What is is the best USED film Leica M camera for the money?

Which is your choice as best for the Money?

This is not about choosing your favorite, or choosing a new in production camera.

What is the best USED M camera that gives the most value for the $?

If value is determined by level/number of functional capabilities vs cost, then perhaps the M5 offers best value -- it essentially does everything the M3, M2 and M4 do, plus has a built-in light meter, shutter speed indication in the viewfinder, and the great utility of the overhanging shutter speed dial. While some of these may also be said of the M6 and the CL, I believe the M6 is costs more than an M5 these days, and the CL has a shorter rangefinder base so it's focusing is perhaps a bit less accurate than the M5 (though it does get points for being smaller than the M5). I really don't know much of anything about the M7 and the MP.

This should be an interesting discussion.

I have an M3 but the M2 may be a better deal costwise.

My M3, because I really enjoy using it.

Jim B.

CameraQuest said:

...

What is the best USED M camera that gives the most value for the $?

Click to expand...

I'm not really sure there is any more... In Aus anyway, a few years ago there were several models that were noticeably cheaper than the others, eg. M2, M4-2, M5. Nowadays though, all the unmetered models (plus the M5) go for a similar price, with the M6 and M7 a step higher again.

The only Leica M model that is noticeably cheaper is the CL. But while it's cheaper I still wouldn't describe it as 'good value' (mainly due to reliability issues).

Even the non-Leica M bodies aren't much cheaper now. Popular models like the Voigtlander Bessa line and Minolta CLE go for similar money to Leica.

I think M2s are still the go to M camera. For the least money an M costs, they give you nearly the same shooting experience as a recent MP/MA.

Next up I'd place M4s and M4-2s.

They say Winogrand was regularly buying used Ms in working condition.
These days you better buy recently serviced M under decent price.
Any. If actually any still left.

Last year I was seeing Hexar RFs ebay for around $1000 USD, cheaper than any Leica Ms I was seeing. AE, auto advance, 1/4000th shutter speed, 28mm frame lines you can actually see, swing back door loading... seems like a no-brainer.

Probably M4-P or M4-2.

Erik.

In general, there does not appear to be a particular model that is consistently better value than others.

If you are looking for a used film M for yourself; decide on the features you want most eg. metered/unmetered, frame-line options etc. Once you have narrowed down your choice to a certain model or two - shop round for the best deals you can find taking condition, service history etc. into consideration.

There aren't really any that are 'good values' today, compared to not so long ago when M6s with few signs of use were going for a grand all day long.

Now that such M6s are $2500 or higher, I'd vote for the M5 (looking at only Leica-branded, M-branded models.) Good condition with meter working, about $1500. If one looks beyond Leica branded - Hexar RF. Looking beyond M models: CL.

I had and really liked my CL but the issues with it were already starting to creep up a decade ago.

If I were to buy a film Leica again I'd probably get an M5 instead.

Bang for the buck probably the CL, but it doesn’t feel like a Leica and has often meter problems. Other than that it’s a fine, versatile camera.

I had three film CLs over the years. While they are a lovely camera, and I think only one of mine ever needed a service, they don't have the feel or rangefinder precision of any of the M cameras. They are/were a great compact 35mm camera with the standard Summicron 40 and Elmar 90 lenses, wonderful for travel. I used to add the original CV Heliar 15 Aspherical to my kit as well, for an ultrawide capability.

I'd sold off all my M-mount bodies and lenses around 2003 to finance other things ... saddest thing to realize was that selling the lenses meant reacquiring them would cost a huge lot more money than I'd sold them for! ... and was back into M-mount around 2011-2012 when I bought the Ricoh GXR with M-mount camera module. I of course wanted another M film body almost immediately.

At that time, I was able to find a nice M4-2 body, marked as "bargain" condition, for $700 or so. What made it bargain condition was the fact that the rangefinder was way out of calibration and the viewfinder full of dust. $100 solved that issue. I still use it today, and I like the simpler viewfinder (35-50-90-135 frame lines) compered to the later bodies. The M4-2, at that time, was much disparaged for some early production issues, all of which have long-since been given appropriate fixes which renders it just as good in use as any other film M, IMO.

I have no idea what relative prices for these bodies are today...

G

M4-2 was the first M body I ever bought, always will be a favorite. Keh reference: about $2200 for an excellent example, no dings/dents, good working order, clean/clear viewfinder, strong contrasty RF patch. Similar condition M6 classic (working meter of course) about $3400. M5 $1900, 50 Jahre CL $830. They can be found for less of course from other dealers or individuals, but keh include a 6 month warranty.

The Leica M3 is probably the best bang for the buck these days.

My only experience with a camera sans meter is a Hasselblad. I don't 'guess' exposures well so while it's fun using a hand held meter, it's just really (really) slow and not my thing for walkabout shooting notwithstanding the elegant shutter sound and clockwork mechanism of the M2/3/4. The M5 is a misbegotten over-sized proof-of-concept that was indeed (way) ahead of its time in nearly every design aspect but relegated to curiosity status until recently, perhaps because it didn't have the 'feel' of an M.

The M6 Classic remains to my mind, the best overall value despite its rising cost; later build than the rest (M7 & MP excepted), with a simple but reliable meter. It just works.

This really depends on your requirements. From my thirty plus years of use, I'd say that the M2 was pretty dependable and had a lovely viewfinder. I currently use an M4 and two M4-Ps. I only continue to use the M4-Ps because the 28mm finder is useful to me as is the hot shoe (supports modern speed lights). I had both M2 and M3 bodies; I sold the M3, years ago, and lent the M2 to a niece who now lives in Germany--I doubt that I'll see that M2 ever again. As they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Tom R said:

.... lent the M2 to a niece who now lives in Germany--I doubt that I'll see that M2 ever again. As they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Click to expand...

A good way to pass it forward, not a path to hell.

I went through this debate (with myself) one year ago when deciding which camera to buy as my first Leica (though, my first m-mount camera was a Zeiss Ikon ZM, which I still own).

I knew that I wanted a TTL meter...a meterless mechanical 35mm camera that is $1000+ is a poor value proposition for me (I have a Nikon F and F2 that scratch that itch at a much lower price point). So, that left me with the CL, M5, M6/ttl and M7. The CL is nice enough, but too small. The M6/ttl is too expensive for what it is (magnesium top plate with IC chips approaching the end of their service life) and the M7 was similarly too expensive (though, I did just recently pick one up).

This left me with the M5 which I purchased NOS from Japan with box and original papers for $2000. Having no prior experience with a Leica, I was not biased against it's atypical shape. For me, the body is a very comfortable size and the control layout/viewfinder/meter are the most ergonomical, logical and quick to use of any Leica (with the M7 being a close second).

So yeah, even though their prices have gone way up, my vote still goes to the M5.