I Sold EVERYTHING For The Leica M6
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- Over the past few months I have been quietly selling many of my film cameras and lenses to help fund a Leica M6 35mm rangefinder camera. This rangefinder film camera is really something special and will hopefully take my analog photography to another level. This old Leica film camera is something I have wanted ever since I got into film photography. I decided to go with the M6 Titanium finish and I am so excited to see the world with my new Leica.
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Thanks so much for watching!
Im with you. Usually people like us like cars, watches, and cameras. It is a very destructive personality type LMFAO. I have an M7 with a close focus summilux. It is the best. I didn't go with an M6 because I like aperture priority. It helps in many situations where you need to snap a quick shot.
Honestly, I can’t blame you one bit. I’ve always wanted one since the mid-90s. If the prices of film and film development would greatly decrease, that would make my decision much easier. But for now I’ll just have to wait till film photography becomes more convenient.
You’re not the only one. I’ve always wanted one ever since I started my journey. Took a good 7-8 year wait and experimenting with other brands, but that wait was all worth it. Buying one meant serious dedication to my craft and seeing all the 🐐 owning a M pushes me to make better work. Welcome to the club! But I’ll just let you know that the big honking lens you have will make you want something smaller lol.
Thanks so much! My photography journey has been similar. It was finally time to do it, after all those years waiting.I have a few lenses on the horizon. I have loved every voightlander lens that I’ve owned, and I expect this one to be great too - if a little bulky. Lol.
Sometimes I wonder if my channel is attracting the right audience. When I see Wutang in the handle I know we are on the right path. 😊
I just picked up my first Leica camera, the M6. I paid for it with no money out-of-pocket by cashing out my credit card points points. 💰💰💰🤑🤑
Get it son
@@Overexposed1 yes sir
Welcome to the M6 fan club ;-) This is a camera that has that little "je ne sais quoi" that sets it apart from any other. If you like the Voigtlander 35, I recommend you check our the 28mm as well. It's been a great addition to my lens kit complementing the 35 and 50 Summilux I already have. Happy shooting!
I guess I can understand the draw towards a camera that can still be repaired by the manufacturer, but I can buy oh-so-many beautiful Canon LTM rangefinder cameras & lenses for the price of a Leica M6. ...or I could stick with my Canon 7 & my Soviet LTM lenses.
I chose my path & you chose yours. Neither is better than the other. I chose what was right for me & you chose what was right for you. We're all good!
Absolutely!
FED-3 BAYBEEE!
If you ever feel like dropping the m6 I’d recommend looking into the alpa 10 or 11 35mm slr as the lenses for it are oh so unique and the ergonomics make the leica feel cheap.
Congratulations on the Leica M6! A beautiful camera for all the reasons you describe. I bought my M6 about 25 years ago and it is still going strong. I had it CLA'd a couple years back and it is back to as good as new. Mine is a first year (1984) production Black M6, the 748th M6 produced. I will never sell it. I have 50mm and 35mm Leica Summicron lenses for my M6 but these days it mostly wears a 40mm f/1.2 Voigtlander Nokton. I also have a near mint green label Contax G1. For the G1 I have only one lens, the 35mm f/2 Planar. Such a lovely camera and lens.
Thanks so much! Really cool backstory on yours. I would love to get a look at it after all those years of use
@@Overexposed1 Surprisingly it is still in excellent condition, in fact it still has the original plastic protective film on the bottom plate. Whoever owned it before me took exceptionally good care of it (I have the original box w/manual/paperwork) and I treat my gear gently. It shows ever so slight edge wear but not like one might think for a near 40 year old camera.😎
I started out with a Canon 1000D. Entry level camera, but enough to wet my appetite. Like the maniac I am, I bought several high-end lenses over the next year, discovering new possibilities.. but soon getting burned out by the plethora of options and all the heavy gear. I sold everything and got an M6 with a 35mm f/1.2 nokton (v1). I've stuck with Leica ever since. Never regretted it :)
Love that! I have enjoyed mine so far! Thanks for stopping in.
The prices of M6s are crazy now. I remember selling my M4 for 500 USD haha. And I also got a limited with box, papers M6 for 900 CHF. Happy that I held onto that one.
