I guess this Leica virus has hit me. I have a nice set up which covers all my photographical needs (F100 24/2.8 50/1.4 70-210/4, SB22s, extension tubes). My main interest in photography is street, some portraiture and night photography. I love my camera, it has much more than I'll ever need. But it's big, obtrusive, and quite noisy compared to a RF. I usually don't carry all the equipment togheter because I like to go as light as possible down the streets, and being nearly unnoticeable. All of these are rationalizations of a somehow primary instinct leading me to a M6. Why? I can't state it clearly, I sometimes feel the need to reduce my approach to photography to the basics, as in the early times of my FM2+50 (now sold). It's not possible for me to use e-Bay to get the maximum from my stuff, since I should then send to the US or wherever and don't like the idea. My main chance here is to go to a retailer for an exchange, or sell privately (much more risk and fuss). Now, selling the above listed stuff, I can barely get the amount for a used M6, and then I should shell out the money for 1 (ONE!) used lens. Considering street photography I'd be more inclined to a Summicron 35, but I think a 50 could be borderline allowing also some kind of portraiture (well, kind of). Some how it seems to me a crime to sell everything for just 1 body + 1 lens. Do the Leica mistique really exist?

I'd like to hear the experience of any of you who was in the same situation as me. BTW I mostly do BW.

Best regards.

-- Antonio Carrus (antoniocarrus@yahoo.it), June 14, 2001

Answers

Hi Antonio,

I have switch to a M6TTL + 35 Summicron ASPH about 2 months ago. I have given a F100 with MB15, 28-70 AFS, 105 Macro, 80-200 AFS, 20mm f/2.8 and 300 f/4 EDIF for just the above one body plus 1 lens. To be honest with you, I have not regretted one little bit at all after I have seen the first roll of prints.

I really enjoyed being able to move around freely, without lugging the above with a tripod. And I can attest that my hand-held shots is as sharp if not sharper than that I have gotten from the tripod mounted SLR gears.

Now, I always have my M6 with 35 mounted with me everyday and everywhere. With this, I have gotten shots which I would never have thought of had I still clung on to my SLR. However, this is not to put down the SLR which definitely has its place in photography.

Well, I guess the final decision really boils down to your photographic needs. If street photography is your priority, then you will not go wrong with the M6. As for 35 or 50, it really is individual preference. However, one thing I like about the 35 is the wider depth of field, which on many occasions has allowed me to do away with the focusing by setting to hyperfocal.

Good Luck!

Steven

-- Steven Teh (ptsteh@hotmail.com), June 14, 2001.

You're looking at a big decision - one that could haver major repercussions, especially if it's wrong. I fully understand the desire to lighten the load, and I also understand the lure of the Leica.

But - have you ever tried to use an RF seriously before? If not, you should do that before you commit to a wholesale switch of systems, as the experience is quite different from using an SLR.

I'd suggest not going for an M6 right off the bat. What I'd suggest is to hang onto your Nikon gear, and buy a Bessa-R with a 35/1.7 Ultron or the Cosina 35/2.5. Use it for a while, and if you decide that RF photography is what you want to do, decide what kind of gear you want to get at that point.

The Cosina setup will cost less than $1000 US ($800 with the 35/2.5), and gets you close enough to a Leica-style camera and results that you will be able to make a confident decisions. This is not the case IME for the other standard recommendation, which is a used '70s era fixed-lens RF such as a Canonet or Olympus.

You may even find that the Bessa-R with the Ultron and the 50/1.5 Nokton will do exactly what you need, for a lot less outlay than a Leica. Of course you don't get the M shutter, the M lensmount, the name or the red dot. You *will* get a very competent interchangeable- lens RF with very good lenses and a Leica-class viewfinder at a price that might not force you to dump a very good SLR system.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), June 14, 2001.

Please, read Kirk Tuck's Leica M6 Review .

He came from the F5 to the M6.

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), June 14, 2001.

Antonio...

