RE: [Leica] Use of leica camera

["Dan Honemann" <danh@selectsa.com>]

Thank you for this post, Erwin.  I think Tina's message and yours here
represent the best spirit of the LUG.  Each of us has our own talents and
our own interests, and so we are each uniquely qualified to use these
amazing light-capturing devices as we will, and to contribute accordingly to
this list.

Dan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of imx
> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 7:59 AM
> To: LUG
> Subject: [Leica] Use of leica camera
>
>
> Tina,
>
>
> you wrote in part: "however, I do not
> agree that what I see can only be accurately portrayed with the highest
> resolution lens and slowest film on a tripod.  I do use Leicas
> because they
> are quiet, unobtrusive, mechanical, and reliable."
>
> I am in full agreement with your view and choice and use of the Leica. Let
> me set a vast misconception straight. I have never said that the record of
> what you see (or more correct: what you think you see), MUST be
> done with a
> tripod mounted, slowfilmfed and bestlensfitted Leica M. (That
> would be a new
> acronym: a TMSFBLF-Leica photograph.)
> My only statement has been and is this: IF (a big IF for some users) you
> wish to exploit the optical performance of current Leica lenses, THEN a
> tripod, a slowspeed film and a careful technique are indispensible, nay
> necessary. If you are not interested or able, giving the circumstances,to
> exploit the optical performance, because you need a shot at 1/8
> of a second
> in dim light with strong backlighting, you still have the Leica potential
> that may give you an edge.
> As a corrolary to the main point, I may add that it is a very legitimate
> type of photography to try to record reality as accurate as you
> can and use
> by purpose specifically leica lenses (wich are leaders in the
> field of wide
> aperture high contrast-high resolution 35mm optics) to accomplish this.
> The use of the leica camera in situations where reliability,
> unobtrusiveness
> etc are needed to document or interpret the human condition is not in
> discussion and never was.
> I am unhappy however with the narrowmindedness of some contributors on the
> list, who state that a Leica may not be used on a tripod and who will use
> the most pejorative descriptions on anyone who strives to exploit
> the actual
> image quality of current Leica lenses.
> My project is a simple one: to finetune the photographic
> technique to ensure
> that Leica image quality becomes visible to the limit. I report on my
> findings and some members of the list will like my results as it
> helps them.
> For some others my project is worthless as they do not work in that area.
> Fine. LIve well and prosper.
> I am not the one on this list who has ever said or argued against
> the use of
> the Leica as exemplified in HCB's work. On the contrary.
> My goal is simply to employ photographic technique to exploit Leica image
> quality to and to try to make pictures where this image quality
> is effective
> and enjoyable.
> Some individuals on this list may feel that this is a betrayal to the true
> spirit of the Leica Odyssee. So be it.
> BTW: if you use Kodachrome 64 and the Summicron 2/28 asph at full aperture
> and 1/1000 and handheld, ypu are reasonably close to the ultimate level of
> image quality. Here you have a handheld situation where optical
> performance
> is just a bonus without distracting from the original goal.
> Leica photography is too nice to be confined to one technique or
> one view of
> what and how to photograph your subjects/objects of interest.
>
>
> Erwin