Leica Starter Kit [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

lifevicarious

08-29-2006, 17:09

Hey everyone!

I'm looking to get into RF photography after a few years in digital (10D and 5D).

I was looking at Voigtlanders but I know I would be much happier with a Leica. I am looking at used and new and was wondering about the starter kit. B and H has the starter kit including a .72 M7 and hte 50 2.0 for 4,400. Plus there is a 500 dollar leica gift certificate that comes with it. This seems like a pretty decent deal considering the body itself is 3500. Is this lens not worth getting?

Also, I have seem some Hong Kong shops with buy it now prices on ebay for 2,750 for the body only. They seem to have great remarks from buyers but wanted to see if anyone had any experience ordering a camera from a HK shop.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

- Christian

SteveRD1

08-29-2006, 17:20

ABout 2 months go I bought the Starter kit from BH. $4400 and 100% worth it. The 50 Summicron is an excellent lens (even though Im selling mine to fund a summilux) and the best 50 I have ever used. The camera itself is a work of art. I too came from a 5D and Nikon D200 - Sold them to get the M7 and do not regret it a bit.

I bought new USA so I would have the warranty and I was not as lucky as I bought it a week before Leica announced the $500 rebate. Oh well.

I also extended the passport warranty from 3 years to 5. I can 100% recommend that if you have the cash, and want a new USA w/waranty body, the M7 starter set is excellent. You will soon want more lenses though. I now have a 35 summilux and just ordered a 75 Summicron. Crazy, but you only live once.

Here are a few of my photos so far with the M7

lifevicarious

08-29-2006, 18:07

Thanks Steve! Those are really nice pics as well! The starter kit is tempting. And I'm sure I'd have no problem finding a place to spend the $500 on more Leica gear. But I know how you feel. I bought the 5D at $3300 right after it came out. And now it can be had for 2700 or so I think although I try not to look! :)

Sorry, I'm a newbie to this but what is the diff between the crons and the Summiuxs and the Noctilix? I am curious to know what makes up the price difference? Is it simply the speeds (1.0, 1.4, 2.0)?

peter_n

08-29-2006, 18:44

Summicron is an f2.0 lens, Summilux is an f1.4 lens and Noctilux is an f1.0 lens. Oops sorry I just read your last sentence. :o

Yes you are paying for the speed and what it takes to make a superb lens at that speed.

lifevicarious

08-29-2006, 18:47

Thanks Peter! Just wasn't sure if there was any other differences besides the faster glass.

n8b

08-30-2006, 06:20

I also extended the passport warranty from 3 years to 5. I can 100% recommend that if you have the cash, and want a new USA w/waranty body, the M7 starter set is excellent. You will soon want more lenses though. I now have a 35 summilux and just ordered a 75 Summicron. Crazy, but you only live once.

How much was it to upgrade to the 5yr passport warranty? PM me if you can.

Thanks!
Nate

jim0266

08-30-2006, 06:29

By registering the equipment the warranty goes to 5 years. The first three are passport, which protects you against anything, like dropping it. Years 4 and 5 are just warranty coverage against breakage from use, not accidents you cause.

photogdave

08-30-2006, 06:50

I beleive the $500 rebate is retroactive to June or July. You have to buy another Leica product with serial number to get the dough.

lifevicarious

08-30-2006, 08:26

Interesting! Thanks for pointing that out!

So do you get $500 off insantly your next Leica purchase? Or do you basically get a $500 mail in rebate the next time you buy a Leica product in the next year?

Matthew Runkel

08-30-2006, 09:26

When I got my first "real" camera I insisted on buying new, which I think is a natural impluse, but today as the owner of a number of exceptional cameras and lenses purchased used I can't really fathom what I was thinking in ruling out a used starter set. This isn't digital, where the advantages of buying the latest camera new are obvious.

