Advice for a student and film lover! [Film Leica Advice]

[richardhkirkando]

Originally Posted by Nomad Z

Not sure what you're referring to, but my M2 definitely has a self timer.

There were a few M2s with no self timer. Most do, but you can get them without.

[baisao]

You will be plenty happy with an M6. No doubt about it.

For films:
HP5+, Delta 400, and Neopan for 400
FP4+ and Velvia for 100
TMax P3200 for 3200

I use DD-X or ID-11 most often. I get the lab to dev the Velvia, unmounted. All of these films are different enough to have a special place in your quiver.

[Seraj]

Unmounted?

What magnification on an M6 would you think is optimal? I heard a lot of love for the ttl models .85

[alphonse2501]

For 50mm or longer, 0.85 (or 0.91) is better. If 35mm is required, 0.72 fitting for the focal length.

[Seraj]

Just feel like throwing this out there, these forums are the worst thing that has happened to me and finishing papers!

[Pete B]

Originally Posted by richardhkirkando

There were a few M2s with no self timer. Most do, but you can get them without.

One with and one without, heavily processed Lomo-Stylee
Pete

DSCN0841lomo.jpg

[Teuthida]

Originally Posted by Seraj

Just feel like throwing this out there, these forums are the worst thing that has happened to me and finishing papers!

You're overthinking things You've got a camera. Go use it. The sooner you get past the gear fetish the better you'll become.

[Ruhayat]

I'd recommend either an M4-P (if you want to go the whole hog and not have a built in meter) or an M6 (if you want built-in metering) body. And then pair that with either a 40mm/2.0 M-Rokkor or 35mm/2.5 CV Color Skopar P-II.

Best value entry level M system, in my book.

Originally Posted by Seraj

Hey all!

As you'll see I am new to RFF, but I figured this might be a good place to get some advice.

I am a art student and a photographer on my own time. I shoot film for school and digital personally with a Nikon D800. I am looking to invest in some film equipment as I tend to find myself enjoying the manual processing of images a lot more then I do working in the digital darkroom. I have access to a darkroom, etc.

I want to get a Leica M. I have drooled over them for many years, and the Monochrom now has its own savings account in my bank where I deposit little bits to eventually get one.

But I want a film M! I want a film M that will last me as long as I feel like having it around. I also want to challenge my own technique, teach myself some new things, and become a better photographer.

With say a cap of 2/2.5k what do you think is my best choice?
I am automatically drawn to a M3 + Summicron 50mm f/2 + Light Meter. Call it some homage to Cartier-Bresson (whom I love) and the classics, but it appeals to me.

Thank you in advance.

[sanmich]

Originally Posted by ottluuk

Do you happen to wear glasses? If so, then choose a lesser magnification finder. I wear glasses and the 50mm frame seems optimal with the standard .72x finder.

Exactly!

I tried the M3.
really not for me....

[Seraj]

Originally Posted by Teuthida

You're overthinking things You've got a camera. Go use it. The sooner you get past the gear fetish the better you'll become.

Oh I realize, what I meant was I was supposed to write a paper and instead spent time checking out the RFF forums

[Seraj]

These three look good...

40mm F2 Rokkor

40mm F2 Summicron-C
I've never heard of a Summicron-C? anything special with this lens?

I don't think I want to risk a KEH "UG" but whats been your luck with "BGN"?

[paradoxbox]

The M3 is fine for 35mm if you don't mind about less than perfect frame accuracy. it's only a big deal for close up subjects

[baisao]

Originally Posted by Seraj

Unmounted?

It's slide film and I don't want it to have the cardstock border that slides have. I ask for it unmounted so I can easily scan and store my film.

[Seraj]

Originally Posted by baisao

It's slide film and I don't want it to have the cardstock border that slides have. I ask for it unmounted so I can easily scan and store my film.