I went through the same dilemma that you're going through last year. I sold off my Nikon equipment (F100, lenses...) and purchased an M6- TTL (new) and a preASPH 35/2 and an older 50/2 (used) last year. I had to dip into my savings a bit, but the decision was one of the best I've ever made. I love the Leica! I carry it everywhere I go, something I wouldn't think of doing with the Nikon. I'm thinking of adding a Nikon FM3a to my bag (when it's released) and an old 35- 70/3.5 AIS zoom for those times I need an SLR, but I'm not totally sold on the idea yet.

If you can only afford one lens, I'd recommend a used Summicron 50/2 (the one just before the current version, with the focussing tab).

Bottom line... Go for it.

-- David Cunningham (dcunningham@attglobal.net), June 14, 2001.

Antonio, I have basically the same nikon gear as you do and am intersted in the same type of photography. I also agree that the F100 is a fabulous camera and has everything I will need, but it is bigger and heavier than I have come to like. A couple of months ago I bought a used M6 and 35 summilux and 50 summicron. I have shot many rolls of film and love the camera. So much so that I am going to trade in my nikon equiptment for another M6 and also get a 90/2.8. If you have not used a rangefinder before I would definetely use one before making such a big decision--you will obviously lose value when trading in your Nikon gear. Finally, as Paul states the Bessa R might be an option for you--for the price of an M6 and one lense(new) you could practically get the whole Bessa system. Not having tried a rangefinder prior to my purchase I looked at the Bessa R and it seemed like a great camera for the money. However, you may decide that a rangefinder is the camera for you and you might wish you had the Leica. I am glad I took a look at the Leica before I made my purchase. Good luck on your decision. Geri

-- Geri Brandimarte (gbrandimarte@hotmail.com), June 14, 2001.

I would have a hard time getting rid of my N90S and 3 or 4 of my favorite SLR lenses. The ability to do macro, and to use a zoom and fill flash for events would be too much of a limitation. To me, the rangefinder is an addition to, and not a replacement of, a good SLR. That's why the rangefinders of the 1950's gave way to SLR's.

I've been seeing the current Konica Hexar RF selling on Ebay with lens for a little over $1000--you might want to take a look at that camera, as it is a nice mix between your Nikon and the M6. It has easy load and AE exposures, as well as a more useable 1/125 flash sync for fill when needed. Unfortunately, any one camera is going to have its limits, so only you will be able to decide which attributes are most important for your style.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 14, 2001.

I concurrently use both the Leica M and Nikon SLRs, and while the thought of minimizing seems good sometimes, I never felt the ability to go 100% towards a rangefinder only system. I did do some extensive deprivation exercises, (living abroad for a year with only a Leica M6 and two lenses), but there are simply certain things that a SLR can do that can't be replicated with a rangefinder.

To simplify, I only use manual Nikons and real prime AIS lenses... f/8 is f/8 and 1/250th is 1/250th. I can switch back and forth between systems without an major shift in philosphy or technique, other than of course the viewfinder. I think that you should really not rush to abandon a system unless it is based on some tangible thing that you can truely state from experience... not because of a theory yet unproven. If you keep your current camera locked on auto- everything now, the M6 will be a shock at first. Even a guy with an old Pentax K-1000 would have an easier transition to an M6 than an F5 or EOS-3, user that shoots on auto all of the time.

With that said, I will never be without Leica glass. It does have a look that is unique. I don't know if you would call it "mystique", but those slide really pop off of the light table. If a disaster caused me to lose all of my photo gear today , a Leica M6 with 35mm and 50mm Summicrons would be my first acquisitions. I could live for quite sometime with this minimum gear, but a SLR would be in my future when finances permit.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), June 14, 2001.

Antonio:

I too have had Nikon SLR gear for years, and always updated, most recently to the F100 and F5 combo, with an assortment of lenses. About 9 months ago, I decided to try out an M6. Very shortly thereafter, I sold most of my Nikon lenses and added Leica glass. Now two M6 bodies and and assortment of outstanding Leica lenses later, I am considering the sale of my remaining Nikon SLR gear. Now I am deciding between keeping the F5 with the 80-400 zoom for those times when I want a long lens, or just getting a used D1 and doing those images digitally. As others have stated, the RF is not for eveybody. It takes a bit of getting used to, but for street photography, it can't be beat.

