[Leica] My plea for wisdom.. thanks all

["Jack McLain" <jmclainaz@comcast.net>]

Ken, Seth, Buzz, Ernest, Jeffery, and Martin:
Many thanks all for your thoughtful replies (and my proactive thanks for
those that yet might offer further opinions). I am particularly intriqued
and interested in descriptions of the "feel" of the M4 vs the M6.  I can
already see the strong possibility of picking up another body - likely a M4
or M3 - when the right chance shows itself. I also like using a hand held
light meter... it's been awhile but it used to be second nature when I was
using my old Bronica MF and doing my best to play the zone system.

I like fiddling around with my old IIIf even if I dont shoot with it; it
just "feels nice"... know what I mean? I am assuming that the M4 will give
similar tactile feedback.  I wish there were someplace here in Tucson with a
used Leica selection to manhandle. I might have to cross the river to NYC on
one of my monthly NJ trips and drop into camera alley for a good feelup.

I've taken some positive (re)action however.... I committed to buying a M6
(black, .72 TTL) and a Summicron ASPH 35 from a list member who advertized
here.  I didnt care one way or the other about the TTL business (no flash
will ever darken my doorway), but the deal sounded good and I pulled the
trigger. I'm on the way..  I'll have a Leica to shoot next week ). I hope.

I decided on the M6 as a first body for the dependability I assume it will
give me.  I really dont want to mess around with sending a newly purchased
body for CLA at this stage... I want to shoot the damn thing.  Instant
gratification is the name of my game!

On THursday I received the CL with 40 and 90 I ordered awhile back from
Tamarkin and found the light meter to be on the blitz... damn. So much for
immediate gratification!!  I've sent that back and am considering converting
that purchase into a 90mm Summicron (not ASPH, but previous version).  I
understand it's less contrasty than the ASPH version and more forgiving as a
portrait lens and lighter to boot.. true?).

I've got to keep my eyes open for a good deal on a 28 and a 50 f2 Summicron.
(I wont use the 50 much but I guess I should have one being that the general
opinion is that the 50 f2 Summicron is a true world class lens; maybe I'll
get into it). Your opinions on these lenses will be valuable when the time
comes. (and knowing myself and the feeding frenzy I'm in it wont be long!)

The MP body sure looks cool as hell, but I dont want to drop the big bucks
for a body and then have shallow pockets to apply to lenses (for after all
is said and done, it's the glass not the body,,,, right?).  I must admit to
being seriously turned on by the leica-porn web site... The MP camera looks
beautiful, and seductive.  That sexy script and all. (but I dont get the
film rewind bit... that is a bit too retro). I wonder how many new owners
will be rubbing their new MP bodies on their shirt tails to get it to brass
a bit.  Weird thing.  I admit to being fond of my old beat up Nikon F3 and
Nikkormats which once were new and shiny black and now are brassy and dinged
and all that wear is mine.... and I somehow enjoy it. THis is another
potential subject to explore.. the psycho-sexual relationship between camera
degradation, attraction, and self-image.  Any shrinks on the list?

This morning I went out into the desert at sunrise to walk my dogs and grab
a couple of shots of the monsoon clouds over Mt Lemmon with my trusty Contax
G2.  It didnt work... strange, a couple of months ago I was convincing
myself that the Contax would be my tool for reentry into a kinder, more
gentle mode of photograpy.  All that auto focus whirring and clicking
bothered me as it never has before.  Am I lost? Am I a goner?  Have I
crossed into the dark (or light) side?

