Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I love the Nikkor 45 AI-P. I use it on my FM3a and more recently on my D70. The FM3a/45 is a really compact little shooter to carry about. I snagged a 12-24 zoom (my first zoom, horrors) this weekend, and did a "bag test." In my Domke "little smaller" bag I normally use for my M6, I can put the D70, 12-24, 45 AI-P, 85/1.8, SB800 and a Sekonic 358. No room for a 2nd body like I had with my M6 kit in the same bag, but the lenses nicely cover the ultra wide, wide, long normal and short tele focal lengths. The SB800/D70 makes for an awesome flash photo combo IMHO, and I find it use it quite a bit to good effect. With the M kit in the bag, I've been covering wide with a .58 body, normal with a .72 and short tele with the FM3a and 105/2.5 or 135/2.8. So I've been choosing to configure the bag "wide" or "long". With the M kit I carry 1/2 bodies with 2nd body M6 or FM3a, 21/28/ 50 M lenses (sometimes a 35), SF24, Sekonic 358 (or little twinmate), and film of course. With the FM3a as camera #2 in the bag, there's be just one of the short tele's. OTOH, I like the M finder alot better; I often like shooting two bodies; I've only given it a week, but I'm not used to the whole zooming thing; "white balance" frequently kicks my butt on the D70 in changing lighting, although I snagged Capture recently so I can shoot raw and cope with this later; my fastest lens in the digi kit is the 85 (~130mm 35mm equiv) although high ISO support and noise post processing can help with that; while D70 ergonomics are pretty good given all the knobs, there's something magic for me about a simple M6; and gosh, I just sorta like shooting B&W film and souping it up myself :-) I like to carry a kit with me wherever I go, so "bag ergonomics" are a big, big deal for me. Oddly, I got into Leica because I tried P&S and wasn't satisfied with the lack of manual controls. If my Rollei AFM had a nice finder and a longer 50mm lens on it, I might never have gotten the Leica bug :-) I love the idea of a smaller, manual control digi kit with a good finder. If there were a true B&W mode where all the sensors were firing "grayscale" giving more resolution, that would be fantastic. If it were a Leica, that would be great, although me'thinks I won't be allowing myself to spring for a $6K camera. Too many other photo priorities ahead of something like that. Anyway, back to your original inquiry, yes, I love the rendition of the 45 AI-P. I shoot up close mostly, and it seems to shine at closer focus. Nice bokeh too. Scott Bunting, Roger L (Roger) wrote: >>My Other Leica is a Nikon. >> >> > >With the 45mm f2.8 AI-P lens, I now have a new Leica. I love my M6 with >35mm ASPH Summicron. However, I have to admit, when I'm not splitting hairs >over the optics my F100, the 45mm f2.8 AI-P lens and a SB-80dx strobe in >the wings is, for me, a better travel rig than my M6. Much more >versatility. I love the F100 ergonomics. My M6 is a .72x finder and my >glasses, that finder and the 35mm frame lines don't play very nice >together. OTOH, the F100 has a great finder. It also tolerates my 28mm f2.8 >AIS and 105mm f2.5 AIS lenses quite well. It's a great manual focus camera. > >Anyway this is way too far off topic. However, if you are interested in >Nikkors and have an opportunity to try the 45mm f2.8 AI-P , I'd be curious >what you think. IMO it sure beats the other Nikkor 50s in the photographic >quality department (speed aside of course). > >Regards, >Roger /leica35@yahoo.com >http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/Leica35 > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >