Re: [Leica] Pensees (some answers)

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

John Van Stelten replaced the front element in my 90mm Elmarit at a fair
price.   The lens is working very well and I am quite pleased.

I recommend him.

Roland Smith
roland@dnai.com

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard W. Harig" <deputydirmh@worldnet.att.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 10:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Pensees (some answers)


> 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.
>
>