[Leica] consolidating my photo system....

[Francesco <fls@san.rr.com>]

LUG friends:

I am torn between keeping my M gear and keeping 
my R gear.  When I was in the erotic photo biz, I was
shooting my Leicas DAILY, at least 1-5 rolls per day,
80% M, 20% R.  NOW, that I have sold off my business
and I am working from home full time trading stocks,
I find I have not finished even ONE roll of film in the 
past 2 weeks!  

I'm stuck at my home office trading from 3am to 2pm, 
then I break for a while, then its back to the computer 
by 6pm until midnight, analyxing charts and scanning 
for stocks for the next day.  The point is, I do not have
as much time anymore for photography, and find myself
growing stagnant.

Yes, I am working on my photo web site, setting up
a commercial site for travel photography, and I still plan
on going on trips and shooting, BUT I feel I don't want to 
keep both systems.  My M system is an M6HM, 35/2 ASPH,
50/2, and Rapidwinder, AND what's left of my R system
is a 100/2.8 APO and a 180/2.8 APO.  What I want to do is
make a decision on one or the other, and I want it to be the
best all-around system for my purposes.

I like the M system for:  quietness, weight, speed, agility, 
portability, size, because I can use the M handheld at low 
speeds, and because the M lenses seem to be a bit better 
than the R lenses.  I dislike the M for: lack of long focal lengths, 
viewfinders for wide angles, and lack of narrow angle spot 
metering.  I like the R for:  full focal length range, spot metering,
bright big viewfinder in R8 (better than F5), and ergonomics.
I dislike the R for:  weight of a kit, size (non-pocketability),
lack of ASPH high-speed wide angle lenses,  and higher noise.

99% of my photography, now that I am out of the erotic world, 
will be travel and street, and the occasional landscape, nature, 
or portrait.  I think the M and R lenses I own are the best available
in each system,  and I am happy with either system, but 
uncomfortable holding both and using only one.  I am about 
even in terms of what I still need to complete each system.  If I 
keep the M I still need a 24 ASPH and the 90 APO when it 
arrives, and if I keep the R, I still need an R8 and one of these 
lens combos:  

(1)  24/2.8, 50/2.
(2)  19/2.8, 35/1.4, 50/2.
(3)  19/2.8, 35/1.4, 80/1.4.
(4)  35/1.4, 80/1.4.

I personally, am now again leaning towards the R system, mainly
for the lens variety, but I wish Leica would rejuvenate their wide angles
for R like they have for M.   I would appreciate any comments, 
suggestions, ideas, trade offers, etc.  As soon as I make a decision, 
the partial system I decide not to keep will be for sale or trade.

In other words, I will probably have the following gear for sale, instead
of the R lenses I was advertising earlier:

FS:  Leica M6HM, 35/2 ASPH, 50/2, TA-Rapidwinder, M-Hangrip,
all with boxes and booklets, all in EX+ to MINT- condition.

WTB:  MINT or NEW R8, R lenses listed above.

Thanks!

Francesco
fls@san.rr.com