RE: [Leica] Rick's Place

[Jim Laurel <jplaurel@microsoft.com>]

Jorge,
Depends on what you're after.  There's no question that your Mamiya 6 will
deliver enlargements with smaller grain, better sharpness, and richer colors
than your Leica.  Even the high quality of Leica optics can't offset the
basic reality that larger film yields better enlargements.

But great photographs aren't just about technical image quality.  I shoot
with a Mamiya 7 and can tell you that it is a limited platform in comparison
to the Leica M.  For starters, the lenses are really slow, so you are
limited as to the kind of light you can shoot in.  Also, the range of
available lenses is quite limited.  And, with 120 film, you're always
reloading, which takes time with that camera.

I've found the Mamiya to be ideal for hiking trips where the primary goal is
to get great scenics.  It's light weight is a real plus for me.

So, if you're going for scenics, the Mamiya is ideal.  If you're
photographing people, the Leica is probably the better bet, although the
Mamiya works well here if you don't need tight closeups.  As you know, the
Mamiya 150mm doesn't focus close enough for tight facial shots.

One random note...  It's funny how we Leica M users always cite the camera's
quietness as a major feature.  Well, the Mamiya 7, with it's in-lens leaf
shutters makes the M6's shutter sound like canon fire by comparison!

- --Jim Laurel

- -----Original Message-----
From: jorge@cybernetrix.com [mailto:jorge@cybernetrix.com]
Sent: Friday, July 10, 1998 8:50 AM
To: Leica Users (E-mail)
Subject: [Leica] Rick's Place


I'm looking for some recommendations on photo gear. I'll be leaving next
week to spend a few days travelling through Morocco and plan on visiting
places not so frequented by tourists. I've been warned of beggars, cons and
thieves. I usually travel with a Mamiya 6MF and 75 as well as an M camera
with 4 lenses (I like rangefinders). 
Since I'd like to travel as light as possible and yet maintain the best
quality, should I go for the medium format (only a "normal" lens) or settle
on the smaller negative with the versatility of 4 lenses(21,35,50,90). The
best shots will probably be blown up to 8x10 and film is both chrome and b/w
for both formats. My Leica images blown to 8x10 rarely look as good as the
medium format ones blown to the same size (all else being equal). Any ideas?

Thanks and regards to all,
Jorge Fernandez
US Embassy, Madrid