Valid points about why you chose the M6. In addition to those points, I like the fact that it can function without a battery. It only happened to me once where I had a dead battery so I heavily relied on sunny 16.
I would look into getting a grip or the auto winder with the grip. I have big hands and sometimes my fingers block the rangefinder window. Adds a bit of weight but the comfortability is worth it.
Thanks so much! It’s a beautiful camera and I’m excited to start getting starting shooting it.
I started with a Minolta Hi Matic Af2 from my Dad last November. The First Camera i bought for myself is now a Canon Ae1 Program and i'm in love with it, especially cause i opened my way to Photography now one step further after understanding the little basics.
I have recently purchased the M6 titan too. I love it. It goes with me everywhere. I hope you enjoy it.
Same to you! Thanks for watching!
I think my personal Leica is probably an Olympus Pen F - I just love the design of it - thankfully that one's quite a bit more affordable.
Those are stunning cameras! Absolutely agree. Very very pretty designs.
I've actually owned one, and I can say that they're absolutely fantastic.
Glad to see I'm not the only one making the jump to Leica! Though I'm still going to hang onto my Nikon F5, just did a shoot with it and couldn't imagine not having it. I think this will be a really good change for you, and that having that grail camera is sometimes underrated, and can inspire you to shoot more (because you'll actually want to take it everywhere). Happy shooting!
Also, congratulations on obtaining your dream camera!
Thanks Joey! I’m so excited to get it out and shoot it some more. Let me know when you get yours!
I genuinely appreciate how thoughtful you are with the perspectives you share with us. There are many experiences you note that I relate to so it is always very helpful to learn from you and others. I too am considering saving up for a Leica film camera but have been unable to pull the trigger. Maybe next year!
In addition to checking for stuff like light leaks, check the rangefinder calibration. Just google for how to do this. RF adjustment can be DIY for the digital Ms, but it may be less hassle to send it back to Germany for the film cams. Of course, it may not matter all that much if you stick with the slower lenses.
Thanks for the advice! I will definitely be putting it through its paces this week.
I have a leica m3 that is my go-to, but its really only good for 50mm (which is my fav). I just got a pentax spotmatic because I have a lot of excellent m42 lenses and it can focus closer than 1m. The m6 is sexy asf. The good thing about leica film cameras is that you can buy new m mount lenses which is super underrated imo
It's actually GREAT for 90mm too, if it's calibrated
As somebody that has multiple G1 bodies, I get it. I hope to have an M6 or M7 one day but for now, I love my G1s and the autofocus, while not perfect, makes focusing on my little kid running around slightly easier than manual focus. Anyway, congrats on your white buffalo! Hopefully I’ll join you in camera Valhalla some day soon
Thanks so much! I honestly didn't find the autofocus to be problematic at all on the G1. Just hafta listen to it!
@@Overexposed1 yup you’re right ha thankfully they have a subtle quirk you can listen for.
PS I literally just bought a hassie 500c/m body and I 100% blame you.
I been using my canon VI-T and loving the fast pace of old school Leica clown range finders. One of my issues with it is the limited lens, I want to upgrade for the lenses, hopefully I can afford the M6 one day but I can’t see myself selling off my film camera gear anytime soon.
Eight months later, do you have any regrets? Planning on keeping my F3 and 28 2.8/50 1.2. However, looking to sell my FM, FM2n, and FE2 along with a slew of lenses. Just looking to simplify and give the rangefinder experience a go. Been following you for a while now, so I know I can trust your logic and judgment. If you could go back and do it over, would you still sell all of those cameras and buy the M6?
I think so. I have enjoyed my time with the camera and haven’t considered selling it. I have thought about the alternatives a little as time has went on. It’s a lot of money to have tied up in one system. My Contax G1 was so good. If money is an issue any at all, I’m steering people in that direction. It’s just such a good camera,
and having the autofocus really is amazing. Anyway, I probably would do it over!
The lighest, most expensive, nicest looking, fastest isn't always the best ... I now own a Leica M6 Titanium, but I won it and would never have bought a Leica unless it was at a super low price, or one of the unwanted and unloved models like the Leica T or M5. I use mainly super cheap secondhand M43 cameras or Canon EOS / EOS M bodies and any brand of lens as long as it does the job.
