past or present that mounts today's M lenses? Workmanship, design, usability, etc. This should get interesting! I'm interested in buying used if need be, what sources other than ebay are good as well? I read somewhere that the M3 double-stroke is one of the best, made in Solms. Are there any common problems with your recommended models that one should look out for? Thanks...

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002

Answers

The best all-around M is the one that best suits your shooting style and photographic needs. What's the best car ever made, past or present?

You'll find a good overview of the models and features here:

http://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm

Tamarkin and Don Chatterton are reputable used dealers that specialize in Leicas.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 19, 2002.

Thanks, you're right! I like the built-in meter, so that solves it for me. Just wondering what others' opinions were. When is M6 TTL production stopping and anyone know what the M7 is going to be like? Aperture-priority doesn't interest me.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

James,

Given similar conditions, ie properly serviced and working, they are all fine examples of first rate cameras. The earlier cameras tend to feel smoother in operation as they are hand built, but the later models are a little more accurate shutter speedwise at the faster speeds. This is especially true in colder weather.

Which to choose? Let your budget, requirement for meter, and preferred viewfinder magnification-ie lens requirements decide for you.

Today you have options of .58 through to .91 magnifications and with the new 1.25x magnifier slightly greater than lifesize. Pick your lenses and the bodies will come....:-)

Cheers. Simon

-- Simon Wong (drsimonwong@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

Now don't go opening up another that has already been done to death!

The best Leica rangefinder is the one that you will buy and USE the most. The "this should get interesting!" part of your post alludes to malicious intentions.

I know this is a forum but its value diminishes if contributors keep going around and around bickering about things that amount to nothing. Pretty soon, we'll have to rename this forum "The Ariel Sharon/ Yassir Arafat Comedy Forum". I'd like to propose something to our regular contributors to restore some of the lustre that was lost here.

We should try posting images we're proud of... and discuss a little bit about the photographic techniques that were either recalled or improvised then employed to get the final result.

Let's try to evolve beyond the red dot!

Thanks,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

Yeh,great."thanks,your right".So,on the opinion of ONE person you go out and buy an M6 ttl?

If you had seen an Olympus OM1 you would go to an Olympus forum and find our that Chris Steele-perkins uses an OM1 and you would sleep well because a member of MAGNUM uses the camera you have bought.

The camera is a tool,if you don't have an 'eye' then it doesn't matter if you use a Leica or a pinhole,you are going to make shit.

-- Harry Poo (harrybarlow@poo.com), January 19, 2002.

Hey Tony Rowlett,

Could you post some of your recent Noctilux pictures and tell us what you like about them? The critique will be civilized I promise!

Help! Please save us from ourselves!!!!!!

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

James.

No brainer, The M6J is the best. You get the best of both worlds, the hand built quiality and the meter.

Hayden

-- Hayden Eiswirth (haydeneisw@cs.com), January 19, 2002.

M6 or M6TTL .72x.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), January 19, 2002.

James, You should consider joining the Leica Historical Society. Their quarterly publication, "Viewfinder", has all sorts of articles that address your question in depth. The last issue contains an article by Roy Moss, former editor and retired Marine Corps general, that makes a pretty compelling case for the M4...but then he has been quite a fan of the M3. Lots of great stuff of which I get a lot of pleasure. But, in short, the previous answers are all quite valid....i.e. it depends on you.

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), January 19, 2002.

Hey John and Harry "poo" (sounds like shit doesnt it?), having never owned a Leica M I am interested if there are viable used M's out there of different model nos., sorry if you're trying to make this an exclusive club! Having looked at the informative site the first response gave, I initially concluded I liked the idea of a meter built in. I am talking about a body, yes, but then again I don't need advice on how to shoot it.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

There has been no mention that the M6TTL will be put out of production. If I remember, last year on the Leica on-line chat it was intimated by Leica that an additional M body would be forthcoming, not necessarily a replacement for the M6TTL. Learning from the past (M5) Leica might be wise to not hurry and discontinue the M6TTL. Leica buyers are a very conservative lot. The "automated" M7 might attract a few more newcomers to the Leica fold (a good thing) but if it comes at the expense of losing an equal or greater number of loyal buyers, what would be the point, business- wise?

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 19, 2002.

Another thing you Poo, there was absolutely NO mention of a model recommended, only that I get what would prove most useful in the first response.

Chan, I'm sure you had plenty of questions when learning about Leicas. Now that you know all about them, you don't want a novice question about them to cross your gaze.

To the others, thanks for your responses. I now await the retorts...

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), January 20, 2002.

