I am restless....

rover · 01-22-2005

You have to know me to know how much the fact that I can't use both my 35 and 50 Summicrons on one camera bothers me. I know, I can use them both on the R2, but the short EBL of the finder is getting to me. Do you know how easy the Zeiss Ikon focused in NY? Damn, better than the Leicas!!!! Cosina could have hit a game winning home run if the R3a was the ZI.

Well, the Leicas are of course in their own league, and will remain there for now.

I know I have the right lenses for me, but it is killing me to think I don't have the right camera. I have good cameras, but I don't know, are they right for me?

I have been thinking anyways about fixing this, and buying the last main camera for the rest of my life.

And you know what, I have way too much stuff. Every time I want to go shoot I sit on the floor in my room and open 2 or three bags, pick out what I want to take, change my mind twice, figure out what bag it fits in...it takes way too long.

I am going to have to sell some stuff. I am considering selling my R2, R3a, 40/2 CLE lens and 135/3.5 Canon lens, all for an M6 TTL. (Sorry Joe, I think I have to do it. I know Todd, Francisco and Peter are on my side. And, well it isn't an M3, but Brian understands.) Do you know what is most unattractive to me about the M6 though? That HUGE red Leica circle! Man, I refuse to wear Tommy Hilfiger cloths unless he pays me to show his name around town (Lord knows I am as big as any of his billboard advertisements). That is going to annoy me too, having to put some black tape on my camera.

I did the math, if I get a good deal on the Leica this will be close to an even swap.

Then I had a second idea, parting with my never used Minolta MD stuff. My X-700, and MD lenses 28, 50, another 50, 135 and 200. The 50/1.4 is a honey of a lens too. Believe it or not, the best bokah besides a Summi that I have seen. I will find a good use of those funds, but think of all the empty camera bags that I will have.

Alright, I am rambling? Looking for support? Looking for the voice of reason? Looking to lighten my camera bag? YES!!!

back alley · 01-22-2005

rover,
i find it hard to believe that a 35 and a 50 are that hard to focus on the bessa.
i have a 35 & a 75 and they snap in & out, very easy.
are you unconsciously wanting a leica so badly that you are making it difficult (in your head) to focus on the bessa.

i think i said a while back that you would wind up with a leica.
it's not hard being right most of the time

.

the bottom line my friend is get and use what will make you happy cause that will help you to shoot better.
just wait a day or 2 for this decision cause you're giving up a whole lot in trade for one camera body (& brand) that is not as magic as it is romanticized to be.
i kid everyone here about the canon p vs the dark side and this is what i mean about the dark side.

in the end it's the shooter, not the camera.

but hey, you're a paisano and i'll support ya and be happy for ya - no matter the gun or the ammo.

joe

p.s. if it were me, i'd sell off the slr gear. the rest still fits in the picture

iMacfan · 01-22-2005

Seems like a great idea - I've just bought a R3a, and while it is good value and an excellent camera in its own right, it ... wel it isn't a Leica. But it is only a good idea if you have no regrets.

Remember: The grass is always greener!

David

peter_n · 01-22-2005

OK here comes the cavalry! Yes the grass is always greener but you will not regret this, rover. The M6TTL is just a wonderful camera. I have had mine for over a year and a half now and I just love it! I'll keep an eye out for you...

aizan · 01-22-2005

here are instructions on repainting the red dot:

http://www.nemeng.com/leica/017b.shtml

peter_n · 01-22-2005

Also I think Sherry K. will replace the red dot with a black dot if you ask her nicely...

GeneW · 01-22-2005

Here's a link everyone should read, called "Why your camera does not matter" by Ken Rockwell:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm

Then after you've read it, you can do like me and ignore all that excellent advice

Seriously, life is short. Get the cam you want. Let go of the ones you're not using, however nice they are, and I think you'll enjoy shooting more and have fewer decisions to make about which cam to use.

Gene

taffer · 01-22-2005

Quote:

Seriously, life is short. Get the cam you want. Let go of the ones you're not using, however nice they are, and I think you'll enjoy shooting more and have fewer decisions to make about which cam to use.

And should you ever regret, remember that the hunting is fun by itself, you can always buy them back again

So, Gene, when is that Canon P coming, LOL !

GeneW · 01-22-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by taffer
So, Gene, when is that Canon P coming, LOL !

Get thee behind me, Oscar

Actually, I have some stuff coming. I'll do the camera and coffee thing when it arrives ...

Gene

wlewisiii · 01-22-2005

Just be carefull that the glass isn't greener too!

What?

William

Tim · 01-22-2005

Hey Rover,
You can add my vote to the M6TTL crowd. The agonising I went through before buying it and then immediately after buying it wondering whether I had done the right thing has all evaporated in the incredible pleasure I get from using the damn thing. To me, the M6 TTL and a Summicron 35 is close to photographic nirvana.
The bits of leco tape on the front don't worry me one bit.

And selling other things is just part of the price. I'm about a 1/3 of the way thru getting rid of the excess cameras; biggest problem is I keep on changing my mind about just what I want to offload.

Just do it, it's worth it. I will not be buying another camera now until there is an affordable usable M-moutnt digital rangefinder. And maybe not even then.

(yeh, right!

