Hi dear all! I'm a Nikon user, but I (finally) decided to buy an used M6 TTL. These are the questions: 1. Which kind of viewfinder magnification will I need? (I know that depends on the focal lenght I'm planning to use most, but maybe there's more to understand...). I think 0.72 is "standard", but... 2. I'm from Italy, and I've seen at Don Chatterton Web Site some good offers. The problem is that he doesn't apply any return priviledge on cameras sent outside of the US. Do you recommend buying "blind" from this guy (recommended at Cameraquest.com)? 3. Which kind of the vast assortment of nice 50 mm do you advice me to buy? Very sorry for these annoying and perhaps stupid questions! -- Thanks a lot in advance, -- Ciao, Marco.

-- Marco Maria Colombo (mcolombo@iol.it), September 30, 2001

Answers

I think the best idea would be for you to go to a camera store in your country which stocks Leica (I personally know of two in Firenze alone)and try out the different viewfinders, lenses etc. before you buy from overseas. Even if the dealer allows return privilege (such as www.keh.com which is a very reputable dealer and normally has a good selection of used Leicas) the cost of shipping it back to the USA will not be inexpensive. It's one thing if there's a defect in the camera, which you can't predict; but some hands-on research could at least settle your selection questions beforehand.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), September 30, 2001.

The Summicron 50mm is of legendary quality, if the speed is adequate for you.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), September 30, 2001.

Being "50mm kind of guy" and being in your shoes I'd go for current 50/2 Summicron. I have 50/1.5 Nokton (which was my first RF lens) and 50/2.8 collapsible current Elmar-M, but I could manage with just the Summicron.

As far as the body goes if you do need TTL and/ot built-in meter you can do much better price-wise buing old bodies like M3/M2/M4. The only TTL body that appeals to me is x0.58 as it is allows acceptable eye relief for shooting 35mm lenses.

-- Alexander Grekhov (grekhov@wgukraine.com), September 30, 2001.

Like someone else suggested, I think it unwise for someone new to a Leica to buy from an overseas source without at least spending a bit of time with a local retailer to learn which particular camera body and lenses will be most suitable.

That said, I've had only excellent experiences doing business with Don Chatterton and consider him one of the most reliable Leica equipment sources available for mail order purchases.

I've been using Leicas since about 1969 but when I finally decided to go buy myself a new one and a couple of new lenses, I chose an M6TTL with .72x magnification viewfinder and a 35mm f/2 ASPH lens as the best fit for me. I later acquired a 50mm f/2 lens. If you're more a 50mm kind of guy, the Summicron f/2 lens is superb, and I can't express just how wonderful the 35/2 is. They both cost a LOT less than the f/1.4 versions ... If you don't need the extra stop, I wouldn't pay the additional money. I chose the .72x finder because, well, I think the image is too small in a .58x and with the .85x I can't see the 35mm framelines... that's a matter for what eye relief suits you and your glasses best.

Good luck! :-)

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), October 01, 2001.