One body, one lens...which ones?

telenous said:
From what you say I think you 'd be happy with an M2 (unmetered, manual exposure like the S3). Try a 35 lens to have something different from your Millenium Nikkor, perhaps the Summicron or Summilux preasphs, if you want a compact kit. I am sure you know already, the Nikon and Leica focus in opposite directions - could be a nuisance if the cameras are used in tandem. Good luck in your choice - enjoy!
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Yep...I'll second that. An M2 with a 35mm Summicron is an excellent choice.

Best regards,

Bob
 
Many people here like using a 35mm lens. I prefer the 50mm lens instead. The classic Summicron 50mm/2 would be my choice.
 
Having moved from Leica to Nikon I have to put in my 2cents. There is a special feel to a Leica M. IMHO the Nikon S3 feels just as good, in some ways better, in some ways not as my old M4-P. I really like the wheel focusing, but do not like the long throw of the focus. I've very happy that Tom A has not come out with a winder for the S3 and above as I would have to get one.

From my point of view I would take the money and get a new 35/1.8 Nikkor for your S3-2000 and call it a draw.

You would not do wrong with an M2 or an M4-P, moving up price wise go with a M6 classic. Lens wise just about anything 50mm is going to be a step down from where you are. I'd go with a 35mm say the new 1.4 CV would go very nicely and priced reasonably.

You might find you like Leica more than the Nikon S, nothing wrong, individual tastes. I still say just go with the new Nikkor 35.

B2 (;->
 
I've got an M4-P fitted with a 35mm Ultron. It's quite compact and I carry it everywhere if I don't have a different camera with me. It takes nice pictures too - I (mostly) use only one film (trix) in it as well, so I rarely worry about metering. Guess & go!

ps, hey Chris! Glad to see you have recovered from the theft and are jumping back in!
 
Seeing that you obviously have a taste for the classic, I'd go for a 'golden age' Leica: either an M2 with a 35mm (v2-4 Summicron if you shoot mostly B&W or a ZM Biogon for colour) or a single-stroke M3 with a 50mm 'cron.

All of the M bodies are wonderful things, but the M2 and M3 just have that bit of magic about them IMHO.
 
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A Leica M-6 with a Zeiss Planar 50mm F2 works for me. Somehow 45 to 58mm (various cameras) reflects the way I see.
Kurt M.
 
I'd recommend a chrome M7 0.72 combined with 35mm ASPH Summicron - again in chrome for sheer compactness and handling. Also for the benefit of aperture priority as a fall back option.

As stated above, you may have a slightly less wide preference in which case a chrome 50mm Summicron would be grand.

If you have more money to burn, consider the Summilux alternatives!

Peter
 
1 Leica + 1 Lens

1 Leica + 1 Lens

dave lackey said:
Okay, I admit it...I have procrastinated buying a Leica over the past year and a half but I did sleep at the Holiday Inn;)...and managed to buy a NIB Nikon S3 2000 which has been a blast!

But, yet, I still would like to experience Leica. I am getting better at manual exposure and the millenium lens is awesome.

So, what are your recommendations for a Leica for long-term, with one lens to use everyday?

Thank you in advance.:)
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Impossible to answer. There are too many probables, hang on I am not sure if that is English but the word seemed to fit. Anyway, the first question is what type of photography do you enjoy to do. The second question is do you wear spectacles and I guess the third question is what is it about Leica that appeals.

As an example I like taking mountain landscapes B&W and colour reversal- street scenes and general snapshots. I also wear glasses and I do not favour high tech electronics. Given that scenario I have just today taken delivery of an M6 Classic 0.72 in chrome with a 35mm f2 Summicron-M asph plus a Voigtlander 75mm 2.5 Heliar. if I am only allowed 1 lens it would have to be the 35mm but Voigtlander lenses are very good second lenses and s/h the 75mm was only £180 GBP. But only 1 lens it has to be Leica unless there is no justification for a Leica body
 
Leica M3 Single-Stroke with Collapsible Summicron. That's the one I usually pick up and use. The Single Stroke has better eye-relief than the double-stroke.
 
Hi, Bill!

Good point about the nikkor and I may do just that! I would like to enjoy a Leica,even if only briefly, 'cause I'm not getting any younger...
:angel:
In all honesty, the S3 2000 is so good that it will take me longer than the rest of my natural life to master it...it is such a relief to use after shooting thousands of sports action images in a week!

Maybe it's GAS? Or maybe it's crazy, but I am keen on experiencing as much photographically as I can over the next few years...but I still need to focus on so many things in my photography, not just the gear. It's horses for courses for me as I try to fit the gear to my specific tasks.

Gotta tell you, though, that S3 2000 is a joy.:D
 
99% of the time, I'm in the "one body, one lens" mode. However every so often the body and lens change. They seem to rotate between:

Mamiya 7 body & 80mm lens
Zeiss Ikon body & ZI 35mm Biogon
Contax G1 & 35mm Planar

So none of my choices are Leica bodies or lenses. I guess I don't get to wear a Leica T-shirt.
 
For one lens one time: Summicron 35mm V.4 (This is the llens with the supposedly greatest bokeh.) Therefore you will need a camera with 35mm framelines. Leica M of your choice.
 
Hi Dave,

I'd like to try shooting with a Leica someday too, even if only briefly! My pick would be a single stroke M3 with a rigid 50/2 summicron (first version). Of all the M series cameras, at 0.91x the M3 has the closest finder magnification to your S3 2000 so you should feel right at home, and the rigid 50/2 summicron (first version) is said to be a classic! I suggest keeping an eye on the classifieds here. You never know what might turn up, and if you buy right you won't lose any money when you decide to sell.

Jon
 
Dave,

Jon is right, a single stroke M3 or even an M2 would give you the true Leica fit and feel. You might try reaching out to Youxin Ye (wye7 at yahoo.com). I have never used him but lots of folks here have and love is repair work on classic Leicas. From time to time he rebuilds an M3 and sells them for a reasonable price. If he's rebuilt it, it's been CLAed by one of the best. Good users pop up from time to time here on the classifieds too. Your long term rental will not loose you too much money. Not sure where to point you on the lens other than the classifieds. I have an old collapsible that I can loan you for a few months. Seen a bit of wear but used to shoot well and have an LTM/M adapter, not sure if it's the right one though. Let me know if you're interested and I'll check.

B2 (;->
 
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An M6 or Hexar RF with a 35mm lens or an M8 with something between 21mm and 28mm. Or anything with a similar field of view. I wouldn't agonize too much about compact lenses versus bigger ones. Pick your lens based on its handling and how you like the pictures.
 
Chris101 said:
I've got an M4-P fitted with a 35mm Ultron. It's quite compact and I carry it everywhere if I don't have a different camera with me. It takes nice pictures too - I (mostly) use only one film (trix) in it as well, so I rarely worry about metering. Guess & go!

ps, hey Chris! Glad to see you have recovered from the theft and are jumping back in!
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Sounds like a good combo to me! I actually had to deal with two more thefts of much much more valuable stuff, kinda sucks. Oh well, after a month and a half of no work I have two jobs and I'll be working my butt off all summer to get myself the cameras I lost and put myself in a situation to get to Europe in November/December
 
Well, what's your budget? It is a reasonable question. If you can swing the cost of a MP.... why not order it tomorrow?

But if the MP is too costly, and yet still you are after only one all-mechanical M body, then I'd recommend the M2 because it is so fine and uncluttered with either the 35 or 50 focal lengths, assuming here you might like both focal lengths. Again, if you are going to use only the 5cm focal length, then just get a M3: there is not a better body that I have tried with the 50mm focal length.
 
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