Re: [Leica] First M system choices...

[Charles Babington <cbabing3@swbell.net>]

>     I am now in the planning stages for getting my first M system and I
> have a couple of questions.  The widest lens that I will use wil be a
> 35mm, and most of my shooting will be with longer lenses.  Because of
> this, I think that a higher magnification camera would suit me well.
> What would I be giving up (other than the meter) if I got an M3 instead
> of an M6HM?

My first M was an M3, bought new in 1970.  I wish I still had it, but
you should be aware that its life-size viewfinder shows the 50mm frame
line as its widest.  To use 35mm lenses you need the ones with "eyes"
which compress the 35mm scene to fit within the 50mm frame lines of the
viewfinder.  I had the 35mm/2.8 Summaron with eyes, and I think they
made the 35mm/2.0 Summicron with eyes also.  However, I don't know how
you'd get a 75mm frame into the M3 unless you could find someone to make
and install a custom frame mask (if that's even possible.)

The M2, original M4 and the M5 have reduced magnification viewfinders
which include a 35mm frame but none have a 75mm frame.  The M2 also
didn't have a 135mm frame, although you could use the 135mm/2.8 with
eyes because it magnifies the image and keys the 90mm frame lines.  You
have to go to one of the later M4s (I forget if it was the M4-2 or M4-P
that added the 28 and 75mm frames) or an M6 to get a 75mm frame in the
viewfinder.  Unless you want Leitz to install the new 6-frame mask, or
maybe the whole viewfinder, in an original M4 or an M5 (I'll bet that's
cheap.)

Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy the selection process.

Cheers,
Kip Babington