M3 and 50mm for under £1000?

[lrochfort]

I'd like to purchase my first M, ideally an M3 and 50mm.

However, I'm on a budget and really don't have more than £1000 to spend. Does this sound feasible to people?

I don't care about looks, a tatty but mechanically sound body would be fine. Likewise for the lens, a Summicron would be nice, but I'd be interested in people's opinions on affordable alternatives.

Many thanks,
Laurence.

[Dylan Hope]

It's certainly possible. I haven't been on the 'bay for Leica gear in a while, but when I was first looking to get into rangefinders, I saw quite a few very ugly but functional M3s go for around 700 USD, and you could always get CV lens or adapt a J8.

Of course, Keh has a bargain M3 right now and a collapsible summicron 50.That should come to just within your budget (Including shipping, but I don't know what import fees the UK has). If you are willing to go a few quid over budget, there's a rigid version too

[swmlon]

For sure. I've just checked RedDotCameras and you can get an M3 (£699) + Summicron Collapsible (£335) which comes in at £1034, just a pinch over your budget.

[philipus]

Hi Laurence
I also think this is possible. Personally I wouldn't buy from Ebay but would pick a dealer. Where are you located?
cheers
philip

[Jani_from_Finland]

Just locally someone sold a case with M3 and 35+50+90mm leitz lenses and accesories for about 800€, so sure its possible, usually just need to be a fast buyer =DD

[lrochfort]

Originally Posted by Dylan Hope

It's certainly possible. I haven't been on the 'bay for Leica gear in a while, but when I was first looking to get into rangefinders, I saw quite a few very ugly but functional M3s go for around 700 USD, and you could always get CV lens or adapt a J8.

Of course, Keh has a bargain M3 right now and a collapsible summicron 50.That should come to just within your budget (Including shipping, but I don't know what import fees the UK has). If you are willing to go a few quid over budget, there's a rigid version too

That's very useful, thanks Dylan.

By CV do you mean Cosina Voigtlander? Any suggestions for those?

Are the Russian Jupiters well regarded?

Would I get more for my money if I buy an LTM lens?

Cheers,
Laurence.

[S.H.]

I think a M3 for 500/600£ is realistic : you will have a worn but still looking good example, with a recent CLA. It leaves 400£ for a 50mm, which is more than enough. You can have some old ltm Leica, an old Summicron, some ltm nikkors or canons, a second hand modern Voigtlander.
You can still have some ££ left for film, beers, ...

Depends on what you like.

For example I myself bought last year a very clean M4 for 480£ (still had its orginal seal, shutter was spot on but lubricants were a bit dry), and had it overhauled for 150GBP. An M3 should cost less.

[lrochfort]

Originally Posted by swmlon

For sure. I've just checked RedDotCameras and you can get an M3 (£699) + Summicron Collapsible (£335) which comes in at £1034, just a pinch over your budget.

Very interesting!

Are there any disadvantages to the collapsible lenses? Bear in mind I'm not terribly fussy, I won't be making huge enlargements or poring over images with a loupe.

[swmlon]

Also see that Aperture (in London) have an M3 in user condition for £450. That with the Summicron from Red Dot will come in under £800 in total. Enough left over to stockpile on film

[swmlon]

Originally Posted by lrochfort

Very interesting!

Are there any disadvantages to the collapsible lenses? Bear in mind I'm not terribly fussy, I won't be making huge enlargements or poring over images with a loupe.

I have the collapsible and it's a great lens and very small when collapsed to easily fit in the bag. The only thing to remember is to un-collapse it when you want to take a photo

[lrochfort]

Originally Posted by philipus

Hi Laurence
I also think this is possible. Personally I wouldn't buy from Ebay but would pick a dealer. Where are you located?
cheers
philip

I too am very nervous about eBay. I don't mind remote buying so long as it's a reputable dealer.

I'm in Berkshire, UK.

[sleepyhead]

I think if you wait for a good deal, you could easily find an M3 + collapsible Summicron for under 1000 GBP.

It's a great combo. I personally wouldn't put a Jupiter 8 on an M3. Although the Jupiter can be great optically, the build quality of the two differs so much that I would find it jarring to use. (It all depends how fussy you are, of course!)

[Dylan Hope]

Originally Posted by lrochfort

That's very useful, thanks Dylan.

By CV do you mean Cosina Voigtlander? Any suggestions for those?

Are the Russian Jupiters well regarded?

Would I get more for my money if I buy an LTM lens?

Cheers,
Laurence.

Yup, Cosina Voigtlander. I can't personally recommend any CV lenses, Russian lenses or LTM lenses though, since I've never handled any (Hoping to get a hold of an I-22 and I-61 soonish though, but that's a topic for another day). However, Voigtlander lenses are usually pretty good value for money from what I've read, and the main risk you run with older LTM lenses is internal haze, as well as cleaning marks if the glass or coatings are soft. Of course, these often contribute to what some will call the 'leica glow'.

Keh is usually very conservative with its ratings though (I've heard people flabbergasted that gear in a condition normally called "EX+++++++++++^3" on ebay is marked as bargain grade) and if you don't find the gear to be to your taste, I think their policy is a no-questions 6 month return period.