Now I've gotta give KEH a call and arrange to ship off a shit load of Nikkor
what-nots for a major negative cash flow.  Anyone have any experience
unloading stuff like this?  I hate the idea of dealing with eBay but I dont
want to get too screwed either.

later all
Jack McLain
Tucson, AZ
http://jackmclain-photography.dotcommunity.net


- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Martin Howard" <mvhoward@mac.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] An Introduction, and a plea for wisdom


> Jack McLain wrote:
>
> > I can see where this odd-esy is going.  I am already lusting for a
> > proper
> > Leica body and lenses.  My quandry is which body and which lenses.
>
> Welcome aboard!  It's always great to read the introduction to new
> 'members' -- one of the joys of the LUG.  We'll look forward to hearing
> more from you in the future, including seeing your PICTURES! ;) ;)
>
> Let me start this off by saying that what follows are PERSONAL
> opinions: you (and everyone else) will have to filter them through your
> own experiences to make sense of them.  Many will probably disagree
> with me, and that's to be expected.
>
> If I were starting from scratch, and had the wad of cash to spend, I
> think there are two cameras I'd be looking at.  The first is the Leica
> M2.  Much as people wax prophetic about the M3 as the ultimate M
> camera, I find the simplicity of the framelines in the M2 (35/50/90) to
> be sublime.  The lack of a built-in meter isn't much of a problem.
> Either get yourself a small incident meter (I use the Sekonic 308-BII,
> but the Gossen Digilux looks really interesting) or buy the little
> Cosina/Voigtlander meter and place in the accessory shoe (which I did
> too!)
>
> The other camera I'd seriously look at is the new MP.  Unfortunately,
> the 0.58x version doesn't (as yet?) exist in black, which would be the
> one that I'd be most interested in.  I use an M6TTL .58x and love the
> single 35mm frameline (i.e., when that frameline is showing, no others
> are).  Both of these cameras seem to encompass the essence of Leica
> rangefinder photography.  And I'd get RapidWinders and Wasserman rewind
> cranks for both cameras -- two of the most useful accessories you can
> get for a Leica.
>
> With regard to lenses, I find that I rarely use the 90mm and never
> anything longer on a rangefinder.  My 90mm is the much maligned
> Tele-Elmarit model, of which I have a good version.  I love it for its
> compactness: after all, for lens that spends most of its time being
> lugged along without being used, compactness is a virtue.  Another
> redeeming feature is that it shares the 39mm filter thread with the
> classic 35mm and 50mm Summicron combo.
>
> 50mm is perhaps the most underrated focal length in existance.  I'd
> look for a 50mm f/2, the 11819 version with focussing tab and separate
> hood, and a 50mm f/1.4 Summilux, also with separate hood.
>
> For the 35mm, I'd seriously consider two lenses.  The 35mm f/2
> Summicron-M, last version before the ASPH.  In my opinion, the look of
> the ASPH is too harsh, and it has lost that buttery smooth rendition
> that makes the 35mm so famous.  The other one I'd get is the 35mm f/1.4
> Summilux-ASPH.  Outstanding piece of glass.
>
> I find a 28mm more and more useful.  If money was plentiful, I'd get
> the latest Leica 28mm f/2 offering.  As it is, I bought the Voigtlander
> 28mm f/3.5 which is a cracking little lens -- and also shares the 39mm
> filter thread with the 35/50/90 combo -- for probably 1/10th of the
> price of the Leica lens.
>
> 24mm is not a rangefinder focal length for me (it's an SLR length), so
> I'd skip that and go directly to the 21mm (without passing GO and
> without collecting $200).  My first choice would probably be the Leica
> 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon in black.  My second choice the new
> Voigtlander 21mm f/4.  Both are compact, both are good.  I haven't used
> the other Leica 21mm lenses, but I value compactness, so I think that
> I'd forego the Leica ASPH version even if I did have the cash to
> splash.  In either case, I'd get the Voigtlander 21mm finder in favour
> of the Leica one.
>
> Below 21mm, the Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 is a must have.  It costs little
> more than $300 and is such ridiculous fun to use that you have no
> excuse not to get one.
>
> So, starting from scratch, I'd look at the following kit: An M2, an MP,
> two RapidWinders, 15mm f/4.5, 21mm f/3.4 SA, 28mm f/2 Summicron, 35mm
> f/1.4 Summilux-ASPH, 35mm f/2 Summicron, 50mm f/2 Summcron, 50mm f/1.4
> Summilux, 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit.  For the kind of photography I do
> (mostly travel photography) this would cover pretty much every
> situation I can think of.
>
> M.
>
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