Sell it all and finally get a Leica?

[ijohnnyz]

Quick question: Should I sell all of my film gear and finally get a Leica M6 and 50mm Planar?

Here's what's up for sell:
Nikon N90s
Nikkor 35/f2 AFD
Canonet GIII + flash
Nikon FM2n + PhotoEqip FM-Grip
Nikkor 50/f1.8 AIS
Nikkor 24/f2.8 AIS
Nikkor 105/f2.5 AIS


All of my gear are in excellent condition and my lenses sport filters & hoods all the time.

I've made the switch to Canon and still have my Canon 20d and 24-70/f2.8L. I'm trying to minimize my personal belongings for the New Year and spoil myself a bit with some money I've run into. I figure one RF film body and one DSLR body is all I really need right now.

Your advice is appreciated,
Johnny

[hans voralberg]

Well if you fancy an M sure, have a go, but all that great glass could make better picture than an M6 and 50 in terms of flexibility

[Prosaic]

Quick anwer: yes.

Ever shot a rangefinder camera before?

[Abbazz]

Originally Posted by Prosaic

Ever shot a rangefinder camera before?

The Canonet sounds like a rangefinder to me.

Cheers!

Abbazz

[Damaso]

Yes! The problem is that a lot of people are selling their gear now and it's hard to get good prices on eBay. But I think you will be able to get a Leica if you sell it all. Good idea to keep the Canon gear. I was thinking of selling my film SLRs but I can't get a decent price for them any more...

[borismach]

Originally Posted by Vic

Sell the Canon gear and get a Nikon D300. You can use all your Nikon lenses with it, and it has amazing high ISO performance. Selling your Nikon gear will only yield pennies. And if you buy a Leica dna don't like it, you will regret it all.

I thought everyone on this forum woiuld give the poster a "yes"!

A "yes" from me.

Cheerz
:-) bm

[ferider]

Keep one Nikon, the 24, 50 and 105. Sell the rest, including 20d
Get the Leica and more than just the Planar Add at least a 35
or 28mm lens.

Roland.

[kuzano]

That sounds way tooo much like giving up dating and committing to one woman. It's called marriage. Are you sure you are really ready to settle down with one camera, with only one outlook on life, only one set of shutter speeds, only one viewfinder....

Yeeeeeks!!!!

[Keith]

I also don't necessarily agree with going the Leica route ... which is big coming from someone who has as many of them as I do. There are other rangefinders that are as competent ... but as said maybe it's something you should get out of your system. They are a great camera with superb credentials but they don't fire magic bullets ... I've only really just come to realise this myself!

On the positive side ... buying one then deciding it's not for you is not a situation that will leave you out of pocket. Conversely ... I have just picked up my new Ikon from the post office ... it probably de-valued $300.00 during the drive back home!

[back alley]

if you REALLY REALLY want a leica then go for it.
i have owned a few, along with quite a few other brands, and have come to realize that a leica isn't much different from a bessa r4 when it comes to actually taking photos.
they do weigh more which means i might carry them for less time than say a minolta cle, or r4a or even my zeiss ikon.
they look very pretty though.

[MikeL]

I'd try before you buy, at least handle one and see what you think and how it would work with what you like photographing. My photos consistently suck a** whether with a SLR or rangefinder, but I prefer the handling/size/view of a rangefinder, so I might as well use it instead. Some friends-family who use SLRs don't like the fact that you are not seeing more like what the lens sees. Just my 2 bits.

[Zenjitsuman]

I am having a hard time deciding to tell you my real opinion or just let you sell me some of your gear for my own selfish reasons.

I have a bunch of Nikons and an M4p and 5 lenses. If I had to give you advise I would give a family member this is what I would say.

The Leica M6 would be need an external VF to use both a 24mm and long lens like a 105mm wide open. I don't see it being that better constructed then the Fm2n, I use an F3hp and its just as nice as an M. The Nikon 35mm is very good and moving to a Leica 35mm lens would be nice but not a world of difference. The Nikon 50 you might replace since its the lens it seems you want on the M6. But did you ever think that now they make the Zeiss in Nikon ZF mount and the very fine Planar is available to fit your nikon and it works just like any other AIS lens.

In short you can use upgraded Zeiss glass on your fine Nikon gear and use the money to pay for the glass instead of the camera. You don't really want to use external finders do you? If you were a newby I could see it you would lack you existing gear and an M6 and a 50 Cron, Planar or Hexar like I have would be great , I would add the Zeiss 50 and stay Nikon.

[ijohnnyz]

It's only been less than an hour but it's settled, sell it all and purchase the Leica. I don't want to keep anything because I need to level out my finances. I'm keeping my Canon because I can use my school's EOS lens pool.

