Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/04/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Frank Filippone wrote: >> Yes, but as one that does not yet have the lens, I am trying to make the buy > decision.... and it is not easy with a lens this unique in its focusing > technique.....<<<< Hi Frank, I just popped out of the darkroom for some R&R and saw your post re: questions on the 400 and 560, hopefully the 6.8 which I used for many years covering Olympics and other sports events. Before I switched to 280 2.8 and 400 2.8 and extenders. Great glass, super easy to use... try focusing on a calf running at you full tilt with a cowboy on horse back chasing it down to rope during the Calgary Stampede using the 560 slide barrel pushing in the opposite direction to the critter running at you. In other words, critter running at me.... slide barrel being pushed at the critter keeping it infocus, with a weird kind of in yer mind feeling.... "shouldn't I be pulling this slide barrel back the way the calf is running at me?" ;-) Nope and I held the calf in focus until the cowboy tossed him down. Using the sliding barrel is so smooth and simple to use it's amazing how accurate it is after a very short time of shooting. I used mine always with a motor-driven Leica SLR of the day, pistol grip equipped with electric micro switch connected to the motor and tubular shoulder brace. It was a heck of sight when covering a State visit of some dignitary and certainly drove the Mounties crazy whenever I pointed it in the direction of the Queen during one of Her Royal visits. ;-) Man it looked like a major size weapon. On more than one occasion the image in the view finder disappeared and when I looked up there would be a "very large member of the RCMP" standing right in front of me and lens. But what a great lens assembly for action; sports, people, cars and other fast moving objects. And a slow shutter speed is a piece of cake once you acquire the hang of using the lens, shoulder brace and motor! Actually used the 560 @ 1/15th during the closing ceremonies of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Perfect colour slide and exposure! ;-) Hand held with shoulder brace. Look, you wont go wrong with this slide barrel lens, either 400 or 560, heck if you can find them both and have the funds, get them both! As sure as heck as soon as you have it in your hands you'll go nuts until you have both. I've done macro using the "barrel extender" locked in the middle of the barrel and a macro adapter between lens and camera body! Cool stuff! :-) Don't worry there's going to be some folks tell you it can't be done.... It can, just do it! ;-) And you get the neatest looking images! At worse, if you buy it and find you don't like it ...... sell it for a profit! ;-) And don't worry about having to use a tripod all the time... throw the tripod away and just hand hold it, shoot away and have some major fun taking pictures the likes you've never done before. :-) Trust me, would I lie to you? ;-) ted Samples from the Women in Medicine project: http://www.sandycarterphotography.com/WIMcollagePage.htm - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html