One other point that nobody has mentioned: I find that people take me less seriously when I shoot with the Leica, and hence are not intimidated by the guy with the "toy camera" like they were with the guy that looked like a "pro". I am definately getting a much higher percentage of images that look like I was a casual observer to the scene instead of that "undesired photographer was here" look. Heck, even my kids pose more naturally in front of the M, and they've been photographed for years with the big Nikon!

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 14, 2001.

I should add that like many others I've kept my Nikon gear - an F3 and FE2 with a 24, 50, 55, 85 and 180. My rationale was the usual - that there are some things an SLR does better than a rangefinder.

What I've found is that the things an SLR does better are things I have no interest in - like macro and long tele. I even prefer my M6/135 combo to the F3/180. so despite my best intentions, my Nikon gear sits unused, gathering dust as the batteries leak :-)

I still think it would take a major leap of faith to dump one system for the other without being absolutely sure...

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), June 14, 2001.

Antonio:

Why don't you try to sell your Nikon gear on EBAY? That is exactly what I did before buying a new M6 TTL and 35/f2 ASPH lens last year. I have never regretted it because the all manual and mechanical Leica is a joy to use after the auto everything Nikons and Canons I used to have.

For street photography, I would recommend the 35mm over the 50mm. The greater angle of coverage and depth of field helps a lot. I have taken photos at public events with the 35mm lens set at f8 and hyperfocal distance. For some examples, look here: http://www.photo.net/photodb/presentation.tcl?presentation_id=67273.

The quality of the Leica lenses was so much better than my Nikon and Canon lenses that I also bought a used Leicaflex SL and 60mm/f2.8 macro lens last summer. That is one amazing lens. You can use all Leica lenses at maximum aperture and still get great results.

Since you also need a portrait lens, I would recommend the Leica M 90mm/f2 APO ASPH lens to complement the 35mm street photography lens. You will have to save up for a while to buy this, but it will be worth it.

It will take you several months to get used to the M6. But the technical quality of your slides or prints will be dramatically better.

So go for i

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), June 14, 2001.

I'd agree with the people who've said go for the M but keep your Nikon. There are a number of things that the M does better than any camera in the world (and street shooting is one of them), but there are some things that are either impossible, or so inconvenient that they are next to impossible. I sold a complete Olympus kit when I got my Leica, only to find out a few months later when I needed to do some copy slides of my work that I needed the SLR w/macro. Something I don't need to do often, but when it comes up the Leica just doesn't do. As well, as stated elsewhere, be prepared to give the Leica a few months to grow on you. It is a totally different way of seeing, and it takes a while. I found switching to the rangefinder to be an even bigger challenge in seeing than picking up my Rollei and looking down into the focusing screen. But if you take the time it will reward you with the best image taking ability in 35mm.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), June 14, 2001.

Antonio:

I was also infected by the virus last month and bought a M6TTL with 35 Summicron and 90mm Summicron, both pre-asph. Before, I was using a similar 35mm format set up as you, but in Canon EOS system (EOS-1N, 17-35L, 50USM, 70-210). And I bought the Leica for exactly the reasons you stated: weight and stealth. I should tell you what I think so far.

The little M6 obviously is very light and silent. No other camera system will do better in these respects. The punch line is that if street and travel photography are your main interests, then the Leica is your best tool available.

I originally opt for the 50 Summicron when I was buying the M6, because I have used the 50mm for 4 years and I still prefer the normal perspective more than the wider 35mm. The 35 Summicron, however, is inevitably the most useful and valuable lens for Leica. This is because that it has more depth of field than the 50mm, which is critical when it comes to zone focusing. The lens is extremely sharp, as sharp as my Canon 50/1.4USM (This is not an insult, Leica fans, as the Canon is really really sharp. It is however the creamy out of focus area that makes the 35 Summicron distinctive. Try panning with this lens and you shall see magic. The blur is so nice...

