Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/02/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dear LUG-ers After following your discussions for almost a month I would like to ask you a question. But first let me introduce myself. I am by far not an expert like most of you, but I just like making pictures with my Leica. I did get a Leica M3 from my grandfather who has professionaly been taking pictures with it since he bought the camera. It is one of the first M3's with no possibility of changing the viewfinder to another window without changing the lenses. the set included 21mm 35mm 50mm 90mm and 135mm lenses, all dating at the same period. First of all I was impressed by the simplicity of the camera. No unnecessary gadgets and just doing what it should do. Finally I had a camera with which the quality of the pictures was only limmited by my capabilities. After bying a pradovit I was overwelmed by the quality of the Leica lenses, which each of them must be at least 35 years old! I do travel around the world as much as possible. My camera has accompanied me to all the possible places, capturing the most beautifull scenes. People laugh at me when they see me taking pictures with a (for them) inferoir very old camera. This changes immediatly when they have a look during a presentation of my slides! My next trips which I planned are going to be a month travelling through Spain and Portugal, and later this jear to Nepal, and the U.S.A.(Washington and what it worthwile seeing there (any tips?) I am not only interested in the way people live in other countries and different cultures but also in photographing nature. During my visit in South Afrika I visited different Game Parks. I did however miss sometimes the possibility of using tele-lenses. For this reason I bought myself a few weeks ago a Lecia R8. I did choose again a Lecia because the M3 never failed during all my trips and the quality of the lenses (which of course will have improved in the last 35 years). Together with the R8 I bought a 80-200 (4.0) after reading good tests of this lens which is also affordable for me. At this point I want to ask for your expertise. As I explained I am only an amateur and just take pictures. When I change the aperture of my lens the maximum aperture which is displayed in the viewer is only 4.8 while it is a 4.0 lens!. Contacting my shop they explained me (probably after calling Leica) that this is not unusual for this lens. Also they told me that it does not influence the measurement of the camera. Is this true ? And if it is could you explain to me: - - If I change the aperture in the manual mode between 4.0 and 4.8 the display shows in both cases the aperture 4.8 but also the shutter speed does not change ! So is the measurement realy o.k? - - Using the automatic mode (P) the maximum aperture in very dark situation is 4.8 accoring to the display. Taking the picture, is the lens closed to 4.0? wether it should be 4.8 or 4.0 ? - - I presume the light measurment is determined by calculating the loss of light due to a smaller aperture referenced to the full aperture (4.0 or 4.8?) because the correct aperture is only set during the exposure. But how in my case will the correct loss of light be calculated if the camea thinks that my maximum aperture is 4.8? For example when I take a picture at aperture 4.8 does'nt the camera calculate no loss of light because he thinks it is the maximum aperture, while in reality it is already stopped down a half to 4.8 ? Of course using a ROM in my lens would solve everything, but I always want to be able to explain what is happening. That is one of the reasons I appreciate the M3! Finally I want to thank you all for sharing your expertise to all the other members all the time in this group. Just by reading your mail I do learn more than reading a lot of books! Greetings, Richard.