Re: [Leica] Rangefinder or SLR?

["Roland Smith" <roland@dnai.com>]

It is important to note that you used 1/8 sec hand held.

I have hand held my Leicas, both LTM and M, successfully at one second with
acceptable negatives when enlarged to at least 8"X10".

With Pentax, Canon and Nikon SLRs I get fuzzy negatives at anything slower
than 1/30 and even at 1/30 I can have problems.   Too much mass is moving.

After a few SLR years, I returned to Leica.   I don't need a zoom and I have
Leica lenses from 35mm to 200mm, the later with a viewfinder.

I haven't used a 35mm SLR in over a year.  My pictures from my last trip
were better than my  earlier SLR trips.

Roland Smith
- -----Original Message-----
From: Johannes A Dykstra <hans.mieke@bigpond.com>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Tuesday, December 28, 1999 3:50 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Rangefinder or SLR?


>Tom,
>
>My wife has done the same, but it's a second M6 body for me.  I use both R
>and M systems, and some Nikon and Canon stuff too.  Based on my experience
>(which is not great but perhaps relevant to your situation) if I was going
>to be taking pictures of people, family, when travelling, at work, on the
>streets, or just for the pleasure of it, I would definitely keep the M6.
It
>is superb, with its lenses, in these roles.
>
>Why?  Here's why.  I attended my cousin's wedding yesterday.  Took my M6
and
>50/2 with Reala (100 speed) for fun.  The guy getting paid to take photo's
>used Nikon SLR gear, with a battered medium format 'thing' for a few set
>piece shots.  Kodak Portra 400 VC in both.  We chatted about the light
>throughout the afternoon and evening.  He was a nice fella.  Said he wanted
>my camera.
>
>The bride arrived in a vintage car, looking as lovely as you could imagine
>(the girl, not the car).
>The paid guy, using his 'what you don't see when you press the button is
>what you get' SLR didn't see the bride's blink with his only shot of her
>preparing to alight from the vehicle.  This being the main problem with
>SLR's and people photography.  With critical, can't be repeated people
>photography.  I was 'that' close to whispering 'blink' in the guy's ear,
but
>he was working quickly and I didn't want to bother him.  But I know now I
>shouldn't have hesitated.  If it had been me I would have appreciated it.
>With an M6, there would be no doubt in a situation like
>this, as you see the blink.
>
>Also, the fast lenses available with the M system could have avoided the
use
>of ambience wrecking flash, my other concern yesterday.  As the paid guy
was
>clacking and blitzing away in the candle lit, stained glass illuminated
>chapel, I was quietly clicking at f2 and 1/8th.  People said the flash
>wasn't working and couldn't understand when I said the camera didn't have
>one and didn't need one.  I'll get the lovely colour of the Reala proofs
>tomorrow.
>
>However, if you are a dedicated nature or sports photographer or prefer a
>truly flexible SLR system over a people friendly rangefinder, then an R8
>with suitable lenses might suit better.
>
>Seems your wife's a sport.  Get both!  And give her extra cuddles to boot.
>
>Regards.
>
>Rick Dykstra
>
>
>
>