Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 08:56 PM 9/13/99 -0700, Sheldon wrote: >But Horst, don't some haandle a different variety of lenses in the >finder? The M6 is the camera to get. Especially since you want to use wider lenses than 50mm. That's as wide as that camera can handle conveniently, or with modern lenses without supplementary finders. The M6 finder handles 28, 35, 50, 75, 90 and 135. Anything wider on any lens is going to require a supplementary viewfinder. (Except for some exotic adaptations by one of our very own lugnuts). You can adapt the M6 viewfinder to most earlier cameras. But not the M3 (generally speaking, seems someone had it done, but Leica won't for just anybody, will they?) And don't discount the value of a through the lens meter (not flash, just metering). The M6 really sings with its meter. It's very accurate once you get to know it, and it's much faster than having to transfer the readings by looking away at the meter and setting lens and aperture, then looking, focusing and shooting. Keeping the eye to the viewfinder is much quicker. And isn't speed a major factor for owning an M? The newest lenses tend to have the best performance. The 35 Summilux (which means f/1.4 - but the P.R. says "the summit of image quality" or something like that) Aspheric is an awesome lens. If you don't need the speed, the Summicron (f/2) is a great choice. The performance difference is insignificant. Just ask yourself if you need the extra speed, and can afford it. The Summilux is a killer. Anything wider than that, and you're talking Elmarit (f/2.8). I am hoping a 28 Summicron (f/2) comes out some day. But the Elmarit is a great lens already. And the 24 is an Aspheric, and the latest 21 is an Aspheric. But any of the lenses are great and will do you good service. It's just the newer lenses are SO GOOD! I love my 75 Summilux, but if you can live with f/2 (Summicron) the new APO ASPH version is showing itself to be a new trend-setter in image quality. But since you think 75 would be better, go for the Summilux. The lens is awesome wide open, and though heavy by M standards is a featherweight by SLR standards. Mine found me (I didn't find it!) for $1,500. A bargain if you ask me! Eric Welch St. Joseph, MO http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch Be nice to people on your way up because you'll need them on your way down. - -W. Migner