Leica in Peru, M-6 tips and thoughts

["BIRKEY, DUANE" <dbirkey@hcjb.org.ec>]

I've just gotten back from my trip to Peru.   After reading the last 
three weeks of Digests, my opinion of several members of this list  has 
been lowered substantially.  Did you guys apologize to the LUG?

I had a free day in Lima so I thought I'd drop by the Leica 
Distributor.  It's called Foto Magnum and it's just off of the San 
Martin Plaza about 5 or 6 blocks from the Downtown Lima's Plaza de 
Armas.  I was expecting somewhat of a  bigger store.  The storefront is 
about 4 x 5 meters.  The display case on the left is mostly the owners 
collection of basic Zeiss-Ikon and German cameras and a Canon 7.  A 
sign prominently states that they are not for sale.  The center and 
half of the right side section is mostly B&W filters and Kaiser photo 
accessories.  The front right side consists of Leica posters, 
projectors and a near mint IIIG with 50 Elmar.  (also not for sale)   

I asked the worker if they sold a lot of Leica there.  He said yes.   I 
was somewhat surprised by this seeing how he had no cameras on display. 
 So I asked him how many M-6s do you sell a year.   He was taken back a 
bit by the question.  "No" he said, "we don't sell any cameras, mainly 
just projectors" and he added "the cameras are too expensive, nobody 
has that kind of money".   Out of the back appeared the owner,  quite 
German both in appearance and in heavy German Spanish accent.  I think 
he was afraid that his helper might be missing out on a rare sale 
opportunity.  So he checked to see what I had asked and then he added", 
"the cameras come directly from Germany you know."  

I enjoyed Lima.  The downtown area is quite clean and secure.  There 
are police everywhere and I didn't see any thieves.  I've been a using 
a Domke 803 camera satchel with great success.  The true key is to 
carry it like a briefcase.  Not in a camera bag around my neck with 
both hands covering it in a football clutch sort of way.

There are a number of good museums that are worth visiting.  I 
recommend the Museo: Oro de Peru.  A private collection of precolumbian 
gold, ceramics and textiles that beats every other museum in quality 
and quantity.  Unfortunately the documentation is very poor and some of 
the guides I heard knew little about the collection.  Others were very 
knowledgeable.  If you are into gun collecting (OH,no...... not another 
gun thread)  He has a very substantial collection of weaponry that is 
one of the finest private collections in all of the world.  He has all 
sorts of presentation guns and swords that were given to and from  
Presidents, Kings and Czars and Ambassadors as well as examples of 
about everything I can think of.  (he also has two of Francisco 
Pizarros swords and some artifacts of Simon Bolivar). 

Very few museums will allow you to take photos or video of any kind.  
Some will have un-restricted areas where you can take photos.  Lima has 
lots of carved wooden balconies and many buildings from the middle to 
late 1700's and 1800's,  I found lots of things to photograph.

I spent a week near Andahuaylas and another week around Cusco and two 
days up at Machu Pichu.
There are many great spots for photos in the Cusco area.  Unfortunately 
I had responsibilities that limited my free-time for other photography. 
 Next time I go, I will rent a jeep and go back to a number of spots in 
and around the sacred valley.  Machu Pichu is definitely worthwhile.  
(I found some other Incan sites to be more visually interesting 
though.)  It's also quite crowded with people and the nearby road and 
hotel scars the landscape.   The nearby town of Aguas Calientes is also 
over priced and un-interesting.

Cusco is OK,  the tourists seem to outnumber the local around the main 
plaza.  I prefer non-touristy cities though so I'm a bit biased.  I'm 
also sick of having vendors trying to sell me stuff when I'm working a 
location. 

I came home to find a two white boxes on my desk.  A new M-6 and a new 
50mm.  I've been enjoying getting to know it .and have run a couple 
rolls of film through it.   I owned two M-3's previously but sold them 
and some R-stuff  to buy more Canon EQ for my work.  And yes, I've 
always regretted it.  

The main reason I got it was for the non-focusing glass viewfinder (so 
everything is "in-focus") and also for available light work.  I'm quite 
happy with it so far.  I also bought it so I can stop kicking myself 
for selling the M-3's.   

The M-6 shutter release pressure takes a bit to get used to after 
working with EOS and F-1ns.  I've discovered the trick is pre-press 
down the release almost to the point of firing and then slightly more 
at the "decisive moment."   This allows me to shoot at even slower 
speeds with greater success.  I've found that I can easily shoot 1to 2 
speeds slower with it than my F-1ns.  Now if I could just eliminate 
subject movement.  I'm still mulling over which 35 to buy and whether I 
want a 75 Summilux and 90 Elmarit combination or just a 90 Summicron.  
I may just wait until I head back to the states so I can try them all 
out.

If anyone wants travel advice for the Cusco area let me know.

I better get back to the darkroom......singing.......

Forty more rolls of film to develop.....
Forty more rolls of film,  take one down,
load it on a reel.....
thirty-nine more rolls of film to develop.......

Duane Birkey
HCJB World Radio
Quito Ecuador
  

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