I'm hours away from being a first time Leice owner. In an earlier post, someone suggested that when I buy the camera, I should be looking for the proper documentation. What does that entail? Help and please help fast, I had forgotten to ask this question. Doh!

-- Hyatt Lee (shahmat@ms63.hinet.net), May 05, 2002

Answers

Whoa! Sorry about that guys, that's Leica, not "Leice."

-- Hyatt Lee (shahmat@ms63.hinet.net), May 05, 2002.

Hyatt: Proper documentation varies depending if the camera/lens is GREY or U.S. Passport warranty. In either case you should have an owners manual, batteries, strap and warranty card stating either Passport Warranty valid for 2(3?) years in the U.S. or 1 year International Warrany. I have bought both ways, but I do not recall the exact wording on the documents. Enjoy your new purchases and post some photos for us.

MJ

-- Mark Johnson (logical1@catholic.org), May 05, 2002.

Which Leica are you getting Hyatt?

-- Fendy Tjhin (fendushi@cbn.net.id), May 05, 2002.

I got with my grey body, and with 2 of my lenses a signed certificate that the items were tested. I did not get it with my USA passport body, so when I send it for some adjustment I asked them to test it and they actually CLAed it (2 month old body). so in fact I will be more careful and check the grey stuff. In the passport I will just worry that the passport card is in. (I just looked in the box. the card is "Test Certificate", and since it is in german, I guess it is for the grey market stuff)

-- rami (rg272@columbia.edu), May 05, 2002.

I'm getting an M6ttl chrome .75 with 50mm summicron

-- Hyatt Lee (shahmat@ms63.hinet.net), May 05, 2002.

Hyatt. The M6 with the Summicron 50 is a special combination. That's where I started. Assuming that you are buying new in the US, get the passport warranty. It is worth it. Good shooting, Doug.

-- Doug Landrum (dflandrum@earthlink.net), May 06, 2002.

Congratulations. A word of caution though. If you're nervous now, you ain't seen nothin' yet! You'll most probably fall for one of the terminal diseases that are congenital to Leica owners. Lens lust being the most prevalent. But don't worry, these are good diseases to have!

-- Vikram (VSingh493@aol.com), May 06, 2002.

Hyatt, I forgot to ask. Are you putting a filter on the lens for protection purposes? I put a B+W MRC UV filter. Saves the glass from the possibility of being scratched. Some people are rabidly against putting filters, so go with your gut.

-- Vikram (VSingh493@aol.com), May 06, 2002.

Well, it's a done deal and I'm gonna blame each and everyone of you if this doesn't work out. Just kidding, thanks for all the info and help. There is already a roll of Delta 400 burned through and I go out with IlfordHP tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the help, and encouragement (and the one or two insults. Looks like I'll be back on this forum for a long while.

-- Hyatt Lee (shahmat@ms63.hinet.net), May 06, 2002.

Wonderful that you have the hardware and have already used it. A few silly things I did in the first week: (1) I left the light meter on and the battery drained because the camera was in a bag and the shutter was depressed. (2) I took some superb pictures, but the lens cap was on all the time.

-- VIkram (VSingh493@aol.com), May 06, 2002.

Vikram,

I had my first case this weekend of making fabulous pictures on a roll that wasn't threading through the camera! Probubly left the cap on a few times, too. I'll find out how bad it all is when I pick up the film tonight. The rolls that did thread, that is.

Hyatt, there are a few things to get used to with these beasts, compaired to an SLR.

Your fellow M newbie,

-- Carl Pultz (cpultz@earthlink.net), May 06, 2002.

Hyatt, Leica ownership is very addictive and can ruin your life!, you will spend hours on end playing with it, after which the addition kicks in and you start buying more and more lenses and before you know it you will have bought a Noctilux for an absurd amount of money! ARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!! :) Just kidding, hope you enjoy your purchase, you will be amazed at the results

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), May 07, 2002.