Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/10/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi. After reading numerous Leica FAQ's and M guides, I submit the following: I believe I'm what you'd call a budding Noctilooney. I have never used an M camera, but right now I'm deep in my Web researches to select and buy my first one solely to harness the Noctilux. I'm the first to admit that I'm smitten and not exactly rational. Here I am poised to spend upwards of three-thousand dollars just so I can create images which appear as though they were made by a large format camera. Is shallow depth of field really something to loose your head over? Maybe. Maybe not. I find it intoxicating, others find it nausiating (Nausilux). All's I did was look at some Noctilux image galleries on the Web and my quest was born. If this is folly, would you snap me out of it? Otherwise, could I trouble you to read my questions below and offer some advice? First, the body: The M3's stand-out EBL makes it a contender, but the improvements to the M4 make it more desirable to me. Am I missing something important? I think I'm willing to sacrifice some EBL to gain the rewind crank and the speedier film loading. I thought I'd sooner have the 4 than the 4-2 or 4-P. I would have to add a hot shoe, but I'm willing to do that just to have the slightly better (?) VF/RF. Yes, I see the 6 Classic and TTL bodies are practically clogging eBay these days, but I thought the 4 could still be had for less. My prior RF experience is limited to Graflex press cameras, stereo cameras, and the Texas Leica (Fuji's GS690). I have always preferred SLR's, but I'm willing to give up their framing/focusing convenience just to shoot the Noct. Next, the Noct version: I'm chasing the first incarnation 'cause it has the slightly smaller filter size. I have this notion that overall barrel could be a tad more svelt than that of the subsequent versions (why I think that, I'm not sure - if all of them have the same glass, shouldn't they all have the same dimensions?). Will I end up paying a premium for the first Noct? Perhaps the bargain specimens tend to be the second version. Can you confirm this? I read that a retailer in LA will rent you a Noctilux for the weekend for a cost of $100. That seems reasonable, but I live in the midwest. As crazy as it sounds, I may just have to buy a whole outfit just to experiment with this lens. But I wouldn't call it pure extravagance 'cause I look forward to shooting the 35/1.4 and the 21/3.4 also [some day]. Lastly, if anyone has a body or lens to lend (sell) to my cause, I would love to hear about it. Thanks for your attention, and thanks in advance for any/all advice! Sleighteem