Why did I wait so long

[RalphLambrecht]

I've fought the urge to buy a Leica, mostly because of the insane prices the M models sell for. A couple of M4's I have handled at used camera stores had a weak focus patch and I wasn't very impressed.

I broke down last week when I saw this M2 in mechanically great shape, super clear finder with a really strong focus patch. It has frame lines for 35, 50 and 90 and only pulls up one at a time keeping the finder from being busy. It's kinda scuffed up on top and looks like a dent on a corner was repaired at one point in its life but mechanically it is super smooth and whisper quiet.

I picked up a couple of voigtlander lenses for it, the 35mm f1.4 and the 50mm f1.5, both are compact, fairly light and have a "classic" rendering while still having modern multi-coatings.

After shooting with it today, I think I have found my holy grail camera. It just disappears in my hand and the finder fits my photographic vision perfectly. I ordered a diopter for it so I can use it without my glasses and I think it will be perfection.
It's just rough enough shape where I won't be obsessed with keeping it scratchless and can just use it. I'll probably send it off to Youxin Ye for a good tune up and I should be good for the rest of my life.

View attachment 253481

what a beauty;all th best to you two.

 

[mshchem]

https://petapixel.com/2020/01/27/the-leica-m6-ttl-85-is-the-best-35mm-film-camera-ever-conceived/

This is the Leica I finally settled on. Except mine is in silver, which for me is the prettiest Leica finish. My standard lens is a 6 bit silver 50 Summicron, which is brass so weighs about 2x the black (aluminum ) lens.

 

[etn]

After shooting with it today, I think I have found my holy grail camera. It just disappears in my hand and the finder fits my photographic vision perfectly. I ordered a diopter for it so I can use it without my glasses and I think it will be perfection.
It's just rough enough shape where I won't be obsessed with keeping it scratchless and can just use it. I'll probably send it off to Youxin Ye for a good tune up and I should be good for the rest of my life.
View attachment 253481

Congratulations! I think those old Leicas (M2, M3) have something inspiring. Love those rolls of Panatomic and Plus-X on your picture Even with "modern" Tri-X I feel a step back in time every time I use mine.
Please let us know what you think of that Voigtlander. I've been debating buying one for a while, the version II but not sure about multi or single coated. Other posts in this thread are bringing me dangerously close to the edge... the only thing which is holding me is that I am doing more medium format those days.
May your life be long and happy
Etienne

 

[etn]

Congratulations! Once you have bought all the lenses for the Leica you can step forward and buy a Hasselblad, then more Hasselblad lenses, and finally the Hasselblad SWC. Enjoy your addiction.

If the goal is to buy all lenses, it is easier and more cost effective (although by no means cheap) to start with the Hasselblad. Less lenses to covet.
There was a time I thought "every Hassy owner will end up owning them all eventually", now that Hassy prices have skyrocketed I am revising my position. Fortunately I bought mine before the price hike!

 

[Andrew Kleinfeld]

I waited for decades, until my back needed a lighter camera. The Leica M's just feel better. I take better pictures with them because the handling is so nice.

 

[btaylor]

I dreamed of having an M2 since my high school art class where you could check it out to use on a project. It was not until my sixties that I realized “Jeez, just go ahead and get it!”. Sooo happy I finally did. I feel most comfortable with all manual cameras, and nothing has felt as good in the hand since, although my OM1 comes close. Sent it and the f2 rigid Summicron off to Youxin and it works like it was new. Congrats!

 

[Sirius Glass]

If the goal is to buy all lenses, it is easier and more cost effective (although by no means cheap) to start with the Hasselblad. Less lenses to covet.
There was a time I thought "every Hassy owner will end up owning them all eventually", now that Hassy prices have skyrocketed I am revising my position. Fortunately I bought mine before the price hike!

Me too! I was even forced to buy the 500mm and the 30mm Fisheye because I was offered such a low price I could not refuse. Life is tough but someone has to live it.

 

[etn]

Me too! I was even forced to buy the 500mm and the 30mm Fisheye because I was offered such a low price I could not refuse. Life is tough but someone has to live it.

Glad you could get those, they are indeed missing in my "collection" (I am not a collector, despite what my partner thinks ha ha)
To compensate I needed to get several M-mount 50mm: a Planar, a C-Sonnar and a Summicron v2 rigid. Those would surely be a great complement to Stephe's 35mm on her M2. One can never have enough 50's. All great in different ways!
(I'm so glad there's only 1 lens of each focal length in the Hasselblad world...)

 

[dave olson]

Welcome to the world of Leica! You have the classic of all classics. Myself I started with one Leica years ago, today I have settled in with an M7, M6, and an M4-P.