The 90mm Summicron is also a very sharp lens, although I bought it at a used price higher than average. This lens serves well as a second lens, but I should have bought a 50 Summicron before this lens. Many people may think that the 50 is redundant once you have a 35, but their perspectives are actually quite far apart. I see them both as my main lenses. The 90 Summicron focuses slower and often produces out of focus images due to my inexperience, but I am positive that it will become easier.

I knew very well at the time of purchase that the Leica will perform very well. I have never doubted the performance of any camera or lenses (except cheap P&S), but rather I have doubts on my ability to fully utilize them. RF focusing is actually easier than I thought (I used AF all the time in EOS, but manual focuses my Hasselblad). The correct exposure, however, is not as easily obtained as I have expected. I used the 2% fine spotmeter most of the time, and incident meter in tricky situations. I thought that I have mastered exposure techniques. The centerweighted meter is a large spotmeter that needs some time to get familiar with.

After playing around for one week, I shot a concert with the 90 with terrible overexposed, defocused photographs. One day after the concert, I brought my M6 to my birthplace - Hong Kong, and I have fumbled many great opportunities in 2 weeks' time. However, there are a few photographs that are very good. I knew that I am in the phase of trial and error. I came back to Canada and photographed my girlfriend's University graduation. The Leica served as a family P&S and delivers amazing results. Still, some exposure and focusing problems persist. It takes time to get used to, and much patience is needed. I feel like a beginner who makes horrible photographs.

Last night, I compared the images I took with Leica and Canon. I was amazed to find that a few of the Leica photographs that I took in the past month are among the best batch of my 7 year photo life. There must be some kind of synergy between me and the Leica. I am very happy that I bought a camera that suits me very well.

I do have some further suggestion for your proposed purchase. That is, I disagree with Paul's suggestion to buy the Voigtlander to experience the RF world (my apology to Paul). This is because it does not make economic sense (I am an economist). If you happen to like the RF, you would definitely opt for the Leica (trust me you would), in which you will have to sell the Cosina equipment. New Cosina depreciates much faster than used Leica. So, why not try out with used Leica and so you can keep it if you like it. If you do not like RF, then resell the Leica and you will lose less than the depreciated value of Voigtlander. Another suggestion is that you should keep your Nikon. Leica cannot do everything for you, unless you are determined to give up telephoto, macro, flash, multiple exposure. I did not sell my Canon and Hasselblad, not until I find them sitting at home most of the time. Unfortunately, for the past month, they are sitting at home most of the time.

Cheers, Jackson Loi University of Toronto Economics Department

-- Jackson Loi (jsloi@hotmail.com), June 14, 2001.

Why don't you pick up a Canonet? A definite Leica clone for $100, which will give you some rangefinder experience. For hand held shots with fast film, it might be all you need. (I know, heavy heresy here!) Check out http://www.cameraquest.com/canql17.htm and http://www.netaxs.com/~cassidy/images/equipment/ql17/index.html

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@s-way.com), June 14, 2001.

I too went through this dilemma, but I still kept my Nikon F90 and FM2 (plus pro lenses and flash) system. I bought a second hand M2 body and 50/2 Summicron instead of a new M6. The second hand market can be an option as well. My suggestion is to keep the SLR and get a second hand M body and lens if budget is too tight for a new M6.

-- Ron Gregorio (rongregorio@hotmail.com), June 14, 2001.

So you do street photography, with a nikon, now you deserve a leica, you can try any other rangefinder just to see the feel, but... try the leica it can be a M4P or M6 whatever you can afford, with a 35/2, that´s a GREAT combination for street photo, you can ad later an old elmar 90 for portraits for very cheap; what I´m sure is that your photographic horizons will expand whit the Leica, I bet on that!

Nikons are a joke, specialy newer stuff.I don´t mean to hurt no one feelings, but yesterday I was holding a N90s with a nikkor zoom and belive me it was falling apart, and with all that butons I rather be playing nintendo.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), June 14, 2001.

