Re: Carrying a Leica

[Rosesanan Soon Lai Yoke <adisoon@pl.jaring.my>]

Personally, I prefer the black version of the M6. It has always seemed more
sleek  and more functional to me. However, the colour of it does not really
have any effect on peoples's reponses as I have found. The shiny titanium
version seems to attract as little attention as the black one. This was my
reservation in the first place of getting a titanium one. I think wheather
the camera attracts attention has more to do with the way the photographer
handles it and himself. Any Comments??

- -adi  =20

At 08:29 AM 16/3/97 -0500, you wrote:
>What to carry, and how to carry it?
>
>My Leica M6 and 3 lenses are the "travel fast and light" system.  When
>the purpose of the trip is photography I use a Contax RTS III and enough
>lenses to fill a Mini-Trecker backpack.  Virtually every shot is from
>atop a Manfrotto 3221 with B1 ballhead. But, for business travel or when
>traveling with my spouse, where photography can=92t dominate -- but is
>necessary for the soul -- the Leica is it.
>
>My system consists of an M6 body, 35mm Summilux, 50mm Summicron and 90mm
>Elmarit.  A B+W KR1.5 filter for each =96 for when the weather gets bad,=20
>and a Leica tabletop tripod with ball head also come along.  My favorite
>accessory is the Leica M lensholder that attaches to the baseplate and
>allows a second lens to be bayoneted to it.  Makes an M a bit bulky, but
>I love the ability to quickly exchange lenses.  Add to this a Sekonic
>L308 incident meter and a half dozen rolls of Provia 100 and you have
>the makings for a perfect day of exploring a new city or hiking in the
>mountains.  There=92s little that this system can=92t handle; weighs less
>than 3 lbs, and everything fits comfortably into the small Billingham
>f/5.6 bag, or if I need to be a bit more inconspicuous, an beat up
>canvas pouch bag that looks like it might contain a pair of old gym
>shoes. =20
>
>In the countryside I=92ll simply work out of the bag or a photo jacket,
>but in the city, when shooting, I offload everything into pockets and
>leave the bag at the hotel.  The M6 goes over the shoulder, tucked in
>behind so that the lens is facing inward, sort of under my arm on a
>shorten strap. This makes the fact that I=92m carrying a camera much less
>conspicuous, yet allows it to come up to the eye very quickly.
>
>Though I think that a chrome M6 is esthetically more pleasing than
>black, a black M6 just looks much like another point&shoot to most
>people.  I=92ve wander the streets of countless cities around the world
>and found that it raises hardly a glance.  Part of being inconspicuous
>when doing street shooting is to dress the part.  I take off expensive
>watches and rings, and dress in simple clothing, slacks and a plain
>shirt =96 not jeans, not shorts, no safari jackets!  Been doing this for
>35 years with M2s, M3s and now M6s, both as a pro and as an amateur,
>with never a hassle.
>
>Michael
>
>