)

Tim

Doug · 01-22-2005

Rover, besides the longer baseline, having a Leica is important psychologically.

You know you have the best, and there's no longer any reason to feel defensive about choosing to use something else if you want to. Can you manage to wait for the even-longer-baseline Zeiss-Ikon, or must you make your move now?

Natalia · 01-22-2005

Rover, you can configure your Leica without that red spot here (as well as other things):

http://www.leica-camera.com/alacarte...J4Mus/M/zUTLew

rover · 01-22-2005

Thank you everyone.

Natalia, I keep configuring cameras and though I can keep them under $4,000, that is still WAY TOOOOOO MUCH!!!! There is an active thread somewhere on the site and the correct point was made that the M6 and M6TTL are the best bargins in Leicas now. Though you could find an M3 or M2 for less, the potential need for a CLA closes the gap.

Doug, the ZI is very attractive, and I am on the list for one of the first 1500 (maybe only 1500) they produce. I don't have to move right now, and actually, this may be a late February, early March project, or I think that will be the soonest I will be able to jump.

Now I have to go learn how to paint the dot black!

BJ Bignell · 01-24-2005

Personally, I'd keep the SLR and maybe the R2 as a backup (you don't necessarily have to use it, just feel good that you have it).

I just (today) sold the last SLR from my collection to finance my R and lenses, and I'm already starting to wonder if I've done the right thing...

Then again, it's all about what you want to shoot, and how you shoot it. If you're not using the X-700 much (or at all), then you can send it to me. I'll even pay the postage!

SolaresLarrave · 01-24-2005

Hey! What happened to my own post in this thread?

Oh, well, transitional tax, from the new back to the old...

In any case, Rover, you're doing something radical... and you won't regret it. However, do it kinda soon. The market is good for buyers right now; not a day goes by without my seeing at least one M6 or M6TTL going for sale in Photo.net.

You also have to decide on another thing: will you buy first and sell stuff later, or sell first and buy later?

In any event, whatever the course of your actions, I'll support your decision. Good luck and happy hunting!

Brian Sweeney · 01-24-2005

>Just be carefull that the glass isn't greener too!

Watch out for Brown Glass, Indicates Thorium Decay. Green glass just indicates multi-coating or they recycled old coke bottles.

Restating after the system restore:

The M6TTL is a fine choice. A user M2, with CLA, can be had for under $800, but no meter and will not be as pretty as the M6. Bargains can be had, especially now that the MP, M7, and ZI are out. A lot of people will be selling their last-generation M6TTL for money for the latest greatest. If you go the low-end, user-condition cameras are great bargains if you are not too picky on how they look. The meterless Leica's often have "meter-marked" top plates, but otherwise have not taken any damage. A marred top plate seems to cut the price in half.

taffer · 01-24-2005

Welcome BJ, I didn't see you before !

You have such a GREAT avatar there, trapped in time, surrounded by evil... low on gas

BJ Bignell · 01-24-2005

taffer,

Thanks. It is one of the best movie series of all time!

BJ

peter_n · 01-24-2005

And also restating after the system restore:

Keep a close eye on photo.net, an almost new M7 went for $1700 there and I bought a 2 month old 50/2.8 Elmar-M for $350 last year, the price of that lens new is $750...

Honu-Hugger · 01-24-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by GeneW
(snip)..Seriously, life is short. Get the cam you want. Let go of the ones you're not using, however nice they are, and I think you'll enjoy shooting more and have fewer decisions to make about which cam to use.

Gene

Excellent advice, Gene.

D2

rover · 01-24-2005

Thanks guys. I read all the post prior to the change back so I don't think I have missed anything.

I am thinking that the sales will be listed shortly. Keep an eye open for them.

Anyone contemplating the purchase of an R2 or R3a, give me a shout.

I may end up with just a Canonet and Kiev for a little while if things sell quickly.

RubenBlaedel · 01-24-2005

When I got my first M6 all my canon eos equipment was put out of work - only when I need the macro or the long teles I found use for the Canon - the red dot on the M6 says leitz not leica! and the M6 is much nicer design and better to hold then the M6 TTL - oh oh - There is only two mm difference but still the M6 is nicer. I keept my canon only because I did not have to sell it but now I feel more and more like selling it because of all the palstic and custom functions and crap really just put me off - The M6 is even cheaper than the M6 TTL and if you do not use flash why pay the extra $ ! The finder in the M6 is great with a 35 mm as you can se just a little bit more than the image not like on a SLR were you do not have a clue of what is going on outside the view of the lens. by the way is anyone on this list into olympus pen EE 1-2 an 3s or are they just to far from rangefinders?

peter_n · 01-24-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by RubenBlaedel
The M6 is even cheaper than the M6 TTL and if you do not use flash why pay the extra $ !

So that you can turn the shutter speed dial in the proper direction.

SolaresLarrave · 01-24-2005

Ruben, there's a practicality issue here in recommending the TTL over the M6 "sans TTL", and it is that the M6 is older, in general terms, and its electronics have aged more than those in the TTL. Besides, never say never... the day will come in which you wish you had a fill-flash.

I was initially shopping for an M6, but then I stumbled on a M6TTL body for a very good price, and bit the dust. The SF 20 flash complements the body in a beautiful way. Unconvinced? Check this out...