Honestly, I've been using digital so much these days that my film gear is just gathering dust. However, I still have so much tri-x and a 5L packet of xtol left. I'm hoping getting a Leica will bring back the joy of capturing the decisive moment instead of completing a school assignment.

This purchase is not to replace my Nikon FM setup, the Canon already has. It's just for old time sakes.

Damaso: You've got me thinking. When is the decisive moment to list it on ebay?

Vic: I'll be on the look out for your posting. Do RFFer get first dibs?

Thanks everyone who replied.
~Johnny

[gb hill]

As much as I like Canons sell the 20d. It's discontuined and has that itty bitty viewing screen on the back that they don't even put on the el cheepo cameras anymore.

[ocean7]

I have to disagree with Hill for what it's worth. The fact that the 20D is discontinued does not mean it cannot take great pictures anymore. I own a 20D and it's a terrific camera. I have used it in every kind of environment for my wildlife photography and it never let me down. They put bigger LCD's on cheapo cameras because it's what sells to the masses, as well as more megapixels. But who needs a 3'' LCD to check histograms and navigate menus?

Back on tracks : Johnny why go the eBay route? You could sell your gear here in the classifieds.

[photobizzz]

Well as for selling it all, I will leave that one alone as you will probably lose alot of invested cash. I was just in the hunt and have been for some time for a M body to go with my Bessa-R.

I bought another Bessa, the R3A. All the functions of a M7, faster shutter speed, thousands less.

But it is not going to last forever like the M7 would and it only has 4 framelines, but I buy and sell camera gear so much it was the smart purchase for me. If you have the money a Leica is definatley the prettiest and will last a lifetime if taken care of, if you want to shoot, and not spend as much as used car....

[cjm]

Sell it. Then let me borrow the M6!

It's nice to see a fellow resident of the Orange curtain on RFF.

Seriously though, sell it.

[visiondr]

The good thing about going Leica is that, if taken care of, you won't take any significant loss in selling if, down the line, you decide it's not for you. Try doing that with any other camera.

[gb hill]

Originally Posted by ocean7

I have to disagree with Hill for what it's worth. The fact that the 20D is discontinued does not mean it cannot take great pictures anymore. I own a 20D and it's a terrific camera. I have used it in every kind of environment for my wildlife photography and it never let me down. They put bigger LCD's on cheapo cameras because it's what sells to the masses, as well as more megapixels. But who needs a 3'' LCD to check histograms and navigate menus?

I agree with you 100% The 20d does take great photos. My son in law has one. I played with it and almost got one myself. Glad I hesitated because 6 months later Canon came out with the 30d for about the same price as the 20d. I probably would of been teed off like I was back when Canon dropped the fd lenses for the EOS system. All the more reason to sell it.

[mike goldberg]

Hi... sure get an M6 and the glass you like. Try and handle one [or something like it] first, to be sure.

Suggest you list your stuff FS here in RFF before the B@y. Keep one or two items of the gear you listed in this post, that you really like. BTW, if you are selling the 105.2.5, PM me ;-)

Good luck and happy 2008.

[nitrox1]

Yes. I did same and no regrets.

John...

[Paul Jenkin]

Johnny,

I recently did something similar with a Mamiya 7 (65mm and 150mm lenses) as well as a Nikon F3 (35/50/135/200 lenses) for an M6, 35 Cron, 28 CV 1.9 and CV75. I don't regret it one bit. The M6 is the most fun you can have fully-clothed.

However - and this is a big one - I was just very naughty and got my mitts on a new Nikon D300. Now, many will have you believe that SLRs are the spawn of Satan and that digital is punishable by burning at the stake - but the image quality is amazing - even at 3200 ISO. In the USA the D300 is also a fair bit cheaper (£ to $) than in the UK.

In your situation, I'd have to toss a coin to see whether I ditch everything (including the 20D) and go for a D300 and 17-55mm f2.8 or do what you were originally suggesting. You couldn't really go wrong either way.

Paul.

[Sam R]

Originally Posted by Abbazz

The Canonet sounds like a rangefinder to me.

Cheers!

Abbazz

You should market the I use film as a sticker

[Sam R]

If you get a Leica, it will be like getting new golf clubs. You will be a better photog for a couple weeks; because now you have a Leica. But you will ultimately come down to your own talent. I've been there....work on your talent.

[Prosaic]

Originally Posted by Keith

I have just picked up my new Ikon from the post office ... it probably de-valued $300.00 during the drive back home!

Thats the bonus you pay for the »smells like new«...