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Originally Posted by Markus-Richter  Thank you Roger! Which one of the Leicas would you recommend to a Rangefinder beginner? How about the idea to get a used one?
Markus |
Dear Markus,
I can best quote from a review in (I think) the British Journal of Photography, that if all three current systems were made by the same manufacturer under the same brand, their prices would roughly be the same, and reflect their market position.
Personally, I would recommend (a) the most expensive you can begin to afford and (b) new over used UNLESS you can find a recent (M6 or later) used Leica, or at the least, a used Bessa or ZI from a dealer willing to give a guarantee: many, but not all, defects are the result of user carelessness, so I would hesitate to buy from eBay. But if you don't mind having no meter, any M-serie is likely to prove an excellent camera though it may need a strip, clean and overhaul (CLA in American) if it is old and dried-up. I have 2x M2, which were backups to my M4-P until I got the MP. Bear in mind that the M3 has only 5cm, 9cm and 13,5cm finders, while the M2 has 3,5cm, 5cm and 9cm: if you like 35mm (which is my standard lens) then the simpler, cruder M2 is the easy winner. The M6ttl, M7 and M8 have 'backwards' (contra-rotating) speed dials as compared with all other Leicas. The MP is my favourite.
I have had R, T, R2, R2S and M4-P, MP, M8 (all right, irrelevant) from new and have had no trouble with any of them except the R2 where a fall damaged the rewind crank (easily repaired). That and the black chrome finish on the M4-P which wore so badly that a Leica dealer friend suggested that it should be repaired under warranty, 25 years ago. Now, the M4-P needs cleaning -- the frame selector is sticky, as it is on one of my M2s, almost twice its age -- but it is still more than usable.
Check 'books' on my web-site for the book my wife and I did a few years back on rangefinder cameras.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Roger