[Leica] Leica newbie inquiry

[saganicc at MSKCC.ORG (Saganich, Christopher/Medical Physics)]

Hello and welcome,

While everyone else debates the sorry state of our political state, I'll attempt to impart my personal experience since I have recently switched from SLR to the range finder system and also like macro photography and shoot all hand held.

I've learned the following in the past two years:

I find focusing easier with a range finder over SLR.  I have poor eyesight extremely nearsighted.  My out of focus shots have decreased significantly.  I also employ depth of field techniques as well.

I find the area around the frame lines helpful for composition.

Most of all I enjoy seeing the moment I press the shutter and do not miss the mirror black out.

A tripod and personal technique and are the two greater factors as far as sharp images are concerned.  I believe the mirror vibration doesn't significantly add to image degradation when hand held, especially in modern SLR's.  Since I rarely use a tripod I often shoot down to 1/15 of a second and have found that breath control, elbows against the body and a solid stance can allow reasonable sharp images.  Employed at 1/60 and above will give you great results.  Never shoot when your out of breath or nervous if you can help it.

As far as low light is concerned I can't say anything because I suspect your shooting color.  My cameras have never seen color film.  Exposures for color are different from B&W, there is less manipulation involved.  I would suggest a compact monopod for those situations, an much overlooked device.

I do not like the parallax error between near and far objects, but, 35mm should only be used for near objects anyway, (that's my rationalization).

For macro photography, well, keep the SLR for now.  I have various Visoflex attachments and lenses, while I like my Visoflex, it is an acquired taste. 


Chris Saganich
http://www.saganich.com

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+saganicc=mskcc.org@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+saganicc=mskcc.org@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of k@mail.net
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 10:41 AM
To: lug@leica-users.org
Subject: [Leica] Leica newbie inquiry

Greetings,

Being the technology enthusiast I am, my photography experience has primarily
revolved around exceptionally uninteresting digital p&s camera shots.  Only
within the last 3 months have I delved in and become enamored with film
photography.  Subject matter of my experimentations have rotated between
urban landscape, architectural, and the occasional street photography. 

Due to my lazy^H^H^H^Hminimalistic preferences for toting equipment, most of
my shots are handheld with either an R4 or R6, using natural and available light.
Low light conditions have naturally produced utter crap as I am having an
extremely difficult time with the mirror reflex.

So before I continue to spend my hard earned bread purchasing more R lenses,
I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me of the inherent advantages and
disadvantages of specifically Leica rangefinders VS Leica SLR cameras.

Also,

1. How is accuracy and precision achieved with framing the subject?
2. Especially with macro photography?

Thanks,
kevin
_______________________________________________
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