[Leica] Natural light and the M6

[Jim Laurel <jplaurel@microsoft.com>]

For me, the M6 is the ultimate existing light camera.  And, like Ted Grant,
I'm attracted by the qualities of light hitting the subject, all of which is
lost when using a flash.  It depends on what you're shooting, really.
What's more important to the intended viewer, beautiful light or the
content?  In news reportage, the content is usually what matters unless you
happen to work for a publication that values the beauty of light.  Mostly,
though, they just want a good, clear, sharp contrasty photo of whatever the
subject is.  Unfortunately, that often means flash.

I don't understand the attraction of the M6TTL either.  If you're shooting
on assignment, it's foolish not to have some sort of SLR handy with an
80-200 at least.  On assignment, if I intend to shoot primarily with the
M6s, I always carry an R6.2 or an EOS1n with a couple of zooms.  If I want
to do fill-flash, those are the cameras to use.

I can see the value of an M camera with TTL capability, but only if it has a
synch speed of 1/200 or better.  And since that would mean a metal shutter,
then let's have an electronic one like the Contax G cameras.  Would this
have tremendous value for me on assignment?  Probably not, because no matter
how you slice it, you've still got to have that SLR around which will have
TTL flash capability.

Jim Laurel
Business Development Manager
Microsoft Digital Television
jplaurel@microsoft.com
(425) 703-1143
http://www.microsoft.com/dtv