Re: Burning film (was Leica bashing on usenet groups)

[captyng@vtx.ch (Gerard Captijn)]

Interesting comments. IMHO Kari is pretty close to reality. The shutter
delay has a real impact on the number of good pictures you bring home. If
could get your shutter fire exactly at the moment that you visualize your
picture, the result will be the visualized image (if no external or
technical surprises). If your shutter fires 17ms later, your subject has
changed a little, 100ms later more, 250ms later much more and a week later
completely. Seems quite obvious to me.

In terms of the Noctilux, I don't think that in general photographic
practice there is an essential difference with the Summilux 1.4/50mm. The
Noctilux transmits twice as much light as the Summilux but the trade off is
massive light fall-off in the corners and a somewhat lower overall quality
of the image compared to Leica's other 50 mm's. Also the depth of field at
f1 is extremely small: distance 1 meter: 0,99 - 1,01 m. 2 meter: 1,96 - 2,05
m. 3 meter: 2,90 - 3,11 m! Probably interesting only for people doing almost
exclusively lowlight photography.

Gerard Captijn,
Geneva, Switzerland.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


, >
>>From: Ted Grant <75501.3002@CompuServe.COM>
>
>>Responding to:  Kari Eloranta:
>
>><<<captyng@vtx.ch (Gerard Captijn) notes:
>
>>>Very often maybe only 2-3 pictures on a 36-roll are really good. In
>>>addition, practice shows that we often need to expose many rolls  
>>to >produce one really  excellent, exhibition quality image
>>(National >Geographic probably won't disagree with these statements  
>>given the >level of film consumption of their photographers).  
>>Why?>>>>>>>>
>
>>Let me attempt to explain film usage to those who are accustomed  
>to >one roll a day or week. Month?
>snip
>
>This is how you start your lecture. Why? I and surely all in this  
>list know how much film we use when there is an inspiring subject  
>around. For me it is not a small amount. And yes, BW is cheap stuff,  
>mostly, but kodachrome isn't. I quoted the NG figure just because  
>many people I have mentioned it didn't know it and found it rather  
>interesting. One shot out of 30 rolls.
>
>><<On the  other hand M-Leicas kind of invite you to shoot under  
>>apalling light  conditions which automatically means a stiff film  
>bill.>>>>>>
>
>>Nope!  It means you have images where others fear to tread! Try a  
>>Noctilux under those conditions and there isn't any "appalling"  
>>light!  And of course you are going to bracket difficult light  
>>situations. That's being prudent and a professional!
>
>I shoot regularly with 50 mm f1.4. I don't believe Noctilux makes  
>an essential difference. Low light situations are inherently  
>contrasty. Evaluating the exposure and judging how the highlights,  
>hues etc. render on the particular film in use are more difficult.  
>So is focusing. You bracket and end up using significantly more  
>film. In you reply you first deny this and then acknowledge it. What  
>exactly is your point?
>
>><<In additon to the shutter-delay advantage pointed out by Captijn  >>>>
>
>>Sorry this just doesn't enter into real time picture taking! If  
>your >reflects are in tune the theoretical "shutter delay" isn't  
>worth >commenting on!  And I'm not sure where this would be a factor  
>in any >case.
>
>I was just acknowledging that he probably had a point. I think that  
>it is more reasonable that one's reflexes can be trained for short  
>rather than long delay. Bash him if you really think it is  
>completely false. But I made an other point.
>
>><<<<I don't believe that their Leica shooters are particularly  
>>efficient with film usage.>>>>>
>
>>I believe you are referring to National Geo photographers here and  
>>your comment is totally unjustified!!  Unless you are shooting the  
>>type of assignments they do and many of the rest of us in similar  
>>fashion, I might suggest before you make a broad base statement  
>like >that, you might do some home work or get some experience!
>
>The point arouse because Captijn wrote some numbers related to how  
>often he thinks one captures the right moment as a function of how  
>one previsualizes. Implying that RF users might have a significantly  
>better chance to capture the right moment and thereby having less  
>mistimed junk frames. IMHO this is more than off-set by the  
>difficult conditions under which the NG people practice their art.  
>Why do you get so defensive at that? I already told that I have a  
>great deal or respect for the shooters if not to the editors or  
>writers. Moreover you have no idea of my shooting experience. In  
>fact when I'm on the road shooting it is mostly similar remote  
>locations NG people tend go to not some hospitals conveniently  
>nearby.
>
>>ted
>
>Your condescending lecturing wasn't called for.
>
>
>Kari Eloranta
>
>
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