Hi Antonio,

I used to use Canon gear. I had an EOS1N, EOS3, and a 20-35, 70-200 and a 24-85. I sold all if it after I stopped working at a daily newspaper and purchased 2 M6's & 24, 35, 50, and 90 mm lenses. Now that I'm shooting mostly what I enjoy I would never go back to the Nikon-Canon systems. If you want to do street work Leicas are by far, IMHO, the best cameras to do it. Most of the work I do is on the street and I can move around with a light package and without being obtrusive. There is nothing wrong with the Nikon/Canon cameras, I just don't feel that those systems are nearly as useful as the Leica system for what you say you want to do.

Most of the things I shoot on the street are done with 2 lenses, the 35mm and the 50mm. For me, those two are the most valuable for street shooting. You would certainly have to get used to using the Leica system but if and when you do I think you will find that it is the right camera for street photography.

T. Gallagher

-- T. Gallagher (tgallagher10@yahoo.com), June 14, 2001.

Antonio: I used Nikon in the early 70's, switched to M3's and then bought more Nikon gear. I got rid of all of the Nikon gear and bought a used R4 for when I wanted Macro or Long lens capabilities two years ago. I use a 28 Elmarit, 50 and 90 Summicrons with an M6 and M3. If you get a used M6, it is difficult switching to the M6TTL as the shutter speed dial rotates in the opposite direction. In black and white the Leica optics snap at you more than the competition does. Ask around and see if anyone you knows has one you can handle and try focusing with. I would not be happy with a clone, and the Canonet concept is not even worth looking at as the quality and non- interchangeable lenses are not a worthy comparison. Good luck, it is your choice and you have to live with it.

Mark J.

-- Mark A. Johnson (logic@gci.net), June 14, 2001.

"I have switch to a M6TTL + 35 Summicron ASPH about 2 months ago. I have given a F100 with MB15, 28-70 AFS, 105 Macro, 80-200 AFS, 20mm f/2.8 and 300 f/4 EDIF for just the above one body plus 1 lens. "

Steven Teh, if you are saying that's the equipment trade you did, I wish I had been on the other side of the deal from you... :-)

Antonio, don't give up that Nikon system! In its own way, it is very much a classic configuration, that can do many things your Leica cannot.

I migrated to Leica M from a Nikon FM/50 like you had because the control layout is quite similar. My suggestion, bite the bullet and buy yourself an M4-P user with a 50/2 or a 35/2 on ebay or elsewhere and use it exclusively for 3 months. Then you will know whether you should chuck your Nikon gear.

If I were you, I would not do it-the Nikon lets you do many things in a versatile way (Macro, Sports, Wildlife, Kids running around).

Until you get comfortable with a Leica style of seeing and taking pictures and are happy with having only that style in your bag it makes no sense to dump the SLR system.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), June 14, 2001.

Antonio:

I haven't done this for money in some time: STOP. I use Nikon and Leica M: STOP. The lenses give different results; one is not really better than the other; just depends on the film and the lighting; STOP. Decide what fits the subject for the shoot and the film you will use and pick one: STOP. Shoot film and don't worry so much about equipment: STOP. And when you really want to get picky, change to 8 x 10 and do Pt prints: STOP.

More seriously, just have fun with whatever you do.

Art

-- Art (AKarr90975@aol.com), June 14, 2001.

I did what you are thinking of. I got a beat up M2 and 50 summicron. They are wonderful, but I ended up buying an EOS 50 with 28/85 and 28- 105 lenses plus flash. The Leica is great, especially the lens, but rather inflexible.

Do you like your current nikon glass? If you are happy with it, buy a used FM.

-- Mark Wrathall (wrathall@laudaair.com), June 15, 2001.

I'm in Austria, and at present we europeans can really benefit from the weak erup to get great prices on ebay. I sold my 28-80L that way,

-- Mark Wrathall (wrathall@laudaair.com), June 15, 2001.

