Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/16

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Subject: Re: [Leica] ..... M advice...
From: Martin Howard <mvh@media.mit.edu>
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 14:05:43 -0400 (EDT)

Claire wrote:
> 
> What would be your advice if I said I wanted to try out the M system ? What
> M model (and lens ) would U recommend for a start ?
> 

This is an impossible question to answer, without more knowledge.  What
style of photography are you interested in?  Will you be using mostly
wide-angles, normal lenses, or long lenses?  Why are you interested in the M
system?  What features are most important to you?

If you are just starting out on an M system and don't know if it's for you,
and don't want to spend an awful lot of money, my recommendation would be to
get a secondhand M2 and either a 50mm f/2 Summicron (maybe try the DR with
eyes) or a 35mm f/2 Summicron (either the ASPH, or the one just before
that).  This is based on a few assumptions, since you haven't specified
anything (see below).

This will let you explore using an M camera without a massive outlay of
money.  The M2 has a wonderfully uncluttered viewfinder which is much easier
(IMO) to use than the M4/M4-2/M4-P/M6 VF.

It will also let you explore the quality of Leica lenses, while the
Summicrons with their f/2 maximum aperture may not be the fastest thing
around, should allow you to do quite a fair bit of available light stuff
with moderately fast film, such as Tri-X.

Good luck!

M.

- -- 
Martin Howard                     | Yeah, I'm pretty outnumbered there,
Visiting Scholar at MIT Media Lab | Dave..., eh, Jay...
email: mvh@media.mit.edu          |  - Bruce Willis (on The Tonight Show)
www: http://mvhoward.i.am/        +---------------------------------------