Keep film alive ❤
I think you 've made a right choice. I have Voigtlander R2C, it 's nowhere near Leica build quality and its effective rangefinder baselength is low, so you would have a hard time to nail focus with at wide open using fast primes like the Summilux. I have the same Leica you have. It 's been my workhorse. Also good choice on that Voigtlander Nokton. You and I have the exactly same set up. Look for a Zeiss 50mm F1.5 Sonnar for characters. I have the Summilux black chrome. It 's overhyped IMO.
Chuckles in FED-3. 😋
Jokes aside, I have a friend who has an M3 and we did a sort of comparison and there really is none with an old soviet camera. The FED-3 isn't what you'd say crudely made, but definitely feels cheaper. But I kind of like that sort of stuff. It is like an alternative history Leica. There's just a beauty to stuff that people scoff at. I've always had a soft spot for that, I suppose it's an underdogism.
Not that I don't have cameras that broke my bank. But we don't talk about that. :P
Don't worry mate, down here in Australia we say Leica the same way you do. "Layka" is not a word in the Australian vocabulary.
😂 thanks for the comment. It happens every time I say it.
We all dream about owning a Leica it’s one off my dreams along with a Hasselblad 500
Absolutely. The Hasselblads are awesome as well!
I just bought one as well, although I’m noticing the viewfinder flare is happening a lot and during these times my rangefinder patch just won’t show a split image. Wondering if you have noticed this as well and if it’s normal?
Congrats on the Leica! 🎉
Thanks Bon!
If you can afford it and you didn't use your house payment to buy it you're good.
As long as your skills as a photographer matches the expense of the camera then you're good.
If you're just a guy with a little extra money and don't make much then it's better you save the money for a rainy day.
If you're an average photographer an expensive camera won't improve your photos.
If you just want one because you want one... Well you know.
I personally wouldn't sell off my entire collection for an M6. Sometimes you just want a camera that's automated and has vintage glass and cameras like the Contax G1s already have that. An M6 has a steep learning curve into making it useful and I don't think everyone will become comfortable with it.
Love my new M6, you won’t regret it, TRUST ME!
That’s good to hear! I’m really loving it so far.
@@Overexposed1 Great lens choice by the way, I have the Voigt 35mm 1.5 vintage line and it is OUTSTANDING, you will NOT go wrong with these new Voigtlanders at all, I posted a recent video and all pics taken were with the Voigt.
Lovely camera and hoping to own one some day. It arrived from Japan in 4 days, that's very quick, but did you get hit for any taxes into the US ?
Good luck on your journey!
Thank you!
I think it’s a camera you either love or hate, I rate the Leica rangefinders as the best cameras ever, be warned though they are addictive.
So far I really like it! Maybe one day I will be able to move into the digital system as well!
I bought 2 Olympus OM1s and 4 lenses for $100. And with the rest of the money I saved I'm going to travel. :)
I completely get where you're coming from. After starting film photography with a Canon AE-1 and buying a few FD lenses, I quickly realized that I was pretty underwhelmed by FD glass and the cheap feeling of the Canon A-series bodies. I briefly considered a Leica, but just couldn't spend that kind of money on a 20ish year-old camera. I sold off the Canon A-series cameras to a local shop, and I got a mint FM2 and a mint F3, and paired with some Voigtlander glass, I'm getting some amazing results. That decision was made pretty easily given that a lot of Leica CZcamsrs run Voigtlander glass on their Leica bodies. Enjoy your new camera. Oh yeah, I too was briefly considering a Bessa, but those bodies ugly AF.
Thanks so much Joe! All the best.
I’ve been eying the Leica ma, mp. However trying to decide if it still makes sense if I only plan to start off with voigtlander lens. You got a good deal on it for sure. Did you have to pay any import tax ?
Leica = res ipsa, right? Great video.
Awesome, on the face of it!
Too funny, and I'm bummed I didn't know you were selling your Contax ;)
I'm in the boat of selling stuff to fund a Contax setup. Maybe I should just hold off and save a little though, because, you know - who wouldn't want a Leica? (Well, anyone with a taste for aesthetics, I mean).
