Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/10/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Robert, Magnificent question. I (obviously) can't answer for Erwin, but would offer the following suggestions to technically improve imagemaking. Of course, the aesthetics of photography would take an additional paragraph or two to explain. 1) Camera movement is the leading cause of image degradation. Use a tripod and a cable or timer release. Absent a tripod, use a monopod, or brace against something. Also, master the vibrationless release of the shutter. HCB trained like a marathon runner to avoid camera movement from all sources. In general photography, the impact of this issue often is greater than all other factors combined. 2) Use use film rated at ISO 100 or slower, with Kodachrome 25 the optimum choice. Films faster than 100 are not fully capable of recording lens performance at Leica's level. 3) Focus very carefully. Mis-focusing is a serious cause of image degradation. If there are some in the picture, focus on the eyes. 4) Use a high shutter speed as it minimizes camera and subject movement. Erwin recommended, if I remember correctly, using at least 1/1,500 shutter speeds to squeeze the most out of the 70-180 to illustrate this point. 5) If you are using a good SLR, use its mirror lock-up feature whenever possible. 6) Find and use optimum lens apertures, which with Leica lenses is hardly ever above 5.6. 7) All films are forgiving to a degree, but mis-exposing and mis-processing film and prints can seriously degrade image quality. Use an incident light meter most of the time. 8) Drink single malt to calm your nerves (see 1, above). Oh, well, that's a start. Erwin will now correct me. David W. Almy Annapolis - ----------------------------- Robert Appleby wrote: > > Erwin, I've been looking around your site again - I do this every so often > as probably everyone on the LUG does. I'm often struck by your references > to improving or upgrading technique, which you don't enlarge upon. Could > you explain how one should upgrade one's technique to make the most of the > higher specifications of new Leica lenses? I ask this on the list because > I'm sure that the answers would be of interest to all of us. > I wonder whether as a hand-holding documentary photographer, often forced > to shoot 1/8 of a second, I can ever really get the most out of, for > instance, the 35/1.4 asph. Of course, that in itself is a pretty subjective > thing - I like the lens and it suits my needs as a snapper, and I also > believe that I can see that it's superior to other lenses of the same > length/aperture - but I'm curious to know what kind of technique would meet > your standards, both as a lens tester and photographer. > Rob. > Robert Appleby > V. Bellentani 36 > 41100 MO > Italy > tel. (+39) 059 303436 > mob. (+39) 0348 336 7990