RE: [Leica] AN OLD FOOF SIGNS ON

[Peterson Arthur G NSSC <PetersonAG@NAVSEA.NAVY.MIL>]

Don't apologize, John.  That's a very enjoyable post, and a story not
entirely different from those of a number of LUGgers, I suspect (including
me).  Not everything is technical expertise, although that's certainly
important and admirable.  Much of what's best on the LUG are the human
stories, and so it's good to hear from you in this way.  I look forward to
hearing more from you when you return from your trip to Mexico, and I'm sure
many others will too.  Have a great time, and good shooting!

Art Peterson


		-----Original Message-----
		From:	EXT-Alexander, John
[mailto:John.Alexander@ARZ.Boeing.com]
		Sent:	Friday, April 21, 2000 2:48 PM
		To:	'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'
		Subject:	[Leica] AN OLD FOOF SIGNS ON

		Greetings Fellow LUGgers,
		Please let me introduce myself as the "new old man" on the
LUG block...and a
		recent convert to the Leica M system..  Born in '36...so I
have something in
		common (circa-age) with some of our distinguished LUG
authors: Ted Grant,
		Jim Brick, et al )  The comparison ends there, however;
because to imply
		that I share even a fraction of their photographic talent or
experience
		would be, indeed, ludicrous!   This I KNOW...because I've
spent a great deal
		of time travelling through the LUG archives (a remarkable
repository of
		photographic experiences and tutorials); and I continue to
be awed by the
		enormous breadth, energy, and overall capabilities of some
of the LUG
		members.  In fact, I would recommend that any new LUGger
invest some
		significant time there before even thinking of issuing an
initial post.  In
		fact, for an unparalleled experience in general learning
about everything
		photographic, one should do a chronological search on all
posts from some of
		the more prolific "posters".  Which ones?  Just hang around
the archives
		doing "topic" searches for awhile...and you'll know which
ones.  It's
		important to note that I MADE NO LEICA M EQUIPMENT PURCHASES
UNTIL I HAD
		THOROUGHLY EXPLORED AND UNDERSTOOD ALL THE ISSUES IMPORTANT
TO ME VIA THE
		LUG ARCHIVE.  It's there for the taking.  All one has to do
is be diligent
		in the quest.

		For the last 25 years or so, I used a broad range of SLR
cameras and lenses
		from the "Nippon Kogaku" supplier.  One day, not too long
ago, I picked up
		an album of slides that I'd shot back in high school and
early college
		(Baton Rouge, La.) and I was SHOCKED to realize that some of
my VERY BEST
		WORK had been done with a RANGEFINDER!  An Argus C-4 with a
50mm lens!  In
		'53, one of my (older) brother's friends had shown me some
slides taken with
		his Argus C-3 - projected on a sheet hung on the wall ...and
I GOT HOOKED!
		I remember that I was the only one in my senior class (of
'55) that owned a
		35mm camera.  I cherished that camera...many poignant
memories ago.    So,
		after some soul searching, I abandoned the N.K. gear and
decided it was time
		to become a Leica-M man!

		I ordered an M6TTL HM w/50 Summicron (latest), SF-20
"winkie" (for fill) and
		Billingham Alice bag from Tamarkin and shot 3 rolls of Astia
100 the first
		day I got the equipment.  Most of the pictures were around
the house (many
		of my wife and puppy, singly and in combination).  My wife,
Brenda, was
		delighted with the results (and so was I).  Instead of the
usual one
		keeper/roll, there were so many good ones that I just
grinning and grinning
		like an idiot.  (Astia is a very good film and mates with
the M especially
		well for "people pictures".  Last week my TA Rapidwinder and
SoftRelease
		arrived (shipped from Canada by Tom).  These enhancements
turn the M-6 into
		a formidable picture taking machine...smooth and steady she
goes..  I can't
		imagine using the M6 again without them.   Today my 90mm
Summicron ASPH
		arrived from Pat McKee.  Can't wait to test it out.  Next
lens is the 35mm
		Summicron ASPH.  Ultimately the 24mm Elmarit ASPH.

		Brenda and I are leaving for Sonora Bay, Mexico next week
for some fishing,
		and relaxation.  I intend to give the new equipment a good
workout.  Please
		indulge me this long post...for which I sincerly apologize.
It seems that
		the bite of the "Leica bug" has not only caused my bank
account to go
		severly South, but, alas, has made it hard for me to shut
up!  Long live the
		LUG forum.  It's a great place to be...so I'm going away now
to
		lurk...lurk...lurk... and learn...learn...learn.  

		John A.