[Leica] Re: Weight versus Size

[Cummer Family <cummer@asiaonline.net>]

On Sat, 18 Sep 1999 10:14:04 -0000
>Simon Pulman-Jones <spulmanjones@lbs.ac.uk> wrote
>Subject: RE: [Leica] Weight vs size - Nikon SP
>
>My first Leica experience was with an M2 and 35 Summicron pre. asph. - the 
>quintessential Leica combination in terms of weight, size and handling, and 
>one to which my hands always seem to want to return.  If there is one flaw 
>in the current development of the M it has to be the increasing size of the 
>lenses.  The 35 Summilux Asph is a fantastic lens, and one that I always 
>use when I am sure that I will need its wide open performance, but I hardly 
>ever feel like taking it with me when the photography is going to be more 
>opportunistic and unplanned - it's just too big.
>
Simon, I agree with you 100%. That is one of the reasons the Voigtlander
Bessa is so intriguing - it is so light with the Heliar or the Skopar -
compared to an M6 with 24 Elmarit. I am currently trying my Skopar with my
CLE - which makes a very small package. The Skopar partially obscures the
metering cell and an adjustment of 1 and 1/2 stops (I have measured and
will confirm when I get the film processed) is required to calibrate the
camera to the same exposure as when I use my 24mm Elmarit. I am using the
CLE without the 25mm viewfinder - just using the complete viewfinder as an
approximation of the 25mm field and this lets me use TTL flash with the
Skopar, which isn't possible with the Voigtlander Bessa. A revival of the
CLE or the CL with updated metering would certainly increase Leica's range
of product and appeal to those of us for whom "lighter is better"
Best Regards
Howard Cummer.