M2 Vs IIIF...?

NorwayPhoto · Mar 22, 2015

Thanks all for helping me.
Oh, the IIIF gets more and more interesting.
Have to try one out before I make up my mind.....Not easy.
Will lett you all know what I go for.

McFortner · Mar 22, 2015

You could split the difference and go with a Canon P. Sized like a M with combined viewfinder/rangefinder but with LTM mount, and a back that opens up to make film loading easier. Or, if you want something in a M mount, you could go with a Leica CL which is narrower than both the M series and the Barnacks. Properly CLAed (mine was done by DAG) they work wonderfully. DAG was even able to get the light meter working again, but it's not needed to operate the camera.

Just my two cents worth.

frank · Mar 22, 2015

New solution: M2, lllf, and CL

250swb · Mar 23, 2015

NorwayPhoto said:
Oh, the IIIF gets more and more interesting.
Have to try one out before I make up my mind.....

Everybody needs to try one, and possibly enjoy one (as I do) before they die, but there really are other things to do first

Steve

cliveh · Mar 23, 2015

The M2 is probably the best 35mm camera ever made.

GregY · Mar 24, 2015

IIIG

E. von Hoegh · Mar 24, 2015

cliveh said:
The M2 is probably the best 35mm camera ever made.

The M2 isn't quite as nice as the M3, and neither will do what a Nikon F will. And, a Nikon F2 has more versatility than any of the forgoing cameras, and the build quality is comparable.

NorwayPhoto · Mar 25, 2015

Today I am off to a dealer to try out a IIF and a IIIF......So...I feel like I am 15 years old and going over to a friend to try a new game...
Will report later.

frank · Mar 25, 2015

NorwayPhoto said:
Today I am off to a dealer to try out a IIF and a IIIF......So...I feel like I am 15 years old and going over to a friend to try a new game...
Will report later.

Let us know what happened.

darkosaric · Mar 25, 2015

I just saw Leica II with Summar 5cm/f2 for 299€ ... tempting, tempting , those LTM are really not too expensive.

Ko.Fe. · Mar 25, 2015

NorwayPhoto said:
Thank you all for the replys, pro and cons.

Size, yes, I like a compact camera now, for having in my pocket/backpack, I do some hikking and like to have a compact camera with me. A collapsible lens is something I really like. The SLR is a good camera, but a bit bulky for a day out.
Yes Frank, it sure looks good, film loading, well after looking at some videos, ehmm....The IIIF is not made for fast loading. To me, the drawback with trimming the leader, is haing to do it outdoors, making it even harder.
I have only tested the M2, so far, but is sure feels good, very exciting to try out a III. But, as sad more than once here, when I buy one of them, I for sure will go for one from a dealer, or one that have had a CLA done.

I used and sold IIf, it is "pocketable" with huge credit even with collapsible on it. Adding external viewfinder to accommodate non-50mm will increase the bulk.
M2 is for precise framing and fact focusing. Best of the best.

If you do some hiking and like compact camera you could get fancy Rollei 35 or Olympus XA and Minox 35. Rollei is as "fun" as LTM Leica to use and same weight almost . Oly and Minox are truly pocketable, light and compact. And easy to deal with comparing to IIIf, including exposure and loading.

Richard S. (rich815) · Mar 25, 2015

Ko.Fe. said:
If you do some hiking and like compact camera you could get fancy Rollei 35 or Olympus XA and Minox 35. Rollei is as "fun" as LTM Leica to use and same weight almost . Oly and Minox are truly pocketable, light and compact. And easy to deal with comparing to IIIf, including exposure and loading.

All those will certainly work fine and certainly have their benefits. I have most of those too. But a very different tactile experience vs. something like a IIIf, and none of those take LTM lenses.

darkosaric · Mar 25, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
All those will certainly work fine and certainly have their benefits. I have most of those too. But a very different tactile experience vs. something like a IIIf, and none of those take LTM lenses.

Agree. As addition XA and Minox are battery dependent and have not manual settings, Rollei has no rangefinder. And for IIIF you can get cheap 90mm or 135mm lens or whatever other lens you want. The beauty of M and LTM cameras are the variety of lenses that you can use - from unique look of summar wide open to supersharp summicrons.