Interesting, I need to look into this, I want to get my film set in digitally

[Seraj]

Hey, thank you all! you've been wonderfully helpful! I just sent a purchase through for the body I decided on! Soon I will be an M owner too. Sadly not going with a classic for the sake of the work I am actually going to do on it, but that will be next. (it was an M6 TTL .85 btw)

Now to figure out a lens! hahahaha. Anyone selling a 35mm or 50mm for 5-700? *pain*

[Haigh]

Welcome to this forum and the occasionally dotty world of film photography.

If it helps, I have used for a longtime now, a Leica M4 with 28, 35 (my absolute favourite ) and a 50. The M4 can take some fairly tough treatment even now. It came with a meter on top and it is a really great little meter.

Whatever, you will soon tune your choice of film, processing, and printing to suit yourself. This you might not achieve at a photolab.

Have fun.

Gary Haigh

Oz

[Seraj]

So my 50mm F2 Summicron Collapsable arrived. The front and back glass seem great, there are some dust particles in the lens and somehow I doubt that will effect too much. I wonder if I should eventually have it CLA'd. The focusing seems smooth, much smoother than any Nikkor lens I've ever used, the aperture clicks are also smooth, I didn't realize how far apart the wide open ones are from the others. Ill take some pics of it!

Got it for under 700 from KEH as a "BGN". Rather impressed that this is a "bargain" lens.

Also my M6 TTL is in town, I missed its delivery being in class, but I will be running to the post office to pick it up tomorrow after work.

[baisao]

Check the lens for oil on the blades. If so, it may be something you want to get cleaned. A small bit of dust on the front element is no concern.

Being a collapsible, be careful cleaning the front element as it will be much softer than other glass you have likely dealt with. Congratulations!

[Seraj]

I think I need to get a cap then hahaha, it was just the lens itself. I won't feel bad when I lock it into the body, but until then I am leaving it in its bubble wrap.

[Seraj]

Just need to get some batteries, and I just ordered my Gordy strap


My baby arrived by Seraj Farabi Photography, on Flickr

[MIkhail]

Originally Posted by Spicy

If you want metered, M6

If you want unmetered and:
fast reload/rewind but optimal fondling, M4
fast reload/rewind for cheap, M4-2 or M4-P
only shoot 50mm (or longer focal lengths), M3
want to shoot 35 without an accessory viewfinder, M2

I got myself an M6 just for that reason @ adorama and love it.
BUT keep i mind that as far as viewfinder goes, M6 is fantastic with 35mm lens. For 50mm the "window" is too small for my taste. I was asking around here on forum and am told that M3 is the answer for that. So now I will be saving up for good M3.

[MIkhail]

OOps... should hve read the thread before commenting...
Congratulations on the purchase, you cannot go wrong with this.

[Marc G.]

congrats on that combination have fun shooting man. you'll enjoy it

[hrzlvn]

I was going to give my 2 cents and it turns out you have already handed on your new gear, congratulations. M6 Classic HM is better than TTL version although it's hard to find. I used to be a M6 guy, put some battery in it and you get you meter, take it out if you want to do more thinking/guessing work. However, I upgrade it with a M7. The viewfinder on M6 is okay, but it's way better on M7/P, flare problem drives me crazy as well. I know M7 is not "classic" comparing to other film Ms, but the AE lock and Av mode really help me a lot. Aperture, EV all under my control and performs extremely accurately.

[sector99]

Originally Posted by Teuthida

You're overthinking things You've got a camera. Go use it. The sooner you get past the gear fetish the better you'll become.

Excellent advice that resonates with...

Spend 20 minutes setting up a 20 lb. 8X10 view camera, carefully process the cassette negative, contact print the perfectly exposed image and then...Realize the image is GARBAGE...with no proper subject, theme or composition and the light was crap.

The student never, ever makes that mistake again. They are too humiliating. His brain was filled with equipment details.

He now thinks first and plans for action––knowing what NOT to do.
–––––––––––
AMATEURS worry about equipment

PROFESSIONALS worry about money

MASTERS worry about the light, the subject and especially ... the pre-visualized moment