My First Leica

After a hiatus of a few years I returned to photography about two years ago when

I was gifted with a used digital camera. It was fun, and then it broke, and now

it's not worth fixing. Screen savers are nice, and I have stacks of unviewed

digital images, but what I realized was that I was pining away for black & white

film. As a print photographer, I'm still very much what my students label as old

school: I whip up my chemical from scratch, still have a functioning darkroom,

and simply love the slow, smelly process of film. Over the years I've gone

through the formats, from small to large, priding myself on my photographs of

urban squalor. But recently I've moved back down to small format and I am truly

enjoying photographing people for the first time.

 

I am very much a lover of well-made, used photographic equipment--the only new

things I own are filters and film--and nothing speaks better of old fashioned

quality than does the Leica badge. I want an M Leica. For my money as a user,

not a collector, the M4-P appears to be just the camera for me. I'd rather not

'upgrade' to an M6 because I'm pretty handy with a light meter, and would just

as soon not spend the extra money on an in-camera system that's liable to be on

the fritz. As far as glass goes I'm gritting my teeth and going for the 35mm f/2

Summicron to start with.

 

Now, how and where to buy these things? Can those like-new M4-Ps on Ebay be

trusted to still be in working order after being unused for decades? I certainly

want a clean camera; and clean lens, for that matter. So, what's the answer for

me? Ebay? B&H? KEH Camera? Or would the rule of thumb here be to never buy a

Leica you haven't put your hands on?

 

I need wise heads to advise me, please.

I'd go with KEH. That's too many bucks to take a chance with.

We sound like we've been cut from the same cloth. I recently came back to photography after my (second) wife bought me a small digital camera. Went from 35mm to 645, and have recently gone back down to 35mm with the quality of Leica glass. I print everything on 8x10 paper at a minimum (9.5x6.5"). For me, I couldn't stand having to upgrade the computer, the software, the camera, the lens, back to the computer, the hard drive, etc. I hated waiting for the computer to respond to slight changes in curves. I know it sounds stupid, but the darkroom is somewaht quicker for me than using the computer. Don't even know if that makes any sense, but its how I feel about it.

 

Anyway, I've purchased an M6 TTL, 28mm Elmarit, 35mm Summicron, and J3 50mm, all on the eBay! My experiences have been flawless. I have looked at KEH and did buy a lens for my wife which was used and in great shape. I purchased an m645 on Craigslist, so that might be a way to go as well.

 

G.

Make up a list of reputable dealers who carry Leica. Search every few days. The lenses that you want will show up at a price lower than Ebay. There are reputable dealers on Ebay, too but often their auction prices will be quite high based on their reputation. Check rangerfinderforum.com as that site is just rangefinders and often Leica equipment does show. (Also, make sure on the camera that you choose will take the lenses that you want. Framelines are different on different models.) Zeiss Biogon lenses are terrific and will work with Ms. Check that line out as well as the Cosina Voigtlander lenses.

Hi Chris,

 

I bought a goggled 135 from KEH, great guys to deal with. They trashed shipping but made it right. To err is human.

 

I bought my new used MP, my first Leica from Kurland.in NYC. I've bought other stuff from them years ago and I'm always happy with the purchases.

 

I'm leery of fleabay, but I bought a nice 1,4/35 ASPH from a seller there (alwayshappy, a great guy and outstanding photographer),

 

The only sage advice is to have a lens ready for when the camera arrives insuring that it works to yoru satisfaction, and maybe a friendly hand that knows the model you buy well, to provide any advice and help you insure all is well.

 

Have fun-

I got lucky on my last fleabay purchase. I needed another body, and like you, I use a hand meter or guess at exposures. I found an M4-P, 50 Cron, MR4 meter, and M4P winder / door stop for under $900. All I really wanted was another body. The rangefinder is slightly off, but the whole system was in Ex++ condition. I've also bought a lot of stuff from KEH and they've always treated me well.

Any affordable M is going to be at least 25 years old. Unless you buy a recently CLA'd camera (my $650 M2 was DAGed, receipt included), you pay your money and you take your chances.

I've purchased 2 M3's on eBay as well as a 50 Summicron, 50 Sum DR. and a 35 Summicron (8-element original version). I never had a problem. I looked for those without blemish on the exterior which is a good indication on interior condition.

 

I immediately sent every piece away for CLA's to Sherry Krauter and they have been wonderful image makers. They have a signature that is subtle but evident.

 

My 35 Sum is great also (not the goggled version, bleh!) I have the M2 version and use a hotshoe finder. It works great! I am coninually looking for another 35 (8-el) but they are extremely hard to find. I lucked out and got a good one for just over $1k. That was a year ago and I have yet to see another ANYWHERE! for under $2k. Some Hong Kong eBayers have them, but they start at about $2400 to $3300. Not bargains!

<p>Oh, keep an eye on Tamarkin for their next auction (just looked and its on June 22nd)</p>

 

<a href="http://www.tamarkin.com/catalog/auction/index.html">http://www.tamarkin.com/catalog/auction/index.html</a>

<p>

I bought my first M3 and 50 Summicron DR from the through eBay Live Auctions. Tamarkin is good peoples (excuse my grammar).</p>

I would encourage Chris to look for an M6 Classic. If the meter breaks (unlikely) it effectively becomes an M4-P. But the meter on the M6 is a gem. It is very consistent and extremely accurate.

 

An M6 Classic should not cost much more than an M4-P, and it is worth the extra just to have that meter. Of course Chris can use a hand held meter as well. I speak from having owned an M4-P and two M7 bodies.

Look around for reputable sellers and collectors on the web. A reputable store nearby is also a good bet, they often have used Leica equipment for reasonable prices with some sort of warranty.

 

I live in the Netherlands, and found my user M2 on this list:

 

http://leica.nemeng.com/004e.shtml

 

Times sounded and looked ok, viewfinder was perfect. But the first rolls revealed that the shutter was way off. A CLA fixed it. I'd always assume an older M will need a CLA.

 

On-line auction sites are a bit of a gamble. In Europe distances are small, so I usually try to find stuff I can have a look at before buying. Last month I drove 2x300km to get to a used Summicron. It was well worth it though.

 

An M4-2 and M4-P is relatively new and cheap(er). In good shape it will be an extremely competent ans pleasurable camera to shoot.

Chris,

 

Get the Leica M Advanced Photo School by Gunter Osterloh from the library or Amazon etc. it will provide all the info you need to get going.

An alternative suggestion for value would be a good user M4-2, new Voiglander VC II meter, and a new Zeiss ZM 35mm f2 lens. I think a lot of collectors as well as users look down on the M4-2s, but the build quality is pretty good (steel vs brass, a little more plastic, that's it). As far as the 35 cron, the price point makes this lens non-competitive. Don't BUY into Leica lens mystique. The photos will prove there's not that much of a difference and you'll end up saving at least a grand. Additionally, I'm recommending a new lens and meter because you don't save that much on these two things used. My two cents. Thanks