On another forum, Topica Streetphoto, somebody asked for opinions on the M series. The response was that they were "junk" I found it amusing. HERE

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), November 09, 2001

Answers

Well, in my opinion, only the M1 is a sort of junker. Without a rangefinder for it, I can't use just like the Bessa L camera. I believe strongly that a coupled rangefinder/viewfinder is necessary to function esp. when you're shooting 90mm like me in general...

Of course, the M4-2 is a personal fav. and of course, for durability I must say that the M2-M4 are more usable in extreme cold/heat settings than the Konica Hexar.

Shoot, even the dang R4 rocks the house too!

Alfie

-- Alfie Wang (albert.wang@ibx.com), November 09, 2001.

If this person has not used the aforementioned cameras (and I suspect that if he had, he would've stated so), then the only thing that is "junk" is his opinion.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), November 09, 2001.

Streage if you can find a M2,M3 OR M4-2 and a 35mm pre asph. for less than $1750 in excalent condition you better buy it as it wont be arounb long. As for the Hexair 20 or 30 years will tell. The smart money is on the Leic. Any takers?

-- Al Henry (J Henry@provide.net), November 09, 2001.

I'll buy every junk Leica he(she?) has for $100 sight unseen. One man's junk is another man's treasure.

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@lsqgroup.com), November 09, 2001.

Gerry,

That's just Bee Flowers being himself, curmudgeon par excellance. It was not a serious comment.

Godfrey

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), November 09, 2001.

Wouldn't it be better to worry about one's photos being called "junk" than one's cameras being called "junk"? I really don't give a rat's ass what people think of my equipment because I'm not hanging it on a wall or trying to get it published.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), November 09, 2001.

I have a $10.00 Holga right next to my $1500.00 Leica M6TTL. What is junk if your getting the ideas in your mind out and onto film.

-- Scott (scottevans@mediaone.net), November 10, 2001.

Jeff and Scott have got it right, I think...No one -- not one editor, nor one person who's otherwise bought a print from me -- has ever asked what sort of camera I used. So, as Jeff says, we probably shouldn't even waste time worrying what others think of gear choices. So why am I writing this? Wait a minute!

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), November 11, 2001.