Considering the build quality of Leicas, the amount of high quality used equipment available, current Leica pricing and exchange rates, you leave a huge amount of money on the table if you insist on buying new. In my opinion, the Passport is an expensive insurance policy that isn't worth it for most people. If you buy used equipment from a reliable dealer such as KEH, the dealer's warranty will be long enough to cover the "shaking out" period when you are likely to discover any problems the camera or lens arrives with. If you want to replicate the droppage-type coverage of the Passport, that may be easily accomplished with a personal property rider on your homeowner's insurance policy. I would recommend buying a used first Leica from a reliable dealer or from an established member of one of the forums, rather than from eBay. It is possible that a body older than the M7 might benefit from an immeditate CLA, but it's very likely that the used equipment will be functionally indistinguishable from new.

If you are committed to an M7, it seems to me you should be able to find the kit you are looking at in the range of $3000. If you substituted a very clean M6 I think it would be closer to $2000. The difference between that and the $3900 B&H will charge you for the starter kit will buy a very nice used copy of one of Leica's best ASPH lenses. Something to consider.

SolaresLarrave

08-30-2006, 10:21

Unless you're really into AE, the best choice is the M6TTL, or the so-called "Classic" M6. I'd advice to go for a Summilux or 'cron 35, but then, I followed suggestions when I was about to get my first Leica, and purchased a Summicron 50 instead.

I don't regret it, but I simply happen to be a wide-angle user. Finding a good 35mm took some work, but I managed to get a Konica Hexanon 35/2 (there's one on the 'bay right now). So, to recap, go for any other M and a 35mm lens. And be ready for GAS attacks! :)

I'll leave it to others to explain what GAS means. I just succumbed to it and got a nice battery pack for my Nikon F100. ;)

photogdave

08-30-2006, 10:33

You get a $500 credit after buying a new MP or M7. Once you buy a second Leica item with sn# you send a copy of the receipt and Leica sends you $500!

greggebhardt

08-30-2006, 10:44

greggebhardt

08-30-2006, 10:47

You get a $500 credit after buying a new MP or M7. Once you buy a second Leica item with sn# you send a copy of the receipt and Leica sends you $500!

Would this $500 rebate be good with a M7 Titanium?

Anyone got a URL to this rebate on the Leica site?

Fred

08-30-2006, 10:52

The AE of the M7 is useful, I leave mine set to that in the bag have the lens hyperfocal to the last used aperture (usually f5.6 or F8 in daylight) for those grab shots or when shooting from the hip. Having said that by taking an educated guess I get similar results from my Bessa R.

I find using the M7 quicker though and that 50 cron is a cracking lens. The current 50 lux is more than just a tad faster but the cost difference is huge. As for the Noctilux, this lens is much bigger and weighs a fair bit too.

Personal view, I love the M7 and cron. Solid, very well screwed together, made of brass and quiet.

I got the starter kit and truely do not regret it. It took me 25 years to get a Leica and am very pleased that it was the M7 though the MP was a bloody close second.

Have fun :)

endustry

08-30-2006, 11:31

lifevicarious:

I bought the starter kit a couple years ago as a Leica Certified used set for much less. Most of these units are trade-show demos and/or stuff returned to Leica by dealers. They have a 1-year Leica warranty but you can always upgrade to 3 or 5. At any rate, I'd consider this route as the best way to save a buck without worrying over the condition of a "used" camera. Tamarkin, PhotoVillage, Popflash, etc. are known to carry these certified units. I doubt you will get the $500 certificate but the price difference is much more than that anyway.

lifevicarious

08-30-2006, 11:39

Thanks everyone for the additional information.

Matthew - thanks for pointing out the used market and I very much appreciate your commetns. I have actually looked into it but I'm thinking it's not that much cheaper.

I do want a M7 and not a M6. I am new to film after shooting digital for the last 3 years. I am very used to aperture priority as that is pretty much the way I shoot. So as nice as a M6 sounds even with TTL and not the classic, I think a M7 would be better for me just because of the aperture priority.

