[Leica] An Introduction, and a plea for wisdom

["Jack McLain" <jmclainaz@comcast.net>]

Greetings:
By way of introduction; I am a new subscriber to this Leica user list.  I've
lurked long enough to think I've got a handle on the tone and tempo and how
y'all behave.  Great list..... I've gained tidbits on subjects varying from
Irish sausage, , the evils of NIkon, the virtues of Islay Malt Whisky (I'm a
Bruichladdich and Ardbeg man myself) and the Degree of watch fetish that is
typical here.  Mixed in with this eclectic (but useful) chatter there has
also been enough Leica lore to keep me reading the lenghty digests.

I am a life-long photographer.  My only commercial efforts have been
photographing babies and dogs for awhile back in the early 70's, some
gallery sales in the late 80's, and the occasional print when someone really
whines for one. Otherwise I am in this thing for myself. I've got a day job
which pays for the toys.

I started back in the 50's , under my grandfathers guidance. He was a stiff
old German with Zeiss Ikon and Leica gear.  My first camera was a Leica IIIf
(still got it).  He introduced me to the magic of the darkroom.

A stint in the military got me to Hong Kong in 69' on a R&R where I
purchased my first Nikkormat (still have it too... one of the best cameras
of all time, I dragged that thing off and on helicopters, dropped it in mud,
let it out in monsoon rains,, and it still works!) and where my love affair
with the "Nikon System" took root.  Soon followed the F2, F3, F4... a huge
basket of glass, tripods, tubes, and other had-to-have crap. Somewhere in
this mess there was a Bronica too.  Off and on over the years I felt the
urge to get back to the simpler (may I wax poetic and say purer) photography
that turned me on in the first place.

Maybe ten years ago I fell into a bit of cash and bought a M6, and a set of
lenses.... I was primed for the switch... alas.... at about the same time I
discovered Fuju Velvia and macro photography.  The Leica sat unused and I
sold it and bought my F4 (for the spot meter mostly). For ten years I have
been a slave of hyper-color, macro, tele, and graduated neutral density
filters.... and has it ever gotten boring!

So...a second attempt at rebirth...  I bought a Contax G2, 28, 35, 50 and 90
Zeiss lenses thinking this was the way out of the woods (literally).  I've
shot on and off with this camera for a year now.  The glass is just simply
terrific.. but.... (and this is the BIG but), the damn thing is auto-focus.
Granted the auto focus works very well, and I knew this going in of course,
and I thought I could get used to it.  I still instinctively try to twist a
non-existent focus ring when composing. I feel like I am shirking my
photographic responsibility (and before you point out that I already own a
F4... I only own one auto-focus lens, a 35-135 zoom which I almost never
use - and never in autofocus mode).

I have also recently sworn off color.  I bought a mess of Tri-X, Delta 400,
a developing tank, and chemicals and have set up shop in the bathroom.  I
also recently got sucked into the photoshop, scanner, and Epson 2200 thing
(this is begining to get expensive!... purity does not come cheap!)

next step a week ago.... I just bought a Leica CL with 40 and 90 lens; my
rational (which of course was just bullsh*t  to justify the spending spree )
is that I can carry this camera in my brief case and be ready for anything.
The truth is that I always carry the G2 anyway, and what I really want is to
focus... I want to focus MYSELF. I want to participate.

OK... now for the plea for wisdom.  And yes - before you chastise - over the
past two weeks I have read FAQs, web sites and every damn line I could find
regarding lenses, bodies, and other leica-toys. Lots of graphs, tables, text
and varying opinions which have confused the hell (ooops... I mean h*ll...
sorry) out of me.

I can see where this odd-esy is going.  I am already lusting for a proper
Leica body and lenses.  My quandry is which body and which lenses.

I have made a commitment to off the Nikon stuff (except for a battered F3, a
105 macro, a normal 50, and a 24mm wide that I just love).  I plan on
packaging this mess off to K&H within the month.  The proceeds will go quess
where!?

My lust occelates between a cherry M4 or a M6 Classic (I loath flash...no
need for any TTL nonsense).  I could dig out my old Luna Pro with the M4 or
use the onboard meter in the M6.  I've never really handled a M4.  Is the
tactile experience markedly different from the M6 (which like I said
earlier, I did own at one time)?  I really like nice things,, I like the
gestalt of stuff.  I like All Clad pots and pans, I like my BMW, I like
bamboo flyrods, I like tube analog stereo gear... I'm sure this admission is
standard SOP on this group and will be understood.  If I'm going to do this
I want the best bang for the buck. I realise that either body is just a
platform for the lenses.... but which model is likely to give greater feed
back and pleasure in it's own right.  Is this too obtuse a question,,,?
maybe.

While the new APO and aspheric lenses sure sound nifty, I dont think I can
afford to go this route.  Can anyone recommend a specific set of 28, 35, 50
and 90mm lenses that are esthetically rewarding in construction,
sufficiently modern in design and glass to produce great images, actually
available, and yet not so expensive to kill my bank account?  I guess this
sounds like a naive question,,, sorry.  I am looking for opinions of those
list members, who for the sake of argument, if they lost everything in ...
say... a tornado (or divorce, or repro-man interaction), and had to replace
their Leica kit in real-world conditions; what would they buy to get
re-started?.  This make sense?  Hope so.

so... thanks for hanging in there with this tome of a post.  I'd sure
appreciate your feedback.
cheers
Jack McLain
Tucson, AZ
http://jackmclain-photography.dotcommunity.net

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