Leica M3 & Nikon FE - Help !!!!!

Brian M Harris · May 14, 2018

Hello,
I have a few Nikon FE's which I mainly use for street photography and portraits, I have the standard Nikon 50mm 1.8mm and Nikon 100mm f2. The results are pretty good and I have no complaints, I also have a Nikon 105mm DC, this lens on the FE for the Portraits are really something else, very pleased.

I have had my eye on a Leica M3 for ages, and a lovely double stroke turned up, and i picked up a very good user Summicron f2 50mm rigid and minty with a 35mm Summaron. The Leica build quality is awesome, and hold a piece of history is great !!

BUT the Nikon FE & Nikon 105mm DC produces far better images, it handles better and is far more intuitive to use.
I really wish it was the other way round, but the facts are plain to see. I know a rangefinder takes a while to get used, but I have a run over 30 rolls through the Leica but I am not feeling the love.

I am in a bit of a dilemma what to do, the time you factor in filters, case and strap thats a fair investment !!
If i sell the Leica kit, I may regret it later on !!!!

Please help !

Lee Rust · May 14, 2018

Despite all appearances to the contrary, there's no law that says you have to love using a Leica. You tried it and now you know. Reselling the M3 outfit won't be much of a problem.

Chuckwade87 · May 14, 2018

Is it absolutely necessary that you sell the Leica?

If not I'd recommend putting it on a shelf and let it sit for a month or two and pick it back up, then, if you still don't feel it, just let it go and buy something that you know you'll enjoy and get use out of like, some Nikon stuff...

Honestly it sounds like you don't want to sell it, so you probably shouldn't sell it.

darkosaric · May 14, 2018

I used Nikon for years (still do), it took me more than 6 months to get used to my M6. Don't sell it. Only if you need money for food or medicine. You will regret it and buy it again (probably paying more than you get now for sell).

Brian M Harris said:
produces far better images

Do you mean better technically, or better images esthetically (because you are more relax with Nikon, it 'feels' better in your hand and therefore gives better results)?

Paul Howell · May 14, 2018

Why not both, a SLR has advantages as a rangefinder, I would use the Leica for street work, on the other hand if it does not fit your style sell the Leica and use the money to buy additional lens for Nikon.

John Koehrer · May 14, 2018

I guess I've been around too long and don't notice which I have in hand. The layout on both cameras is the same except
for the location of the release button. Admittedly it took a long time to learn not to pick the Leica up by the viewfinder.

Theo Sulphate · May 14, 2018

Brian M Harris said:
...
BUT the Nikon FE & Nikon 105mm DC produces far better images, it handles better and is far more intuitive to use.
...

There's your answer.

Welcome to the Photrio forums!

howardpan · May 14, 2018

Paul Howell said:
Why not both, a SLR has advantages as a rangefinder, I would use the Leica for street work, on the other hand if it does not fit your style sell the Leica and use the money to buy additional lens for Nikon.

I use both, and it took me a while to appreciate the lightweight, small sized design of the rangefinder which allows me the mobility and freedom to get some of the shots I wouldn’t have otherwise. I also get less blur from camera motion while using a slower shutter speed which enhances my exposure options.

Photoguy365 · May 15, 2018

Use what works for you. If you're not digging the Leica, move on. Hell, you could sell the Leica and pick up an F3 and several lenses.... and still have money left over. In the end, you have to be happy with the gear that you use to produce the images that you want.

narsuitus · May 15, 2018

Brian M Harris said:
I have a few Nikon FE's which I mainly use for street photography and portraits...

I also use Nikon SLRs and Leica rangefinders for street photography and portraits.

For portraits, I prefer the Nikon because I have a larger selection of portrait lenses and I prefer the ergonomics of the Nikon when holding the camera in portrait orientation.

For street, I prefer the Leica because it produces less operational noise.

Both produce excellent images. I love them both and would not part with either. However, I often wonder if I would have been happier with a Nikon rangefinder.

Leica M6 & Nikon F2 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Ian Grant · May 15, 2018

You're comparing an SLR with a 105mm lens to a Leica with a 50mm or 35mm lens. Have you thought of a 90mm for the Leica, it seems you prefer the longer FL 105mm lens.

I use a 105mm f2.8 on my Spotmatics it's a great FL, I wish I'd bought one or better still the rarer 85mm f1.9 much earlier. I find a 135mm to long for general use and rarely use(d) my Vivitart S1 70-210mm zoom at much longer than about 120mm preferring to stay around the 70-105mm range.

Ian

narsuitus · May 15, 2018

There are times when my Nikon SLR and my Leica rangefinder make a good working pair.