Pretentious? Absolutely is. No doubt. And that's OK! I could, in my mind make up a matrix of the path one should follow to "earn" the right to own a Leica, lol. Like, you have to pay your photography dues, in a way. For instance, I'd say you have. Vs. someone who just decides to "get into" photography and runs directly to Leica - that seems pretentious actually.
But who am I to tell someone else what they can buy? Lol. Nobody. Just a jealous fan!
Sincerely - congrats on making it happen. Hope to be in your shoes someday, and look forward to hearing your experience!
I went through this too. When I had saved the money I purchased an M6TTL, the Noctilux, the 50mm f1.4, a 35mm f1.4, a 90mm f2 and so on. In the end I owned maybe 5 lenses. And guess what: My pictures were just crappy. Why? Because I couldn't take sharp pictures of anything that was moving ever so slightly at f1.4 or f2.0 (not talking about f0.95) and/or where the subject wasn't in the middle of the frame. And great lenses don't make any sense, if you miss focus. Yes, this is a great camera for reportage: 1/125s, f4-f.8 at 35 or 50mm hold it in the direction and press the shutter button. But for anything else like sports, macro, wildlife and so on it's imho unusable. That's why I sold all my Leica M equipment and I'm glad that I did. Nowadays I shoot digitally with my Sony Alpha 1 that I can also use completely manually with the great Voigtlander lenses if I want to. I take analog pictures on medium format (Zenza Bronica SQ-A) and on 35mm film with my Minolta XD-7(11). I can see exactly what I get in the viewfinder and can focus more accurately. And by the way the camera is less than $100.
you have the money to spent on such a kit but not to calibrate the rangefinder ? lol yeah for sure
@@m66096 Won't help at all if you subject is not in the middle of the frame or moving with wide open aperture. It's simply an outdated technology that doesn't work reliably for less than f2.8 at 1 or 2 meters distance. Yes, if you're lucky it will also work with moving subjects for less than f2.8 with 30% probability and at f2.0 with 10% probability and at f0.95 with 1% probability. In that rare cases you'll get a great result, if you don't mention the 99% of blurry shots that you're not showing anybody. And don't tell me it's better than autofocus. In that case everybody would still use rangefinders today and slrs and autofocus would not have been invented. It's a niche technology that works nice at infinity and for static subjects and at f8 or f11 with zone focusing (street photography). It won't work for macro, sports, wildlife, ...
@@stefanbecker9526 since I started using rangefinder cameras I have way less out of focus images than with dslrs (I mean using manual lenses) and I focus way faster ! You can argue that for fast focus I have to compose with my subject in the center (on the focus patch) and I would totally agree! But I usually focus and recompose confidently even with streets shots.
Say Leica any way you want...Welcome to the club bro.... Enjoy it man
Thank you soooooooo much!
Not meant as an insult or anything but I would've never guessed you were a lawyer by trade - nice.
Thanks. Criminal defense!
"I was in law school." Not too sure about this guy.
"I'm a public defender." Oh, he's cool.
Yes sir! Directing attorney of my local trial office! Thanks for watching
You have good taste.
I own two titanium Contax G1 cameras with 21/28/45/90mm Zeiss lenses.
I own one Leica M6 classic titanium camera and I love the ostrich/emu leather. I use the following lenses:
21mm f/1.4 Summilux
35mm f/1.4 Zeiss Distagon ZM
90mm f/2 Summicron
At one time, I owned two Nikon F2 titanium bodies.
I drive a Lexus ES350 but have my eye on a Lexus LC500.
What are some of your favorite cars? Top 5 maybe?
If I’m going with cars I can actually afford, the GR Supra, the New Nissan Z, Subaru BRZ, c8 corvette, and I could probably afford a GTR, a few years old with some miles on it. Along those same lines, a Ferrari 360 would probably be obtainable.
If we are going with unrealistic cars, the Lexus LFA, Ferrari 488, Porsche 911, a New GTR, or a new Audi R8
The Supra is the one I have my eyes on ;)
Yeah - you should have gotten the M7 instead!!!
Paid $200 for the nikon f3.
another m6 video
Yeah?
You and me identical
Each to their own Isaac. Kudos for securing your ideal camera. May your M6 bring you every happiness and success in securing decisive moments.
Absolutely. There are many different cameras that serve all different types of people. Who knows, I may end up hating this thing - the Contax, after all, was pretty darn awesome.