Which M body to sell and which to keep?

<p>Recently, I've notice I've been taking a lot less photos with my vintage film M cameras and was wondering if it's finally time to go mostly digital. Question is this. Which Leica M body would you keep and which would you get rid of, given these choices?<br>

Leica M4 (chrome, with hot shoe modification)<br>

Leica M4 (black chrome, with hot shoe and motordrive modification)<br>

Leica M5 (chrome 2 lug)<br>

Leica M5 (black 3 lug)<br>

Leica M6 (titanium)<br>

Leica MP-3 (chrome)<br>

I feel comfortable shooting all these camera, so handling isn't an issue. Additionally, I've already sold my M3s years ago but I have some level of affinity for the rest of these cameras and it's really difficult to choose. Lately, I been using the M5 more because of the way it holds my flash better, but the M6 was my first M. I would keep all of them, but I'm afraid they're going to end up as worthless paper weights someday and go in the way of the Dodo bird. Let say you can keep three M cameras. Thanks</p>

<p>It is really hard to advise, without knowing why you like cameras at all.<br>

I had the same soul-searching exercise recently, and ended up giving a number of cameras to my siblings as presents. I couldn't bear to sell them, but thought that they would make ideal presents.<br>

So, here is a sampling of what I kept, and why:<br>

- Midland black chrome M4 - because I worked in Midland Leitz and want to keep an example of their finest work<br>

- M4-P 70th Anniversary - it was in production when I was at Leitz Midland<br>

- Midland IIIf - same reason as above<br>

- IIIg - because it is such a beautiful camera<br>

- 2000 M6 - as a special reminder of the year 2000<br>

- M5 black chrome 3 lug - special love of the M5 as my first metered M, and fits perfectly on "big glass", like the Noctilux, 90/2, 135/2.8. And it is a unique Leitz design.<br>

- CL, because it is another unique Leitz design<br>

- 1A, because it ushered in 35mm photography to the public<br>

I no longer own M2's or M3's; gave them to my siblings.<br>

I also have an R6.2 and R7, although I may sell the R7 soon. I had an SL2, and loved it for its precision, and I understand the R6.2 is an even more high precision and highly crafted instrument. I didn't like the SL2 for its weight. I bought the R7 for its ease of use.</p>

<p>Sell everything & get a mint M2 -- with a 35 Summilux asph. -- the best of classic Leitz film photography equipment IMHO.</p>

<p>Sell everything but the M4 (that's what I did and am quite happy with my decision).</p>

<p>Keep it all. 35mm film photography will have a resurgence as something quaint from the past.</p>

<p>Personally I'd keep the M6 and perhaps the MP-3. Nicest shooters.</p>

<p>What is an MP-3?<br>

I have an MP, how would I know if it's a 3?<br>

By the way, I'm surprised that the M3 was the first to go. I think it's probably the one I'd be inclined to keep as it's the only one I can focus with both eyes open!</p>

<p>If you sold your 3's, then why keep any of the others?</p>

<p>I would keep the one you like the most...sell the rest and get a M9. Sentiment etc? Cameras do not have feelings and they should be used. <br>

I have a mint Valloy II enlarger, anti-Newton etc. Leitz easels, ya da ya da and it is going. As much as I loved B&W *I* know I will never set it up again.<br>

JMHO.</p>

<p>1 M4. 1 M5. The MP3. If you keep just one, the MP3.</p>

<p>What Les said</p>

<p>Why go digital (seriously)?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I can understand where Les is coming from, but I'd still keep at least one film camera at all times.</p>

<p>Steve: I love film as much as anyone, and will shoot large format as long as they make the sheetfilm. Here is why to shoot digital. I needed a quick self portrait for early this week. I did a picture on my D700. It is good, you can see it on my photo.net page. The printer wouldn't work, so I had a student shoot the picture with 35mm T Max 100, in my studio with my equipment. In both cases I used the same 85mm Zeiss lens at the same aperture. I finished the film picture last night and liked it. Then, on it's own, the printer decided to let me know it could do better, and spit out the print from the D700 I had asked it to make days ago. It was on bond paper. The D700 picture was so much better, there was no real comparison. I will continue to shoot 35mm film because, as I said in a comment above, I love the retro look. But when you really want quality, a high end digital camera gives better results, and of course large format film better than that. As far as the Leicas go, I am over my Leica obsession, but am keeping an M3 and M6. Love the 6, like the 3. The Leica lenses are sharper wide open than anything else, and in the mid stops as well. I love the moody tonality of the Zeiss lenses though.</p>

<p>Keep the MP. Sell the rest. Pre-order an M9. Done and done.</p>

<p>Keep one M5 and the M6, sell the rest.</p>

<p>Stay with film. Or keep last two from Your list.</p>

<p>How about selling neither of the cameras and keeping none.</p>

<p>How can this be done, what is my game:</p>

<p>Give them away to young and starting artists. You can't take it with you, I hope you know. All those cameras and clouds of $s in you head are idle money right now. I am certain of that. And that idle set of cameras or cash needs to be transformed into art, not more $s in the bank. Money/riches need to be used!</p>

<p>Good luck in your decision. Yes, I do give away my exhibition prints to foster art and artists. So can you .. And i only have 4 cameras of completely different shape and purpose: one for street (35 mm RF) one for still scenes (MF), one pinhole and one SLRf or macro and tele shots. Not 10 of exactly the same kind and for the same use. Idle money needs to circulate in society, remember please.</p>

<p>Frank: Who said "money is frozen energy"?</p>

<p>Sell all of them if you don't know which to keep. Then you'll know which one you miss the most, and you'll buy it again.</p>

<p>Bruce, it was said by Bill Bernard in "Life is not fair--and everything else they forgot to teach you in school"</p>

<p>Keep the MP-3 sell the rest and buy the M9 with the proceeds. Lucky you!</p>

<p>Keep the M4 (light meters are for sissies, anyway, right?). Sell the rest and get an M9. I have a pro portrait photographer friend who was wavering. He has more M's than you. He's kept an M3 and trading the rest in. He said that the output from the M9 was the first digital output he has seen that approaches his film results, and its what he was waiting for.</p>

<p>When $ allow, I plan to buy an M9. I'll sell my M7 and keep my M2 (purchased new in 1970 for $200) for sentimal reasons. I rarely use the M2 because the M7 is easier to use on the street. Not only is the M7 shutter quieter than the M2, the auto exposure is faster than either my hand-held Gossen meter or my 40 plus years guesstimating exposure values. The M7 is also faster to load--though the M2 is faster to unload.</p>

<p>Leica bodies hold their value but if you want to sell two of them then just pick the two bodies that are in the least desirable condition and sell those two. </p>