 

[cliveh]

95% of my images are captured using a Leica M2 and I think it is superb.

 

[logan2z]

95% of my images are captured using a Leica M2 and I think it is superb.

Similar case here, but with an M-A and an M4. Thinking about picking up an M3 too.

 

[rpsawin]

Perhaps the start of a lifelong relationship??? Congrats.

 

[Horatio]

Liking my M3 a lot. Now I’m on the prowl for another Leica lens.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Sold two of my three film M. Keeping third one because of the lens providing negatives no other lens do and because I spend a lot of money to fix it. It still needs hundreds to be no odd light leaks camera. It just not worth to sell it.

 

[Guth]

Congratulations on your purchase. I hope you end up making countless wonderful images with it. I'm almost on the opposite end of the spectrum. Back in 2000 I bought a new M6 TTL. and before the year's end I had a trio of new Summicron lenses to go with it. My purchase was fueled more by a love of cameras (that began when I was in grade school) than any else really. In college I even snagged a job selling cameras (although not Leica's). In 2000 I was at a place in life that I could afford the Leica purchase so I went for it. At the time no one in my circle of friends, or most anyone else for that matter, had any idea what a Leica camera was, to them it just looked like a nice vintage camera. Those that did know it was a new camera thought it a strange purchase at a time when others were just contemplating going the digital route for the very first time. The only thing that bothered me about the Leica purchase was that my photography skills didn't really justify the expense (now two decades later that thought still runs through my mind).

After a number of years had passed I suddenly lost my passion for photography along with a number of other things in life thanks to an ongoing battle with depression. The M6 would sit idle for many years, although I did make sure to thoroughly exercise the shutter a few times every year. For whatever reason I just couldn't bring myself to sell the camera. Three years ago I finally decided that I should let the M6 go, but then I began using the camera instead. I'm now enjoying photography as much as I have at any other time in my life. But watching the escalating prices for this gear and M6 TTL's in particular has me questioning the sanity of hanging on to it (knowing that I am the weak link in my photography chain). I started to ponder what I'd replace the Leica with and ended up buying a Minolta CLE to see how I would get along with it. So far I've enjoyed the CLE, but I've yet to reach a conclusion as to what to do. In the meantime I just keep shooting with both cameras, enjoying the experience for what it is. I'm not a Leicaphile by any means, but whether I sell it or keep it, when all is said and done I'll have no regrets for having owned a Leica camera during my lifetime. I'm sure that yours will bring you much joy.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I've fought the urge to buy a Leica, mostly because of the insane prices the M models sell for. A couple of M4's I have handled at used camera stores had a weak focus patch and I wasn't very impressed.

I broke down last week when I saw this M2 in mechanically great shape, super clear finder with a really strong focus patch. It has frame lines for 35, 50 and 90 and only pulls up one at a time keeping the finder from being busy. It's kinda scuffed up on top and looks like a dent on a corner was repaired at one point in its life but mechanically it is super smooth and whisper quiet.

I picked up a couple of voigtlander lenses for it, the 35mm f1.4 and the 50mm f1.5, both are compact, fairly light and have a "classic" rendering while still having modern multi-coatings.

After shooting with it today, I think I have found my holy grail camera. It just disappears in my hand and the finder fits my photographic vision perfectly. I ordered a diopter for it so I can use it without my glasses and I think it will be perfection.
It's just rough enough shape where I won't be obsessed with keeping it scratchless and can just use it. I'll probably send it off to Youxin Ye for a good tune up and I should be good for the rest of my life.

View attachment 253481

what a beauty!

 

[Huss]

Congratulations on your purchase. I hope you end up making countless wonderful images with it. I'm almost on the opposite end of the spectrum. Back in 2000 I bought a new M6 TTL. and before the year's end I had a trio of new Summicron lenses to go with it. My purchase was fueled more by a love of cameras (that began when I was in grade school) than any else really. In college I even snagged a job selling cameras (although not Leica's). In 2000 I was at a place in life that I could afford the Leica purchase so I went for it. At the time no one in my circle of friends, or most anyone else for that matter, had any idea what a Leica camera was, to them it just looked like a nice vintage camera. Those that did know it was a new camera thought it a strange purchase at a time when others were just contemplating going the digital route for the very first time. The only thing that bothered me about the Leica purchase was that my photography skills didn't really justify the expense (now two decades later that thought still runs through my mind).