I guess Antonio received more answers than he expected... My advice: Jump. Sell your Nikon and buy your M6 + 35 mm. Then shoot, shoot and shoot. After a few months if you cannot feel comfortable with a rangefinder, you should be able to sell you M at around the same price you bought it (and buy back some Nikon stuff). Since I switched to an M, I rediscovered the pleasure to take pictures. I don't care for long focal lenghts (no wild life pictures for me). For Macro photo, which I do once in a while I got an old Pentax with bellows for peanuts...

Go for it man.

Xavier

-- Xavier Colmant (xcolmant@powerir.com), June 15, 2001.

Antonio

I think that buying an M is a bit of a leap of faith - you will miss reflex viewing - remember all the people who participate here are Leica M fans - but there are many people who just cannot get on with them - to some extent I include myself in this group. I am a Leica R user. Personally, I think what you need to wean yourself off first is the concept of the do-it-all zoom lens - this is what most people use all the time and in my opinion it does little for your photography. With an M (with the exception of the Tri-Elmar which is not really a zoom) there are no zooms and so your photographic style has to change. I suggest you use your Nikon with the 24mm the 50mm and maybe get a nice fast Nikon 85 or 100 lens and use just this combo for a good few months. You have already shed weight by dumping the zoom. You now have only three lenses - like you might have in a typical M-kit. See how you get on. Then if you think you can live with just this then you need to see whether you could live with this and with a rangefinder. Remember if the real aim is to simplify your photography you can do that by keeping your reflex and loosing some of the lenses. You don't need to bankrupt yourself getting an M to do this. Much as I love M cameras - I still prefer the WYSIWG approach of reflexes and what many people consider to be "classic Leica photography" can easily be done by reflexes too. So, like everyone else says, don't get rid of your Nikon even if you get an M - you might want it back! Remember too that although the M cameras are smaller they are not particularly light. Also, unless you keep with only 2 or 3 lenses you can still give yourself a headache worrying and wondering about which lenses you want and what to take with you - in other words just buying an M camera does not automatically simplify things unless you really want it to! You can end up buying a lot of Leica lenses! I sound like an addiction counsellor...The M is not a necessarily a panacea and I suggest you think very carefully about what your photographic objectives really are.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), June 15, 2001.

>My main interest in photography is street, some portraiture and night photography.<

Tom: If that is a true statement by you, the M is the perfect choice and you will not be dissatisfied - But you will have to work to get comfortable with it.

>I love my camera, >>(F100 24/2.8 50/1.4 70-210/4, SB22s, extension tubes)<< it has much more than I'll ever need. But it's big, obtrusive, and quite noisy compared to a RF.<

I love(d) my Nikons too, but you'll probably see them on eBay in the next month or so, because they spend their time sitting in the cabinet and the M's are always with me. Just to be sure, I photographed my 11-year-old's end-of-school party last week with my F100, big motor and zoom. I shot two rolls, got about two good images and lots of properly exposed and well focussed frames full of forced poses and boring snapshots.

>I usually don't carry all the equipment togheter because I like to go as light as possible down the streets, and being nearly unnoticeable.<

I photographed my 8 year old's birthday party yesterday with my M (with motor) and 3E - VERY light, very quiet, very flexible. Only two kids seemed to notice that I was even taking pictures, and then only briefly, even with the motor.

Sincerely,

A former autoeverything SLR lover and M convert

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 15, 2001.

I found in recent years that my Nikon AF began to pall on me--the buttons and dials and custom-functions and needing to remember what the AF and flash and AE were going to do in each situation--all became a distraction rather than an enhancement to my photography; and the increasing bulk and weight was becoming a de-motivator as well. I pared down my AF outfit and still use it for wildlife and fast-action shooting, but I've rediscovered the Leica and find it less challenging despite the lens limitations and framing. I guess I resist having a second brain coming between mine and the subject.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 16, 2001.

Very nice to heard that Jay; the only time I may want an autoSLR, is when I don´t want to think in what I´m doing, and if so, I better do something else.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), June 16, 2001.

