Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Gary, It sounds as though you've gone through the same process as I have. I'm not fanatical about Leicas yet <grin> and actually quite like the G2. The camera is very capable and the Zeiss optics are excellent. The only thing that throws me off is the AF. If it kept all the gadgets and was manual focus, I'd be very happy... I'm not knocking the AF, it works exceptionally well on most subjects and may even be quicker/better for candid work. However, when I am trying to make a picture, the new mental focusing process throws me off. If I stuck with it, it'd probably become 2nd nature to me as well. I was weaned on manual focus and have learned its quirks both pros and cons such that I can use my photographic tools efficiently and effectively. Now, with AF, I have to relearn how to do some things, and that is throwing off my composition when I'm trying to work quickly. When I'm given time to work things out, the AF can work out just as well for me. I can see that perhaps for new people that are just getting into "serious" photography, they may been weaned on AF point and shoots and actually prefer the AF capabilities of the G2. That brings out the next question that is on the back of my mind. It isn't well formulated but... How do you see the prices of Leicas being affected as the portion of the demographic that collects Leicas (my guess is older, wealther, males that were raised with the Leica mystique) ages? My impression is that many in the younger generation, coming into more disposable income, are more interested in digital cameras and may not even know what a Leica is. My guess is that besides the asian economies being soft (contributing to less prospective Leica collectors/users) that more and more collections will come into the market and that the prices will drop. Will it drop to the level where used equipment becomes more in line with other quality marques so that I can afford more Leica toys? I don't know. This is just one of my random musings...I'm still miffed that the cigar rage has raised the prices of my stoggies to the crazy levels we see now. When will the madness end? ;-) Regards, Daniel Ho/Toronto - -----Original Message----- From: COLBYG@ULV.EDU <COLBYG@ULV.EDU> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Date: Monday, April 13, 1998 12:55 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] Newbie to be -- My experiences with G2 / M options? >Hello, Daniel, > > I, too, am a recent "M" convert. After years of squinting through the >ever-darkening F viewfinders I took a peek through the M. It was a *miracle*! I >could *see*... > >> While making a picture, my neurons fire in a way such that using my F2 or >> other manual cameras is intuitive and using AF is actually more difficult.. >> Having lurked for a while, I feel it may be safe now to come out and ask a >> few questions... > > This is a remarkably supportive list, isn't it? I've stuck around >longer than with most. > >> I am thinking of either trading in the G2 or supplementing >> it with a M series camera... > > I was distracted momentarily by the G2, while looking at the M cameras. >In the end I turned away from the G2 partly for the reasons you cite. The G2 >viewfinder hosts that bright green data screen which was a distraction. Also, I >was drawn to the mechanical simplicity of the M's shutter; the G2 needs four >electric motors to work according to its design. > >> What is the best combo for me to get as a user? The variations seem >> endless. > > I chose this one... > >> - new M6 > > ...and this one... > >> - 35mm last generation Sumicron > > ...and I'm very satisfied. I hadn't realized how much I was missing in >compositional moments; the bright-line viewfinder allows you to see beyond the >margins of your composition, allowing for quick composition moves. The M6 with >that little 35mm f/2 attached is compact and hardly noticeable in a crowd. I've >watched the guys with the Hasselblads on tripods get all the attention while I >drift about unnoticed (no matter what they say about the red dot). The lens is >sharp. That I should refine my technique to match its capability gives me >something to look forward to. > The metering system took no time to learn and the little red read-out >pointers are unobtrusive in the viewfinder (although I read someone here >complain mildly about them being a little too bright in the M6HM. The meter is >drop-dead accurate in my brief experience; with my usual 'chromes and >black-and-white negatives. > The M6HM would definitely be helpful with the 90mm lenses, but somebody >here recently mentioned that it was easy with the 35mm as well. > By all means go to Erwin Puts' fantastic technical evaluations at... > > http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/m/lenses/pages/choices.html > > Good luck! You won't regret the purchase, whatever decision you >make. The product line delivers exactly what it promises. > >-Gary Colby