awhile longer, in case you change your mind?

In some ways, Leica rangefinders are the perfect 35 mm cameras for collector/enthusiasts because they're attractive, pleasant to use, and there are plenty of M-system enthusiasts in particular, enough to support a thriving 3rd party ecosystem. Nothing quite like it exists anywhere else: They're like the air-cooled VWs/Porsches of the camera world.

In any event, my impression from checking out recent eBay listings is that it's a better time to be buying than selling, with many watchers, but few actual buyers.

 

[rulnacco]

Well, I haven't left rangefinders altogether--I still shoot my Ms pretty frequently.

However, if I were leaving rangefinders and already had a good 35mm system to use, I would absolutely say the Hasselblad V series.

I have a 500CM (and a 553ELX, and a 500ELX; these two were my studio camera and backup--shooting with both film and a digital back) and several lenses. To me, the Hasselblad is the one medium format system (and I've used and/or still use a Rolleiflex TLR, Mamiya TLRs, Mamiya Press, Fuji GW90 II, Graflex XL) that's as nimble and fun to shoot as 35mm, and nearly as versatile.

Like "pro" 35mm cameras you can get interchangeable viewfinders for the Hasselblad (I use the waist level, the chimney finder, and a prism for various things), you have a variety of lenses from pretty wide to (mostly shortish) telephoto, a variety of focusing screens, extension tubes/diopters/bellows for closeups, there are backs available to shoot Instax, you can shoot film or digital with the same body & lenses, etc., etc. Walking around with a Blad and either an 80mm or 60mm isn't tiring at all and is fairly compact--certainly for medium format. And the lens quality is, like Leica lenses, legendary.

If I ever decided to forgo 35mm altogether, or was told I had to abandon all the other formats I have and had to stick with only one, I'd happily shoot exclusively the Hasselblad V and probably not feel I was missing much by not having another option, in smaller or larger or the same format.

 

[Cholentpot]

Limiting myself to just 35 mm film SLRs, I might choose Canon EF-mount. IMO, Canon and Luigi Colani basically cracked the code for modern camera design in the 1980s. And towards the end of the film era, Canon had mastered the craft to the extent that even their plastic, entry-level models were quiet and refined. I have a Canon Rebel G fitted with a modern 40/2.8 pancake lens, and the combination makes for an excellent picture-taking appliance.

Hear Hear!

Rebel and a 40 2.8, flip into aperture priority and the only thing stopping you from getting great photos is yourself. Gear becomes invisible.

OP needs a Mamiya C series TLR.

 

[IpseLux]

W. Eugene Smith sold his M cameras and lenses to get money for booze and cigarettes (and an occasional sandwich). He ended up with a Minolta camera when he went to Minamata - took great photos. Maybe you should get an SRT200.

I’m of the opinion that Mr. Smith could have made a pinhole camera with a couple of beer cans, taped a bit of film inside and taking tremendous images. All conjectures, obviously.
I’m such a fan of his work, of his vibe.
I didn’t know this story, thank you for posting it, D.

 

[RezaLoghme]

If the money isn't important, why not keep the M system for awhile longer, in case you change your mind?

In some ways, Leica rangefinders are the perfect 35 mm cameras for collector/enthusiasts because they're attractive, pleasant to use, and there are plenty of M-system enthusiasts in particular, enough to support a thriving 3rd party ecosystem. Nothing quite like it exists anywhere else: They're like the air-cooled VWs/Porsches of the camera world.

In any event, my impression from checking out recent eBay listings is that it's a better time to be buying than selling, with many watchers, but few actual buyers.

Should that be the case, I could simply buy an M system again. But I am not a hoarder.

Funny that you mention it, I am not a fan of the air cooled Beetles and 911s.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Rather than trying to get someone else to scratch your existential itch for you, ask yourself if there's anything you are doing that cannot be done with a Leicaflex or an R and a couple of lenses. Really interrogate that, then consider why you are desperate to chase after other formats. Is it because of the work you want to do, or because you feel socially pressured/ inadequate because of what you are thinking about what others are saying you should do/ own?

Not sure whether you read my post properly.

I dont like my Leica Rangefinders anymore, and I am curious and open minded what other people might have switched to, when in the same situation.

 

[logan2z]

I dont like my Leica Rangefinders anymore...

I may have missed it somewhere in this thread, but what is it that you no longer like about shooting rangefinders? Knowing that could help us suggest something you might like better.

In my case, Leica rangefinders are my favorite cameras to use, and I use them for almost everything I do in 35mm. I have a handful of 35mm SLRs as well, but I generally only use them when I need to use lenses longer than 90mm. My only MF cameras are a Hasselblad 500 C/M and Holga 120, both of which I use exclusively for landscape work. Since I do quite a bit of street/documentary work, though, nothing else works for me like a Leica M.

 

[RezaLoghme]

I may have missed it somewhere in this thread, but what is it that you no longer like about shooting rangefinders? Knowing that could help us suggest something you might like better.

In my case, Leica rangefinders are my favorite cameras to use, and I use them for almost everything I do in 35mm. I have a handful of 35mm SLRs as well, but I generally only use them when I need to use lenses longer than 90mm. My only MF cameras are a Hasselblad 500 C/M and Holga 120, both of which I use exclusively for landscape work. Since I do quite a bit of street/documentary work, though, nothing else works for me like a Leica M.

The little rangefinder square in the viewfinder is becoming more and more difficult.
The WYSIWYG of SLRs seems to work better for me.
But I have considered a M EV1, will test drive it in the next days.

 

[koraks]

The WYSIWYG of SLRs seems to work better for me.

I can relate. And since you've indicated that you already oen an SLR system you're happy with, I think you're all set to make photos. How about let the whole GAS stuff subside for a bit and focus on a different part of the craft? It's a more sustainable source of satisfaction.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Sure.
But in this section of the forum, I am just curiously sourcing other people's experiences and input. Hope thats ok.