Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Unless I'm mistaken the Rapid Winder will not work on an M3, only the M2 or the M4-2, M4-P or M6. jc At 12:52 PM 9/2/99 -0400, you wrote: > >>[M3 or rapidwinder...?] > >Get an M3 and equip it with a rapidwinder ;) > >Seriously, though, the two let you do rather different things, so (as >always) it depends upon your style of shooting and what you want to do. >My experiences of using the M3 and rapidwinder are: > >M3: The M3 is wonderful for 50mm lenses. I have '50'-eyes, so most of the >shots I see are in 50mm, which means that my M3 gets a fair amount of >exersize. With the 50 mounted, you get only the one frameline (with nice, >rounded corners to show you the outlines of a mounted Kodachrome slide ;) >and near 1.0 magnification (it's actually 0.91x). If you shoot with both >eyes open, it's fabulous, because you can see the action going on around the >framed portion: it takes a little getting used to, but if you can shoot with >your right eye to the VF, then it's like having a pair of framelines just >hanging/floating around in your field of vision. > >Of course, the M3 is also good, by virtue of it's greater magnification, for >lenses longer than 50mm: The higher magnification affects the effective >length of the rangefinder, or something like that, which means that >focussing with a 90/2.0 wide open (or similar critical situation) is easier. > >Then, there is the silky smooth feel of a 35yo, well looked-after M3. > >Rapidwinder: I'm currently using a rapidwinder on my M2 which Tom is >exceedingly generously letting me borrow until the one I've ordered is >completed. I've been using this for two or three weeks (time flies when >your having fun, so I'm not quite sure ;) > >The RW is great for streetshooting. It's a style of photography that >fascinates me a great deal, and the advantage of the RW is that it enables >you to get two-three shots off in rapid succession. I haven't mastered the >style or technique yet, but practicing at home I'm getting to the point >where I can shoot without taking my eye from the VF and not jiggle the >camera too much. > >I use an incident meter and preset exposure and zone focus. Then, with the >RW, I can get two-three shots off of people on the streets here in Boston >before anyone has noticed. This would not be possible without the RW. > >Another benefit of the RW is that it adds height and stability to the >camera. With the RW lever down, the thumb of your left hand goes along the >left side of the camera, the index finger rests on the focussing tab or lens >barrel, and the remaining fingers of the left hand support the camera and >wrap around the RW lever. Leaning the camera on the bones of your nose and >eyebrow and gripping it firmly with the right hand, this results in an >exceptionally stable platform for the camera to rest upon. I'm quite sure >that this lets me shoot at one speed slower than normal, along with a little >controlled breathing. > >Stability also becomes an issue when shooting with longer and heavier >lenses: I don't own a 75/1.4 or any 135, so I cannot comment on those, but I >do have a 1960's 90mm f/2 Summicron, which, by M-standards, is a pretty >heafty piece of glass. Having the RW as an additional few ounces of >counterweight to this when it's bolted onto the M2 results in better >ergonomics. (Of course, having an M3, it gets used on that most of the >time.) > >So, bottom line? It depends! ;) My dream camera would be an M3 with RW >and 50mm f/1.4, and I'll get there some day. That would suit my style of >photography exceptionally well. I hope that the information above (based >on first-hand experience) can be of some use in helping you make a >decision (feel free to email me privately otherwise, if I can supply more >info). I guess the best thing would be if you can find either an M3, or a >RW, or both, and try them out and see which suits your needs best. > >M. > >-- >Martin Howard | 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large >Visiting Scholar at MIT Media Lab | values of 2. >email: mvh@media.mit.edu | >www: http://mvhoward.i.am/ +--------------------------------------- > > > > > > >