Dear Antonio,

I wish I was not too late! I was a Nikon user. I switched to Nikon from Minolta and I after the first rolls I understood that I had made the right choice. I made all the photos of my first exhibition «Archeological Museum» serie using excessively both FM2+AF35/2 and F4S+AF80-200/2,8D. Some of these photos are in http://www.photoart.gr/kioseoglou in gallery 1. These two lenses are very good and especially the AF80-200/2,8D is something extraordinary. I had also the very good and very sharp 105/2,5 and the AF60/2,8Macro and some other Nikon lenses. I didn’t own manual focus AIS but I know from other photographers that some of them are Leica quality lenses ( especially 24 and 28 lenses ). As you can easily could understand this was a very heavy gear and after 50-100 rolls I began shooting only with the FM2+AF35/2 and after that with a Minox 35GT ! After using the Minox and making some good street photographs ( by the way I am a street photographer using exclusively b&w ) I understood that photography is very simple, we do not need heavy gears, bodies, lenses ... and we can make photography even with a compact camera. I like the feeling of heaving a small ( but very good! ) camera in your pocket and making photography every time and everywhere. All these pushed me to Leica M ! A small ( but heavy ! ) camera, with the best lenses available, that you can have it with you every time. Last year I bought an used M6 plus a Summicron-M 50/2. I am used to the angle of view of the 35mm lens but in Greece where I live it is hard to find even new Leica items! Leica is something different. The lenses are not only very sharp but also gives to print a 3D effect. An effect that you can not take with any other lens. It is something like the picture is live! ( you can see some images with M6+50/2 in www.photoart.gr/kioseoglou/street2.html, street3.html and street13.html ) For the sharpness of the Leica lenses I can say you only that I went to Archeological Museum again but with M6, same film, same development, same enlargement and the old Nikon prints look like out of focus! Three months ago I finally purchased my favorite Asph35/2 and now I am the happiest photographer in the world. The performance of this lens is something like medium format quality prints. As a conclusion the choice is up to you. If you can make photography only with one body and one lens go for an used M6 and a pre aspherical 35/2 which is also very good. I think that your second lens will be a 50/2. Leica cameras and lenses are great and I wish to every photographer on the world to having the pleasure of using a Leica camera.

Best regards, Dimitris

-- Dimitrios Kioseoglou (kosefoto@otenet.gr), June 18, 2001.

Whatever you do, DO NOT sell your nikon gear without spending some serious time with a rangefinder. Rangefinders are very cool (I have sort of a love hate relationship with them). But there's a very good chance that the rangefinder "life" won't agree with you. Buy a Bessa R or an old canon 7s or something along those lines. You'll be pissed off if you've sold all your Nikon stuff at a big loss, just to get a camera you don't agree with. Now that I think about it, an older Canon (not knob wind) would be a good way to check out RF's. And since the lenses are LTM (Leica Thread Mount) you could use them on an M2,3,4,5,6 if/when you got one. No, they aren't the most current or fancy. But you can pick up a body and lens for under $500.

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), June 22, 2001.

No matter if you used your Nikon or your Leica, Dimitri, your pictures are inspiring, impressive, excellent in every respect. It is nice to see that even in this forum some of the Leica owners know how to USE these admirable tools...

My favourites: street 5 and 6, page 2, 3 and 6

-- George (gdgianni@aol.com), June 22, 2001.

George,

Thank you for your nice comments for my photos. I agree with you about the mentality of some Leica users who buys Leica because it is *LEICA*. I bought M6 because it is small, simple and you can lean on it. After 14 years in photography, my current phylosophy is to make Photography a way of life having all time with me the smallest possible portable cameras which give you the better print quality and enlargements. And these for me are M6 and Minox 35GT!

Dimitris http://www.photoart.gr/kioseoglou

-- Dimitris Kioseoglou (kosefoto@otenet.gr), June 23, 2001.

I love my Leica M equipment but it will never replace my manual focus Nikon gear. I have converted several Leica R users with my Nikon shots. I use Leica M because of the purity that rangefinders give you without having to illuminate a mirror box, I dare say if Nikon made rangefinders still they would be equal to the task but since Leica M is the last manual focus rangefinder system thats why I choose it. But having the M will never replace my Nikon SLR's, I love my macro photography too much!

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), July 15, 2001.