Also, my genre of choice is street photography. And again, being use to shooting with a auto focus, aperture priority with L lenses (I use a 5D and a 24-70 for the most part) I am spoiled by haing focus and exposure set really quickly. I know I still have to focus manually but the exposure part will really help. So even having exposure correct a split second quicker could mean the difference between getting the shot or not.

So that brings me to the used market. I know there is a nice M7 on the classifieds here for $2050. Once I add $35 in shipping, and 3% for pay pal, that takes me to $2140 for a used M7. I still need to buy a lens. I realize I can also buy a used lens for much cheaper but lets say I go for a new 50 Summicron at 1950. That puts me right back at $4000 which is very close to brand new stuff.

Also, I'm leaving on September 29th for a 448 day trip around the world to focus on photography. Check out my website www.lifevicarious.com (http://www.lifevicarious.com) for more details. I will be anywhere and everywhere and the passport is an insurance policy I actually think is valuable. Although you are correct, I could get a policy outside of that for replacement value. So leaving in 4 weeks, I don't have a ton of time to wait around to look for used stuff. Plus I want to put a number of rolls through before the trip.

However, the benefit of a used is obviously money. And if I had a choice, I would prefer the 35 over the 50 as most of the stuff I shoot is wider then 50 (I often use my 17 - 40).

So, anyone know where I can get a M7 and a 35? :)

Flyfisher Tom

08-30-2006, 11:51

Also, I have seem some Hong Kong shops with buy it now prices on ebay for 2,750 for the body only. They seem to have great remarks from buyers but wanted to see if anyone had any experience ordering a camera from a HK shop.

- Christian

Christian,

Welcome to the forum :)

In answer to your question on buying from HK ... I've bought several items from HK, all from www.hksupplies.com. The seller, Poon, is a very reputable dealer. He also sells quite a lot of stuff on Ebay. You can purchase it that way, or, if you email him directly from his website (which has prices), he usually waives shipping.

I've also heard very good things about Dr. Joseph Yao, but have not dealt with him personally.

I don't know where you are located, but shipping from HK to the USA is usually about a week. I've not bought from any other HK vendors, so I can only recommend Poon.

If you want the USA warranty and intend to buy new, go with B&H. They are simply the best in the business for new equipment.

Good luck

greggebhardt

08-30-2006, 12:00

I am newbie owner of a M7 and after using my Nikon DSLRs for years can not imagine giving up the electronic features it does have. (like AE).

I visited your site and I hope you find what you want so you can leave your Canon equipment at home and pack some extra underwear! <vbg>

KM-25

08-30-2006, 12:41

Have fun with your M7. I toyed with idea of it for awhile but then realized that in my line of work, if I am not shooting digital ( pair of 5D's ) I really need to go battery-less, cold, remote, sometimes above 20,000 feet.

A fun exercise for me to do sometimes is to take the batteries out of my FM3A's and shoot all day with no meter whatsoever. It really makes you think and become a true master at reading light.

But to each his own. I just prefer mechanical cameras..:-).

By the way, I did a good solid year around the world and worked for several mags including NG traveler, NG adventure and Agence France Press. It was a real eye opener into different cultures. The logistics of traveling with a film scanner and glass as big as a 400 2.8 was valuable experience.

Have fun and be safe!

bherman

08-30-2006, 12:57

You can do what you want, but I would go for new. While the "M-Series" Leica has stellar reliability, if knocked around, the rangefinders can go out of alignment etc. Whatever... The Passport Warranty is unrivaled in the industry. The stuff from HK is definitely the same stuff. HOWEVER, after emailing them several times and asking the proper questions, I found out that since the cameras don't funnel through Leica USA, all warranty repairs have to be sent back to HK for them to handle. Do you want to mess with that? If you factor in the additional $500 back from Leica, I think that it's worth he difference, especially if you plan on keeping he camera and building an "M-System".