James, this question has indeed been done to death, have a good search through the many recent questions - like last week!

You must decide some basic factors:

1.Do you want an in-built meter?

2.Do you shoot with a 35 or 75 lens?

3.Do you need TTL flash?

4.Do you perhaps only want a black or only want a chrome M?

5.Do you want to use a 135mm lens?

6.Do you want a 2/3 year no quibble guarantee?

7.etc!

All these factors will influence which M would suit you best.

The bottom line is if price is not an issue, and you are not craving for the "old school brass and vulcanite" golden era of M's (like many of us here) then the best choice is a new TTL. This gives you the most versatile M made in a choice of finishes and viefinder configurations.

For me, an in-built meter wasn't necessary, it had to be black, it had to have a 75mm frame, it had to be under £800 - I only had one choice - the M4-P.

(I also have a beat up user M2 to fulfill my "old school" needs).

Good luck in your search for the "perfect Leica" - everyone's is out there somewhere!

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 20, 2002.

John said, ".....I know this is a forum but its value diminishes if contributors keep going around and around bickering about things that amount to nothing. Pretty soon, we'll have to rename this forum "The Ariel Sharon/ Yassir Arafat Comedy Forum". I'd like to propose something to our regular contributors to restore some of the lustre that was lost here.

We should try posting images we're proud of... and discuss a little bit about the photographic techniques that were either recalled or improvised then employed to get the final result.

Let's try to evolve beyond the red dot!....."

Hey John - this is the Leica forum after all - don't we all love the "Red dot"?

Surely there's room for everyone here, whether they want to discuss equipment OR technique! :)

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 20, 2002.

The best rangefinder all-around is the photographer's eye. No Leica works well without a trained eye in composition.

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), January 20, 2002.

There is no "best."

I give the same answer as Ray Tai.

Hexar RF is also excellent if you like a few more automatic features. I've had no problems with my Hexar. It's much easier to have serviced than a Leica. Faster turn around time here in the USA.

I like a light meter in the camera.

-- David Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), January 20, 2002.

Hey Giles,

Don't you get tired repeating yourself all the time? I sure do. For these types of questions ie M6 vs M3 there are no "novel" opinions anymore. Just refer the above poster to previous threads that have EXHAUSTIVELY examined the query. The end effect will be the same.

BTW: I notice that the Photo Critique post history is amongst the lowest in terms of # of threads for this site... and, no suprise... the Leica M category is the highest.

I wonder how many photographers contribute NOVEL opinions to the Leica M threads vs how many of these threads explore the same thing over and over again where SOME patient photographers attempt to appease the Leica historian/ eye candy worshippers.

Sorry if I've offended anyone but IMHO the Leica M system is MUCH MORE than eye candy!

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002.

John, all good points, but new people come along all the time and slight variations in the questions demand slight variations in the answers!

I must ask Tony R - would it not be possible to produce a list of technical VFAQ's with archived links?

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 20, 2002.

Oh no... it's starting again...

-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002.

The M3 double-stroke was made in Wetzlar, not Solms. Leica moved to Solms after the company changed hands.

It would be difficult to see why the M6 with 0.72 finder would not be best all-around, in the sense of most versatile. Take away the built- in meter, and it's a personal matter, as has alreay been said.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 20, 2002.

Best all-around: The M-6, either classic or TTL. The simple and acurate built-in meter was a major Leica breakthrough.

If you have to ask which is the best all-around Leica body made you problably haven't suffered with handheld meters and top mounted meters--nor should you have to if you don't want to in 2002. If this is the case, the M-6 is the best and probably the only Leica M for you.

If you have special needs you might want something else, of course.

For me, for instance, a top-mounted Leica meter is very often a plus in street photography when I am shooting a waist-level. I can meter without looking through the viewfinder. Thus an M-2, with an Abrahamsson Rapidwinder, is part of my equipment. I've considered an M4-P because of its 28mm frameline.

Since I cycle I strongly considered a finderless Leica (MD / MDa) or the M-1 which has 35 and 50 frames but no rangefinder. Reason: bicyles can throw rangefinders out of whack. I use a Bessa L instead. A couple of Bessa L bodies are fraction of what those other cameras would cause--and it has a built-in meter and a top shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

A post script. My first Leica was a IIIf. A true learning experience after automatic SLR's and zooms.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4u.or.jp), January 20, 2002.

Hi James,

Erwin Puts, a well-known reviewer of Leica gear, has written a detailed articled on choosing a Leica M, see:

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/mseries/choosem.html

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), January 21, 2002.

M6 classic chrome.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), January 22, 2002.