Thinking aloud...

menthel

menthel

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Jim
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If I were to ditch the Leica gear (its just too much money tied up in gear that gets used not often enough), what would be a good replacement system?

I am thinking small, manual SLR. I previously owned an OM2-SP which I loved but would like something more along the lines of my M6; ie manual and not reliant on batteries- fine to have for metering but not for anything else. I have therefore been thinking about a Nikon FM2N. Seems to suit the billing but how small are they? Would also want a 3 lens set up again, 28-35 (f2 or 2.8), 50mm (f1.8 or faster) and a portrait lens ~90 (f2.8 or faster).

Ideas, suggestions or is this just madness? If the leica gear went obviously I would have quite a lot to use but say ~£600 in total for this leaving me a nice chunk of money freed up for other reasons.
 
Pentax MX will be more the size of your Leica, all manual as you describe with batteries only for metering. The only thing you may struggle with is finding a reasonably priced portrait lens in PK mount.

There is also the LX, bigger heavier and more bells and whistles (and problems) than the MX but a very nice camera nonetheless if you get a good one, Can be as much as 10x the cost of an MX though!
 
menthel said:
I am thinking small, manual SLR. I previously owned an OM2-SP which I loved but would like something more along the lines of my M6; ie manual and not reliant on batteries- fine to have for metering but not for anything else.
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OM-1 or OM-3?
 
Thanks guys. I suspect this is going to be a rather complicated and difficult search. It may well end with me keeping what I have but it does seem overboard!
 
I'm just going the other way, punting my Pentax MX setup for a Leica M3 :) the MX is a very nice reliable solid SLR, as said, the batteries are only for the meter. The 50mm 1.4 is particularly nice IMHO (I have the 1.7 which is damn fine too), there is a good 135mm f2.5 for not a lot of money, but the 85mm f2 and f1.8 are usually silly money (compared to the 50mm and 135mm IMHO), the 100mm f2.8 less so but you may be getting a bit long.
 
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Well I think you have a couple of choices

Nikon FM2n is a cracking camera small light plus a bunch of lens avalible. I have one.

Olympus you have the OM1n or the OM3 but OM3 is rare and not cheap plus if your looking for fast glass for the Oly say 24mm f2 or 28mmf2 then again they are rare and costly. They used to do an 85mm f2 which is cracking but again not common. Their 135mm f2.8 is great lens and very sharp (yeah I have one of them as well).

Not sure about Pentax as I am not that familiar with them but the MX is very good plus you would have a range of Pentax and indepentant lens to chose from.

Not sure about Minolta I think all their stuff had batteries to make them work, but could be wrong.
 
I don't know much about the M3 - but the FM2n is bloody brilliant. You could get a nikon FM2n, 50mm 1.4 and a 28 f2.8 100% for £600 with change left over - not too sure about the portrait lens though. I have the 85mm f1.4 AIS which I picked up for £300. Absolutely battered aesthetically but the glass is clean , optics sharp and bokeh creamy as butter.
 
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Voigtlander Bessa? You have the choice of R, T or L from about £120 to £300 and a massive choice of lenses, you could even use your Leicas.

Andy
 
Thanks all. I guess my problem going bessa would be that the lenses are still (relately!) expensive, especially when compared to SLR lenses (even nikon one!) so I am not sure I want to go that way. I really do think that the FM2N looks good and the fact that the lenses work so well with digital nikon should mean they retain some value for a long time to come.
 
menthel said:
Thanks all. I guess my problem going bessa would be that the lenses are still (relately!) expensive, especially when compared to SLR lenses (even nikon one!) so I am not sure I want to go that way. I really do think that the FM2N looks good and the fact that the lenses work so well with digital nikon should mean they retain some value for a long time to come.
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Agreed. Nikon D90 and 85mm f1.4 AIS - actually reckon I've missed focus slightly there as well. I smile everytime I look at the bokeh... :lol:

304846_10151050874122707_1501228798_n.jpg
 
Jim, Fm2n is 3mm longer than my M4 not sure of M6 or whatever Leica you have they all seem to vary slightly. On the film side I only use mechanical cameras (it's an engineers thing I suppose) I also use Nikon lens on the Leica mainly 20mm and 35mm PC lens. Saves carrying both types of kit.

C
 
Could also consider a Canon F-1 or one of its variants, readily available FD lenses and mechanical speeds
 
Nikon FM2 & Pentax MX are both excellent cameras - I've got both and they are both a lot smaller than a typical DSLR - I'd say the FM2 seems slightly more "refined", and the controls seem to have better actions in terms of "feel" etc, but the MX wins on compactness. I will probably get an Olympus OM1N as well eventually as this is quite a similar sort of SLR to the FM2 & MX.
 
There's a Nikon FG in Classifieds right now (nothing to do with me, BTW*), which was one of the smallest SLRs Nikon made in order to compete with the Oly cameras back in the day. I loved mine, with a 50mm lens on it still fit into a bum bag plus it's got AE, Program and manual modes. Needs a CLA though.







* While I'm not involved in the sale, I am considering buying it :bonk:
 
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