otislynch Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 If you have not used film before, it may be a "challenging" camera to learn. For one, just loading a roll of film takes some care for even those used to using screw mount Leica cameras. You need to Google "loading film into a screw mount Leica" read and maybe even view one or more of the videos dedicated to the process. My first "good" camera was a IIIc w/Summitar 50 - I fell in love with the way it looked and felt in my hands, and it cost me a cool $50 in 1963 or 4. I learned the basics with it and managed to survive ownership without dropping or otherwise breaking any pieces of it. But a friend in college let me play with his Canon FT-QL a few years later, and the limitations I'd put on myself with the Leica were immediately & dramatically obvious. I accepted idiosyncrasies like the fact that serious photojournalists with this series of Leica regularly practiced changing film on the run. The fact that the bottom of the camera comes completely off when changing film makes a 3rd arm & hand the 1st accessory on the want list. Can you learn the basics of emulsion photography with one? Absolutely - and those lessons will stay with you forever. I don't regret having started serious photography with one - I loved it as much as anything else I've ever had, and I wish I had it now. But I sure wouldn't do it today unless you simply love that camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_levy3 Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 Beautiful as the old screwmounts were, if you're going to shoot it a lot, I'd go with an M. I like the M2s because they are set up for 35, 50, and 90 focal lengths. Vintage M2s are a lot more affordable than modern M's that's for sure and the old vintage glass is pretty good. I started with a old DR Summicron 50/2 and a battered 35/2 (also a summicron). But I also had a 50/2 collapsible. You can also use screwmount lenses with an easy to find adapter and they work great. And there are a ton of lenses from Leica and a lot of others. The Ms are actually fun and effective cameras to use even today (assuming you're shooting film). Only issue is no light meter, but look up the modern Voigtlander clip on meter if you can find one, it looks great on the cameras and works well. Thanks to all in chimed in. My course starts next month. This is my film camera .... M2 with Voigtlander VC II meter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_kleinfeld Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I like and use my IIIf a lot. It is indeed tricky to load, but it's worth it. Reasons: (1) I can carry it under my coat if it's cold, no battery to fail in the cold, (2) extremely compact to pack for travel as well as to carry (3) easy to hold still for slow shutter speeds - I've gotten good pictures at 1/15 (4) looks cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbon_dragon Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I’ll bet you don’t wear glasses. I have an astigmatism so I can ‘t even get diopters and I had to get a little rubber pad on the IIIf’s viewfinder to keep from scratching my glasses. No eye relief either. I suspect that if the viewfinder was new it would be easier to see, but after experiencing the M, it’s hard to go back to the screwmount bodies. The Canon 7 is the only screwmount camera I think give the M’s a little competition but not near enough. The screwmounts ARE a tiny bit smaller and a tiny bit lighter but the useability just doesn’t make it worth it for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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