.... out of the long LEICA-production run? From 1925 on there are LEICAs floating around. Which model has given you good and faithful service over the years, has not let you down and proved to be your personal long tiime favourite?

A few good reasons for this would be very much appreciated. It might also enable newcomers to the LEICA- world to make the decision easier on a certain s/h camera.

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), November 06, 2001

Answers

Don't hate me for saying this, but I love my M6TTL. (a)it is out of the long LEICA-production run. (b) It has never let me down. (c) The next Leica I buy will be a second M6TTL. My own personal long time favourite: hope that helps any newcomer!

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 06, 2001.

My favorite Leica has been whatever one I own at the moment. Really!! When I had a CL I really appreciated its size - till I got my IIIG, which became my favorite because it's nearly as small as the CL but feels more solid. When I had my M4 I couldn't understand why anyone would use anything but. And though I look longingly at a new R6.2, my R3 gives great results and cost less than two new winter tires for my car. I guess I look at the photos I get from Leica glass and feel that whatever body I have to use to get these images is my favorite body......

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), November 06, 2001.

The M6J. Best M6 0,85 with a 50mm (no 75mm frames). The look of the M3, with the rewind lever of the M4 and the meter cell of the M6. And now with the 1,25 loupe, it has improved to 1,06... with removable 50mm frames.

And finally, no ugly "red dot" on the front. (It's back....)

;-)

I hope that Leica, for the future M6 ?? will go back to the classic look -and more important- feeling of the M2/M3.

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 06, 2001.

Very short answer:M3

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), November 06, 2001.

M6 TTL 0.85. Don't underestimate the value of that built-in meter. Plus it's new!

Peter Hughes Photography

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), November 06, 2001.

My never been serviced 1966 M2 is simply a joy to operate. The action, the sound and the feel are all so indescribably precise. It is not that my M6 isn't great, it is my first choice for real picture making, but there is a difference. When one of my non-Leica using photographer friends asks how I can spend so much on "just a camera", it is my M2 that I hand to him. They shut up after the first shutter release.

To be fair, I had two double-stroke M3s that were as nice as my M2, but my desire for a platform for my 35mm lenses made me move up.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), November 06, 2001.

Al:

To be fair, I had two double-stroke M3s that were as nice as my M2, but my desire for a platform for my 35mm lenses made me move up.

Or move down; of course, this is all a matter of opinion, as it should be. :)

Art

-- Art (AKarr90975@aol.com), November 06, 2001.

Art,

I have to support Al: You can only move up to a M2 ;-) - and the further way to move up is two M2's ... even my girlfriend has to admit, though she doesn't like the chrome - maybe I should get my M2 painted ? Now that's a move upwards !

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (Kai.Blanke@iname.com), November 06, 2001.

I have to say my M2 also. When my wife and I got engaged we went to Brighton (on the south cost of Britain) - two reasons: the huge variety of antique jewellers AND Hove cameras - one of the best Leica dealers! So she got a lovely platinum ring and I got a very treasured beat up old M2 - who wants a ring!?

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), November 06, 2001.

Can't really choose ... my IIc and IIf were faithful little bits of junk, my father's IIIf was beautiful, wasn't particulary fond of the M3 unless I used a 50 or 90 then it was fine. Current 6TTL and M4-P both work great.

They're cameras, not fine wine. All the Leicas have worked very well, when appropriate to the job I was doing.

Godfrey

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), November 06, 2001.

My favorite Leica hands down is the Leica R6.2. They finally got the sense to get the production run away from Portugal and back into Germany. The problem is finding a used one and it's built like a tank. In fact, along with the Leica R8, both products are highly desirable by moi! :)

Which doesn't mean that I don't dislike the R4. :)

Alfie

-- Alfie Wang (albert.wang@ibx.com), November 06, 2001.

Shoot. I forgot about screw mount Leica Old School style (sort of like the breakdancing era of hiphop music). Okay, I am definitely a R- series dude but I admit that I'm a sucker for the old stuff too.

Now for the great debate:

On cameraquest.com Stephen Handy argues that the Leica IIIf Red Dial Self Timer model is the diggety bomb on http://www.cameraquest.com/3frdst.htm ... I think that he was going for artistic statement created by Leica engineers/artists. Looking at the exquisite pictures I really do agree on that point. Of course there is that portability which Leica never duplicated in the M series (yeah I still admit that I tried to pocket a friend's M6 into my shirt pocket and it nearly broke). Of course, I can't complain because my FED 3 is fairly reasonably large but fits well into Lowepro bag (which I use) and of course, the Domke stuff etc. etc.

Mr. Handy argues that Leica ought to be making a separate screw mount camera series with updated features. I agree. Why do we have to leave the dope screwmounts to Cosina and Konica? :)... no doubt, screw mount photographers ought to be more vocal to Leica Camera USA about keeping it for real.

