Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/06/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Elliot wrote: <<<<Was abit disappointed. Is it my imagination, or is the camera a bit clunky and akward to hold and use. Of course, I'm comparing it to my older R5. >>>>> Hi Elliot, Your disappointment will soon vanish as soon as you get out with film loaded and start shooting!!! You'll find you have the machine of your life in your hands! :) <<<Realize the metering is probably better, but still wonder how often the " integral " setting and matrix program is really used.>>>>>> I have not switched one to the other very often, but this is what you'll find: If you prefer a slightly more saturated transparency shoot everything on intregal. If you like them sightly lighter, go multi-pattern! This may not be the way Leica envisioned the scenes to be metered and photographed, but it falls into the "KISS" simplicity. "Keep it Simple Stupid": You like them darker - intregal! You like them lighter - multi-pattern! And quite frankly both exposures are correct! I shoot for my personal preference of a sligtly more saturated slide, so I bang away everything on Intregal. :) And I really need to keep everything on the "KISS" principal! :) So far the metering is the best I've ever experienced with an in camera metering system. <<<Also, haven't used the flash yet, but the instruction booklet explaining how to use such flash settings could certainly be improved!>> I agree whole heartedly! This is one segment that Leica missed in a "simplicity" description unfortunately, as the flash sync speed and control through the SCA 3501 is a very big feature of the camera. <<<<has anyone enough experience with the new 3000 series and the R8 to give some comments and guidance.>>>>> I use the Metz 40Mz-2 and the Leica recommended SCA 3501 adapter and it works wonders for a "non-flash" shooter like me. I'm still learning and have to be re-trained daily, (Donal is going to give me in-house lessons in SD) however if I get the camera set on "T" with shuter speeds no higher than 1/250 and the adapter set for a -minus 2 the flash fill works quite well. That doesn't make me like flash any better, but it certainly works. :) <<Have you used the R8? Opinion versus the R5 and later?>>>>>>> There is only one opinion, the R8 is so far a head of all the other R bodies it stands completely above them! I've got close to seven months on mine at present and when the motors are available I've got two more on order. And that can't come as any better recommendation than from an old fart like me! :) Use it and you'll love it! ted Victoria, Canada http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant