Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/02/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hugo Lopes jotted down the following: > I'm a newbie both to LUG and the Leica M System. I was wondering if you > could recommend a couple of good books on the system. I am interested in > shooting techniques and tips, but would also like to know a bit more > about Leica history. Thanks Well, despite the bashing he's taken recently on this list, I would wholeheartedly recommend Jonathan Eastland's book on the M system, especially "The Leica M Compendium". I found it very useful when I was first starting out. Another great book, but very hard to find (unless you can read the German version) is Günter Osterloh's book on Leica M photography (cannot remember the exact title). Unfortunately, these seem to trade for several hundred dollars for worn copies. It's good, but not *that* good. Other books would be Brian Bower's "Leica M Photography". Less inspiring and somewhat less useful than Eastland's, IMHO. Stay away from Bower's "The Leica Lens Book" -- lightweight fluff, again IMHO. For history, Denis Laneys book for collectors (can't remember the exact title) or pick up the 15th edition of Matheson's "The Leica and Leicaflex Way" (printed in the 70's). It only covers cameras up to the M5 and Leicaflex SL (or maybe the SL2) but it has lots of chapters on how to use the cameras. A good read. M. - -- Martin Howard | Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU | "Life imitates email." email: howard.390@osu.edu | -- Johnny Deadman www: http://mvhoward.i.am/ +---------------------------------------