Nikon N2000 SLR mounted with 135mm f/2 Nikkor and an 18mm f/3.5 Nikkor

Leica M6 rangefinder mounted with 35mm f/1.4 Zeiss and a 90mm f/2 Summicron

Manual Focus Combo by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Ko.Fe. · May 15, 2018

The only person in here who needs help is me. I had nice and fresh super easy, small Nikon FG-20. And I had M3. I sold both. I just see no use for 50mm lens and anything after 50mm is totally useless to me.
I had 50mm Cron on my M4-2 this weekend then I went to Toronto to pickup my digital M and check APUG prints at the gallery. I can't frame anything with 50mm on city streets. Way too narrow.
Portraits with 100mm?
How are you doing it? Standing on another side of the street or portraits are like passport photos?
Here is no secret what many slr lenses are better than Leitz made. Especially 50mm. I used some FSU F mount 50 lens and 50 1.8 E which I purchased in neat condition and with silver ring was totally inferior to this FSU lens.
If you are satisfied with your Nikon and 50 and narrower lenses, M3 has nothing to give you. And you are not along. It just few of us who can't stand SLR and not into tele lenses.

Chan Tran · May 15, 2018

Ko.Fe. said:
The only person in here who needs help is me. I had nice and fresh super easy, small Nikon FG-20. And I had M3. I sold both. I just see no use for 50mm lens and anything after 50mm is totally useless to me.
I had 50mm Cron on my M4-2 this weekend then I went to Toronto to pickup my digital M and check APUG prints at the gallery. I can't frame anything with 50mm on city streets. Way too narrow.
Portraits with 100mm?
How are you doing it? Standing on another side of the street or portraits are like passport photos?
Here is no secret what many slr lenses are better than Leitz made. Especially 50mm. I used some FSU F mount 50 lens and 50 1.8 E which I purchased in neat condition and with silver ring was totally inferior to this FSU lens.
If you are satisfied with your Nikon and 50 and narrower lenses, M3 has nothing to give you. And you are not along. It just few of us who can't stand SLR and not into tele lenses.

While I do use wide angle lenses I do realize that any lens that is wider than 35mm or so would capture an image I can't see with my eyes.

Arvee · May 15, 2018

Brian M Harris said:
Hello,

I really wish it was the other way round, but the facts are plain to see. I know a rangefinder takes a while to get used, but I have a run over 30 rolls through the Leica but I am not feeling the love.
Please help !

I had exactly the same issue. Found an M3 DS really cheap with the collapsible 50 Summicron and collapsible 90 Elmar. Shot about 15 rolls and it sat on the shelf. Sold it. Ten years later ran across an M3 SS with 50mm v 4.0 and thinking I didn't give the earlier one a fair trial, I bought it. Shot another 15 rolls and it sat on the shelf. Sold it. Back to the F2 and the FE2. Like you said, never did find the love. As an aside, the same happened with Rolleis. Had a 3.5F Xenotar, 3.5F Planar and a 2.8F Planar. Couldn't get along with any of them and never found the love there either. Went back to the 'blad.

Ces1um · May 15, 2018

Brian M Harris said:
Hello,
I have a few Nikon FE's which I mainly use for street photography and portraits, I have the standard Nikon 50mm 1.8mm and Nikon 100mm f2. The results are pretty good and I have no complaints, I also have a Nikon 105mm DC, this lens on the FE for the Portraits are really something else, very pleased.

I have had my eye on a Leica M3 for ages, and a lovely double stroke turned up, and i picked up a very good user Summicron f2 50mm rigid and minty with a 35mm Summaron. The Leica build quality is awesome, and hold a piece of history is great !!

BUT the Nikon FE & Nikon 105mm DC produces far better images, it handles better and is far more intuitive to use.
I really wish it was the other way round, but the facts are plain to see. I know a rangefinder takes a while to get used, but I have a run over 30 rolls through the Leica but I am not feeling the love.

I am in a bit of a dilemma what to do, the time you factor in filters, case and strap thats a fair investment !!
If i sell the Leica kit, I may regret it later on !!!!

Please help !

I have a camera that cost me a pretty penny and I never pick it up because I like how my other camera works better. My "better" camera is better in every sense AND I find the quality of the photos to be better as well. But I hate using it. I'm pretty sure I'll be putting mine up for sale soon.

