film leica Archives • MrLeica.com - Leica Blog & Film Photography

Leica M Camera Buyers Guide! (Film Ms)

Are you looking to buy a Leica film camera but feel overwhelmed by the choices!? I faced the same minefield of information online when I bought my first Leica camera so here is a guide to help you!

Leica Blog

As part of the Leica blog here is a detailed comparison between the different Leica M film cameras so you can make an informed purchase decision and buy the best Leica film camera for you. The MrLeica Leica M camera buyer’s guide!

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 nob (slower)
Leica M2 – Rewind nob (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 nob (slower)
Leica M-A – Rewind nob (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.

Are you looking for the best Leica 50mm lens for your new Leica camera?

Leica 50mm lenses compared (x11) What is the best 50mm?

Leica Camera Blog Posts

Leica CL 35mm & 50mm Portraits (+iPhone Portraits!) – Poland

Leica M240 vs Leica CL - Leica CL LCD photo

Leica M240 vs Leica CL – Polish Models

Leica vs Mamiya: Budapest Models

***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

Tag: film leica

Best Leica Film Camera? – The Leica M Camera Buyers Guide!