What do you guys prefer a Leica M3 or a Nikon F?

[Besk]

Choices , choices...

View attachment 336426 View attachment 336424

I would take the 507 of course.

 

[warden]

Both are excellent build quality. If you don't have those - I have made a video where you can see that Leica M is actually not that much smaller than Nikon F with a plain prism:

Thanks for making that video. That Olympus is small!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I use 15 and 18mm lenses on my rangefinders. Actually they, and all wides, work much better than on manual focus slrs because rfs can focus wides very easily and accurately.

But the view is not exactly what the lens sees. I want to see what the lens sees and what the focus looks like. While I can put on an adapter back and a prism on the SWC, I then use the view finder just to see where the edges will be.

 

[Huss]

But the view is not exactly what the lens sees. I want to see what the lens sees and what the focus looks like. While I can put on an adapter back and a prism on the SWC, I then use the view finder just to see where the edges will be.

The focus looks better with an rf using wides. Because it can focus much more accurately.

It's why I use RFs and SLRs. I pick the best tool for the job.

 

[benjiboy]

I don't own either cameras, but if I had to choose I would pick the Nikon F, and a 35 mm Nikkor.

 

[Huss]

I'd pick an F2 over an F. I sold my Fs, kept my F2s. Everything that was wonky on the F was fixed on the F2, plus it got a better shutter.

 

[Craig]

Everything that was wonky on the F was fixed on the F2, plus it got a better shutter.

Mind you, you could say that about F2 vs F3 as well. I gather the F2 shutter was a particularly complex design.

 

[Huss]

Mind you, you could say that about F2 vs F3 as well. I gather the F2 shutter was a particularly complex design.

And I would. Which is why the F3 was Nikon's longest running SLR.

 

[GregY]

And I would. Which is why the F3 was Nikon's longest running SLR.

I was in a shop the other day. In the very well-appointed Nikon case was a mint *mint* Nikon F3HP for $250 USD.....and an F4 for even less. I remember painfully shelling out for a new one with motor drive back then.....I'm sure my car was worth less at the time....

 

[darkosaric]

Maybe it is my F2 example only - but I find that F2 has a lot louder shutter than F and F3. F and F3 have this dumped sound, while my F2 has loud metallic sound. All are working fine, and no issues, but I am wondering is this only my F2, or all F2's have loud shutter (in compare to F & F3)?

Here are the sounds - is this normal for F2?

 

[Huss]

Maybe it is my F2 example only - but I find that F2 has a lot louder shutter than F and F3. F and F3 have this dumped sound, while my F2 has loud metallic sound. All are working fine, and no issues, but I am wondering is this only my F2, or all F2's have loud shutter (in compare to F & F3)?

Here are the sounds - is this normal for F2?

The ping is normal for older F2s - but obviously not ideal. It doesn't hurt anything, it's just noisy. From the master himself:

 

[awty]

Maybe it is my F2 example only - but I find that F2 has a lot louder shutter than F and F3. F and F3 have this dumped sound, while my F2 has loud metallic sound. All are working fine, and no issues, but I am wondering is this only my F2, or all F2's have loud shutter (in compare to F & F3)?

Here are the sounds - is this normal for F2?

It's relativelt easy fix. I have 3x F2's and they all use to do it. Now they are similar to my F. The F3 is quietest, but not by much. Mirror slap is the bane of any SLR, later models tend to be the best, but they usually also have noisy electric film winds.

 

[guangong]

I have M3, M4, and F and F, F2 (both with plain prisms). Have owned and used all for many years. Much depends upon one’s style and technique for picture taking, as well as what is being photographed. For discretion nothing beats an M. For longer lenses nothing beats an SLR. (Although a Visoflex can work for occasional long lens use). For everything else, the market prefers SLR. For me, an M just feels more comfortable in the hand. But that’s just me.

 

[darkosaric]

Thanks for the info guys .

 

[Huss]

Thanks for the info guys .

Going back to your question, by serviced F2s do NOT ping, but the older Fs that I had definitely sounded a bit more muffled.

It's funny, I mainly shoot Leica Ms, and whenever I go back to an SLR the increased sound level is startling! But I doubt anyone 10ft away would notice.

 

[Steve York]

Rangefinder because of lack of shutter vibration. Years ago I zoomed in on negatives shot with an M3 and old lens, and Nikon F with a current, modern lens. Same focal length, same shutter speed and aperture, same film developed together, the pictures taken one right after the other. Not surprisingly, when zoomed in, the rangefinder negatives were so much more clean and sharp. SLR's are versatile, but shutter vibration is real.

 

[Craig]

It would be interesting to compare to a modern SLR, like a Nikon F6. They have made great strides in mirror dampening over the last 60 years.

 

[davela]

Either one is a total winner. I think in situations where a quiet shutter was desirable, the M3 would be my choice. As much as I love the F, boy does that mirror slap!

 

[Axelwik]

The last three times I went on overseas trips I took a Leica M due to the weight and small size of the camera with 3 or 4 lenses. All fits into a small camera bag. Thought about taking an FM2 instead as I wouldn't cry as much if it were stolen, but that camera with only one lens is almost as bulky as the Leica with three.

Last time my M2 with a 15, 35, 50, and 90. Probably leave the 50 at home next time.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The last three times I went on overseas trips I took a Leica M due to the weight and small size of the camera with 3 or 4 lenses. All fits into a small camera bag. Thought about taking an FM2 instead as I wouldn't cry as much if it were stolen, but that camera with only one lens is almost as bulky as the Leica with three.

Last time my M2 with a 15, 35, 50, and 90. Probably leave the 50 at home next time.

In that situation, I would definitely take the 50mm lens. I have found that I use the normal lens the most.

 

[Axelwik]

In that situation, I would definitely take the 50mm lens. I have found that I use the normal lens the most.

In most cases I tend to shoot on both sides of "normal," - rarely use a normal focal length. 35 seems to be my "normal" in miniature format; 90 a close second.

 

[dave olson]

Two different cameras, range finder, vs SLR. With the M3 you are a beautiful eca 5xample of fine, handmade German quality. All the M3s were handmade. The Leica M3 is designed for the 50, along with 90 and the 135.