Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>I've just recently switched over to an M from a Nikon F, F3 >system. One of my big reasons for switching over was being >tired of lugging all kinds of useless junk around all the time. I keep my SLR kit for when I need what an SLR can offer (and the reason I keep the Nikon F3 and don't go over to a Leica R kit, aside from the cost of doing so, is that I want a 100% viewfinder with interchangeable finder system in my SLR). For many years, though, most of the time I carry smaller, simpler cameras. Rollei 35, Minox 35 and submini, Leica M, Contax G, etc just let me concentrate more with less weight, bulk and noise; they let me work more slowly and thoughtfully. They've cured me of "lens-change-o-philia" and "zoom-o-philia" which is easy to get into with SLRs and the modern breed of zoomy point'n'shoots. The Leica CL I purchased recently combines what I like most about the Rollei 35 (very small size, super sharp 40mm lens) with a rangefinder for more accurate focus and the ability to also use a super-wide-angle lens. That covers a tremendous amount of ground and remains small, light, easy to carry. On my most recent holiday trip, I carried three cameras: Minox EC (for when you don't want to carry any camera at all, a Minox submini is perfect; an excellent tool for people pictures in the middle zone - 4 to 20 feet), Leica CL with 40 and 15 mm lenses (for most of my general pictorial and people picture taking), and the Nikon F3 with motor and 50/85/70-300mm lenses (for photographing the motorcycle road racing events I was attending). It was a perfect kit for this trip, all three cameras complemented each other well. Godfrey