Re: [Leica] First Time Choice of Leica Bodies

[Alastair Firkin <firkin@ncable.net.au>]

>Help!
>
>I've decided to make a new committment to re-learning photography in my
>photography hobby.

You have lots of choice. First for new gear, there are people on the 
LUG who will mail you excellent gear, so you do not have to limit 
yourself to one shop. Second -- but this should be first -- there is 
a lifetime of second-hand gear out there. Iffff you really want to 
get back to learning about photography, do yourself a great self 
imposed favour and buy something with NO automatic functions. It will 
make you think, and the mere act of thinking will promote more 
"thoughtful" and surprisingly "better" images. A good recently 
serviced M4, 3 or 2.

Now add ONE second hand lens: HCB favoured the 50, so why argue with 
possibly the best decisive moment photographer of them all. A 50 
summicron can be had cheaply and will often come with the M3 anyway. 
Of course this assumes you are not planning some form of specialist 
photography, such as Grand Prix, underwater or microscopic, but you 
can work up the Leica system to suit almost any form of photographic 
endevour you wish. I still think that the visoflex is an excellent 
way to LEARN about close up photography -- now I know that it is not 
as "easy" as TTL exposure flash etc etc, but learning the physics 
behind the problem will help you to understand the results you get 
from an auto every thing camera. I still maintain that you need to 
know more about how the camera will "think" if you want to get good 
images from p&s auto everything cameras, because they don't always 
think like you would.

Of course you will soon be infected, and want every bit of glass, 
every bit of history, every bit of technology and a slew of bodies, 
so don't fear, there is much to spend your $ on ;-)

Cheers
- -- 
Alastair Firkin

http://www.afirkin.com

http://www.familyofman2.com
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