Re: [Leica] keep M3 or get back M6?

[Guido Soprano <guidosoprano@hotmail.com>]

Eric,

My $0.02

it really depends on what subjects you shoot, what film you use, and what 
lenses you use.

If you use the 50 DR and don't plan to go to a 35, and shoot B&W, then learn 
a specific film's behaviour under different lighting conditions, and your M3 
is perfect - though the DR ergonomics are less perfect than the regular 
'cron.

You can also do this w/color neg.

If you shoot 'chrome, then it's a different story, and the TTL meter allows 
you a higher percentage of correct exposures in fast moving situations. Of 
course you'll still have to think about the area metered, reflectivity of 
subject, film characteristics, etc.

If the majority of your subjects are slow moving, static, or 
directed-by-you, then use an incident meter and 'chrome will be fine to.

If the aesthetics of the M3 dominate your approach, consider sticking an 
MR(4) on top. In theory it spot-meters to the 90mm frameline coverage. Sucks 
in low light, has some adventages in cetain street conditions.

Now, my biased opinion (I have 4xM3's, 1xM2, 1xM4, 2xM6's, 1xCL, 3xSL), I 
wouldn't get hung up on the M3's aesthetics over the other bodies. Consider 
the application first. Think more about the end, and then about the means.

best of (not-too-contrasty) light,

Guido

>From: "Eric Chong" <shutterbug@pacific.net.sg>
>Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>To: LUG <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
>Subject: [Leica] keep M3 or get back M6?
>Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 14:47:42 +0800
>
>hi LUGgers
>
>I'm in deep shit.  I'm getting lazy and I hate to bring out my Sekonic
>meter. So... many a times I wish my trusty M3 has a meter on-board! Of
>course, the perfect solution is to get a M6J!!!
>
>Now, I have many friends waiting to get my minty SS M3 with serial over 1.1
>million.  I will miss the retro styling, the smooth advance level, the
>rewind knob (which I burnt my fingers while winding used film), the nice 
>.91
>mag on 50 frame lines, the  super-safe film loading (as opposed to M6's
>wind-and-guess method) and many others. I have ordered a 5cm bright-line
>finder for my 50 DR Summicron with a metal shade for this lens. This
>combination is SOLID and CLASSIC. This is the kit used by war photographers
>during the vietnam war, indo-china and so on...
>
>The joke is that my first M is a M6 classic, then I sold it to get this M3
>thro' my friends as I like it's 50 lines and classsic beauty.. but the
>meterless design is inconvenient.
>
>SO... what do my crazy friends of LUG think? What do u suggest? Should i
>keep my M3 or sell it together with Sekonic meter .. for a M6 classic? One
>thing is that with the cash, I can still buy a used 90 summicron (early
>version with removable head for viso...). Hmmmm....
>
>thanks
>
>ericssan
>


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