The Leica M6 looks nice but not elegant necessarily... A retro art deco just seems to kick butt for me I guess. For my vote on the old school cameras, I vote for:

LEICA IIIG w/ 2.8 50 COLLAPSABLE ELMAR. SIMPLE AND ELEGANT AND MOST OF ALL, TRULY PORTABLE (AND POSSIBLY POTABLE IF YOU'RE LUCKY...)

-- Alfie Wang (albert.wang@ibx.com), November 06, 2001.

For usability it's my M6TTL .58 - I absolutely love it with 28, 35 or 50mm lenses.

For nostalgia, it's the M4. Perfect proportions, buttery feel, just an all-around magnificent camera. I sold mine and moved to M6's strictly because they were newer, and had the meter and 28mm frame lines. It was the right move, but I still wax rhapsodic over the look and feel of that M4.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul@chefurka.com), November 06, 2001.

My favorite is the IIIf. Everything after it got bigger and heavier (except for the CL, which is also very nice), and everything before it lacked flash synch. I think the BEST Leica is probably the M3, but it's awfully heavy.

rick :)=

-- Rick Oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com), November 06, 2001.

Favorite Leicas? My first one and my next one.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), November 06, 2001.

IIIg, 'Nuff said.

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@lsqgroup.com), November 06, 2001.

My favorite Leica is the M3. I presently use an M6 "Classic" which I really love. I sold my M3 a few years ago thinking I would not use it since I purchased the M6. I reall miss the feel of the M3, solid, covered in Vulcanite, and vintage. I purchased the M6 because I wanted a built-in light meter. The M6 is an excellent camera and completely dependable. I never should have sold my M3.

-- John Alfred Tropiano (jat18@psu.edu), November 06, 2001.

I enjoyed your answer, Lucien. K.G., I bought my M2 new around 1960, and it's been my faithful companion ever since. Sometimes it had dry spells when I was using my Nikons, but the M2 is always ready to go when I return to it. It has never let me down.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), November 06, 2001.

THE M Leica

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), November 06, 2001.

TOP 10 REASONS WHY THE M4-2 IS MY FAVORITE LEICA:

10. The camera that saved Leica rangefinders

9. No pause in shutter release for ‘meter on’

8. Industrial-chic worn black-chrome finish

7. No red dot

6. Crinkle paint inside baseplate and back door

5. 90 frame that actually defines corners

4. No RF patch flare

3. Doesn’t have to turn ‘OFF’ to save batteries.

2. “Leitz” script on top plate (Hey, stamped is better than nothing!)

and the number 1 reason: One word: Vulcanite

Not to mention: 90 frame that doesn’t fade out on right side, no 75 frame cluttering the 50, no break in 35mm frame for meter LEDs.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), November 06, 2001.

ooops - forgot to mention - PRI˘E - especially since the numb-nuts Leica collectors haven't figured out that the M4-2 is one of the lowest production run, and hence RAREST general-use M cameras.

M6 - 100,000+

M3 - 60,000+

M4 - 60,000+

CL - 60,000±

M2 - 40,000+

M5 - 33,000±

M4-P - 25,000

M4-2 - 16,000±

M1 - 9300±

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), November 06, 2001.

Thank you very much indeed for all these quick answers!

I´am not so new to the world of the LEICA and quite frequently I´am asked by friends or others how to start with a first LEICA. So reading about all these experiences is a privilege. Thanks for sharing.

I liked the photo and the link to the M6J, Lucien. Very convincing.

And thank you for pointing at the M4-2, Andy. Might be my next backup- investment.

Here is my long time favourite: It is my simple chrome M2, bought in 1975 when it was almost 10 yrs old. Prefered the M2 to the M3 then because I´am a wideangle fan. I had it serviced and the M4- frames build in. It never saw a srewdriver from then on. The mechanics, the finder and all the rest are still a joy. The thing has been to Africa (3 times), Indonesia, Nepal, USA and other places with me and was used extensivly. Never failed to do a good job.

Best wishes and good shooting

K. G. Wolf

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), November 06, 2001.

A great posting, this one! Seems like an M2 has to be added to my list of what to get next.

Apart from that, one of the best all-time lessons taught here is: "Even if it isn't your favourite Leica, don't sell it!"

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 07, 2001.

Andy,

it's more like:

M3 225.000 ex. M6 150.000 ex. M2 80.000 ex.

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 07, 2001.

Lucien: Thank you for the real numbers - I was just trying for a minimum estimate based on counting serial number batches off the cameraquest lists. (hence the + sign after some numbers).

M4-2 is still the rarest body designation except the rangefinder-less M1.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), November 07, 2001.

I love my M4. It combines ease of use with classic Leica craftsmanship and quality. If I had the means and the will to actually 'use' an M6J I'm sure that would take it's place.

-- Ned Wyss (ned@voxdesign.com), January 11, 2002.

The R8 (2nd generation or latter) rules!!

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), January 11, 2002.