Which Leica M?

[chuckroast]

That's a winner!

Now I just gotta find a LTM to M original Leica adapter. I don't want to use the aftermarket ones because they seem cheaply machined by comparison.

 

[chuckroast]

The M4-2 had problems early on but Leica corrected those. I passed them up for years and remember when they sold in the 500 dollar range. I bought one on a whim, found a guy in Hong Kong that makes 3D printed replacement flash blocks that are much stronger and more durable than the originals, swapped the articulated advance lever for a solid MP style and sent it to Son Goldberg for some work. Now it's the M camera I use the most.

Judging from eBay, anyway, neither the M4-P or M4-2 are much of a deal these days.

 

[guangong]

Any M5 that you buy today has had defective rollers replaced long ago. And these defects only occurred in first batch released. My wife bought one the first day M5 was offered for sale and it was and has been defect free.
The best of the M cameras from the view of craftsmanship and quality of material is the M4. With M6 corners were cut. M4 has finder frames for 35, 50, 90, and 135 mm lenses. M3 and M2 are also better choices. A handheld meter or Leitz MR meter attached to camera will serve. I have been using M cameras for over half century problem free.

 

[logan2z]

It seems pretty nice:

View attachment 358816 View attachment 358817 View attachment 358818 View attachment 358819

Looks good. If the insides are as good as the outside then I think you found a good deal there.

 

[mshchem]

Sound Purchase!

 

[chuckroast]

Looks good. If the insides are as good as the outside then I think you found a good deal there.

Every evidence points to a nice clean usable camera:

 

[madNbad]

Now I just gotta find a LTM to M original Leica adapter. I don't want to use the aftermarket ones because they seem cheaply machined by comparison.

It's worth spending the money for the Leica adapter. I had one made by one of the better manufactures. It fit and locked on the mount just fine. It was for a fifty and brought up those famelines just fine but also just a bit of the 35. Bought a genuine Leica and solved the problem. If it was serviced by DAG, it'll be smooth and quiet.

 

[mshchem]

M2 and M4, always been a tossup for me. My first love was an M2 beautiful camera, so useable! I sold it when I thought I didn't need it, since replaced

I agree try to find a genuine LTM to M adapter. The China copies work but very hit or miss where the scale ends up.

 

[btaylor]

Nice M2, congrats. It was the Leica I liked best when I got to borrow one from my high school. For me the 35mm frame lines are essential and I rarely use a 135mm on a rangefinder. Finally got one like 40 years later, and still a favorite. As for the M5, that had just come out when I was borrowing the M2. Quite a departure from the M2, 3, 4. The built in spot meter and overhanging shutter speed dial for the match needle exposure setting is clever and effective. It feels a lot bigger than the M2 in my hand, but it also has a great feel to it. Just bigger and different. I have the black chrome 3 lug model. Why not get one- then you’ll have a pair of M’s, which is always a good thing!

 

[logan2z]

Every evidence points to a nice clean usable camera:

I think you're good.

Did the seller include the service paperwork? That's always nice to have.

 

[chuckroast]

Nice M2, congrats. It was the Leica I liked best when I got to borrow one from my high school. For me the 35mm frame lines are essential and I rarely use a 135mm on a rangefinder. Finally got one like 40 years later, and still a favorite. As for the M5, that had just come out when I was borrowing the M2. Quite a departure from the M2, 3, 4. The built in spot meter and overhanging shutter speed dial for the match needle exposure setting is clever and effective. It feels a lot bigger than the M2 in my hand, but it also has a great feel to it. Just bigger and different. I have the black chrome 3 lug model. Why not get one- then you’ll have a pair of M’s, which is always a good thing!

Maaaaaaaam, btayor is trying to make me spend more money on Leica. Make him staaap....

 

[chuckroast]

I think you're good.

Did the seller include the service paperwork? That's always nice to have.

I requested a copy of the repair invoice but have not heard back yet.

 

[btaylor]

And to agree on the genuine LTM to M adapters, last time I bought used one it was $75. The Photodiox and similar adapters are cheap, but it was worth $50-60 having the piece of mind.

 

[chuckroast]

And to agree on the genuine LTM to M adapters, last time I bought used one it was $75. The Photodiox and similar adapters are cheap, but it was worth $50-60 having the piece of mind.

Anybody got one made by Leica for 50mm LTMs for sale?

 

[juanj]

The price included an original case and manual, so if the camera is as good as advertised, I think I found a solid deal. We'll see.

I was about to give you my opinion: any Leica M is fine to start with because you'll eventually get another.

My journey: M2 -> M6 -> M5 -> M4 -> MP -> IIIg.

I currently own the MP and the IIIg. I've liked all of them except the M5, which I found too big and inelegant. Maybe my favorite of all was the M4 because it was the smoothest/quietest and I like the faster rewind knob and the angular film advance, but the M2 is also near and dear because it was the first. Enjoy your new camera!

 

[GregY]

Judging from eBay, anyway, neither the M4-P or M4-2 are much of a deal these days.

Exactly, right now they're priced around $1700......same as an M4. About 10 yrs ago when a used M6 was $1k, I bought one in a camera store for $400 canadian ($375 USD at the time)....working well no issues.

