Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/01/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Allo everyone ! 1/ I am new to this list. and I must say it is VERY interesting. You are lucky and you know it ! 2/ I would like to get to know the LEICA wide-angle lenses better. Would you care to post you idea of an ideal Leica M photo system that would start with a M body and a wide-angle. An integrated exposure meter is a must for me. I would like to read about what are considered the better LEICA brand wide-angle lenses presently available as new or what I definitely should know about an eventual "supremo" "classic" in the 24 mm to 35 mm range monofocals. Hopefully f/2.8 or brighter. Some comments of PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE with such focals with a Aspherical formulation would be MOST welcome, especially in terms of COMPARATIVE results on "difficult" subjects. 3/ Likewise, the second monofocal range I really use, but that would be a later purchase, most probably, I would like to get to know what would be considered outstanding purchases in the 60 mm to 105 mm monofocal range. Hopefully f/2.8 or brighter. If there is such a "classic" that would be f/4 or brighter in that focal length range, I would dearly appreciate your comments. Or the title of a "must" Leica reference book on this subject. 4/ It may probably seem odd to some, but I would like to find a lens that is IMMEDIATELY and OBVIOUSLY superior at reproducing HUMAN EYE CHARACTERISTICS more faithfully than other lenses (or brands?) in "waist up" casual portraiture and photo-journalism style photography. Flowers and landscapes is another "private interest", plus close-range nature photography. 5/ What impresses me most about Leica M is the unmatched quietness of the mechanism. And the sturdy feeling. I have been a photographer for > 40 years since age 7. I don't claim to be outstanding, I just enjoy it terribly. Most of my better "human interest" photographs involve people at about 0.8 to 2 meters from the camera, with a wide or semi-wide lens, most often 25mm or 28mm. A few in the 60 - 75 mm range, and fewer still around 80mm to 105mm range. For the most part, when I have shot outside these 3 ranges, it was for "special projects" rather than personal satisfaction. Very little flash photography. Thank you for your consideration, Andr=E9 Jean Quintal