Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/08/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ted, Richard, et al, When I joined this group in December of last year, I was a normal person. Wife, child, large mortgage. An N90 and 20-35, 35-70 and 80-200 zooms sat happily in the Domke. Nice pictures. Contentment. Then, a project, which required a different perspective, and after considerable deliberations and extensive reading the LUGNUT archives, I bought an M6, 24 & 35 1.4 ASPHs, and a 90 2.8. Project went well. You can see the Web version at http://www.nbaa.org/nonmember/library/realworld/welcome.htm although it doesn't do the printed version justice, which was printed in LIFE's 13x20 format using four color process to reproduce black and white originals. My well-meaning Webmaster took some unauthorized cropping and layout/editing liberties with the online version. If you'd like to see the original, email your address and I'll mail you the real thing. Today, because the M6 is such fun, I've invented a new project, with new priorities, and yet another perspective is called for. Due to be off press late next Spring. I also know, after riding aboard 25 corporate aircraft, how better to take available darkness photos of people inside (for instance) Learjets. That's what I do. Call it madness, peer pressure or simple enlightenment, but I have this day taken delivery of a new R8, 100 2.8 Apo and a (mint, allegedly) used 180 2.0 Apo for this new project. The M6 will now have to share the Domke. I am the type to do exhaustive (the wife characterizes it as "maniacal") research prior to any purchase like the above. This one was no exception. Despite their high cost, no photo equipment manufacturer designs lenses which are competitive with the above. Many thanks to all of you for providing the continuing education course. I'm still "normal," albeit many, many thousands poorer. And as long as the pictures continue to improve, in part because of better equipment, I'm happy and so to are my "customers." We all win. And hell, it's fun, eh?! As we pilots like to say, "It sure beats working for a living." Cheers, David W. Almy Annapolis, Maryland