By the way, try Tony Rose at PopFlash Photo. He's in California and on the net. He's been around for several years and is a USA Leica dealer. He has a new USA (Passport Warranty) M7 Chrome Body on sale right now for under $3k, so after the $500 back, the "Starter Kit" with the 50mm F2 Summicron will net you $4000 shipped.

Not too bad?

Brad H.

ghost

08-30-2006, 13:13

if the numbers work out, try getting a 50mm or 35mm lux asph instead of the 50 cron. it's not so important to get a warranty on lenses, there's almost nothing that could happen to them.

lifevicarious

08-30-2006, 13:33

I gave Tony a call and left a message. Thanks Brad!

And ghost, I would love the extra stop of the lux, hopefully that will work out!

suzums

08-30-2006, 13:52

Also, I'm leaving on September 29th for a 448 day trip around the world to focus on photography. Check out my website www.lifevicarious.com (http://www.lifevicarious.com) for more details. I will be anywhere and everywhere and the passport is an insurance policy I actually think is valuable. Although you are correct, I could get a policy outside of that for replacement value. So leaving in 4 weeks, I don't have a ton of time to wait around to look for used stuff. Plus I want to put a number of rolls through before the trip.

I don't have an input about the Leica M's since I don't own one myself. But you are in good hands of so many RFF memebers with a significant amount of knowledge on them....so good luck with your purchase!
What I really wanted to leave a message for was just to say good luck and have fun on your trip! I'll definitely be keeping a watch out on your blog as you update on your trip around the world!

Cheers,
Susie

vrgard

08-30-2006, 13:56

Ditto what suzums said about looking forward to following your progress around the world lifevicarious.

-Randy

nikon_junkie

08-30-2006, 14:46

Why not get an M2 , M3, or M6 and spend the funds on more glass?

I love my Leica's but and my 3 body (M3, M3, M6ttl) three pre Asph lens (50Lux, 35Lux, 90 Cron) setup comes to $5K.

Thinking of selling a M3/ 50Lux for a 50 Noctilux

lifevicarious

08-30-2006, 16:16

Susie and Randy, thanks so much for checking out the blog and coming back every once in a while! I really appreciate it! The trip is going to be fun. I'm defintely starting to get scared at this point but am so ready to go! Once I get a Leica that is!

nikon_junkie - thanks for the suggestion on the other bodies! The main reason I want the M7 is for the aperture priority. Coming from digital, I'm use to shooting AV and being able to check exposure via the histogram. While I know there is a meter that I can use when shooting manual (and I do do that with my 5D) I still love shooting aperture priority. Especially when I think about the fact I also need to manually focus with a M. I'm just afraind of missing a shot, or even worse, catching the moment, but missing the exposure.

While I will get to manual at some point in the near future, I will defintiely still need an internal meter.

The other reason to probably buy new is Passport. Traveling for 448 days, I'm going to guess I'm going to get banged up here and there, and so will my camera. It's nice knowing that it would be taken care of. My 5D was nearly as much as a M7 is ($3300 vs. $3500) and I guarantee you has lost more of it's value in the 10 moinths I have had it then a new M7 will lose in a few years. The M7 will really last forever. The 5D will be a obsolete paperweight in 5 years time.

- Christian

SteveRD1

08-30-2006, 16:39

and Im sure you will enjoy the M7. Go new, and yes, Tony Rose at popflash is also a good source that is a bit cheaper than B&H most of the time.

Have fun!

AShearer

08-30-2006, 16:45

I gave Tony a call and left a message. Thanks Brad!

And ghost, I would love the extra stop of the lux, hopefully that will work out!

Go with Tony. You will get new, USA plus rebate, plus Passport at a great price.

suzums

08-30-2006, 17:13

The 5D will be a obsolete paperweight in 5 years time.

*nods in agreement* :D

Gabriel M.A.

08-30-2006, 17:15

frankly, all these aliases...