Pioneer · Mar 25, 2015

Ko.Fe. said:
I used and sold IIf, it is "pocketable" with huge credit even with collapsible on it. Adding external viewfinder to accommodate non-50mm will increase the bulk.
M2 is for precise framing and fact focusing. Best of the best.

If you do some hiking and like compact camera you could get fancy Rollei 35 or Olympus XA and Minox 35. Rollei is as "fun" as LTM Leica to use and same weight almost . Oly and Minox are truly pocketable, light and compact. And easy to deal with comparing to IIIf, including exposure and loading.

I doubt that I would recommend any rangefinder if precise framing was the goal.

cliveh · Mar 25, 2015

Pioneer said:
I doubt that I would recommend any rangefinder if precise framing was the goal.

I doubt that I would recommend anything else but a rangefinder if precise framing is the goal.

Pioneer · Mar 26, 2015

cliveh said:
I doubt that I would recommend anything else but a rangefinder if precise framing is the goal.

Not sure why Clive, but your definition of precise and mine seem to be different.

One of the reasons I even own a Nikon F is the precision with which I can frame things when I want.

John Koehrer · Mar 26, 2015

cliveh said:
I doubt that I would recommend anything else but a rangefinder if precise framing is the goal.

ROFLMAO!

darkosaric · Mar 26, 2015

Precise framing and Leica - my version:

First I used nikon F3 (and still do) - because precise framing was/is important for me. After I got M6 I was very disappointed that 50mm frames are showing only 85% of what I get on negative, when focus was on infinity. As I use 50mm most of the time - I got M3 and it was much better, but still not as with F3 that shows 100% in the viewfinder.
But after half year of using M bodies - I became more and more good in framing (and now after 5-6 years even more) - and I can be almost equally comfortable in framing as with F3. I know that some people who use Leica only for decades are equally good in precise framing as average user with SLR.

My point is: if person X can not achieve precise frame with rangefinder - that does not mean that person Y can not be very very precise.

cliveh · Mar 26, 2015

John Koehrer said:
ROFLMAO!

What does that stand for?

darkosaric · Mar 26, 2015

Cliveh - that means he is rolling on the floor from laughing, probably suggesting SLR or large format view camera as precise framing tool.

cliveh · Mar 26, 2015

darkosaric said:
Cliveh - that means he is rolling on the floor from laughing, probably suggesting SLR or large format view camera as precise framing tool.

The poor deluded fool.

Ko.Fe. · Mar 26, 2015

Is this thread in RF section? Perhaps, my love for Ms is too hot. But, SLRs are something I have zero interest.
You have to be RF guy in your style to get it, why I gave no crap for F or view cameras.
To me framing stands for the frame. M2 has frame, F2 doesn't.
Cheers, Ko.

PS. OP was asking about compact camera for hiking, this is why I recommended XA or Minox.

darkosaric · Mar 26, 2015

Ko.Fe. said:
PS. OP was asking about compact camera for hiking, this is why I recommended XA or Minox.

When Leica is too haevy - XA goes always with me, small and great (excellent spare body for traveling).
Minox I hate - how can they make such a camera: superb lens in great small body with such a bad shutter that fails often without warning.

NorwayPhoto · Mar 28, 2015

Hello all.
Thnaks ofr all the feed back and information.
Well, have been out testing my first Leica RF, a IIF and a IIIF. They where in very good condition, just had a CLA and do come with a warranty.
First, the feel: Yes, I understand what you all are talking about. The feeling in my hands is, well made, solid, quality. Compact also, really nice cameras.
Handeling....Good. But, the small focusing/framing windows is, well, not easy to use the first time.....I did shoot one roll in the IIIF, turning out I was not 100% in focus....Why? The small window? Me?
The camera feels good to hold and all, but the focusing is slowing me down, making it a bit, to much fiddling. Or, guess it is just me as a first timer....
The dealer, who is a long time user of II and III cameras told me that everyone is complaining about the windows when they try the camera for the first time. If you use it, you will get used to it he told me, with a smile.

So, what shall I do? I have got the camera with me now, was able to borrow it for the weekend, so I can try it a bit more.

Oh, what a weekend it will be

darkosaric · Mar 28, 2015

NorwayPhoto said:
The camera feels good to hold and all, but the focusing is slowing me down

This can actually be a good thing - slowing down, more time to think .

Nice weekend ahead!

M2 Vs IIIF...?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency