[Sluggo]

Some great suggestions above. For build quality you can't beat an LX, and it has a great viewfinder. But in your position I'd take the attitude that it's worthwhile buying 2 or 3 different things so you can decide your own favorite. Prices are very low on the Pentax film bodies (at least compared to the Leica you are dreaming of).

Don't laugh - I'd first pick up a dirt-cheap P30n or P30t. Better viewfinders than in most of the later (esp. autofocus) bodies, fairly rugged, nicely laid out and simple controls. They have a few limitations but are great shooters. Then get something older, and something newer. Of course the risk is that you might get hooked, and own a couple dozen different bodies before you realize you've been collecting. I speak from experience.

Be sure to look at the film camera review section on this site.

[titrisol]

Fully agreed with Sluggo.
A p30t is a great learning tool plus is fully compatible with new lenses that have electronic contats and allows for P/Av mode.
A super Program or Program plus is a close second

....
Don't laugh - I'd first pick up a dirt-cheap P30n or P30t. Better viewfinders than in most of the later (esp. autofocus) bodies, fairly rugged, nicely laid out and simple controls. They have a few limitations but are great shooters. Then get something older, and something newer. Of course the risk is that you might get hooked, and own a couple dozen different bodies before you realize you've been collecting. I speak from experience.

Be sure to look at the film camera review section on this site.

[stevebrot]

Hunt up a Bessa TM and some Takumars.

Yep...sometimes the best Pentax body is not a Pentax.

I could recommend a Ricoh XR-2/XR-2s or XR7 based on my personal experience with both cameras.

As for film rangefinder cams...Zeiss Ikon for the best value

Based on the wish list and keeping it in Pentaxland, I would have suggested the Super Program, except that while sturdy, my impression is that it is not particularly robust.

LX or MX?


Steve

[jeverettfine]

I too have used Leica M and Pentax SLR's since the late 60's.
You really need both an SLR of some kind (Pentax is great) and a Leica M. I will always have a Leica. I use Pentax because all the legacy lenses can be used on film or digital bodies.

For Pentax, I would go with an LX body and whatever Pentax-A lenses you may want. Personally I use a KX and a K2 body, but you do say you want smaller bodies.

I have used Leica M2, M3, M4-P, M6 and CL and CLE (Minolta). Don't get a CL or CLE or any other non-Leica rangefinder camera. Too many reasons to list here why not. You can't go wrong with any of the Leica M bodies, even an M3 or M2 over 50 years old. You can get a very nice clean M2 or M3 for around $600 if you take your time looking. Get a 35 Summicron first. The 1st version 35 Summicron with 8 elements is still one of the finest lenses ever made. Then get a 50 and a 90. Add a good hand-held light meter such as a Pentax Spot or a Gossen Luna Pro and you might not ever need anything else and never have to buy another camera again. Shoot film and scan the negatives for digital images and printing.

[Gashog]

..... and you might not ever need anything else and never have to buy another camera again.

HAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
That's a good one!!

[TomB_tx]

Add a good hand-held light meter such as a Pentax Spot or a Gossen Luna Pro and you might not ever need anything else and never have to buy another camera again. Shoot film and scan the negatives for digital images and printing.

I agree: with a Leica M and a Pentax SLR you would never "need" another camera. At least until film becomes unavailable. I have also used M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, and M9 (digital) - and CL. I still own all but an M2. 90% of my shots use 35, 50 & 90 lenses on an M body. The rest are 21mm and 75mm. (OK, sometimes I'll do an entire trip with my CL and 40mm. I really like the CL - but it's not an "M") When I got the M9 I never bought any new Leica lenses - just used my 40+ yr-old Leica lenses. (Of course, after buying an M9 I couldn't afford any Leica lenses...) The 21 and 75 were "cheap" Voigtlander.
Nice thing about the M9 is that I can use it exactly like a film M; so switching either way is easy.

Of course "need" seldom affects camera purchases.

For SLR the LX was the last one I bought - until the K-5. I like the LX better, and usually prefer to use an MX.
BTW, Pentax-A lenses aren't needed on the LX. Pentax-M work just as well, and usually are better built.