After a number of years had passed I suddenly lost my passion for photography along with a number of other things in life thanks to an ongoing battle with depression. The M6 would sit idle for many years, although I did make sure to thoroughly exercise the shutter a few times every year. For whatever reason I just couldn't bring myself to sell the camera. Three years ago I finally decided that I should let the M6 go, but then I began using the camera instead. I'm now enjoying photography as much as I have at any other time in my life. But watching the escalating prices for this gear and M6 TTL's in particular has me questioning the sanity of hanging on to it (knowing that I am the weak link in my photography chain). I started to ponder what I'd replace the Leica with and ended up buying a Minolta CLE to see how I would get along with it. So far I've enjoyed the CLE, but I've yet to reach a conclusion as to what to do. In the meantime I just keep shooting with both cameras, enjoying the experience for what it is. I'm not a Leicaphile by any means, but whether I sell it or keep it, when all is said and done I'll have no regrets for having owned a Leica camera during my lifetime. I'm sure that yours will bring you much joy.

Welcome back. Don't sell off the M6 because you have the CLE. I have had two perfect condition CLEs, and they both suffered from electronic failure. One day fine - next day, zip.

 

[Guth]

Welcome back. Don't sell off the M6 because you have the CLE. I have had two perfect condition CLEs, and they both suffered from electronic failure. One day fine - next day, zip.

Did you look into having either repaired? My CLE was not working upon arrival so I disassembled it to the point where I could clean up the metering contacts and then it worked like new, not that I'm doubting the possibility that it could still give up the ghost at some point in the future. I have read many times over that you should never sell a Leica. In my case it's not like there is much else out there that is tempting to me other than the CLE.

 

[Huss]

Did you look into having either repaired? My CLE was not working upon arrival so I disassembled it to the point where I could clean up the metering contacts and then it worked like new, not that I'm doubting the possibility that it could still give up the ghost at some point in the future. I have read many times over that you should never sell a Leica. In my case it's not like there is much else out there that is tempting to me other than the CLE.

I had one repaired by Dave Easterwood (I think that's who it was). He had to take it completely apart and clean every connector. He said that pretty much everything had oxidized to some degree inside. The other one broke just after i sold it.
I sold the repaired one the moment I got it back as I didn't feel I could trust it anymore.

 

[PrairiePhotographer]

I recently took the plunge with an M3 after starting film photography with a 4x5 Graflex Speed Graphic three years ago. I enjoy both cameras but was finding the burden of lugging around the Graflex and setting up each shot caused me to miss too many photos (and wear on my family's patience!).

I enjoy both cameras greatly and find that the M3 is the one that is used far more often, although I also enjoy the "ritual" (i.e., slow set up, at least for me) of the Graflex when time permits.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I recently took the plunge with an M3 after starting film photography with a 4x5 Graflex Speed Graphic three years ago. I enjoy both cameras but was finding the burden of lugging around the Graflex and setting up each shot caused me to miss too many photos (and wear on my family's patience!).

I enjoy both cameras greatly and find that the M3 is the one that is used far more often, although I also enjoy the "ritual" (i.e., slow set up, at least for me) of the Graflex when time permits.

The Speed Graphic was meant to be used hand held and not set up on a tripod for field work although it is very capable on a tripod. Shooting hand held helps one learn to work very quickly. Thus the name Speed.

 

[PrairiePhotographer]

The Speed Graphic was meant to be used hand held and not set up on a tripod for field work although it is very capable on a tripod. Shooting hand held helps one learn to work very quickly. Thus the name Speed.

I’m too much of a weakling to hold the camera while adjusting all the settings, especially focusing! I use the ground glass to set focus. The distance scale and range finder are calibrated to 135mm; most of the time I prefer shooting a longer focal length for portraits.

It would be fun to “pop out” photos on my Graflex. Any suggestions for things to practice would help (not that I’m unhappy with the M3).

Thanks. Howard

 

[PrairiePhotographer]

One addition to my last post: I thought it was named "Speed Graphic" due to its fast (1/1000th) maximum shutter speed, which was particularly useful for photojournalism

 

[gone]

I saw someone leaving my local camera store w/ an M2. He also noticed that I had a Leica R lens on my Nikon, which told him that I was one w/ the faith. We both made the sign of the L, and conversed. If it had been a screw mount, we would have been the sign of the B.

Ended up selling him an an enlarger, print easel, paper, chemicals, etc. If I hadn't seen him w/ that camera, I wouldn't have struck up a conversation w/ him, and I wouldn't have sold those items so easily. So based on that, the M2 is a wonderful camera!

I did have a few M3's in the past, the double stroke model was more fun to shoot. These cameras are built like the proverbial brick s**t house.

 

[GregY]

Congratulations! IMO The M2 is the quintessential Leica rangefinder.