Question about Leica Cameras...

[Julian Hart]

or as Helen says the M2, silly me I forgot that one!

Julian

[bjorke]

Re-reading, I've got to agree -- TRY THEM OUT. You might be happy with a classic Hexar or an Olympus RC! For that kind of money you may also like the Hexar RF + lenses or a Contax G + lenses or a Bessa + Lenses or a CL + lenses or... an M7 and wait to buy a 50mm

[Helen B]

... and I forgot the M4 series.

Ms Ditzy

[Lee Shively]

My suggestion is go for an M6 and buy Voigtlander lenses.

The M6 is a more recent model and less likely to need an immediate CLA. The "classic" M6 has a standard .72 finder that handles all available focal length lenses relatively well. The current Voigtlander lenses are outstanding and are every bit as good as the Leitz lenses from a few years ago but cost less new than equivalent used Leitz lenses (generally). I have the 35/2.5 and the 21/4 Voigtlander lenses and they are impressive, especially for the price.

[Helen B]

Just a small nitpicking point: there are classic M6s with the 0.85 viewfinder as well as the 0.72. Used M6s seem to have come down in price quite a bit recently - or at least that's the impression I've got.

The advice to try them out is good.

Best,
Helen

[Jim Moore]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. I'll stop by the local camera shops (all 2 of them) and see if they have any used M's in stock.

Jim

[bjorke]

Drive up to Minneapolis and visit National Camera...

[mikepry]

I loved my M5...the bastard child of the Leica family. Read this fine article before you make a decision:

http://www.cameraquest.com/m5.htm

[tbm]

I wear daily disposable contact lenses and they are a joy with my M6 and M3. I wouldn't want to wear glasses with either, although it would work.

[John Koehrer]

M2 or M4 if you're using 35 & 50's, M2 has manual reset frame counter, 35/50/90 frames. M4 has easier loading, auto reset counter, 35/50/90/135 frames. Newer M's have IMHO cluttered finders. Might consider M4-2. Canadian made M4 w/hot shoe, no self timer, not much more $ than M2 great value for a user camera less interest from collectors so $tend to stay lower.