Fwd: soon-to-be Leica owner has questions for the experts!

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

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>My questions are as follows:

1.  Is the M6 the right choice for me, now that you know a bit about my 

shooting style, or shall I consider the R8 a bit more carefully?

2.  Are there differences in quality between the M lenses and the R 
lenses? 
 I have been told that the M lenses are slightly better.

3.  Is Leitz glass truly "Number One?"  What about Contax G2 and Carl 
Zeiss 
optics?
Do they compete, quality-wise?  Shall I consider them?

4.  Which M lenses are the ABSOLUTE best (regardless of price) when it 
comes to sharpness and color-accuracy?  Is a 35 and a 90 a perfect 
starter 
kit, or should I consider the other fast lenses like the 24 ASPH, the 
50 
NOCT, and the 75 1.4?
Remember, I am making this serious professional decision for only one 
reason.....
to get better quality slides for enlargement and digital scanning.  I 
need 
FAST lenses
(so I don't have to use strobe) that are super-sharp wide open and all 
the 
way down with no vignetting or aberration.....they must also be the 
best in 
color accuracy, with no color casting.   Which M lenses fit the bill?  
Are 
R lenses better?


Thanks so much for your help, ladies and gentlemen.  I hope you will 
welcome my comments and questions on this list, as I will be making 
this  
 purchase in the next 2 days and will be asking many questions as I 
adjust 
to the new system.

Thanks again....please email directy to fls@home.com if you can answer 
today or tomorrow, since I need advice immediately and the next list 
may 
not be out by then.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

First off,  I wouldn't sell any of your Nikon equipment until you've 
rented and used some of the prospective M or R-series equipment and 
done some side by side comparisons of the results.  Why???????? 

1) Many people find they can see no difference between the two systems 
given the type of work they do. 
2) Many people find the differences don't justify the additional 
expense.
3) You have to look at the whole system,  Leica doesn't make several of 
my favorite lenses.   I.E. 135mm f/2 etc.  17-35 or 20 35 zoom, no 
motordrive, no autofocus.
4) You stand to lose a lot by selling the Nikon EQ and Leica equipment 
is sooooo..... expensive, you better make sure you are ready to make 
the change.
5) Everyone has a different opinion about what is best,  you were 
attracted to the M-6, not every one is.  
6) If I had to pick either M or R,  I'm not sure I'd pick either. The 
M-system isn't broad enough lens-wise and the R-system doesn't have the 
a number of the lenses I would require to make the switch.
7) M-series and SLR cameras are two very different types of cameras, 
but they complement each other.  I bought M equipment to compliment the 
EOS and FD equipment that I use on a regular basis.  If I were you,  I 
wouldn't sell the Nikon EQ until you are sure that it is no longer 
needed.  
8) If you like to use lenses wide open, SLRS show how much out of focus 
the background is going to be.  With a M-series you cross your fingers 
and hope you like the results.  If you like to take photos with lots of 
depth of field, M-series viewfinders are great.
If you like to see what is surrounding the frame, M is great.  If you 
like to eliminate all of the unnecessary and concentrate on the final 
image.  SLRs are better in my opinion. 

A lot of these answers are pretty elementary.  Some will tell you if 
you really are looking for the ultimate in sharpness and freedom from 
grain, buy a Hasselblad or better yet a Linhof Technikarden.  Others 
will tell you if really need Leica glass to separate your images from 
the rest of the pack, you are fooling yourself into thinking that Leica 
glass will make mediocre subjects, poor posing, bad composition and 
lousy lighting into a masterpiece of photographic work.  A mediocre 
image on Leica glass is just as pathetic as one taken with Canon or 
Nikon. Perhaps more so, it may have less flare, but so what.

A M- 24mm  f/2.8 ASPH is not a fast lens.  If you are going to do a lot 
of digital scanning you are going to add a number of factors that will 
dimish the differences between Leica and Nikon glass, especially in the 
color cast area.

Most often, ultimate sharpness is not all that great for shooting 
portraits.  Unless you like seeing every wrinkle, blemish or hair on 
the subjects face.  But to each his own.

In the end,  It's your money, your work, your shooting style, 
your decision.

Duane Birkey
HCJB World Radio
Quito Ecuador





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