Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/02/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dear fellow Lugnuts, two years ago I owned a M4-P with a recent 50mm Summicron but decided to sell the camera because I took a deeper look into formal potraiture and needed the money for a medium format camera. I still think it was the right decision to put the money into a H'blad as the results are more than I expected. Now, as my finances are in balance again, I miss a light, small and unobstrusive rangefinder and can't take my eyes off the gorgeous slides and prints that originated from the Summicron. The Nikkor 1.8/50mm on my FE2 simply doesn't deliver quite the same level of quality. Now I'm contemplating what camera and lens to buy as starting point. I have three approaches in mind: 1. A User M2 2. A User M6 3. A new M6 TTL 0.85 A User M2 would be cheap and I could put safe some money for lenses or whatever seems more important. I wouldn't have to worry to much about it and could carry it everywhere without hesitation because of its lower value and cosmetics. The user M6 would bring me what I always missed on the M4-P: A build in meter! I could live without it but to me it's a real advantage. Loading is easier than in the M2 but the increase in price compared to the M2 nearly buys a second used Summicron as far as my research of the german market told me. A new M6 TTL 0.85 has a finder magnification I find very usefull for the focal length I prefer (35, 50, and a short tele in the 85-90-100 range). I checked one at a local dealer and liked it. I disliked the increase in size and the new inability of Leica to fit a black camera with a black hot-shoe. I sound like a collector, someone must have put something into my coffee! Oh, yes: the price! Compared to a user M6 you have to add the value of one more used Summicron to get an M6 TTL (I know the list-price is even higher, but who pays the list-price?). The setup would reach a price where everyone around me would think I was nuts, or to put it better: My case of photoholism would be taken more serious than ever, even more serious than after buying the Hassy! About lenses: Also a hard one! A recent (optically) 50mm Summicron ist a must have for me and an affordable one at that. I would like to add a 35mm to that setup in the not so far future and whenever I think about that focal length there are two lenses that come to mind: The venerable Summilux 35mm and the current Summicron Asph. Both lenses seam to be available in about the same price range with the Lux beeing a bit lower than the Cron Asph. I know from Erwin's and Hans' site about the ups and downs of both lenses and my conclusion is that the difference between these two when stopped down isn't that big but the Summilux may be able to give pictures wide open where I'm out of the game with the Summicron Asph although the results from the Summilux will have lots of err... character to them which may be pleasing but not neccessarily. The Summicron Asph is tempting but as someone wrote about the comparism of the Summilux against the Summilux Asph: "I ended keeping both oft them" Decisions, decisions... Any helpfull thoughts are very much appreciated! Stefan - -- S.Kahlert@gmx.de