Best Leica Film Camera Buyers Guide + Detailed Comparisons (Leica Ms)
Are you looking to buy a Leica film camera but feel overwhelmed by the choices? I experienced the same minefield of information when I bought my first Leica camera. Here I try to help you find the best Leica film camera for you
Leica Blog – Leica Camera Reviews
As part of the Leica blog here is Leica M camera buyer’s guide! I own and use multiple Leica film cameras (M2, M3SS, M3DS, M4Ps, M6..) so I put together an easy to follow yet detailed comparison review. Hopefully it will cover all you need to know but get in touch if you need some help.
How did this post come about?
As Leica blog (moreso a Leica film camera blog + general film camera blog) this is one of the key posts on the site to try to summarise some of the main differences between the 35mm Leica film cameras.
When I think back to buying my first analogue film Leica M camera I’m not sure how I decided to buy the particular camera I did. Lots and lots of research I guess but I don’t really remember finding any information that summarised in simple terms how each Leica M camera is different or perhaps best suited my needs. It doesn’t help that Leica M cameras all look pretty much identical to the untrained eye too! In this post I try to list some of the main differences between each Leica M camera which might hopefully make it easier for you if you are looking to buy a Leica M film camera. Please note I have only covered Leica M film cameras and it does not include Leica digital cameras.
Leica M Camera Timeline (Leica M History)
Here are all the major Leica M film cameras released from oldest to newest (excluding special edition cameras and showing the approximate release date/ production start date).
- Leica M3 (1954)
- Leica M2 (1958)
- Leica M4 (1967)
- Leica M5 (1971)
- Leica M4-2 (1977)
- Leica M4-P (1981)
- Leica M6 Classic (1984)
- Leica M6 TTL (1998)
- Leica M7 (2002)
- Leica MP (2003)
- Leica M-A (2014)
Generally speaking the higher the M number the more recent the camera was released (with the exception of the Leica M2 that was built after the Leica M3, the M4-2 and M4-P that were released after the M5 and with the Leica MP and M-A being the most recent).
5 Common Features to all Leica M Film Cameras
*to my knowledge for the cameras covered in this article
- Maximum shutter speed 1/1000
- Flash sync speed 1/50
- Rangefinder focusing system
- Uses 35mm film
- Leica-M bayonet mount lenses (or L39/M39/LSM/LTM Leica screw mount via adapter)
Leica M Camera Buyers Guide
Framelines – bright lines in the viewfinder for composition
- Leica M3 – 50,90,135 (individual framelines – so only see one at a time)
- Leica M2 – 35,50,90 (individual framelines – so only see one at a time)
- Leica M4 – 35/135 pair, 50, 90 (Individual & pair)
- Leica M5 – 35/135 pair, 50, 90 (Individual & pair)
- Leica M4-2 – 35/135 pair, 50, 90 (Individual & pair)
- Leica M4-P – 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 (pairs – see 2 framelines at a time)
- Leica M6 Classic – 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 (pairs – see 2 framelines at a time)
- Leica M6 TTL – 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 (pairs – see 2 framelines at a time)
- Leica M7 – 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 (pairs – see 2 framelines at a time)
- Leica MP – 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 (pairs – see 2 framelines at a time)
- Leica M-A – 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 (pairs – see 2 framelines at a time)
Leica M Camera Viewfinder magnification / options
- Leica M3 – 0.91x (most magnified viewfinder)
- Leica M2 – 0.72x
- Leica M4 – 0.72x
- Leica M5 – 0.72x
- Leica M4-2 – 0.72x
- Leica M4-P – 0.72x
- Leica M6 Classic – 0.58x / 0.72x / 0.85x (0.58x is for use with winder lenses)
- Leica M6 TTL – 0.58x / 0.72x / 0.85x (0.58x is for use with winder lenses)
- Leica M7 – 0.58x / 0.72x (0.58x is for use with winder lenses)
- Leica MP – 0.72x /
- Leica M-A – 0.72x
Leica M Rangefinder focusing
- Leica M3 – 1m to infinity (close focus goggles allow focusing from 0.478m)
- Leica M2 – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica M4 – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica M5 – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica M4-2 – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica M4-P – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica M6 Classic – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica M6 TTL – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica M7 – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica MP – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
- Leica M-A – 0.7m to infinity (can use lenses with close focus goggles)
Leica M Camera – Battery required to take a photo?