Ko.Fe. · May 15, 2018

Fred Aspen said:
I had exactly the same issue. Found an M3 DS really cheap with the collapsible 50 Summicron and collapsible 90 Elmar. Shot about 15 rolls and it sat on the shelf. Sold it. Ten years later ran across an M3 SS with 50mm v 4.0 and thinking I didn't give the earlier one a fair trial, I bought it. Shot another 15 rolls and it sat on the shelf. Sold it. Back to the F2 and the FE2. Like you said, never did find the love. As an aside, the same happened with Rolleis. Had a 3.5F Xenotar, 3.5F Planar and a 2.8F Planar. Couldn't get along with any of them and never found the love there either. Went back to the 'blad.

FG-20 was my turn away trigger from M3. Because camera was small I could use it as RF, with both eyes straight and open. And FG-20 VF was really 1:1 with 50 lens, while M3 isn't really so. It was eye opening experience indeed

ic-racer · May 15, 2018

BUT the Nikon FE & Nikon 105mm DC produces far better images

Can we see the pictures?

summicron1 · May 15, 2018

Use what you like and what does the job for you. I really don't see the point of worrying about it -- you will have no trouble at all divesting the Leica -- ready market, they're as good as cash.

Brian M Harris · May 15, 2018

Cheers Guys, I am trying to work it how do a group "thanks" but not sure if its possible, so a thanks for taking an interest its appreciated !!!

I have given it a fair bit of thought, I am going to run with the Leica for 6 months and go from there. To be fair I dont need to sell it and I need to use it more and bond with it.

Luckily I am not tied to a desk all day and am in Central London at least twice, i will make full use of it as a "street camera".

On the downside, i was out with it today with a roll of FP4 and noticed that its not focusing properly at various distances across all 3 lenses, the images are meeting but not syncronising as they should do.

I have shot the roll, and will process soon, but there is a problem here, I will do my own investigations, its obviously a rangefinder issue (i havent dropped the camera) but if anyone can give some info on this it would be appreciated !

Enclosed is a shot taken on the Leica with the 50mm Summicron of a real "old" London Street, just near Columbia Road Flower Market, its very unique and thankfully the whole area has a preservation order on it, so the developers cannot ruin it !

Theo Sulphate · May 15, 2018

Ko.Fe. said:
The only person in here who needs help is me. I had nice and fresh super easy, small Nikon FG-20. And I had M3. I sold both. I just see no use for 50mm lens and anything after 50mm is totally useless to me. ...

My guess is that you might prefer a Barnack Leica with a 35mm Elmar. Some people add an external viewfinder for the 35mm framing, but that makes the whole package much bigger. I would use the camera with just the normal viewfinder ... or maybe not use any viewfinder at all for street shots.

Brian M Harris said:
...Enclosed is a shot taken on the Leica with the 50mm Summicron of a real "old" London Street, just near Columbia Road Flower Market, its very unique and thankfully the whole area has a preservation order on it, so the developers cannot ruin it !

Nice. That is the type of city photography I love.

Ko.Fe. · May 15, 2018

Actually I'm finding Zorki with any 50mm lens and Leitz 50 brightfinder more pleasant camera. Brightfinder is true 1:1 and so is Zorki rangefinder window.

Are Leitz 35 brightfindes 1:1? I have M4-2 as my main film camera with Summarit-M 35. Zorki is with Jupiter-12 and Oly XA VF.

Why photograph without framing? I'm not afraid of people and they are not afraid of me. I could probably do this with 21 lens, but I don't have it yet. Only VF.

UPD. I mixed it with another thread by mistake. If OP is going to keep M3 and use it for sometime it might grow on him.
Here is one Russian photog who kept his M4 in the drawer for couple of years and then,somehow its became his main camera.

Vilk · May 15, 2018

Brian M Harris said:
I really wish it was the other way round, but the facts are plain to see.

when the time to downsize had come, i went with the facts after a fun four-year parallel run, my three Ms went where they would have been appreciated more, my four F2 bodies all stayed with me. never regretted one split sec. whatever rocks your boat now--you want them later, you'll get them later once more, it's not like they stop makin 'em or something

Brian M Harris · May 16, 2018

All done - very useful website http://www.mediajoy.com/en/lrc/rM3/r_adjust1.html

Jim Jones · May 16, 2018

Brian -- I shot Leica RF and Nikons with a range of lenses side by side for decades, and never found any significant difference between them in image quality. The cityscape you posted is terribly unsharp for any quality camera. Leica rangefinders can get out of adjustment, but this is rather easily corrected. I've also had slightly unsharp images from the lens head of a longer Leitz lens not being perfectly seated in the focusing mount. I retired one 50mm Summicron because of scratches on the front lens surface doe to careless cleaning in the field. A Leica iiif produced images that weren't sharp along one edge due to the back getting bashed in. Nikons aren't foolproof, either.

Leica M3 & Nikon FE - Help !!!!!

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency