[Leica] Re: Sandy's Rapidwinder

[Jim Brick <jimbrick@photoaccess.com>]

At 02:17 AM 2/10/99 +0000, you wrote:
>
>Sandy (who bought a Rapidwinder instead and is loving every minute of it :-)
>

Smart... very very smart. The Rapidwinder changes the whole attitude of an
M camera. I have never used my M6 without the Rapidwinder. The only time
the normal advance lever gets used is in the three, winding-on a new film,
strokes.

Winders rule!!!

In 1980, I bought my first R winder (Bonn, Germany) and I have never used
an R camera without a winder since. This was a revelation. I never use the
R normal wind lever as the winder works anytime the release is pressed.

One of the cameras I traded-in on my R7's was an R6. My R cameras are used
on tripods therefore not "handled" a lot. This M6 was mint, box, cards,
everything perfect. KSP put it on their shelf to sell and soon learned that
the advance lever did not work much of the time. It wouldn't take the
shutter far enough to be "cocked" so you couldn't take a picture. This, of
course, never happened during the five years I used the camera as it always
was advanced via the winder. which always worked perfectly. As far as I
know, this camera came this way from the factory because I never ever
advanced the film via the lever.

Being able to advance the film without causing a commotion near your eye,
so you can pretty much hold your concentration through the finder, is a
godsend. M or R. Even on a tripod and while bracketing, it's one less thing
to "have" to do. And it keeps you from sometimes disturbing a precarious
setup between frames.

I'm sure that there are many of you out there who do not understand why a
winder is so important. A winder, basically allows you to concentrate more
on your photography, and less on the mechanics. It allows concentration and
finding the decisive moment without a blip in the continuum.

Jim (who will never use an R or M without a winder.)