Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Wed, 13 December 2000, Nick Poole wrote: > <SNIP> > As each new model (R4, R5, R7) appeared, all were tried on an > extended loan basis (dealer friend!) to see if I really needed - as > I'd convinced myself I did - the added convenience of auto exposure. > While auto exposure was pretty accurate in most general situations, I > too often found the lighting demanded accurate spot metering and I > would revert to manual. In the end it seemed that convenience was > less important than 'concentrated intuition' (phrase intentional), so > I never settled on any of these. SL2 still utterly dependable, > although I acknowledge that familiarity of long use might constitute > an unfair advantage when comparing with the R's used only for a month > or so. > Nick, I'll second your suggestion of the Leicaflex SL. My first Leica SLR was the SL, but after several years I succumbed to the lure of auto-exposure and replaced 2 SL bodies, black chrome and battered black enamel, with R4s and R4sP bodies. I used the R bodies for several years and while these bodies were mechanically and electrically reliable (assuming fresh batteries) I used manual metering the vast majority of the time as you have and I never did find the right grip that made the R bodies as comfortable as the SL had been. Upon reaching the ripe old age of 40 my eyes would no longer function adequately with the R4s/R4sP viewfinder and I was missing shots because I couldn't focus quickly, or getting out-of-focus pictures with alarming frequency. Many photographers think that when this happens their only choice is AF. Instead of buying more automation, I sold the R4s and one of two R4sP bodies and bought a pair of SL bodies, and I'm enjoying photography again. The manual metering has rarely been a problem and follow-focussing flying birds has never been easier. BTW my white pelican Kodachromes arrived this week and I'm delighted with 'em. The flying pelicans are all perfectly in focus, exposures are right where I wanted. The PhotoSmart scanner isn't up to the demands of these chromes so I'm getting high-resolution scans made; I'll post a msg when I have some on my website. My experience with the R8 is limited to only a day, but in that time I used it along with the SL photographing oystercatchers on the rocky shoreline during the BALUG field trip in the Monterey area. See http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt/BLOY0.HTM. The R8 is easily the most intuitive and ergonomically delightful R body yet, with a viewfinder nearly as bright and easy to focus as the SL's. Using the R8 in manual mode, my success rate with the two bodies was the same. The auto-exposure feature just isn't my thing. My fantasy new R body would use the R8's body shell & viewfinder with a mechanically-timed shutter. Doug Herr Sacramento http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt ___________________________________________________ The ALL NEW CS2000 from CompuServe Better! Faster! More Powerful! 250 FREE hours! Sign-on Now! http://www.compuserve.com/trycsrv/cs2000/webmail/