Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I'd like to chime in on what my perception is about reliability. I am still working toward an M6, and I like to say that as soon as my M3 wears out, I'll replace it with the M6! (Maybe my grandchildren will take up the cause!). I think that if the M6 is more reliable than the older Leicas, then you are in no danger of being disappointed (even those who loudly complain about their problems- still stay on the list and use Leicas, mainly because they can't find anything better!) If you are, like me, financially challenged, and not a professional where you can deduct the cost of equipment, you can look for a good used Leica M6. There are people who, for whatever reason, do not like the RF type camera, have the wherewithal to try a Leica, don't particulaly care for it, and trade it in! I have gotten many cameras that way, particularly Hasselblads, when I did weddings. The only new Hassy thing I ever bought was a film magazine- and I used the stuff every weekend for 8 years and only had to have one of my old film magazines cleaned and adjusted during the whole time! The other upside to buying a used one, is that for the most part, they cost enough that you don't see them 'abused', and they are usually very well taken care of, and even old Leicas look surprisingly good because of their ruggedness, and the fact that they're worth looking after! To echo Ted, the Noctilux is in a class all by itself. My friend Bob INSISTED I take his for a test drive- I was petrified that something would happen to it, but using it was, pardon the expression, and eye opening experience. I took photos in places that were so dark, I couldn't focus- it was by guess or by God that I 'zone' focused- and at f1.0, there ain't much 'zone' there! With only 400 ISO film, I got negatives that had seemed to furnished their own light! These jokes about the Noctilux creating its own light are of course hyperbole, but once you try this optic, you can see why people joke about it like that! IF you don't need to photograph in available darkness, then the Summilux lenses can get you almost there in terms of low light performance. I only have the Summarit, the 'poor mans' Summilux, and even though Marc says the Jupiters blow it in the grass, I am not at all ashamed to use it or show the photos! I can barely imagine that the Summilux 50 is better, but then I did see some slides of the Sistene chapel, handheld, with the Summilux 75, and they were absolutely stunning! You need very little imagination to get the idea of what the 50 and 35mm lenses can do. Reliability? I have a couple of lenses from 1937- uncoated, and OLD! But I get decent results, if I shade them and take a little care, and after 60 years they are still quite reliable. There is no reason to think that the new ones are any different, from the standpoint of reliability. Erwin's evaluations show that for the most part, the new lenses are on the cutting edge of what modern optics are capable of, and with the inherent reliability of the Leica equipment, they will produce fine images well into the 21st century! So- in short- don't worry, be happy, buy a Leica- New or Old, and enjoy! Dan Post ( maybe with a name like Post, I shouldn't be on a soap box, but rather on a cereal box....)