 

[beemermark]

M4. The rewind knob was angled to allow the use of the great M4-R meter. The M2 is my second vote (and I've owned a few) but the cool retro looking rewind know is PIA. Which is why Leia and others sell that ridiculously expensive slip on doo-hickey to make rewinding bearable. The M4-2 and M4-p are cheaper copies of the M4 which would be Ok if they didn't cheapen the VF (it can flare horrendously, the M6 is the cheaper M4-P with a meter. The M5 is too big and I really found the VF not to my liking. Same as my SL 2VF.

I've owned multiple M2's, M3's, M4's, M5's, M4-2's, but only one M6. Bought new when it came out and hated it so much (the meter >< is another PIA) that with in 6 months I traded it for a new Konica RF with lens. I'm astounded what people will pay for a used M6. When Leica brought out the M7 all the reviews pointed out the VF flared terrible (same one use M4-2 thru M6) but Leica came out and replaced with the M4 VF within the year (sold models were replaced free). Right now I own an M4 and M7.

Right now I'd grab Chuckroast's M2 before someone else does.

 

[chuckroast]

M4. The rewind knob was angled to allow the use of the great M4-R meter. The M2 is my second vote (and I've owned a few) but the cool retro looking rewind know is PIA. Which is why Leia and others sell that ridiculously expensive slip on doo-hickey to make rewinding bearable. The M4-2 and M4-p are cheaper copies of the M4 which would be Ok if they didn't cheapen the VF (it can flare horrendously, the M6 is the cheaper M4-P with a meter. The M5 is too big and I really found the VF not to my liking. Same as my SL 2VF.

I've owned multiple M2's, M3's, M4's, M5's, M4-2's, but only one M6. Bought new when it came out and hated it so much (the meter >< is another PIA) that with in 6 months I traded it for a new Konica RF with lens. I'm astounded what people will pay for a used M6. When Leica brought out the M7 all the reviews pointed out the VF flared terrible (same one use M4-2 thru M6) but Leica came out and replaced with the M4 VF within the year (sold models were replaced free). Right now I own an M4 and M7.

Right now I'd grab Chuckroast's M2 before someone else does.

Stay away from my M2 ... I just bought it

As a long time IIIf user, I cannot imagine the rewind or loading on the M2 is any worse.

 

[logan2z]

As a long time IIIf user, I cannot imagine the rewind or loading on the M2 is any worse.

I've never found either to be a problem at all. In some ways I actually prefer the M2 loading system to the quick load system.

 

[StevenG]

So .... Leicanistas - what are the tradeoffs in your hive mind between the M2, M3, M4, M4-2, and M4-P? I plan to use my existing LTM lenses via an adapter ring.

Feel free to make the case that I really don't need an M body at all

I'd like to propose an unpopular solution... Since you're not going to change the lenses, don't purchase a Leica M. Rationally speaking, the IIIf can do pretty much the same as any M you will purchase. If you want a better viewfinder than a IIIf, then I would recommend a Canon 7.

But since we're not rational, if you do go for an M, I can only recommend an M2. I wish I had the other M's in my collection so I cannot compare it to other Ms. But compared to other rangefinders I own, the M2 blows them away easily.

 

[StevenG]

Exactly, right now they're priced around $1700......same as an M4. About 10 yrs ago when a used M6 was $1k, I bought one in a camera store for $400 canadian ($375 USD at the time)....working well no issues.

Ah the good times. I was fantasizing about getting a M6 back then, with only a couple of hunderd dollars yet to save in order to buy it...

 

[GregY]

Ah the good times. I was fantasizing about getting a M6 back then, with only a couple of hunderd dollars yet to save in order to buy it...

Yes.... the good ol days. Sept '98 in Paris I bought an original black paint M2 for $700 Cdn / $448USD.... Foolishly sold that one. In 2018 I was lucky enough to flip my MP (new version) for just enough to buy my black paint M4. All black paints are through the roof now!

 

[Philippe-Georges]

How do the meters hold up over time, I wonder?

Perfectly

 

[Laurent]

Ah the good times. I was fantasizing about getting a M6 back then, with only a couple of hunderd dollars yet to save in order to buy it...

Yes.... the good ol days. Sept '98 in Paris I bought an original black paint M2 for $700 Cdn / $448USD.... Foolishly sold that one. In 2018 I was lucky enough to flip my MP (new version) for just enough to buy my black paint M4. All black paints are through the roof now!

I've got my M4 for €700, very clean and working... Can't believe how much they go for today. Had I known, I'd have bought at least one more at this time...

The M4 is the perfect one for me (OK, the IIIa is also nice but useability is not on par) and according to an expert camera craftsman (founded the Leica repair shop in France many years ago) the top of the line, for standardised parts appearing for the first time in Leica history, and no shortcuts like they took for more recent ones)

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Looks like I’m too late to advocate for the M5. For reference I would advise a buyer to purchase a M5 that has been serviced. I bought mine 3 years ago and it needed a new bat compartment installed by DAG. He bought the Canadian M5 Leica parts supply a few years ago.

I love the over-hanging shutter. The size fits my hands. The finder as crisp as a MP I once owned. The frame lines more accurate than post M4 bodies. It comes with a quick load. Silver retains its finish best and has low production numbers. The M5 body size visually works with the newer/wider aperture lenses. I locate M5s in better visual condition at a lower price point than other M bodies. The M5 viewfinders are not assembled with Canadian balsam. That said there is risk the meter will some day fail. So what, then you have a non metered M like the 3/2/4/.