- Leica M3 – No – N/A
- Leica M2 – No – N/A
- Leica M4 – No – N/A
- Leica M5 – No – Battery only needed for light meter
- Leica M4-2 – No – N/A
- Leica M4-P – No – N/A
- Leica M6 Classic – No – Battery only needed for light meter
- Leica M6 TTL – No – Battery only needed for light meter
- Leica M7 – Yes&No – Can use at 1/60 & 1/125 only without battery
- Leica MP – No – Battery only needed for light meter
- Leica M-A – No – N/A
Brass or zinc top plate/ base plate (brass dents / zinc cracks)
- Leica M3 – Brass
- Leica M2 – Brass
- Leica M4 – Brass
- Leica M5 – Brass
- Leica M4-2 – Brass
- Leica M4-P – Brass (earlier cameras) Zinc (later cameras)
- Leica M6 Classic – Zinc
- Leica M6 TTL – Zinc (Mostly)
- Leica M7 – Brass
- Leica MP – Brass
- Leica M-A – Brass
Precision components (brass) or cheaper components (steel/plastics)
- Leica M3 – Brass gears (Least cheap components)
- Leica M2 – Brass gears (Some cheap components)
- Leica M4 – Brass gears (More cheap components)
- Leica M5 – Steel gears (More cheap components)
- Leica M4-2 – Steel gears (Even more cheap components)
- Leica M4-P – Steel gears (Even more cheap components)
- Leica M6 Classic – Steel gears (Even more cheap components)
- Leica M6 TTL – Steel gears (More cheap components)
- Leica M7 – Steel gears (More cheap components)
- Leica MP – Brass gears (Some cheap components)
- Leica M-A – Brass gears (Least cheap components)
Leica Hotshoe or coldshoe (for flash photography)
- Leica M3 – Cold shoe (can still use a flash via sync cable)
- Leica M2 – Cold shoe (can still use a flash via sync cable)
- Leica M4 – Cold shoe (can still use a flash via sync cable)
- Leica M5 – Hotshoe (can use common flash such as Nikon)
- Leica M4-2 – Hotshoe (can use common flash such as Nikon)
- Leica M4-P – Hotshoe (can use common flash such as Nikon)
- Leica M6 Classic – Hotshoe (can use common flash such as Nikon)
- Leica M6 TTL – Hotshoe & TTL flash with SF-20 unit
- Leica M7 – Hotshoe (can use common flash such as Nikon)
- Leica MP – Hotshoe (can use common flash such as Nikon)
- Leica M-A – Hotshoe (can use common flash such as Nikon)
Leica Camera Built-in light meter
- Leica M3 – No
- Leica M2 – No
- Leica M4 – No
- Leica M5 – Yes
- Leica M4-2 – No
- Leica M4-P – No
- Leica M6 Classic – Yes
- Leica M6 TTL – Yes
- Leica M7 – Yes
- Leica MP – Yes
- Leica M-A – No
Leica Film rewind mechanism
- Leica M3 – Rewind knob (slower)
- Leica M2 – Rewind knob (slower)
- Leica M4 – Rewind crank (faster)
- Leica M5 – Rewind ratchet on base plate
- Leica M4-2 – Rewind crank (faster)
- Leica M4-P – Rewind crank (faster)
- Leica M6 Classic – Rewind crank (faster)
- Leica M6 TTL – Rewind crank (faster)
- Leica M7 – Rewind crank (faster)
- Leica MP – Rewind knob (slower)
- Leica M-A – Rewind knob (slower)
Loading film into a Leica camera: Separate take-up spool insert
- Leica M3 – Yes (slower to load)
- Leica M2 – Yes (slower to load)
- Leica M4 – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
- Leica M5 – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
- Leica M4-2 – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
- Leica M4-P – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
- Leica M6 Classic – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
- Leica M6 TTL – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
- Leica M7 – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
- Leica MP – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
- Leica M-A – No (has quick loading film mechanism)
Leica Viewfinder condenser / prism (risk of being unable to focus without it)
- Leica M3 – Yes
- Leica M2 – Yes
- Leica M4 – Yes
- Leica M5 – Yes
- Leica M4-2 – No condenser removed – risk of flare/ ghosting/difficulties to focus
- Leica M4-P – No condenser removed – risk of flare/ ghosting/difficulties to focus
- Leica M6 Classic – No condenser removed – risk of flare/ ghosting/difficulties to focus
- Leica M6 TTL – No condenser removed – risk of flare/ ghosting/difficulties to focus
- Leica M7 – Yes
- Leica MP – Yes
- Leica M-A – Yes
Small Print
*Please note
- The information is sourced from personal experience and a range of websites
- There are many many Leica M camera variants/ specials that may not fit the above
- Leica cameras continued to evolve so some traits may overlap from last/next model
- Information is simplified and generalised but there is full detail on other websites
- I own Leica M3s, M2, M4-P, M6 Classic and have not used other models
- Non-factual comments such as ‘faster’,’slower’,’cheaper’ is a generalisation
- This review does not include the M1 or MD models
- External viewfinders are available if you want to use a lens wider than the frameline
- Some camera lenses have close focus goggles such as the Leica Summicron 50mm DR
- The Leica M3 can be used a 35mm lens using 35mm focusing goggles
**Mistakes
- If I have omitted some obvious information or have classed a camera incorrectly (being for the majority of cameras produced for that model as I know there are lots of camera variants) please let me know and I can update it.
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***Enjoyable
I hope you find this very simplified guide of some help. I enjoyed researching the information and I now know how to distinguish the difference between my Leica M2 and Leica M3 at a glance from the front! The Leica M3 has a plain frameline illumination window and the Leica M2 has a fresnel type illumination window (vertical stripes in the window next to the viewfinder window). 🙂
Matt