Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/09/16

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Subject: Re: X vs. M or How to waste a day
From: Donal Philby <donalphilby@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 20:11:23 -0800

Henning J. Wulff wrote:

> Photography allows you endless ways to screw up.

So true. and most catastropic to the job.

>(SNIP) 
> The camera meter had
> gotten the info that the lens was set to 5.6, was 2.8 wide-open, but was
> only receiving light equivalent to f/5.6. So instead of shooting at about
> 1/500 to 1/1000 sec, I had been shooting at 1/125 to 1/250. It had made all
> the difference.

Do you use a gyro??  I have found that I can get tack sharp stuff at
1/125 with mine.
Two recent jobs included shooting a baseball opening ceremony with a
300mm and shooting boats running at 40MPH from helicopter.  Out of roll
with the 300mm, I would lose 3-4 frames, mostly because lens is so long
it gets in the wind.  The boat stuff was mostly with 80-200 and got
these beautiful motion blurr on water with tack sharp boat and people. 
Motor Boating and Sailing has full page Maxum ad this month that I shot
in Arizona.  Nice light streaks behind.  

And as long as I am on the subject, I also have a Bayliner ad running in
several publications this month that is backlit shot of couple having
breakfast on a boat.  Shot from above, backlit, exposed for the shadows
(no flash or reflector fill) and the highlight detail, in the water and
even in the brilliant white of the boat have plenty of detail.  
Absolutely perfect example of Velvia's ability to handle overexposure of
highlights.  An incredible film for such subjects.

Donal Philby
San Diego