Re: [Leica] Pensees (some answers)

["Richard W. Harig" <deputydirmh@worldnet.att.net>]

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with John Van Stelten of Focal Point,
Inc.  I have two lenses with haze issues and his estimates look pretty good.
Also I read a recommendation for Sherry Kraunter to do  a CLA on an M3.
Does anyone have an email address or website for her?

thanks

dick harig
- ----- Original Message -----
From: <Krechtz@aol.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 7:24 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Pensees (some answers)


> Thought I would take a quick shot at this.
>
> Joe Sobel
>
> In a message dated 9/22/00 6:55:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dante@umich.edu
> writes:
>
> <<
>  1.      If Leicas have a theoretically unlimited life, even if digital
>  did not take over, would prices eventually come down on used gear anyway
>  - it would seem that with an unlimited number of M6s to be produced,
>  there would be a glut.>>
>
> I'm no economist, but the law of supply and demand would seem to hold that
a
> hypothetical unlimited supply of items having eternal life presents an
> obstacle to maintenance of high prices for such items.
>
> << 2.    If Ebay, LUG and other information-enhancing activities did not
>  exist, would any of us keep lenses longer?  Many things you see come up
>  for sale on Fridays have been owned for 40 years.  I think in the old
>  days trade-ins were a wash, so people just kept stuff.>>
>
> Probably.  Lack of a market place tends to keep the market quiet.
>
>  <<3.    If an M3 had no framelines, would the field be equivalent to a
>  40mm lens?>>
>
> Depends on eye relief.  Eyeglass wearers sometimes complain they cannot
see
> even the 50mm frameline.  Other users claim they can see a full 35mm field
of
> view, probably by pressing the camera so tightly against their faces that
> they have permanent "backdoor" imprints on their cheeks.  The literal
answer
> to the question would be that the presence or absence of framelines does
not,
> in and of itself, have any bearing upon the field of view actually
> encompassed by a given finder, since the frameline is only an indicator of
a
> defined field of view which must always be smaller than the finder's field
of
> view in order to be visible.
>
>  <<4.    Does a chrome M body with brass covers feel different from one
>  with alloy covers?>>
>
> Probably feels secretly superior but outwardly humble.
>
> << 5.    Just what is Vulcanite and how do they apply it so evenly at the
>  factory?  Is it a liquid which is then embossed while on the parts?!>>
>
> I hear tell it's a rubber compound.  My guess is they dip the camera in
the
> stuff, then roll it around on a table top that has that pebble-grained
fake
> leather surface.  The backdoors are done separately, of course (thought
you
> had me there, didn't you?).
>
>  <<6.    Is it really easier to load an M3 than an M4?  Seems to be the
>  case - I like the pullout spool better than the poke-your-finger thingie
>  on the 4 and 6.>>
>
> Sure, if the user really believes that it is.  I am somewhat curious,
> however, as to how you developed the finger-poke technique.  Was that from
a
> book or just another manifestation of the well known"intuitive operation"
> thing about Leicas?
>
> << 7.    When you touch an LHSA or Millenium M6, can you tell by touch
that
>  the covers are CNC milled, or is that just a nasty thing someone said
>  here?>>
>
> The actual technique is to hold the hands a few inches above the camera,
> palms down, with eyes closed, then just feel the vibrations.
>
>  <<8.    Does anyone know why Leitz/Leica makes so many iterations of the
>  same 35/50 shade when there is no identifiable functional difference?  I
>  seem to be accumulating these at a scary pace.
>   >>
>
> I doubt they are still making all those items.  More like a succession of
> models over a period of time.  You've just been one of the fortunate few.
> Make sure you don't dump any rare old versions at obscenely low prices!
As
> to functional differences, I believe the later models have cutouts,
probably
> for better ventilation.
>
> Hope I was able to help.