Re: the best M body ...
- From: "JB" <Jbuf@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <leica@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 13:14:34 -0400
Well I have owned M3ds, m3ss. M4., M4-2.M4p CL and Cle. And to tell the truth
I think the best M camera is the one that is loaded with film and I am shooting
with
JOHN
----- Original Message -----
From: feli
To: leica@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: the best M body ...
On Aug 3, 2005, at 5:20 AM, Dave Saalsaa wrote:
Leica M3...? the best built M body ever ? with the best viewfinder
of all ?
is this the common wisdom?
Yes, but tend to disagree. (I own M2/M4/M4-2/M6TTL/M7 and have had an M3 on
loan for a few weeks.)
I believe this notion often originates from the opinions expressed on the
cameraquest page.
The M3 is extremely well made, but so is the M2/M4/M5. I really do not see a
difference in quality between them.
The M3 finder may be the most flare resistant, but it's the only M finder
which doesn't have frame lines for the 35; instead it supports 50/90/135. The
M3/M2 prism block has also been cemented with Canadian balsam, which over time
yellows and becomes brittle. This is why you hear about M3/M2 rangefinder
patches dying after an impact. The block can become separated and it's a very
expensive repair, which only a few shops will even attempt to do. Starting with
the M4 Leica switched to a synthetic glue, which is cured with UV light, and
this method is a lot more rugged.
The biggest reason why the M3 feels as smooth as it does, is because the
gearing is made of brass and not the mixture of steel and brass as found in
post M4 cameras. Leica switched to steel gears starting with the M4-2, because
the brass was not strong enough to support the Leicavit or motordrives. Also
keep in mind that most M3 cameras have had a few years or decades of 'break in'
time. After maybe 200 rolls my M6TTL is also a lot smoother, than when I
purchased it new.
In my experience, the M3 doesn't not feel any smoother than my M2 or M4 and I
was very pleasantly surprised the first time I handled the new MP and my M7.
The worst camera Leica every made is the M4-2. I consider it the low point of
the line, because it is the least reliable. Mine has already died once, even
after a Sherry CLA.
I have found the M6TTL, to be extremely reliable, but to have the worst fit
and finish of the bunch. The covering feels cheap and the rewind knob on mine
is downright crude. The anodizing is thin and compared to the older cameras it
feels somewhat crude. I hate to make this comparison, but the TTL reminds me of
an AK-47. Rough around the edges and well finished where it needs to be, but it
will continue to operate without a hitch under circumstances than have long
since killed the operator.
The new MP and M7 are also extremely good and after reading about the
internal changes that Leica has made I believe that these may turn out to be
the most durable cameras they ever made. There have been changes to new
materials that simply didn't exist 50 years ago and CNC machining ensures a
level of accuracy that would have been impossible to maintain on the assembly
line, in pre-automated days.
So, here are my choices
Best traditional body:
M4
Perfect frame line set (35/50/90/135)
UV glue in the finder
Quickload system
Old world craftsmanship
Best modern body:
MP/M7
Fit and finish is exquisite
New materials insure long life.
Feli
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