Re: [Leica] Minority?- Thanks Donal, Mike, Ted

[Richard DeLuca <odyssey@spectra.net>]

Donal,

The reason I am on the LUG is because of all the experience here, yours
included.  And you are correct, of course.  But like Mike J. and Ted G. and
others, I have no desire to use flash with the Leica.

Although I earned my living in photography while in college, I'm now an
amateur who can never seem to find enough time to devote to the hobby. For
me, nothing is more relaxing than a walk through a busy park with my old M3
and DR Summicron. I love it simply because it pleases me, and unlike you
professionals I have no one to please except myself, and no deadlines. I
admit to occasionally using a flash unit for fill, but with a digital
camera- never with the Leica.  I'm a real minimalist at heart, and not just
about cameras.

BTW, my remark was really tongue in cheek.........you didn't quote my
emoticon........;->

Best Regards,
Rich

>> >>>I may be in the minority, and I rarely post here, but it seems to me
>> that
>> TTL flash metering in a RF Leica is really dumb<<<
>
>This is a topic I've wanted to discuss for some time.  The Leica
>brochures even intimate that you would only use strobe when there isn't
>enough light.  That has always baffled me--that they could be so, well,
>dumb.
>
>Perhaps if you make your living doing grip and grins (those award
>banquet things) that shooting bang on with a bucket of light is useful.
>But I seldom use strobe light because there isn't enough light.  I use
>it because the available light is often ugly, boring or at least
>inappropriate for the story I need to tell.
>
>In a room with flourescents I might bounce a little strobe off  a wall
>so a bit of light come from the side, for instance, and the eye sockets
>don't go so dark and there is character to the face.  Is this not is the
>spirit of M???  I don't know.  But to only think you use strobe only
>because you lack enought light is to be blind (or ignorant) to the
>character of light.  Sometimes you need to make a picutre (the rent come
>due whether you work for National Geographic or the local Weekly).  It
>is all nice and proper to get righteous about M and available light,
>especially if you don't have to make a living or live up to a client's
>expectations.
>
>And whether you use an RF or an SLR, who cares???.  Indeed, it could be
>argued that because you can see the flash go off in the viewfinder, the
>RF is the more appropaite camera for strobe.  I often shoot with SLR and
>strobe looking over the camera so I can see the moment.
>
>You want a list of famous, published Leica M photographers who sometimes
>use strobe??  Much easier to name those who NEVER use it.
>
>I was standing in a camera store the other day next to a 30-some year
>old fellow who was in a photo class at local university and he was
>buying a vivitar 283.  I mentioned that he could also get a gizmo so he
>could get it off the camera.  "Why would you want to do that?" he
>asked.  I knew he either hadn't gotten to lesson one or the teacher was
>pretty pathetic.
>
>Anyway, I ask that you study David Allen Harvey's new book Cuba and tell
>me then whether you still think use of flash with an M is dumb.
>
>donal
>
>
>__________
>Donal Philby
>San Diego
>www.donalphilby.com