[Leica] Various focal lengths/R8 gripe

["Harrison McClary" <hmcclary@earthlink.net>]

I just got around to reading the past 3 days messages...whew what an 
eye strain;)

There seems to have been a lot of talk of what are preferred focal 
lengths ect and I thought I'd throw in my 2cents worth.

When working an event where I have to have several different focal 
lengths at the ready I use multiple bodies.  For instance while 
shooting the stuff from the damage in town yesterday I carried an M6 
with the current 28 2.8 (my favorite camera/lens combination) and R6 
with a 90 summicron and the R8 with a 180 elmarit on it. I used 
all bodies about equally, but did stick my 24 on the R6 when I needed 
a little flash when shooting the interiors of destroyed churches.  I 
have found over the years that this set up, or something similar -
when using pool nikon gear it was a 35/105/180 or 300, -  works very 
well for me.

I used to use zooms when I shot Canon and even though it is heavier I 
prefer the multiple bodies and multiple lens approach.  To each his 
own.

Now a gripe against the R8.  In most respects I really like this 
camera, but......the on off switch needs A LOT of work IMHO.

At least 3 times while shooting yesterday I missed shots because I 
would pull the camera up to shoot and the damn thing would have 
bumped against my side while walking and turned itself off. I had my 
180 on it and I tend to carry long lenses turned into my body so 
that I don't bang them into stuff and this is how it was bumping into 
me.  As much as I hate getting sticky crap all over my cameras I can 
see that I am going to have to tape the selector in place.  To have a 
camera of the level of the R8 with an on off switch as sensitive as 
this one is is pretty foolish IMHO.

Now a leica story.

While shooting a devastated church I saw Dave Martin of the AP walk 
by (I know Dave from my days in Atlanta) and I commented as he walked 
by "Get a real camera." (He was shooting a with a digital thingy) and 
he responded "What, one of those silent things?".I was using my M6 
at the time.  I , of course, told him that he should get one that 
still shot film.  It was funny everyone there was shooting either 
high speed neg or digital and they all looked at me like I was a 
clown because I was shooting low speed chrome. Go figure. They also 
thought I was crazy for walking. The advantage of shooting for an 
Agency like Black Star is that my stuff has to be in New York on 
Monday to make the weekly deadlines, they have to get it out ASAP for 
daily deadlines. By walking I see a lot more than if I was driving 
around, and have time to explore the situation more.
Harrison McClary
http://people.delphi.com/hmphoto