Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]For the price range either a Leicaflex SL or an R4 would be a great choice. The SL is very reliable and should be available for 300-450 in great shape. A mint- 50 summicron is about 350, MUCH less if you don't need cosmetic perfection. The R4 has a reputation for unreliability, but I have found mine to be quite nice. Cameras with serial numbers higher than 16000000 were more reliable, but are somewhat more money on the used market. The R4 has some nice aperture and shutter priority modes, and the size is MUCH smaller than the SL or the later SLR leicas. As a second lens I recommend the Elmarit 35 2.8. They are available for less than 400 nearly everywhere, and the performance is quite good if you don't mind the loss of a stop. Try to get the later version if possible, as the full aperture performance is better. Good Luck Dan States > >My 18 year-old son is in his second year of a professional photography >course, and has asked that we consider obtaining a Leica SLR with a 50mm >for >his use. He has access to a considerable amount of N***n equipment, so he >isn't lacking for bodies or lenses to use. However, he has an aritist's >appreciation for subtle, qualitative differences in tonal rendition, and >has >often pointed it out in photographs which (unknown to him) happened to have >been taken by Leica-using photographers. > >I have read the archives, as well as some of the (very few) sites on Leica >SLRs, and it would appear that our choice of affordable, used bodies >include >Leicaflex SL, R3, R4 (above ser #1.6M) and R4sP. There are a considerable >number of two-cam lenses on the market at attractive prices that would make >the Leicaflex a great value, but it lacks any AE (not necessarily a bad >thing). Are conversions to three-cam expensive? How about the R3 from a >users perspective? I'd like to keep the initial purchase under $600, if >possible, for body and normal lens. > >Not to waste bandwidth, I must say it is a thrill to have my teenage son >share an interest in photography. So, if buying a Leica SLR for his use >promotes "quality time" interaction with him, it is money well spent! Your >thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Feel free to email me privately if >you >wish, and if anyone has something along these lines to sell on Friday, >please >let me hear from you! > >Best regards -- Mike Crist > camraluggr@aol.com > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com