[lrochfort]

Originally Posted by swmlon

I have the collapsible and it's a great lens and very small when collapsed to easily fit in the bag. The only thing to remember is to un-collapse it when you want to take a photo

The answers are coming in faster than I can respond, thank you everybody.

That £800 combination is extremely tempting....

[Jani_from_Finland]

Ebay is always a gamble, but the most trustworthy sellers i've dealt with has been from the German ebay. Sometimes the items has been shipped before the payment has even transfered.

[RichW]

I bought my M3 one year ago from MWClassic cameras (www.mwclassic.com) for £450, it was excellent condition, I have looked just now and they have a nice one for £695,

My Jupiter-8 50mm lens cost me £25 so in total I spent £475, but it seems that in just a year prices have jumped a bit

Cheers, Richard

[thegman]

Easy, I got my M3 and Summarit for perhaps under £900. Red Dot Cameras, Aperture Photographic, Ffordes, are good places to start.

If you're OK with a Voigtlander lens instead of Leica, it gets easier.

[normclarke]

I can highly recommend the Canon 50mm f:1,8 which can be found for around £150 but be carefull about the condition. Some have haze and should be avoided. I personnally found a good one for £60, that being about 3years ago, I consider the build quality to be near Leitz standard and the performance to be very close.

Best,

normclarke.

[OlliL]

If you're fast:

Grab this one

http://photohaus.de/index.php?id=71

(Sorry hyperlinking doesn't work flawlessly with this shop...)

[venchka]

Norm beat me to it. That makes two of us.

If you find a good body that stretches your budget, the all chrome Canon LTM (Leica Thread Mount) 50mm f/1.8 lens is a worthy addition to any camera. You will need an adapter to go from LTM to M mount. They work perfectly. The Nikkor 50/1.4 from the same era as the Canon 50mm lens is very nice. More expensive, but fast & sharp.

Wayne

[jazzwave]

1000GBP?

You will get :
M3 and Zeiss Planar 50/2 ZM (used)
or
M3 and,Canon 50/1.4 LTM +CV 28/2 (used)
or
M3 and Summicron 50/2 ridgid (if u r lucky)
or
M3 and CV 50/1.5 (used)


RFF and GetDpi classified are good place for shopping used gear.



Happy hunting..

~ron~

[Ljós]

Originally Posted by OlliL

If you're fast:

Grab this one

http://photohaus.de/index.php?id=71

(Sorry hyperlinking doesn't work flawlessly with this shop...)

Wow, +1 on Olivers tip. Have not dealt with Photohaus.de personally, but they have a good reputation.

Greetings, Ljós

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I don't know if I'm allowed to do this but if you want a user M3 with a Summicron + a 90 Elmar and a CV 15mm with with viewfinder for your budget figure, feel free to send me a PM. I'm in Wiltshire, so easy to meet up and let you look before you leap.

I trust the moderator will understand this offer is made in the RF spirit. I'd rather get less than the max for the outfit and know it's going to someone who will get the best use out of it.

[lrochfort]

Originally Posted by Sejanus.Aelianus

I don't know if I'm allowed to do this but if you want a user M3 with a Summicron + a 90 Elmar and a CV 15mm with with viewfinder for your budget figure, feel free to send me a PM. I'm in Wiltshire, so easy to meet up and let you look before you leap.

I trust the moderator will understand this offer is made in the RF spirit. I'd rather get less than the max for the outfit and know it's going to someone who will get the best use out of it.

Thank you very much for the offer.

I'm working out the finances and talking to my wife etc at present, but will certainly bear you in mind.

[philipus]

Hi Laurence

Btw, you're not a 35mm shooter, right? Not that the M3 limits you a lot since you can get goggled lenses but it's (imho) certainly easier to use non-M3s for that focal length.

Since you're in Europe you've got lots of opportunities.

I have bought a few times from Foto Prisma in Bologna (Andrea Ricci is very helpful and has reasonable prices) and Leicashop in Vienna also offers great service (Jo Geier is their head of second hand sales and very helpful). Leicashop has an M3 SS for €590 with a rather attractive serial number (if one's into those things). I've also bought from Peter Loy in London and received very good service from Peter.

Here are some other options, which I have not bought from but which have been recommended to me: Aperture UK (though their site doesn't load at the moment it seems). I was at Aperture's Rathbone Place location this weekend and they had quite a few things in stock, though I didn't specifically look for M3s. The Classic Camera is another option - they have an M3 SS for £425. Other ones to consider are Ffordes, Foto Ottica Cavour and Newoldcamera (latter two Italian).

And here in Holland have a look at Fotohandel Delfshaven. They currently stock an M3 for €500, an M2 for €450 and a real beater M2 for €350. Plus they have an M4-2 for €550 with what looks like recessed windows, which would mean it is brass and painted . They also have plenty of 50mm in stock, like an Elmar 50/2.8 for 350€, a Canon 50/1.2 for 400, and a DR Summicron for 550€.

I should add that I have no connection to either of the above, except that I have bought from the ones indicated. I'm just trying to help you spend money